the haunted kingdom by Charles E.J. Moulton (snow like ashes txt) đź“•
Excerpt from the book:
PROLOGUE: The blood brothers St. Lucifer and St. Michael are created out of one falling star. Lucifer cannot handle sharing his glory with eleven brethren and is excommunicated from heaven for playing creator. As revenge, he corrupts God’s first village and its original woman Rebecca, whose husband Joseph remains steadfast and faithful. God creates an alternate reality, but Lucifer infiltrates it with Rebecca’s reincarnation Lucinda as a good king’s exiled sister.
BOOK ONE: 15th century King Alexander III of Prosperania returns home after a trip abroad to find his family quarreling, his country attacked. Preparing for an international alliance and for the wedding of his daughter Belinda to her Prince Steven, he is haunted by old enemies, Belinda finds comfort in love and religion. The wedding is a success, up until the last day of feasting, when the king’s exiled sister Lucinda returns, sent by Prosperania’s archrival King Adnicul I of Nocturnia. She curses the country with three plagues. Shaken, the newlyweds go on their honeymoon. Belinda returns pregnant. Their son Alfred is born. A stranger, Nomed Snekawa, enters the land and becomes a man for all seasons. To cure an epidemic, Nomed produces a herbal cure that puts the palace in a deep sleep on September 23rd 1425. Nomed is Lucinda and the palace is now cursed, becoming a sleeping beauty.
BOOK TWO: When the court awakes, Nomed is gone. Savage war, perverse scandal, sickness and death then haunt the land, finally leaving Alexander alone and desperate as the only inhabitant in the haunted kingdom. But Belinda reappears, claiming that this world is Lucinda’s illusion to trap him and that the family members are all actually asleep, poisoned by Nomed and caught in hell in a time trap. Alexander’s mission is to track down his sister and kill her. Werewolves in an enchanted forest petrify him, challenging his sanity, but Belinda leads him to his three angels, who send him into The Dark Forest. There and in The Wasteland he endures demonic visions, but is protected by love. Meanwhile, King Adnicul has been betrayed and encaged by his master Lucifer, who has told him he was but a vehicle to tutor Lucinda. Adnicul’s dead servant Eric comes back to him as an angel and promises him eternal peace if he helps Alexander find his sister. Alexander is lead by his younger self to a forest tribe, who tutor him to become an magical warrior. His reward is St.Michael’s Sword.
BOOK THREE: King Alex meets an old hermit that leads him to four evangelists down in a valley. They in turn lead him closer to finding his family. The last of the evangelists is St.Michael himself, who shows him Adnicul and asks him to team up with his former enemy in order to find peace. Strongly apprehensive and plagued by nightmares at first, he learns of Adnicul’s fate. He is a reincarnation of Lucifer’s first angel and wants to return to his tree in Eden. Together, they almost
defeat a monster, but Adnicul is captured by the reawakened beast. Alexander is forced to go on without him. The third and most vicious demonic forest leads him to the Cave of Original Sin where he meets Lucinda, who tempts him with roman riches and sensual fame. Adnicul escapes the beast in order to help Alex and together they finally kill Lucinda. A race against time begins, taking them through the seven horrid levels of hell, only to find the trapped family hanging in cages above a lava tunnel where they chase away Lucifer. Adnicul finds his peace in Eden. The family returns to their own restored time and Alexander decides to erect a monument to the archangelic memory of his past.
EPILOGUE: Alexander, sitting in front of the fire in his home, is visited by old long gone friends and dies happy, knowing he will see the other side content to have succeeded in his saving mission.
BOOK ONE: 15th century King Alexander III of Prosperania returns home after a trip abroad to find his family quarreling, his country attacked. Preparing for an international alliance and for the wedding of his daughter Belinda to her Prince Steven, he is haunted by old enemies, Belinda finds comfort in love and religion. The wedding is a success, up until the last day of feasting, when the king’s exiled sister Lucinda returns, sent by Prosperania’s archrival King Adnicul I of Nocturnia. She curses the country with three plagues. Shaken, the newlyweds go on their honeymoon. Belinda returns pregnant. Their son Alfred is born. A stranger, Nomed Snekawa, enters the land and becomes a man for all seasons. To cure an epidemic, Nomed produces a herbal cure that puts the palace in a deep sleep on September 23rd 1425. Nomed is Lucinda and the palace is now cursed, becoming a sleeping beauty.
