Chapter 9: A Sacrifice for Love
"This is an ancient spell, William. It's very dangerous," Shapira whispered, her slender fingers sweeping across the yellowed pages of the old parchment. Dust danced in the candlelight, highlighting the strange lines that formed an unusual pattern on its surface. "But I have to master it. For you."
At her side, William watched her, his pupils dilated with worry. His breath was heavy, filling the quiet study in the castle tower. "Is it really necessary, Shapira? This magic, the danger you're taking on … it unnerves me." His fists tightened at his sides, and his jaw set, betraying his fear.
Shapira looked up, a flash of determination burning in her beautiful eyes. "It's more than necessary. I see how tired you've been lately. I can feel the shadow of that curse, creeping inside you." Her voice trembled with deep emotion. "I couldn't bear it if something happened to you, William. Never again. I must be your shield, your sword."
William stepped forward, his hand gently touching Shapira's shoulder. "I don't want you to risk yourself. I don't want this burden to be yours." He wanted to beg her to stop, but he saw the persistence in her gaze. Her courage was both devastating and awe-inspiring. There was a burning resolve there, something he had never seen in Anya, or even in himself.
"I'll be fine," Shapira assured him, her voice firmer now. "This is my choice. Besides, I've never felt more alive than when I hold this power. It resonates with something inside me." She touched the book again, feeling it like an extension of her own soul. "And I will not back down."
William nodded slowly, doubt still etched on his face. "I trust you," he said in a hoarse voice, acknowledging his admiration. "But be careful. If anything goes wrong, don't hesitate to stop. I couldn't forgive myself if you got hurt." His eyes met Shapira's with an intensity that held an unspoken promise.
"I'll be careful. I promise," Shapira smiled, a smile that slightly eased the weight on William's heart. He knew that Shapira would never stop. And that reality, as terrifying as it was, was also why he was falling even more in love with her.
***
"This lake .…" William began, his voice trailing off as he gazed at the expanse of blue water shimmering under the morning sun. A gentle wind caressed the leaves of the weeping willows, creating a symphony of nature's whispers. "Anya used to love it. She would come here every morning, just to see the sunrise reflected on its surface."
Shapira sat beside him on the worn wooden bench, soaking in the atmosphere and listening to his every word. She could feel the echo of that memory, as if the lake itself held an old sorrow. "That must be a beautiful memory," Shapira said softly, her hand instinctively reaching for William's where it rested beside her. She could feel the morning chill, but William's touch brought a comforting warmth.
"She always found beauty in the little things," William continued, his gaze lost on the horizon. There was a melancholy in his voice, but also a different light now. "She would pick the wildflowers by the shore and weave them into a wreath for me. And we would promise that our love would be as beautiful as this lake, timeless." William turned to look at Shapira, and for a moment, he seemed to see a flash of Anya in her, but with a new warmth.
Shapira squeezed his hand. "And that's a promise you held on to, wasn't it?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. A flash of a dream about Anya in this place crossed her mind, a memory that wasn't hers, yet felt so real. She wondered if this was fate, or a curse destined to repeat itself. "Does this lake hold all the tears and the happiness?"
William smiled bitterly. "Perhaps. But now, it holds new memories, too." He squeezed Shapira's hand gently. "This lake used to only remind me of loss. Now, being here with you, it feels like hope." William's voice grew deeper, more honest. "This lake used to be a bitter place. But now, with you, it feels sweet." William felt Shapira's touch, a warmth that slowly melted away the old sorrow.
"I'm glad I can share this with you," Shapira replied, her smile now genuine. "Every place can have a new story, can't it? And maybe, this new story will be stronger than the old one."
They sat in silence for a moment, accompanied only by the sound of the wind and water. Bitter memories mixed with the sweetness of the present, creating a complex layer of emotion in this sacred place. Shapira's presence had transformed the lake for him, from a monument of grief into a canvas for new hope.
***
"My body feels like it's burning from the inside!" Shapira gasped, clutching her throbbing head. Cold sweat drenched her forehead, and her vision blurred. She staggered down the palace corridor, her hand reaching for the cool wall for support. Each step felt like she was carrying tons of weight.
"Lady Shapira!" Lila's panicked voice called out from a distance before she ran closer. "What's wrong with you?"
"It's Isabelle!" William shouted, his voice filled with a burning rage. He had been watching her from afar, seeing the moment her body suddenly gave way. "I know this is her doing! She must have hired a sorcerer to curse you!" William knelt beside Shapira, his hand touching her forehead. A searing heat met his palm. "She's burning up!"
Lila touched Shapira's cheek, her eyes filled with fear. "There's a dark aura around her, Your Highness! This isn't a normal illness!"
William lifted Shapira into his arms, his heart aching at her suffering. He could feel a dark energy creeping across her skin. "I won't let her do this to you!" William growled, his eyes flashing with fury. He carried Shapira swiftly, rushing toward her chambers, his footsteps thundering on the marble floor. "Bring the best healing potions! Now!" he commanded Lila, his voice firm and urgent.
