The Princess and The Pirate
Chapter 43

Midnight’s cold hand curled its bony fingers over the kingdom. The moon had disappeared behind a thick blanket of clouds, giving Versetti darkness to carry out his task. He kept Jacqueline close to him, feeling her warm little body breathe under his cape. Her wrists and ankles were tightly bound. She was a package headed for a final destination.

This was his choice. Lillian gave him the order but he was choosing to follow it. Walking through the garden, rich with the smell of herbs, roses and exotic flora, the knight looked back at the castle. Only a few of the long, magnificent stained glass windows were lit with dying candles. Reds, greens, and blues in ornate patterns rivaled the magnificence of the stars above.

This was his choice.

Trekking further through the garden, a cobble path led him to the royal cemetery. It was a new place built upon the bones of the old. Rocqueburne had always existed, just in a different form. Before the empire found any interest in the pirate-infested corrupt town, it was known as Capebluff. Many of the older tombstones still bore the “Born of Capebluff” designation. The royal mausoleum was built atop the Capebluff catacombs.

When the empire conquered something, they conquered it completely. It was a shame their dominion had only lasted one generation.

The cemetery was a creepy place. Legends told that the old salty souls of the Capebluff era still haunted the grounds, vengeful, wailing, wanting things returned to the way they were. It had been the dark ages, some would muse. Versetti didn’t believe in such nonsense.

“Rocqueburne” was embossed across the mighty stone wall of the tomb. Under it was the house crest, a sword lying across waves with ever-watchful lions on the cliffs. Its perimeter was adorned with flowers, expired candles, and battered holy trinkets. It was the final resting place of an entire saintly family, after all. Crushing the tokens and prayers under his feet, Versetti placed the Princess gently atop the piles of dead bouquets. Recently opened for Kathleen, the doorway’s seal wasn’t strong yet. He pushed his armored shoulder against the mighty block of cement.

This was his choice.

As the door gave way with some sincere effort on behalf of the hulking man, musty, rotten air bellowed out into the evening. Two fresh bodies were lying on their pedestals. There was a smaller, empty pedestal between them. When these prominent spots were needed, the bodies would be moved further in. The sound of dripping water echoed in the dark. There were levels built into this mausoleum, buried deep in the earth. Rats squeaked from the bowels of the hollow, hallowed building. The Rocqueburne family had expected a long dynasty by the coast.

This was his choice.

Smelling the leather of his glove to mask the smell of death, Versetti made quick work of picking up Jacqueline and bringing her to the crypt’s gallery.

This was his choice. Lillian’s will was his will.

His footsteps rang out as he walked further in. She could have stayed away from Rocqueburne and lived a different type of life. She wouldn’t have lived as a royal but she would have lived. Maybe, just maybe, she could have been happy, even with that pirate scoundrel. But now, what did it matter? The stench inside was a violent thing, seizing his nose and sticking to the hairs inside. In between the thinning, emaciated bodies of her parents, the knight laid his package on the pedestal, gently. Respectfully.

This was his choice.

He pulled his cape away and pinned the troublesome fabric to his back once more. Maybe the cold would kill her. The Princess was motionless, her bound hands beside her face and her body curled into a ball on the chilled marble, closing like a wilted flower. She looked fitting amongst the surrounding stillness. At least she was here. The chapter was closed. The family was together. It was the best of a bad situation.

This was his choice.

Versetti turned away. He pulled the heavy door closed behind him, leaving the Princess swallowed up in darkness and death. It was only one more death. He had imperial guards to kill now.

This was his choice.