Lorein (Lore-Eyen) walked down the halls, armor clanking as he removed the metal gauntlets. His dark hair swayed back and forth as he walked towards her room, the strands of red and black making his red eyes stand out, and his Caucasian skin was covered in sweat. The great sword at his side added to the racket of his walk but he didn’t want to wait any longer. He wanted to see her, to be with her, his entire being wanting to hold her small body against his frame. For years he had waited for the girl to blossom and all the while he had strived to win her heart. Even the watchful eye of the king never noticed her growing love for him, his most trusted warrior, the one he had entrusted to be his daughter’s bodyguard. He could imagine her waiting, gazing out the window, her heart a flutter to wonder what he had meant earlier that day.

When he got to her room he pushed the door open and stepped into the suite of a room. There she had been raised under his watchful eye, the beautiful dark princess always within his grasp. The old nursery he had stepped into had been changed into a large living room, decorated perfectly for their living quarters. Two other doorways led into two separate sleeping quarters, one for him, and one for her. It was late at night and she had fallen asleep on the couch waiting for him, and a fond smile crept across his lips as he looked at the princess. Her long, dark hair had been braided for the night by the many handmaidens who waited on her, all their rooms nearby, and her outfit reminded him of the genies he had once read about in the library. Her pale skin, so perfect and unblemished, unspoiled, was so soft. She had curled up on the couch, a blanket over her body, and he smiled as he lifted up her head and sat down and laid her head on his lap.

It was her eighteenth birthday, the day she was considered to be a full lady of the court, and he had his chance to have her. He had taken care of her for so long, guarding her through all her troubles. With his hand he gently shook her, awakening her so those beautiful brown eyes gazed up at him. Her face leaned into his hand and she held it with her own, so fondly pressing its warmth to her face. “You were very brave,” she said softly, a light blush going across her cheeks. He had won the tournament at her birthday party, all in order to win her favor, and even scored the prize of a kiss from her in the process. Of course he had gotten them from her most of her life, even as a little girl, but this one was different. The one she had given him at the tournament was from a grown woman, not the little girl who doted on the kind bodyguard and friend.

“Alida (Ah-Lee-Da),” he spoke softly, his red eyes gazing into her beautiful face. “Do you remember the castle?” he asked.

She gave a smile and closed her eyes, as if imaging it in her mind. “Yes,” she sighed softly, the castle she had dreamed of as a girl when he had told her stories to get her to sleep. “It is far above the ground, in the dark clouds over the mountains, a dark castle. Black roses fill the gardens on the grounds and inside everything is perfect, so safe, warm, and protected,” she stated. He smiled; the dreams of childhood are not easily forgotten.

He gave a light chuckle and ran his fingers through her hair. “Then it was nothing but a fairytale, to make you sleep, to dream,” he said as he pulled up into his arms. She leaned into his chest, her head resting on the armor he wore. “But now, it is a real place,” he whispered, her eyes opening wide with shock. “I will take you there; take you to where the light will no longer penetrate your world.” His arms tightly wrapped around her waist as she turned to him. “But, there is a price for such things Alida. Do you love me?” His eyes looked into hers so seriously it was obvious his offer was no lie.

“Yes,” she stated, her head once again resting on his chest. He smiled and rested his chin on her head. Sixteen years of effort had paid off, his patience finally being assured. He was older then her, believed to be thirty five, and the king never believed that this sort of thing would happen. She had came into his care when they said he was nineteen, at the peak of his career, when the king begged him to protect his precious daughter. They were all foolish to believe no feelings of love would blossom. He had not taken the job of caring for her with no thoughts of return; there indeed was a prize he wanted in return. He wanted her; she could offer him companionship, beauty, pleasures of the flesh…and he had raised her purely to be his queen. No one had realized that the one they trusted so much was actually the dark lord himself, the one who had lived thousands upon thousands of years in all the myths of Earth. The promises of beautiful things had drawn him out, and he joined in the damned crusades of the mortal realms with only thoughts of pleasing himself.

“Will you come with me? With no thought of turning back will you give up this life?” he asked, lifting a hand to raise her chin up so he could get a better look at her.

“Yes,” she whispered back, eyes so serious and determined.  He was pleased, and he pulled her into a kiss as he lifted her off the couch. He took her to the window, the stars twinkling in the sky above them. The full moon was in effect, the winds so still with a gentle breeze. He turned her and pulled out a black blindfold and put it over her eyes, not allowing her to see.

“Do not take this off my love,” he said softly, kissing her tenderly on the cheek. “It is for your own protection.” That was a lie of course. He did not want her to remember a way to turn back. He was going to make her stay with him for all eternity. The dark beauty was his, and no one would ever see her again. He would disappear with her, leaving no trace or sign to find the one the kingdom loved so dearly. He opened the window to see the dragon he had sent for waiting for him, flying under the window seal. Lifting her into his arms he jumped out of the window onto the dragon’s back, intending to make the place that had only been a dream a reality.