The rain tapped the glass, the only sound echoing through the greenhouse. No one spoke or twitched, the charm dove into my ribs and hid. Leaving a hole in my chest that rapidly healed over with a thin layer of skin. It suddenly shot up my neck and wrapped itself around my vocal cords. I could only grasp for air as it teased my vocal cords.

“My NAmE iS MaLUm…”

I closed my eyes, the pain of my muscles being forced out of the way for the small charm.

“Is that so. Who was your maker, by their birth name.”

Her voice was filled with rage, the charm again plucked at my vocal cords. It came out a lot clearer once I allowed the muscles to relax in my neck. The metal horns no longer pressed against my throat and I felt no more pain.

“I will not respond with that name. I only respond with the name they choose.”

“You will respond with their given name!”

The Queen grabbed onto my neck and started to choke me.

“HANDS OFF HER!”

The Prince ripped her hand off, the two glared at each other as the charm slid back to it’s proper spot. It shivered as it shimmed back into place. I coughed and gasped for air, taking in deeper and deeper breaths to restabilize my body.

Sorry Lina…

It’s voice tumbled into my head, it was a young boy. It echoed through my head as it stilled. But my body wobbled and went slack from exhaustion. My eyes slid shut as the world went dim.

“Lina? Lina!?”

-(flashy back)

Mom, get up already!!!

Huh…mom?

Come on come on come onnnnn!!! Your dress is going to get all green!

My dress?

A breeze blew over me, grass rustled around me. The sun’s warmth soaked through my heavy eyelids.

Mama…? Mom!

What’s wrong -------

Mama isn’t waking up!!!!

------, -----! Wake up!!! YOU! GET A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!

Yes sir!!! QUICK ITS THE QUEEN!

MOM!

My son called out to me, his tears spilling onto my face.

You should have never picked me up, vile woman. I am only fit for a powerful witch, not a daughter of a baker. I am not meant for a Queen of all things, the only ones who will wear me are witches!

Wave after wave of pain overcame the Queen from the curse of the witches ring. I was left to watch the horror of the infant witches rage. The Queen almost died that day, but it gave birth to her distrust.

-

“Will she be ok?”

“He- uhh she will be fine, just some rest, if she doesn’t wake up in three days then contact me.”

“Thank you doctor.”

A warm hand grabbed mine and lifted it, pressing a moist kiss on my knuckles. Warm drops of water splashed on to the back of my hand. I couldn’t open my eyes, so the darkness of my mind took me back.

-

“My Queen, I made you a gift.”

“It is lovely!”

I looked down at a silver ring that had a red band of a liquid around it. It had rams horns and ruby eyes staring back at me. My dear friend gave me a beautiful gift, I wore it. Not expecting a assassination attempt.

-

“Lina, I know we haven’t known each other for long. But please…”

There was a pause, choosing his words carefully and pressing my palm against his damp cheek.

“Please, come back to me. I want you here, with me, only me. I want to hold you in my arms and kiss you, I want to embrace you. I want to say sweet nothings to you and you to say you love me back. Without you I will be nothing, I won’t be able to become anything. I only need you, so please…”

He broke down into sobs, but I couldn’t respond.

-

I slipped on the ring, it seemed to shift on my finger but I ignored it at the time. I hugged my friend and waved to her goodbye. Wishing nothing but the best. But she only smiled a tiny bit and her smile faltered, tearing up in the corners.

-

“Prince, it’s been a week...I’m afraid that she may…”

“I understand, but could we please wait….”

“There's a very low chance she will wake up, and you haven’t slept or eaten much of anything, you should really-”

“No, I will be here till she wakes.”

“If she never wakes…”

“I will never wake.”

“But sir!”

Silence followed, but an uproar of noise started with the Prince shouting obscenities.

“This is for your own good!”

I wish I could wake up.

You can’t Lina, we aren’t done yet.

What do you mean….”

-

She was carried off in a carriage away from me once again. I knew what I just did would get me excited, but at least I'd have her in the end. As they say, till death do us part.

She would no longer be married and she would be my wife in the after life.

I let out a giggle and walked away, to prepare the ritual.

-

“At this point will she ever wake?”

“I don’t think so...it’s been a month.”

“The Prince is at his breaking point…”

Now you may wake.

My eyelids lightened, and I was finally able to pop them open. I was met with a white ceiling.

“Wait, doc…”

“What is it nurse-”

“The witch is awake! Get food and water stat!”

“LET. ME. THROUGH.”

