S1, Chapter 2; The trick with curses...

2020 AC/DC. Holy Wood tavern, evening.

She wore a half dress of copper velvet. Bright copper. It matched her eyes. Richi watched her as she floated around the room, after her stage performance, she was flocked by young girls and boys. Men stood on the outskirts, waiting for her to break free from the young ones she had a penchant for. She drifted in and out of the smoke, the people adored her.

Richi watched as he always did, her right hand was the sane side of her. She was a good singer, more of an entertainer than singer. She was a good queen too, and a good mother, despite Dawn's wildness. The young woman was off now, stomping in and around the underground. She seemed to really take enjoyment in the belly of the city, all the gangs were in some way or another, under her control. She was a ruthless fighter and had taken down each crime boss one by one. There was nothing she didn't notice, and therefore nothing Star didn't notice.

The BOC was planning a jury assault, wanting to take Star to the stand AGAIN! For the three hundredth and thirty fifth time-yes he kept track- she was being accused of teenage seduction. Caught in the act with a sixteen year old girl who was screaming for pleasurable release. Truly screaming for Star to finish her off. Whatever the Queen did to that girl, it got her caught and imprisoned. But of course, by the Grace of the Queen's Goddess-The Mother- she was released the very next day with no charges having been pressed. A bail was always allowed and she always made it.

She was smoking now, and that herb even Richi smoked on while he watched her. Her bare legs looked longer than they were in the dim light of the club, in her mini dress of velvet. Rainbow lights danced over them all and a haze drifted around their ankles. She knew how to throw a party. She kissed a girl, and took her under her arms, she looked to Richi and winked, licking her lips with a small flick of her tongue. She was silently asking him to join her. He would of course, he had other lovers himself but how could you say no when a beautiful Queen asked you to bed with her and a young girl?

Dawn hated it when Star went after the young girls, Richi thought to himself while he took another sip of whiskey. Rosie, her grandchild, was just barely fifteen, well mentally. Physically she was supposed to be in her twenties, but Star had magic and magic always won. That's why the Princess and Princess-in-waiting, were not present. Dawn was sick of the reckless debauchery, but only when it concerned her mother, and had more fun ordering her underground subjects about. 

Yes, Dawn had her happy share of mind altering substances and loved her booze-a trait inherited form her father- the biggest difference between them was that Star loved many, while Dawn loved few. Another thing that twisted the blade in Dawn's side, irritating things between her and her mother, Star refused to give up the throne that was rightfully hers. Dawn was far old enough and capable, to run the kingdom by herself. But Star refused, caught up in a web of fortune telling and secrets. So the dark haired warrior woman ruled a different kind of kingdom.

Nearly one fourth of the kingdom came into immortality after Star won The Rebellion. Many subjects still chose to live and die mortal lives, noble creatures they were. Riche sipped his whiskey and gazed about the room. They loved her, everyone was free, men kissed men, women made love to women, all in the same room, all because Star had liberated them. The circle of love and hate was solid and bold between the BOC and the Queen.

Star's band, the Silver Knights, was a testament to her conquering the BOC sixty years ago. She sang of heroic deeds of men and women, of sex and pride and joy and love. She had harems of fans and even attracted many traveling musical knights and ladies from across the lands. She loved guitarist men and singers and women singers. The era of love had consumed them all and she took it all with grace and fervor. Richi himself was a guitarist, his own band, Light in the Black, was still cycling through singers, trying to find the right one. Richi was picky and could afford to be.

With Richi observing, waiting for the moment Star would retire so he could join her, the party went on and on well into the evening.

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

Holy Wood Castle, evening.

In the castle, Rosie sat alone at her window. She could see the lights where she knew her Nana was, and her mother was gone. Rosie was often left alone, and had learned to be alright in their absences, but it was still disheartening. Suddenly, below her window, she saw soft dancing orbs of yellow light. She smiled, they reminded her of fairies. They beckoned to her, dancing in and out of the trees, calling to her. Whispering her name and enchanting her. She got up and ran to go play with them, desperate for a friend.