BOOK TWO: When the court awakes, Nomed is gone. Savage war, perverse scandal, sickness and death then haunt the land, finally leaving Alexander alone and desperate as the only inhabitant in the haunted kingdom. But Belinda reappears, claiming that this world is Lucinda’s illusion to trap him and that the family members are all actually asleep, poisoned by Nomed and caught in hell in a time trap. Alexander’s mission is to track down his sister and kill her. Werewolves in an enchanted forest petrify him, challenging his sanity, but Belinda leads him to his three angels, who send him into The Dark Forest. There and in The Wasteland he endures demonic visions, but is protected by love. Meanwhile, King Adnicul has been betrayed and encaged by his master Lucifer, who has told him he was but a vehicle to tutor Lucinda. Adnicul’s dead servant Eric comes back to him as an angel and promises him eternal peace if he helps Alexander find his sister. Alexander is lead by his younger self to a forest tribe, who tutor him to become an magical warrior. His reward is St.Michael’s Sword.
BOOK THREE: King Alex meets an old hermit that leads him to four evangelists down in a valley. They in turn lead him closer to finding his family. The last of the evangelists is St.Michael himself, who shows him Adnicul and asks him to team up with his former enemy in order to find peace. Strongly apprehensive and plagued by nightmares at first, he learns of Adnicul’s fate. He is a reincarnation of Lucifer’s first angel and wants to return to his tree in Eden. Together, they almost
defeat a monster, but Adnicul is captured by the reawakened beast. Alexander is forced to go on without him. The third and most vicious demonic forest leads him to the Cave of Original Sin where he meets Lucinda, who tempts him with roman riches and sensual fame. Adnicul escapes the beast in order to help Alex and together they finally kill Lucinda. A race against time begins, taking them through the seven horrid levels of hell, only to find the trapped family hanging in cages above a lava tunnel where they chase away Lucifer. Adnicul finds his peace in Eden. The family returns to their own restored time and Alexander decides to erect a monument to the archangelic memory of his past.
EPILOGUE: Alexander, sitting in front of the fire in his home, is visited by old long gone friends and dies happy, knowing he will see the other side content to have succeeded in his saving mission.
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a cry of some sort that was full of surprise. Alexander had been kissing his wife when he looked up. There was a breeze coming from the window. The sister’s gowns fluttered in the breeze.
“Come and look,” she cried. Patrick looked toward the window.
A few others followed his example.
“What is it?” Alexander said.
“There on the hill.”
Morgana said, pointing out toward the open space on the hill toward the full moon.
Five people, including Alexander and Patrick, stood up and walked to the lead glass window. She pointed and the family looked out and saw a figure standing up there. It was obviously a person that was wearing a cape of some sort, for it was blowing in the very strong wind up there. The light of the moon was shining upon the hill and the person was looking at them. No, it was really a fact and every one in the room knew it. There was no indication of it, but they knew. “Who is that? Who would be standing there at this time of night?” There was a silence here now that spoke of a family petrified. Someone shrugged. Though they knew who it was. Then the unspeakable happened. The figure on the hill lifted from the ground and flew away. It circled the grounds and when it was close to be recognized it was obvious who it was.
“Lucinda” Alexander said. “She is back.” Belinda’s father turned to her and looked her deep in the eyes and asked her, “What did you dream? I need to know.”
Belinda’s hands were shaking. “Lucinda appeared to me during a feast. I was chosen, she said. Blood was dripping from her mouth.” She looked up and leapt into her father’s arms. “My Lord, oh Father.” She wept. “Don’t let her get me.”
Alexander embraced Belinda and caressed her head. “You’re much too strong for that. We’ve won over her before. We will again.”
The Winsletennas, aware of the moment, stood there comforting a girl who was making Alexander’s nightgown wet with her tears.
Late Wednesday evening, April 29th, 1422 A.D.
Marie-Louise had brought up the two lead glass lanterns from the Grand Hall at sundown and since then the candles inside had been exchanged and relit twice – by the couple themselves. Positioned on either side of the table, they seemed to light up the entire balcony. It was a beautiful spring night and the couple had been standing there for quite a while just gazing at the Big Dipper, Orion, Pegasus and, of course, the Evening Star. Occasionally, one of them would point to a star and the other would nod. A few crickets here and there gave the garden an eerie, sleepy sort of atmosphere. There was a bowl of grapes and figs and apricots on the table next to the one lantern and Belinda, who was closest by, fed Steven with grapes. On the stony armrest in front of them they had each one bronze mug of red wine.
The light of the four candles within each one of the lanterns seemed to flicker and glitter in each of their faces. Steven’s arm was around Belinda’s waist and Belinda was holding on to his shoulder, leaning against his upper arm. It was warm and Belinda wore her nightgown with a silk scarf around her waist. Her right nipple was erect from the night air.
