The White Queen

Alexa walked resolutely, feeling the hairs of her body prickle from being close to a manifestation of the infernal worlds. After the next corner, Alexa at first thought she had come back from where she came. Only after a second glance, did the maiden realize that the circular garden surrounding the gazebo had no statue, and its central piece looked like a sort of stone table.

She approached cautiously, feeling watched from every angle. Alexa could not distinguish where, nor saw the Queen, just felt her very close, invisible.

Under the pergola, Alexa saw that the marble table had a chess set on it, with artfully carved pieces in Onyx and Alabaster, but some pieces were missing from it.

Before she could examine further, the Shade stopped beside her.

"What do you want?" the maiden asked abruptly, without turning to face her.

She knew it was the White Queen.

"Lady, you need to save him," was the unexpected answer, crystal clear uttered from the ghost's mouth. Alexa did not hold back, and looked at the White Queen. The apparition had a terrible beauty; pale as a lily, flashing eyes the color of stormy skies. Just looking at her, Gisela, her heart went cold as hail rains.

"He's not dead so I can't help him," Alexa said, not wanting to compromise. And anyway, it was true. Her gifts were not for the living. Because she was involved in Kielstadt's affairs, her fellow travelers were dead. With the gold this kingdom seemed to have, especially after Cordelia, they could find the best doctor… Well, Alexa didn't really believe that, to be honest.

But the chess pieces in front of her began to move strategically, in a kind of game that made sense, but a bit quicker than Alexa's ability to process the strategy underlying the game. The maiden's eyes followed the movements until the white pieces made a castling in the queenside. Of course, there was some meaning on it, which Alexa could not figure out at that time. Then, the harsh voice of the White Queen whispered,

"Bring him back, you know how. Bring my boy to his place of right. I will make you queen beside him, nothing will touch you both, never again... Will you bring him back to life? Yes?"

The maiden sighed heavily, wondering if her knowledge would be enough to exorcise a ghost queen. Alexa didn't know what the Ghostly regina was really capable of, but what emanated from her seemed not what a common ghost emanated, but way stronger. If the damsel couldn't handle a grudging, overly attached, strong Shade, she risked her own life.

But if she tried, what kind of imbalance would it cause?

"Lady Saskia! Lady Saskia! Where are you?" An unfamiliar voice called her name at intervals. At this intromission, the mighty White Queen faded into white mist beside her, while Alexa held the white king in a strong grip on her left hand. The Greek maiden looked around, seeing a blond page coming, followed by Prince Klaus, from the north side.

The Prince looked her up enigmatically,

"What are you doing here, Lady Saskia?" The tone suggested a certain disdain, which puzzled Alexa.

"I was looking for Father Gianpietrollo. Does Your Highness know where he is? I thought he was here."

"You don't have to come here. Nor would my Italian cousin be here without Alexander," was Klaus's sour response.

"I need to find him, I want to say goodbye to him before I go," Alexa stared at the First Prince in the eye as he criticized her for being in a 'forbidden' place.

The page watched them with distress, and the Prince sent him to notify Father Gianpietrollo and the others that he had found Lady Saskia. This information naturally left her confused and shocked,

"What do you mean? I am looking for Father Gianpietrollo and he is looking for me? Are people looking for me? How long has it been?"

Again the Prince looked at her intriguingly, as if trying to read her face, and said, frowning,

"Don't worry about that, Lady Saskia. Father Gianpietrollo had a minor accident but he's fine. He's a tougher person than his looks show."

Was it just her impression, or did it seem that Prince Klaus was stressing the information to possible hidden listeners? That was the maiden's feeling at his choice of words.

They both heard a soft noise near them, and turned their eyes to the source of the sound.

Then, the black king fell on the chessboard, as a dramatic omen.

Alexa had no doubt that this had been caused by invisible forces, and got agape. But the Prince went to the chessboard, and raised the black king again, putting it on its original place. His golden-green eyes turned to Alexa. He looked so angry and somber now! The maiden knew it wasn't her fault... or was it? 'Why does he glare so intensely at me?'

Two more steps toward her, and Klaus grasped the Greek girl's hand, the one holding tightly to the white king, and uncurled her fingers around the object.

For some inexplicable reason to Alexa, this seemed full of meaning and tension. Her heart began to pound, and her eyes immediately rose to meet his. Being in his shadow was disturbing. His expression was unreadable, only she felt that he moved and acted deliberately and irritably. He took the white king out of Alexa's small hand at last.

"You're leaving for your new home and your future husband," he said quietly but imperiously, and Alexa's eyes darted from his eyes to his well-designed mouth. 'Why am I so nervous? Why couldn't I even open my mouth to say anything? Why am I feeling so small and fragile, and why am I expectantly waiting for …?'

Klaus lowered his hand to her waist, Alexa felt the pressure of his hand even under several layers of fabric. As he bent over, his breath held, Alexa instinctively also held her breath in anticipation and suspense as well. 'He said these things and will kiss me again, does that make any sense?' That was what she could ascertain just before their lips touched for the second time. His hot breath so close seemed to dominate hers so that they had the same rhythm. And Alexa again felt a rush of heat and excitement spread from her heart to the rest of her body, as she began to feel pleasantly dizzy and lightheaded.

This time the Prince got what he wanted, his tongue advanced and overcame the maiden's resistance, then exploring and dancing in her mouth. Alexa could hardly believe she was allowing such a licentious thing, but when she thought to protest any sound was drowned out by more pressure and possession of Klaus's lips. Moreover, the Greek maiden was feeling new and strong sensations in forbidden and feminine parts of her being; 'why is everything so hot and pulsing inside me?'

Then Klaus encircled her hips and lifted her, sitting her on the marble table, never parting the bold kiss. He let out a moan of pleasure, looking ecstatic, and brought his thumb up to her face, caressing lovingly over Alexa's soft skin.

It was as delicious as the kiss, but in different ways. In the back of her mind, she knew this was all so wrong, but she was feeling so light-headed… It even seemed as if she was dragged by a spell, away from reason.

Alexa felt his hand slide to her shoulders and push the fabric away, kissing her bare shoulder in a way that made her face burn even more if it really was possible. He drew back a little to admire her, his eyes narrowed with pure desire. But in a flash, his expression changed and the Prince said in a dark tone,

"You would be mine if you stayed. It would be your doom. Indeed it's imperative that you go."