Wishes of a Sorcerer

As the sun ducked down and twilight rose in the sky, Shazir found himself thinking of her. His reluctant Bride, cursed by his own hand. He had not thought she would have had the fortitude to stay in her newly monstrous form, but she was nothing if not surprising. 

There were times, not often, but there were times he regretted his choices that had led him here. But then he would remember the chains that had dragged behind him. The whips that had whipped his back raw. He leaned against the deep windowsill on which he was perched. The Castle had wide eaves even though it hardly ever rained. They made for good seats albeit dangerous ones.

It reminded Shazir of simpler times. 

Times when he had just been a street rat begging for scraps.

He looked down at his hands summoning the power he had gained from the ancient chalice so long ago. He watched as the flames rose from his fingers as if that is where they had always belonged. He closed his eyes allowing his spirit to travel. He found her effortlessly, his beautiful bride despite the scales that graced her delicate features. The scales of the curse had reached her neck and were creeping ever so close to her lovely face. 

He could have spoke to her now, whispered in her dreams. Weave them to his benefit, but he had no wish for a doll bride. He wanted her with him. He knew the people of the Kingdom dreamed of their Queen back on the throne, the way it was meant to be. He dragged a single finger on her cheek, taking one more look at her before he disappeared back to his body. In his chambers there was a brief knocking on the door. “Enter,” He murmured, already knowing who was at the door. 

Kailani entered, stepping to the middle of the room, putting a fist at her heart, and bowed low. “Your Highness,” she demurred, as she watched Shazir straighten from where he sat and make his way to the round table that served as his study within his room. “The Envoys are on the Tasmin road and should arrive, by midday.” She brought forward a scroll, laying it gently on his desk and stepping back. 

Shazir moved the scroll to his side, unraveling it to peruse the contents, as he pondered on the enigma that was Kailani. She was not like most of the ladies, or maids of the court. Unlike them she had never worn a dress or anything as ladylike, and instead fancied tunics and dhoti’s of modest colors, and always wore a long leather vest over them. She dressed more like a soldier than a lady of rank. Shazir grabbed a scroll, as he gave a wary glance at Kailani, before adding some adjustments to the scroll before handing it back. “Make sure that the Kitchens are aware of any dietary restrictions,” he murmured as he made the hand gesture of dismissal. 

He barely acknowledged her as she left, his eyes moving to his bed with a sigh, before he undid the single silk robe he wore, and walked to his candlelit bath. The silvery moon, the only light in the bath, shone through the room alighting the silver claw marks that lined his back. The scars were from another time. A darker time, even more delicate than the scars of the whips that had faded to black on his back.

As he entered the bath, he sucked in the pain that flared from the scars once more in the fragrant waters. 

A never-ending reminder of the woman. 

The Beast, from which he had stolen.

The one that still haunted his dreams despite being long gone from this plane of existence. 

And yet the pain persisted. It had been years since he last saw her. Since rumors of her stopped. His endless pursuit of power, searching for ways to be more powerful and dangerous than she ever was. He leaned against the rim of the tub the water lapping at his skin, and as he closed his eyes he could feel long fingers with curled nails scraping at his skin. He could almost feel the wisp of white hair on his face, could almost see the red blood lips that he dreamed about every night.

He opened his eyes his face twisting with the bittersweet memories, he leaned sideways his eyes catching the light of a falling star.

"I vow that this Kingdom will be mine. The Queen will belong to me, and me alone. Nothing will stop me, no one will ever stand in my way again."