She went, and played, and smiled and laughed in the darkness. The guards who normally stood guard at this hour, were slumped in their places, giving the appearance of standing guard but were cast into death. Rosie didn't hear the man approach from behind...didn't hear the rustling black robes of velvet...until they folded around her.

 SHE SCREAMED

.....and was gone into the night.....

*****&&&&&&&*****

Holy Wood Castle, morning. 

In the morning, Star slept soundly with a brunette woman on one side, and Richi on the other. She got up, stretched and went to the warm coffee waiting in the foyer of her chambers. She inhaled the sweet scent of her drink and had just taken a morning sigh when the chaos erupted. The piercing scream reached her ears and the door blew open, she didn't flinch.

Her grandchild's maid rushed in, a plump short woman with red hair in thick curls. She mothered the girl when both Star and Dawn were absent, Dawn was due to return that mid afternoon. It was too late.

“HE HAS TAKEN HER! THE DARK ONE HAS TAKEN ROSIE!!!” She screamed and stared at her queen. Her name was May and she was fierce, Star had wanted her to be so.

Star set down her coffee, and slowly went to her wardrobe. May continued to curse and retell how the guards were found murdered at their posts and the Symbol of the Dark One was carved into Rosie's bedroom door. Star put on her dark blue jeans, her black ruffled, pirate's shirt, and put the brown belt around her waist. She grabbed a sword from the perch on the inside of the door and slung it around her waist. Star was going to go after the Wizard without hesitation. She tied back her hair, put on her riding boots, and she took off before Richi and the other lover had any idea what had happened.

Richi sighed, not again.

The Dark One often teased Dawn and Star, pitting mother and daughter against each other as he played their sexual fantasies and emotions. Though, if he knew Star well enough, he knew that while she loved making love to the wizard, her heart belonged to one man who she hadn't seen in years. Now he got up and the woman stirred across from him. Star traveled quick, May left the rooms and he pulled on his black trousers and was leaving the room.

He had to await for Dawn and he knew it wouldn't be long.

&*&*&**&*&*&*&

On her way, Star was met with a traveler. A wandering man dressed in red. She stopped her mad gallop when he stepped into the road. He threw back his hood, his hair dyed a deep red. He smiled and held a scythe by his side. He pointed it at her.

“Keep your children close,” he said. “And your enemies closer.”

“I don't have time for you, get out of my way!” Normally she would have fought the man hand to hand to make it fair. He was a Spider member, a gang that had been fighting to over throw Star ever since she came to the throne. She drew her sword.

“The Spiders are everywhere, their webs long and sticky. They sent me to remind you, lest you forget.”

“I didn't forget. Especially how easy it is to kill your kind.”

Just as he began to laugh she cut his head from his neck and galloped away once more. She had more important places to be, and he didn't put up a fight. She knew that whoever sent him and done knowing he would never return.

&*&*&*&*&*&*&

Inside the Dark Castle of the Wizard, day.

Rosie sat in her chambers, in the depths of the castle she was wailing horribly in tears of utter sadness and fear. The Dark One growled in his library and put his hands over his ears to block out her cries. He had taken her to draw her mother and grandmother out for battle. He was bored and one of them was sure to fall victim to his antics and lusts. He wanted nothing to do with Rosie, she was purely a pawn in his tyrannical games. Mostly, he desired for Dawn to come, as he was darkness she was the light and he craved her light. Where her mother was lean and fox like, Dawn was tall and a lady wolf.

When he hunted, He preferred the wolf to the trickster fox.

Now he was stuck with a child that wailed louder than a baby. As ear splitting crying echoed through the castle, he hoped they came soon to take her back. His pride would not allow him to take her himself. He didn't have to wait long. The royal had impeccable timing.

“Wizard! You foul demon!” Star came storming into his library then. The doors bursting open and rattling on their hinges from her strength.

He looked up at her entry. Once they had made wild love to each other in ecstasy. But sometime before he turned his sights to Dawn, Star turned and looked at him as if his actions no longer pleased her. He had the horrible feeling that she saw right through his flirting, taking it as nothing more than a grain of salt in a flesh wound. What had given her this insight he didn't know, he had been an excellent lover, but he knew she was never true to him nor he to her, they never shared that kind of love.

