THE WEIGHT OF THE CURSE

The dimly lit chamber deep within the castle was filled with a haunting glow from enchanted lanterns flickering against the stone walls. Caspian leaned against a pillar, his arms crossed, his emerald eyes sharp with disbelief. "I don't understand, Father. Of all things, why let Kael marry a human? Why did you have to do this when I was away? Because you clearly know I would never agree to this!" His tone was clipped, edged with anger and confusion. 

Across the room, Kael's uncle, Lord Eryndor, stood near a heavy oak desk cluttered with ancient scrolls and tomes. He turned slowly, his dark robes sweeping the floor like shadows following his every move. A sly smile tugged at the corner of his lips as his eyes glinted with something dangerous. 

"You question my decision, Caspian?" Eryndor's voice was low, smooth, but it carried an undercurrent of menace. 

"Yes," Caspian replied bluntly, stepping forward. "It's absurd. A human? Humans are our enemies. Fae blood and human blood were never meant to mix. Even for an alliance, this is—" 

"Shortsighted?" Eryndor cut him off, his tone laced with amusement. "Foolish? Dangerous? Perhaps." He stepped closer to his son, his gaze unwavering. "But this isn't a matter of simple politics or alliances. Alara is no ordinary human, Caspian." 

Caspian's brows furrowed, skepticism written all over his face. "No ordinary human? She looks ordinary enough to me." 

Eryndor chuckled, a low, chilling sound that sent a shiver through the room. "That's because you lack vision, my son. Alara is a very gifted witch, her powers can simply outdone ours. Maybe she didn't even know how much power she withheld. We can make her a pawn to our game. Her blood holds a rare magic, untapped and raw, but powerful nonetheless." 

"Gifted?" Caspian repeated, his voice dropping. "Powerful than us, what in the name of seven gods are you saying?" 

"Powerful enough to bend the will of magic itself," Eryndor replied, his voice taking on an almost reverent tone. "Do you think it's a coincidence that Kael chose her? That I allowed this union? No." He leaned closer, his dark eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "She is destined for something greater—something darker. And when the time comes, we will use her." 

"Use her how?" Caspian asked, his voice barely above a whisper. 

 placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his grip firm. "This girl is the key, Caspian. The key to the rituals we've been preparing for decades. She will unlock the final piece of our plan. With her, we will rise to power." 

Caspian's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his unease with a smirk. "And Kael? He doesn't know, does he?" 

"Of course not," Eryndor said, his tone dismissive. "Kael is a pawn, as blind as the rest. For now, let him believe he has the upper hand. In time, even he will bow to us." 

Caspian exhaled slowly, his mind racing. "I see now," he said after a moment. "You're playing a dangerous game, Father." 

Eryndor's smile widened, his expression calm yet menacing. "Dangerous games are the only ones worth playing, my son. Remember that." 

The room fell silent, the weight of Eryndor's words lingering in the air like an unspoken threat. Caspian stepped back, his expression unreadable as he gave his father a small nod and left the chamber. 

But as he walked down the corridor, his mind churned with questions, doubts, and a flicker of unease he couldn't quite shake. 

***

"You never tried to break the curse?" Alara asked and Kael let out an annoyed sigh. She had been trailing after him all day today, asking him all the questions she could come up with. Since she is stuck with this life and a cursed Fae husband, there's no point in fighting this fate which only makes things worse. And the magical bond she had formed with Kael made it hard for her to stay away from him.

Will you stop asking me questions once I answer this one?" He grunted, his amber eyes cutting to her. 

Alara shook her head playfully, "No. I demand to know more about my husband." 

Kael scoffed, leaning against the stone railing of the balcony overlooking the courtyard. "Yesterday, this said wife didn't even want to share a chamber with her husband." 

Alara grinned, unbothered by his sarcasm. "And today, this wife wants to know what kind of husband she's stuck with for the rest of her life." She folded her arms, tilting her head at him. "So? Have you ever tried to break the curse?" 

Kael ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly exasperated. "If breaking it were that easy, do you think I'd still be like this?" 

Alara's expression softened. "But there must be a way. Curses don't last forever." 

His lips curled into a bitter smirk. "That's where you're wrong. Some curses do." He turned away, his gaze distant as if recalling something from long ago. "This one isn't just magic—it's a punishment. And punishments don't simply disappear because someone wishes them to." 

Alara studied him for a moment, her playful demeanor fading slightly. "Who cursed you?" she asked, quieter this time. 

Kael didn't answer right away. His jaw tightened, his fingers curling against the stone railing. "A dead man," he finally said. "One who swore vengeance with his last breath." 

A shiver ran down Alara's spine. She wanted to press further, to unravel the truth behind his words, but something about the way his eyes darkened made her hesitate. 

For the first time since she arrived in this castle, she realized—Kael wasn't just cursed. He was haunted.