Cursed Death

I had to incorporate a castle, a damsel in distress, and a prophesy into a story for my Gothic Literature class. It turned out alright. I posted it so that I could maybe get some feedback.

“The first to go will determine the next to rule.”

 

The words of my father rattle around in my mind. I had asked why death was a big deal to his father.

“It goes back to his time, Annabelle. Back when he ruled, that was a saying he always spoke of when death was brought up. Why are you so interested in it all of a sudden?”

I was not about to tell my dad about anything that would worry him. I just told him I was simply curious. 

Truth be told, I actually had a reason to be asking questions. My grandfather has been bombarding me with lectures on staying alive lately. Strange for him, which is why I have to try to find out what, not only what that saying meant, but what it has to do with me. Now I think I know what triggered his pestering. Last week, I had almost drowned, thanks to my irresponsible best friend Anthony. He had convinced me to go walking with him down by Brick River near the edge of the Crimson, my castle.

Along that edge sits nothing but grass and trees. All of which were covered in droplets due to the rain which was drizzling down that scorching night. The full moon’s light lit up the night and reflected beautifully off of the crystal clear river. On the opposite side of the river sit some of the creepiest statues I have ever seen. They are mostly all of women, apparently from my grandfather’s days of ruling. The ages of the statues are apparent since each face is crumbling and scratched up.

“Come on! Let’s go swimming! It will be fun, I promise.” Anthony’s voice was so convincing. I feel sweat dripping down the right side of my face and wipe it away. I decide to go into the river with Anthony, just to cool off.

As we approached the water, Anthony started to take his shoes and the one silver ring he always wore on his right hand off. I removed my shoes too, but I left on the diamond cross necklace I cherish on my neck. When we started to go into the water, Anthony pushed me into the river and jumped in himself. I came up to the surface furious but amused.

“Really Anthony, come on!” He looked worried but saw my smile and smiled back. I splashed his face and dove into the water.

After twenty minutes of swimming, Anthony decided we should play a game to see who could hold their breath under water the longest. Well I stupidly agreed and we started. During the second round, my skirt got caught on a piece of wood in the water. I reached my arms up above me but I had somehow made it to far under the water to reach above the surface of the water.

A minute passed and I began to feel light headed. The last thing I remember is Anthony looking down at me in the river, eyes wide with fear. Then everything went black.

I woke up in my bedroom with my father, grandfather, older sister, and Antony looking down at me. I smiled at them and got smiles back from everyone, except my grandfather.

Ever since that day all I have gotten from him are pouts, spiels, and glares. Now I am headed to his office in the castle because he said he wanted to talk.

“Hello, Annabelle.” I jump and turn around. It’s him.

“Hello, Robert.” He motions for me to go into his office and I slowly creep in front of him.

“Why did you want to talk?” I ask, keeping my tone bland with no emotion.

“Annabelle, do you remember your mother much?”

“Only a little bit.” I told him the truth. My mother, Elizabeth, died when I was eight years old. The last thing I remember seeing her do is getting ready to go for a walk in the Blue Pasture Park about a quarter of a mile away from home. She was found that night, mutilated,  I found out when I was thirteen. No one knows who or what killed her.

Robert clears his throat and continues, “Well, she was quite a wild one; like you are. I think that is what got her killed actually,” he shakes his head, “but nonetheless, you are just like she was and after last week’s incident with Anthony I’m started to worry about you.”

          I roll my eyes and hold onto my cross necklace. It was my mother’s. The police said we were lucky that she did not bring it with her on her walk because we may have lost it.

“Makes you feel closer to her, huh?” Robert says to me, noticing my habit on touching the pendent.

“Yeah, it is all I have left of her.  I see it as her watching over me.” I speak matter-of-factly.

Robert smiles, “She is watching over you, all of the time. But you still need to be careful. You cannot die by way of accident or murder. You are the king’s daughter. Promise me you will protect yourself better.”

I think for a minute. “I don’t understand you. Why is it so impor-”

Robert cuts me off, “Listen, I have my reasons. Just promise me this, and then I will let the whole accident go.” 

All that matters to me is that I get left alone, so I agree to be careful and leave to the yard.

***

There was another incident. This time however, it was with my sister Lily. She was almost stabbed while shopping in town a day ago. She got away luckily, and is back home in bed. Anthony’s family wanted to pay her a visit so now I am in the backyard court with Anthony, skipping rocks on the water of the river.

“So I think I discovered what your grandpa Robert meant in saying to be careful with death. Do you want to hear my theory?” Anthony tosses a pebble in his hands.

“Sure, why not.”

“Alright, what if there is something that makes it so, in the case of someone in your family being killed, the killer becomes ruler?”

I look at Anthony with a face of doubt. “That cannot be it. If that was the case, my mother’s murderer would have taken my father’s place on the thrown.”

“True,” Anthony seems to be reanalyzing his theory, “Got it! OK so maybe it only works for the children of your father.”

I start to think seriously about this. I would make sense. Since my father only has two daughters, maybe it is some weird way for ruling of the land to continue. What if it is the result of a prophesy. Could it have been placed on only my father, my grandfather’s first born son? I am not sure, but now that I have a theory to work with, I am determined to find out what is really going on here.

 

Author's Note

Should I continue the story? Or just forget about it. Let me know in a review please

Reviews

[RaspberryBullets]

It's a great story, but I'd leave it at that. It gives you something to think about when you finish reading it, so it's stuck in your mind. Great job!