Inside the room, William carefully laid Shapira on the bed. He grabbed a wet cloth and began to wipe her forehead, trying to bring her temperature down. "Hold on, Shapira. Hold on," William whispered, his voice thick with desperation. He would never forgive Isabelle for this. His hatred for her smoldered, a dark fire newly kindled. William didn't care about the confused stares of the servants at the doorway; all he cared about was Shapira.
Shapira coughed weakly, her body trembling. "She… she wants me to leave you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "She wants me gone."
"No," William refused firmly, his hand gripping hers tightly. "You're not going anywhere. I won't let anyone hurt you." He kissed the back of her hand, the promise etched there, strong and unshakeable. William had not felt this afraid since losing Anya. This time, he would not let history repeat itself. He would not let Shapira be taken from him.
***
"I'm scared … I'm scared of losing you," Shapira confessed, her voice breaking as she gripped William's hand tightly. Tonight, in her room, moonlight streamed through the window, enveloping them in an intimate silence. Her face was pale after the curse's effects, but her eyes conveyed a deep fear. "Like Anya … I feel like that fate will chase me, will tear you away from me again."
William gently caressed Shapira's cheek, looking at her with pure love. "It won't. I won't let that happen. I swear it." He pulled Shapira closer, holding her tightly as if to protect her from every threat. The warmth of his body seeped into her, slowly chasing away the cold that gnawed at her soul.
"But the curse …," Shapira tried to argue, her voice muffled against his chest. "The prophecy … Everything Isolde did." A sense of helplessness surrounded her. "What if I'm just … bad luck for you?"
William pulled back slightly, looking deep into Shapira's eyes. His own radiated a profound sincerity. "You are not bad luck. You are my light. My strength." He touched her forehead. "I will not leave you. Not ever. I don't care about curses, prophecies, or anyone who tries to separate us. You are my world now."
"Can you really promise that?" Shapira replied, tears welling in her eyes. "After everything that happened to Anya … how can you not be afraid?"
"Because you're different," William answered, his voice steady and full of conviction. "Because my love for you is different. It's deeper, more real than any fear." He kissed her forehead, then her lips, a kiss that was gentle yet full of promise. "I will fight fate itself if I have to. We'll fight it together. You are not alone in this." He wanted her to know that he truly loved her, Shapira, not the shadow of Anya.
Shapira returned his kiss, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. In William's arms, in this place, she felt safe. The curse, the haunting past, it all seemed to fade, replaced by the strength of this new, growing love.
"I believe you," Shapira whispered, burying her face in his neck. "I'll fight with you. Until the end." She felt strength flowing back into her, a strength not just from magic, but from the promise that had just been made.
***
"Varkhiel's forces have been deployed," William announced, his voice booming with tension in the planning room. A large map of the Kingdom of Astellia was spread across the table, with red markers indicating enemy movements. The scent of old parchment and steel filled the air. "They will reach the border in a matter of days. We must be prepared."
William turned to Shapira, his sharp gaze softening as he looked at her. "Shapira, you must stay at the castle. It's too dangerous." William knew he couldn't let her take any more risks. The wound from Isabelle was too real, too recent.
Shapira stepped forward, her hand on the map, her finger pointing to the thick border. "No." She looked at William with an unwavering gaze. "I'm not staying. I'm going with you. To the battlefield."
William shook his head. "I can't let you. Imagine if you were hurt again? Or worse .…" His voice caught. He couldn't bring himself to say the word.
"How can you protect me if I'm not by your side?" Shapira retorted, her voice rising with a note of defiance. "I've mastered new spells. I can use my magic to protect the soldiers. To protect you!" Shapira would not let him go alone, not after he had risked everything for her. She felt the thrum of magical energy at her fingertips, an urge to act.
"That's too risky!" William insisted, moving closer to Shapira, his face a mix of frustration and fear. He grabbed her arm, pleading. "Think of yourself, Shapira. Don't do this for me."
"I can't think of myself when you're facing danger," Shapira answered, her voice softer now, but just as firm. She looked at William, her eyes radiating love and determination. "I will not leave you. Not ever." She said it with a frightening certainty, a certainty that made William realize he couldn't stop her. "Let me be by your side. I won't ask again."
Tension filled the room. The soldiers around them held their breath, awaiting the prince's decision. William looked at Shapira, seeing the steel in her soft gaze. He knew he couldn't win. He could never refuse Shapira once she had made up her mind.
William took a deep breath, his eyes locked on hers. He saw her courage, her loyalty, and her deep love. A love that had, somehow, replaced his old grief. He knew, if she insisted, he had no choice. And in his heart, there was an unspoken pride.
"Alright," William finally said, his voice low, a heavy decision made. "You're coming." He held her hand tightly, a promise stronger than steel forged between them. "But you will stay in the back lines. You'll use your magic for healing and protection. No direct combat. Understand?"
Shapira nodded, a faint smile on her lips, the same lips that always made him weak. "Understood," she said. There was a small victory in her heart, mixed with fear for what was to come. Lucian's threat loomed over them, and war would soon be here.
"And one more thing," William added, looking at her sharply. "If I tell you to retreat, you retreat. For me."
Shapira nodded again, this time earnestly. "I promise," she replied, though in her heart she knew that when the time came, she would do anything for William, even if it meant breaking her own promise. War was coming. And she would be by his side.