She rushed in and pointed her sword at him. He stared along the silver up to her glowing honey eyes. He sighed.

“Where is she you brute!?”

“Two floors above.” he said.

She frowned at him, and brought her sword down on a book in front of him. He sighed at the lack of need she had to do such a thing. She turned and stormed away. He stood and followed her, seeming to float along the thick carpeting. At least he was able to attract one of them to come retrieve the girl. And while she was at it, he would take her to his bed once more.

&*&*&**&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

Dawn stormed in, dressed in a long black skirt that fell in layers, it swished around her, looking like she flew in on a cloud. Riche stood by the throne, talking to other throne managers and dignitaries. Dawn had never be particularly fond of Star's cousin, Uncle Riche as she called him. But she found him to be a useful ally, and enjoyed his band.

“Why is my mother's horse gone and why is Rosie not in her room?” Dawn never wasted words.

Riche could appreciate that, they were alike in that way. “The Dark One stole Rosie in the night. Star went after them. If I were you-”

She was gone before he could finish. He sighed and shook his head, the women of the family were mental. Completely mad, yet they were in power.

&*&*&*&*&*&*

Holy Wood Lands, day.

Dawn rode hard and fast to the Castle. Anger at the Wizard for daring steal her daughter, and jealousy that he might seduce her mother instead of her, rushed through her veins. She did not fear for the child, if Star was already at the castle-which she knew her mother was- there was nothing to fear. Before Dawn, there were two older sisters, stolen from their cribs. Not long after, Dawn was born and when the BOC took Her away, her mother tore down their castle walls to rescue her. Star was like the power between wolf and bears fighting for their cubs.

She was also prone to fucking that awful wizard! Dawn raged when she recalled her and Star fighting over him, her mother had spurned him before her birth. The old bag should back the fuck off. She made her horse go faster as they came closer to the black stone castle.

&*&*&*&*&*&*&

Dark Castle of the Wizard, day.

Star had Rosie in her arms, petting the girl's long brown curls and comforting her. She led the girl out of the room and down the stairs. The Wizard watching from a Bannister overhead, grinned to himself. Star was fuming. What was he playing at? Kidnapping her for no reason? He usually had a reason for everything, this was odd.

“Leaving so soon?” His voice echoed down to her.

She stopped, and pushed her grandchild forward to the doors. “Go Rosie, my horse awaits you. Get on and ride for home!” She faced the wizard. “Shut up!”

“Finally, send that horrid brat home,” he said and walked down the stairs towards her. “She wouldn't stop that crying for anything.”

“What did you just call her?” Her fists began to glow in a blue static.

“You heard me. She's louder than you,” he was referring to her love noise. “Join me Star, come to my bed. I'll let you both peacefully.” He came up beside her, suddenly holding her close. Her heart fluttered but as was her way, she was stubborn and defiant.

She laughed in his face. “Oh you think it would be that easy did you? Kidnap my grandchild to lure me here and do away with? Not today my tease!” She lifted her palms and recited her spell. “Let they who have lustful hearts be trapped in the castle of their lustful desires! May the need for lust be heavy upon them, not easily broken except by the whiteness of purity!”

From outside, Rosie heard the loud chanting. She didn't know what to do, but when she looked to the road she saw her mother coming. A BRIGHT burst of green magic flared over the castle and the curse Star laid over the place echoed loudly, Dawn heard every word said back as the curse took over.

“You Bitch!” She shouted towards her mother's figure within. “That's MY wizard!”

The wizard looked out the open doors and saw the blurry figure of Dawn through the haze of the spell. He laughed as Star had just done and then let her go. He wasn't sure if Star knew, but with the arrival of her daughter and a curse upon him, his clever mind was far ahead of her's in a mere moment. In an instant he needed someone to lift the curse from the outside, and he knew Dawn would do it. Until then he had to seduce the queen, effectively making her a captive of her own spell, and give Dawn a reason to break her mother's curse. Acting quickly, he moved forward, reaching out for Star.

“Looks like your daughter has come to join us.”

“You insolent beast!” She meant to slap him but thought better of it. “Rot here alone you sick animal. And leave my daughter alone.”

