The Curse of Wren

List of Characters for "The Curse of Wren"   Wrendenzu- (Wren) The main character. Wild, spirited, Crimson Hair, Point of view. Princess Theocaz – (Caz) Lead male. In love with Wren, Knome, A little wimpy Minuet- Kind yet determined, seductress, very hungry, eats criminals in self defence, jet-black hair, a little crazy, Wren’s best friend Vampire with a heart. Experiment of Juris Aunt Loxi- Aunt of Wren, not bad but very strict. Juris- Great great great grandson of Dracula, cursed Vlad, very bad, heartless. Dr. Mengele-esque, "scientist" Malachi – Father dead. King Sharah- Mother dead Queen ____________________________________________________________________ Dedications: To: Mamma who loved me everyday For Mimi who inspired and encouraged For Zac who loved and supported me I love and thank you all   Chapter 1 The Spirit "The hundredth year they live in palace, One shall drink from Dracul’s chalice. Kill the royals one by one, Dracula rises we shall come. Fair and justness royals teach, Justness fair at last we’ll reach Listen to the mortals cry Alas! They do not want to die. Chaos! Destruction! The worlds gone mad Don’t try to fight, Your fates been had!" In the country of Vlad the prophecy is almost a joke…almost. Know one can quite decipher the meaning. And even further no one knows when the hundredth year is. The royals have been ruling for as long as even our eldest can remember. Even so, everyone has to be aware and careful always, especially me. I am Wrendenzu, princess of Vlad.   When I first became aware that I was a princess, around the age of four, I was ecstatic. But as I grew, the royal life became dull and frivolous. I in no way enjoyed the constant flitting around of my servants or the awed reaction of peasants when I passed, however what I detested most of all was the attire. Vapid and shallow as it might be the clothing was horrendous! Skirts and embroidered bodices, powder for the face, corsets, it was all too unbearable! However I highly doubt that would have significantly improved had I been a peasant. All women, and not just in Vlad but in all bordering countries, were only something beautiful to look at. That didn’t suit me however. I yearned for adventure at every moment. My mother used to say my spirit was even larger than my hair. I used to laugh at this because I knew my hair was nothing special, at least not in Vlad. All women had significantly large hair. Hair grew down to our knees, and when it reached that length it grew up a layer so it was tall as well as long. If ever separated from the scalp, which was extremely rare, the strands of hair would turn into thin strands of silver and eventually gold. It was nearly indestructible, not to mention valuable! Vladian hair was worth thousands at the black market. One day when I was ten years old my parents and I spoke of my unbreakable spirit. "Wren," father started "your mother and I must speak with you." I sighed and rolled, knowing I was about to be lectured. My mother began, "Now Wren, you are still a lady. Or at least that’s what your father and I wish you were and-" my father cut her off with a disapproving glance and spoke "But that’s not the point Sharah." He calmly told her then turned back to me. "Your mother and I are willing to take partial responsibility for your…spirit, and however…uncommon it might be, we are willing to except your unorthodox personality and give you more freedom." I heard my mother snort, and my father give her a pleading look, finally she laughed and said "Just don’t look for trouble, alright love? No looking for vampires at night, no swimming in the lake of knowledge, and NO trying to break the Vladian curse! Now don’t roll your eyes at me young lady, what’s the point of trying to break a curse no one is quite sure exists?" My father broke in gently now, an attempt to calm down my mother. "To make up for our foolish behavior, we have a gift for you." This was something I had not expected, my parents hardly ever apologized. I stood in shock as he held out an elaborately wrapped package. "I wish no gift," I said suddenly. Mother gasped and my father looked hurt, but I stood my ground, jaw set, shoulders square. My father spoke first. "Why ever not dear?" He said in a calm pleasant voice. "I refuse to take a gift you made for the ‘princess of Vlad’ using the Vladian taxpayers money. You are taking the food off their tables’ father!" I said in a sharp voice. I said this mostly for the benefit of being sharp, letting my spirit show. However to my great surprise, father just smiled. "Only taxpayers were involved in this gift dear Wren, not their money!" He laughed at my puzzled expression. "About a week ago," he started "the blacksmith came to the castle with an interesting story." I felt myself shrinking, for I knew the story well. I had gone to the town blacksmith to try to bully him into giving me fencing lessons. I did this every week, unsuccessfully. He would say the same thing each time. "Littl’ Miss. King Malichi and Queen Sharah would mos’ defnitly tan mah hide if dey ever ‘scovered I gave yous lessons." I would sigh and then be content to watch him fill orders and create what I called art. I didn’t care if the stable where he made the swords was hot and smelly; I didn’t care if it was no place for a princess. I loved watching him hammer the meatal into a thin sheet, I loved watching him make weapons that could kill or save some one, but mostly I loved the beauty of the swords, especially the rapier. I found it graceful, elegant, yet frightfully powerful. To my dismay, the blacksmith hardly created rapiers; he found them pointless and week and only made them when there was an order. Each time I’d beg him to make one. And each time he’d say " Pleas’ Littl’ Miss. Issa sissy sword. Too Fast not strong enof’!" I’d argue with him until it was time for me to leave. It was a routine. One week I want for my weekly visit to the blacksmith, convinced that he would teach me how to fence this week, only to find the stable empty. "Teddy?" I called through the door. "Teddy?! I want my lessons now!" There was no answer. "Teddy!!" I called in panic, I was scared now. He knew I was coming. "Teddy! By royal decree I am forcibly entering this building" This shocked me. I had never used my royal power before. However I ran into the building with great force and determination. "Teddy!