A year and six months

Was how long it took for the princess to finally admit her feelings for him. It was difficult, to say the least. He found out that she was one strong headed, fiesty and insultive lass. She was extremely hard to please and he was determined to win her over, at any cost. From his observations, Kadja was in fact a very considerate princess. Her conversations with the subjects, her actions towards them and the polite blush that stained her cheeks whenever she was talking to any of them was enough proof. Indeed she was as gentle as a snowflake.

Ryirl looked up at the beauty he could confidently call his. Her jet black hair blew wildly in the wind and her porcelain skin glistened under the sun. Never in his life would he get tired of seeing this beauty. She stared back at him with equal desire and leaned in to hug him warmly. On the middle finger of her right hand lay a fat gem stone that was  embedded in a gold ring. It shone and shimmered all different colours under the rays of the sun; the most expensive jewel in these parts, and her engagement ring.

Ryirl was proud that the gem wasn't bought with the King's riches nor his father's. Nay, he worked hard day and night, coming back home covered in grime and sweat just to save up enough money for it. The blossoming smile she rewarded him with after he presented her the ring was more than enough to make up for all his hardwork.

In a month's time, they would fully wed and she will be his. She had just passed the age of 124 and many young girls envied her.

In a month's time, he would take on partial responsibilities of the king. It was a difficult decision to make but the king insisted that if he must marry any of his daughters, he would become the king. The king was desperate for his blood and powers to run through the veins of the child he would call his grandchild. At first, Ryirl shot down the absurd demand of the king but the more time he spent with Kadja, the more his resolve shook and quivered. Alas, he accepted the offer and ever since then, Luciana had been bitter towards them. His heart thumped in fear every time he caught her eyeing them angrily from a distance. It was just a hunch, but Ryirl knew deep down in his gut that Lucy had something planned in that evil head of hers. He wasn't sure he could pin the blame on her though.

Since her birth, she had gone through several trainings on etiquette, manners, persuasion and conversation techniques. All her life was spent preparing to be the great queen her father so desperately wanted her to be. Everyone had been extra harsh on her because she needed to be perfect. Even though he hated to admit it, she had done a great deal for the sake of the kingdom, travelling far and wide to strengthen relations and gain allies. Her father threw all that away because of him, and Ryirl felt guilty about it. Anyone in her shoes would be bitter.

"Lucy is seeing someone" Kadja's soft voice broke him out of his thoughts and he gazed into her purple orbs.

"That's good for her. I was beginning to feel guilty but I know if she has somebody by her side, it'll lessen the blow" Ryirl said sincerely. He was also talking to himself, convincing himself that she'll get over it soon.

"I followed her" Kadja continued, ignoring his statement and he noticed the fear in her eyes.

"I wanted to tell you but I must've forgotten. She's not with good company"

"You're younger than her. I'm pretty sure Lucy knows how to choose her friends well. You worry too much darling"

"I'm serious. She goes at night and comes back some wee hours later. There's a portal in the back of the field where she passes. I was too scared to follow her through it so I waited behind the bushes till she got back"

"Do you know the person? " Ryirl asked and she nodded shakily.

"I read some books about him in the library and judging from the crest that is printed on the new robe she brought from there, I'm sure of it. I-its lucif-f-fer "

Fear struck in his heart and he inhaled sharply. This couldn't be true.

As a child growing up here, two popular stories were often taught to you whilst growing. Both would plague your dreams the first day you hear of them.

One was of the bravest hero gifted with tremendous divine powers and the largest set of wings among the angels. This was Regald. Everyone's role model.

The other was the vilest creature, vermin of the earth. Dark, strong, tricky, unforgiving, and unfortunately very handsome. This would be Lucifer. Everyone's biggest nightmare.

Only Regald could destroy Lucifer but even that would be hard for him and so he left with the promise that when he returns he will be strong enough to destroy Lucifer. No one heard a thing of him again. The Angel was now in the sky islands.

Lucifer. His birth name ; Roreya. He was a thorn in everyone's flesh. How he managed to consume such suffocating darkness would forever remain a mystery to everyone.

"She must not know that you know this. We'll keep it a secret. It is of no concern to us" Ryirl suggested, dragging Kadja back inside the palace walls.

"She's my sister!"

"And what do you suggest we do?" He asked and she sighed "Lay low for now."

"I guess you're right, I'm just scared for her that's all. Please walk me to my room" She offered him her dainty hand and he eagerly grasped it. As they went deeper into the palace, a cold feeling swept over him, something didn't feel right.

"Ryirl do you feel that?" Kadja whispered just as the hall got darker and one of the torches went off . He nodded at her, squinting his eyes in the partial darkness, he was scared to speak.

"It's the lovebirds" Lucy crackled from somewhere in the darkness and he felt Kadja stretch out her arms in front of her, trying to feel around her.

"Sister! I'm so glad you're here. I feel something is about to go terribly wrong"

"Oh yes. You and your lover are about to be punished for stealing my throne"

"What do you mean punished? I don't even want the throne! I'll make it up to you I swear" Kadja begged desperately.

Lucy laughed again and Ryirl stepped back in fright. The skin crawling laugh grated against his eardrums. She's sick.

"I'm so thankful Rey could lend me his cursing orb" She said before bringing out a black orb from her robe. It looked quite harmless but Ryirl knew better. It was devious.

"Listen attentively. Because I'm a kind person, I'll let you two wed first" She sighed boredly

"Sister please don't do this, we'll tell father we want to give up the throne and elope else where" Kadja went on her knees begging, Ryirl mirrored her actions.

"After your wedding, you have but a day to consummate before my curse fully sets in. You Ryirl, will die mysteriously after that one day"

Ryirl's heart thumped wildly and beads of sweat covered his face. The black orb glowed briefly as if stamping what she said. The halls were empty and quiet. Would them running make a difference?

Ryirl tried to freeze Luciana. He directed a wave of his energy to her but it bounced back to him doublefold.

"You will reincarnate as a different body in a  different location but you will have no memories of this lifetime" The ball glowed briefly again.

"My sister will meet you in every lifetime. Even if she doesn't want to, fate will always bring you together" it glowed again.

"Of course since your soul is the same, you will feel an attraction. After you both meet, a few years later, you will die again and she will go though mourning again" it glowed gain.

"You will never be together. If the feelings progress too quickly, you will die again"

"No- no sister. Stop this madness at once" Kadja roared and a corpse climbed it's way up the palace walls and into the hall. It staggered and bent abnormally,  its cheeks were sunken and dry. The flesh that covered its rattling bones were ashen and dead. Ryirl choked on his spit.

Luciana's eyes lit up with wonder as she stared at it. She wanted this power so bad. She reached out a finger to touch it's smelly skin and it crumpled to black dust.

"This curse breaks after kadja's death. Of course by then, there will be nothing to fight for"

And that night as the sun retraced down the slope, he felt a bit of him chipped away. It was a strange feeling but he was pretty sure Luciana forgot to mention something. She forgot to mention that before he would finally die, a part of him would be chipped away little by little everyday.

Alas the day came for the wedding ceremony and Ryirl wedded his wife sitting on a wheelchair. He was a shadow of his former self. Kadja bit back sobs as she wedded the man she loved.

One day later, Ryirl died.