“Your daughter is a wonderful lover. Very giving, very wanting. Dare I say I'm glad she's here, she's near your equal in coupling,. If not your superior.”

Star turned then, her neck hair bristling in silvery strands. “You shut your whore mouth. Do not speak of my daughter's actions to me.”

“Oh I thought you knew, you always do seem jealous of her.” He came close again, and reached out to her hand. He lifted it to his lips and pressed a small kiss to her hand. She may not be fooled by his love puppy ways, but she was receptive to the touch. “Don't be jealous.”

“I am not jealous of my child!” She turned away and he suddenly latched on to her shoulders, pressing a quick, wet, kiss to the nape of her neck. Her body blew up in heat from the inside. She pressed it down and stilled her frantic heart. He knew her weaknesses.

“Why don't you show me?” His voice was low and attractive to her ears.

She nearly gave it but shook him off. “No! Not today!” She began storming to the doors and slammed right into the walls she had created. She pressed her palms to the green magic hovering before her, seeing the figure of Dawn outside, her ranting and raves of anger were muted by the magic cover.

“Dawn!” She screamed. “DAWN! IT'S NOT MY FAULT!”

The magic then echoed her words to her. “Lustful heart.....lustful heart....trapped in the castle...castle...castle.” In a single moment he had stoked just enough passion in her blood to make her victim to her own spell. Her magic so powerful that it took her under its wing in an instant.

She felt it then. The maddening curse she had placed on not only the Wizard, but now herself. Her own curse was used against her and she could feel the lust building in her. He looked at her with hunger filled eyes Wide, mad eyes that were filled to the brim with desire and lust. Her cruse ran rampant on them both and she ran from him, screaming a string of curses as he chased after her. That day they made angry, vengeance sex all over the castle chambers on every floor. She smacked him in the face when he fell asleep after a session of coupling and cursed him with a foul name, before succumbing to sleep beside him.

&*&*&*&*&*&*

Holy Wood Castle, night.

Dawn was back at Holy Wood. After faintly hearing her mother scream her name and upon hearing the curse echo, she could only wonder what they did inside. She chose to believe he was torturing Star. It made the jealousy go away. Yes that was it, he was abusing her in a non sexual way that Star couldn't possibly enjoy. Or She was abusing him.... The Princess hated to admit that He alone evoked jealousy between mother and daughter. Dawn sat on the throne with Rosie sitting on the steps below. Suddenly Dawn knew what had to be done, to ensure that no one took Rosie from under her, she gently took her daughter by the arm and led her away. They made haste to the stables again.

“Where are we going mum?” She asked.

“To the Kingdom by the Sea. I think I know the “white purity” that will break the spell. And you're coming with me. I know you hate travel but you're staying right by my side.”

They flew from the stables swift and fleet. Dawn drove the horses to breaking point but with her magic was able to keep them going. They rode into the night and upon the breaking sun of morning, they arrived on the outskirts of the Kingdom by the Sea. She gazed out over the ocean then and took in the salty breeze. She always did love the sea, but now was not a time to enjoy it, she came to see the King.”

&*&*&*&*&*

The chambers of the Wizard in the Dark Castle, night.

While Star slept she was visited by Zardos. Zardos was her conscious personified. The female esque creature had a slight wolf curve to the lines of her face. Her teeth were fangs, her eyes a bright shining yellow. She had first appeared to Star a year after she fell to earth, coming in dreams. Zardos had been compelled her to awaken in the mind and become who she was now. Zardos was like her demented guardian angel, who always failed at her job. But she hovered over the bed where Star slept next to the Wizard.

“Wake up,” Zardos droned in an exotic brough. “Open your eyes and see me Star Dust of Holy Wood.”

She did as commanded. Zardos was a physical being only Star seemed to see. She had grappled with the creature before, to test the boundaries of reality and came away with wounds from their scuffle. She was real, but only to the Queen.

“There are spiders in the night coming for you. Protect your children, they are the key.” Star had no idea what Zardos was talking about. All that registered was the words Spiders, they were a gang that harassed her and the throne. “Keep your children close, and your enemies, ever closer.”

Star blinked, and Zardos was gone.