A voice rumbled through the building, I shuddered a bit. I could hear a lot of crashing and yelling, the door to my room slammed open. The male rushed over to my bed and shook me a bit, and then turned my head towards him. The Prince’s eyes were wide and filled with determination, but softened and filled with happiness. He slammed into me, pulling my whole torso towards him and squeezed the life out of me.

“Prince not so fast! She just woke up!”

He breathed heavily into my neck and only squeezed tighter, affirming I was actually in his arms.

“I have some food pouches and a pitcher of water!”

“Good, Lina needs it as soon as hehem, the Prince gets off her.”

The Prince didn’t seem to care and instead loosened his grip and snuggled into me. Malum scoffed and made his merry way back up to my vocal cords and took hold of them.

“Off. LiNA nEeD”

He reluctantly backed off as Malum slithered back to my chest. The Prince watched Malum go back to the hole in my chest, just a moving lump underneath my skin. He settled back in as the nurse approached me with a cart. She picked up a silver pouch and handed it to me, it was warm to the touch and when I opened it a fatty aroma came out of it. She then handed me a fork and a napkin, and set the pitcher of water along with a few cups next to the white draped bed. I brushed my hair back behind my horns as the Prince sat himself on the end of my bed.

I dipped the fork into the pouch and brought up a chunk of bacon, some eggs and a few ramen noodles dangled. I slipped the food into my mouth savoring the fatty bacon and soft eggs. The ramen added a bit of chew and held the flavor of the bacon. The Prince stayed by me as long as he could, the whole day.

-

The Prince was at my side everyday, making sure I ate my food and kept hydrated.

“I have to go here Lina, have a good night's rest…”

“Okay, make sure you do too!”

“I will, knowing that you are safe…”

He kissed my forehead and left, and turned out the light. I pulled the plush tan blanket that was given to me over my shoulders and tucked it in around me to conserve heat. I started to doze, when the light snapped back on.

“Comfortable?”

The Queen’s cold voice filtered through the room. A shiver went down my spine as I sat up quickly. My eyes met hers, her venomous stare looking down to Malum. She was wearing a black gown with long sleeves covering her arms. Her crown was nowhere to be seen and her hair was tied back.

“I guess you are. I wouldn’t be, witch.”

Her hand slipped into a hidden pocket in her dress and she pulled out a thin angled knife.

“Give me a reason not to kill you here and now before you kill my son.”

My throat went dry as she caressed the blade with her thumb and forefinger. But lucky then I felt a lot more confident.

“I am not like her, I am a real one and not a fake.”

“All the more reason I should-”

“She practiced a different art, and misused a witches accessory. Had she never found it that would have never happened.”

“How do you know about that incident anyway?”

She growled under her breath, stepping forward.

“Malum showed me.”

“Witches accessories as usual, causing ruckus in the lives of others.”

“Malum was helping me and has been since I put him on. He has no ill intentions, nor do I. What do I have to do to prove this to you!?”

I raised my voice slightly, her gaze sharpened.

“Sign this.”

She pulled out a piece of parchment out of her hidden pocket and held it out to me. I took the folded document and unfolded it.

I swear to never bring harm to the royal family, no matter the circumstances.

_____________________________

I swear to never lie to the Queen

_____________________________

I swear to protect the Prince with my life and soul

_____________________________

I swear to never hurt another being unless it is in self-defense

_____________________________

If I break any of these promises I will have to take my own life or be publicly executed for treason to the crown.

_____________________________

I the Queen swear to never bring harm to the witch who signs this as long as all guidelines above are followed properly and correctly

The Queen

Her neat handwriting sat below, she pulled out a fountain pan and handed it to me. I promptly signed my signature on every line without hesitance. She scoffed but took the sheet back and looked over the signatures.

“Now we just need your blood, give me your arm.”

I held out my arm and she grazed the skin, a thin line of blood droplets grew from it. She pulled up the sleeve on her dress and also drew blood. She dipped her thumb in the small puddle of blood and smeared it right by her name.

“Just do as I did to each line. With this I will know which rule you break, the sheet will smolder with the stroke of blood. I rather not get too deep into the details.”

She handed me back the sheet, I took my thumb and dipped it in the balls of blood and smeared it next to next of my signatures, solidifying the document. It seemingly absorbed the blood and disappeared into the paper. Her eyes finally softened and she gave me a smile

“Now I know I can trust you, if you were lying the paper would have set fire. I’m sorry about that earlier, I apologize for my behavior.”

She slid the knife back into her pocket along with the contract.

“You have my approval to marry my son. Though…”

She looked into my eyes in warning.

“Beware that even if you have the whole castle's approval, that doesn’t mean everyone in the kingdom will accept this. You have a bigger challenge ahead of you now Lina.”

She left, warning me of what is to come.