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs. Then I heard a sob in the corner. I whirled around to find a soot covered man crumpled on the floor crying. "Teddy?" I said in utter bewilderment. He looked up from his corner and sniffed "Ello’ littl’ miss wahter’ ya doin’ ere?" I scowled at him with all the force I could muster "Its Monday you uneducated twit!" He chuckled through his tears and said "Ya kno, yer hair seems to get even redder when yer angry Littl’ Miss. It dat be possibol’!" I glared at him suspiciously "Why were you crying Teddy?" The broken look came back to his face and he sighed. "Jus’ run along home Littl’ miss. I can’ be talkin’ today." I squared my shoulders stood up strait. He could not hid this from me. "Blacksmith!" I said with great power "I may be your "Little Miss" but you forget good sir that I am this country’s princess." Teddy got a shocked look on his face, I never called myself a princess in public, but I continued on. "And as the Vladian princess, I demand to know what is keeping you from doing your duties!" Teddy, still shocked, sighed and said, "I be ruined Littl’ Miss! Dere was these men see? Dey wan’ed a sword fo’ frees! I said to them I said ‘I don’ work for frees’ den dey got angry and dey tooked Inora!" I gasped. Inora was Teddy’s wife. Much too beautiful for the sooty toothless man, but she loved him just the same. Teddy was the puzzlement, not to mention envy of every male in Vlad. He continued talking, no longer seeing me, too caught in his agony. "Dey jus’ tooked her right out sayin’ ‘We’ll jus’ take dis instead!’ Dey knocked me out and tooked all my swords and moneies so I can’ even support Inora even if I do gets ‘er back!" He broke down crying and fell on the ground again. "Teddy," I asked more sympathetically this time "Who were these men?" He looked up as if just noticing my presence and said "Well Littl’ Miss, dey was kinda tall and pale. ‘Cept the one dat was doin’ talkin’ he was a littl’ short, pudgy, and ‘airy. Dey kept callin’ ’im Buck. ‘We got er Buck!’ ‘Les go Buck’ dey would say." I had to remember that description. I repeated it to myself in my head. "Teddy," I said in a flourish "stay here! As much as you want to look for those men, do not do it. I command you to stay in this stable." Before he could answer I ran out of the building. I ran half a mile to the royal library. When I got there I stood at the door and looked at the guard. "Allow me entry into this building at once!" He either knew who I was or suspected my stature for he let me in without question. I ran into the library and halted abruptly in front of the record keeper. She looked down in surprise and said "Why your majesty! Whatever are-" I didn’t have time for this. "Silence Record keeper!" I cut her off. "You must tell me about three men of this description." As I gave her the description she looked more and more puzzled. "You would find them in the criminal records. Find them for me now!" she was completely bewildered but she said "Right away Highness." Ten minets later she returned with a stack of parchment. "Here you go Your Highness," she said curtsying "But may I ask what they are for?" I smiled and sweetly said "No you may not. Hand me the parchment." She looked at me dissaprovingly and curtly stated. "You will not find the men you are looking for in this stack of papers so quickly Highness. Those are fairly commen discriptions. It will take you hours to sort through them all to find the men you are looking for." I felt my heart sinking. I had not thought of that. I just remembered my parents used to demand criminal records to see who was schedualed to go in the stocks. Being ten I didn't realize that there was another step or two. The book keeper looked away from me casualy and said "How ever if the royal Highness were to tell me the reason she needs to find these men perhaps I can help sort throught the records more quickly." I scowled at the nosey gossip. I realized she only wanted to know because she was an insuferable busy body, however I knew I couldn't do it alone. Eventually I sighed "Very well Book Keeper, I shall tell you." I saw her smile triumphantly, I couldn't let her humiliate Teddy! If the story of Inara's kidnapping got out Teddy would never get another customer again. Every fencer in Vlad would fear kidnapping. I had to think quickly. "I will tell you my reasoning Book Keeper however by royal command you are not to tell anyone what I am about to tell you. I demand it. If you do I shall personally see to it that you shall spend a fort night in my dungeon. Do you understand Book Keeper?" The triumphant smile faded and was replaced by fear in her eyes. That being as it was a triumphant samile was placed an my lips. I told her about Teddy and Inara and the three men. As I went through the tale the nosey book keeper's jaw dropped steadily. When I had finished the tale the book keeper turned pale. "What did you say the main man's name was?" she whispered. " Buck, Teddy said his name was Buck. "She shut her eyes very tightly and nodded her head and said, "Well highness, there is no need to search through all the records, I know who took her." I opened my mouth in shock. How could she know? I was the princess! I should know everyone in the kingdom, not the nosey book keeper! " I demand you tell me who he is at once!"