Steven was wearing his red robe, as he was accustomed before going to sleep. He looked at Belinda again, calmly. She saw his half-closed eyes in the light of a lead glass lantern. She saw a future there and prayed inside that she could have a reason not to be suspicious. She needed to be able to trust him. She had often spoken with her mother about how hurt she had been about what had happened between Madeleine and her father. God knows where the Grand Duchess was today. She was probably old and bitter. Steven nodded and kissed Belinda on the cheek.
“Thank you for telling Morgana off today.” He smiled at her, a bit confused. “Thank you for telling her to mind her own business.”
He shook his head. “I just told her what I felt she deserved” he moaned, kissing her earlobe.
“She kept following me around the entire walk. I could not saunter a step without her being after me like some dog on a leash.”
She giggled at this since she knew he was hurt because she had been so suspicious.
“It means a lot to me.” She looked out into the open air. “I was worried.”
”About what? Us?” She nodded. “Don’t worry.”
She looked at the moon again. “The other day before father returned?” Steven nodded as Belinda spoke. “I heard Morgana rushing out as the chapel door closed. She spies on us.”
He grabbed her tenderly and she looked at him with wide-open eyes. “We have no secrets.”
“That’s right. We have no secrets.”
He smiled. “Anything else you want to talk about before we make love?”
“I sent Marie-Louise home for the night, that’s all.”
They started caressing one another, closing their eyes. “We’ll have to blow out all the candles ourselves? I’ll have to carry you to bed, tuck you in, and make love to you all by myself.”
“Well, I should hope that we’ll do that last part by ourselves.” Belinda giggled.
Steven nodded. “I should, too. I wouldn’t want Marie-Louise crawling over me while I am entering you with all of my might.”
She looked at the balcony arrangement of flowers and fruit. “She can clean this up tomorrow for breakfast, but we’ll have to drag ourselves to bed alone.”
“Dragging is a little bit of an understatement, don’t you think?”
Steven giggled and Belinda started giggling as well.
“I would handle running to bed very well, I suppose.”
His slightly unshaven mouth touched her soft lips.
“I can handle you tasting so good!”
His tongue entered her mouth, playfully swaying inside it. Belinda closed her eyes and caressed his back. “Me, too!”
Steven started kissing Belinda’s neck, slowly letting her scarf drop to the ground. As Belinda opened Steven’s robe, he unbuttoned her nightgown, but could only manage the first button. She smiled because she knew that he had always had problems undressing her. Steven’s nightgown was the first to drop to the ground. He stood there, naked. Belinda opened her nightdress and let the spring air caress her body. Now, at midnight not a single person around to see this and they both felt like youngsters.
They had fought a lot the last few weeks and now feeling close to Steven was something new and exciting.
“I hope you enjoy the view, Steven!”
Her chest was heaving and falling. The nipples were big as cherries now on two honey melon sized breasts. She saw his long gender rise and as the moon shone upon the couple as the princess knelt down, embracing her fiancées waist with her hands and his manhood with her lips. She felt the perfume of his manly odour in her nostrils. He picked her up gently by her waist and she spread her legs. Steven caressed her body as she lay there enjoying the sight of her man. Then he entered her slowly and she felt every inch of his masculinity sliding into her body. Her head slightly bumped against the lantern again and again as she looked up at the stars, seeing Orion in the sky and her own home upside down, feeling Steven’s sweat drop down on her skin.
She wondered what was up there in those stars, if someone else was looking at her from up there. She felt herself getting so excited looking up at the stars and being loved to at the same time that she had to sigh, giggle and cry all at once. Steven was going harder at it now, much harder, grabbing her. Making love outside had always been a great inspiration to Belinda. She had heard of the wealthy Romans doing it. A long line of rulers had made it an art to consumate their love in the open. Caesar and Cleopatra, Gallius Julius and Appolonia as well as Wandiffian rulers like Zumian the First and Latitia Julia had written about making love in the open and where and how they had done it.
She felt spiritual and decadent at the same time doing it. Looking at her naked fiancée now in the light of the green lanterns was an almost breathtaking sight that made her look forward to feeling his hard gender inside her, just like Latitia spoke of when Zumian entered her in those old erotic documents from the 9th century. Looking down again upon her loved one, she saw him going faster and faster and trying to hold back his climax. He convulsed several times, seemed to jerk back and forth inside her and the speed seemed to increase every time he entered her opening. The warm night air caressed her skin and it felt strange and animalistic to be making love under such beautiful stars and under a full moon that large.
She groaned several times, felt the marble table under her squeak and rattle, her body slightly wobbling with every blow. From inside an eruption came and vibrated in her from head to toe. It started in her bowel and went like a tidle wave to her toes and up to her head. She threw her head back, arched her back and shook her hair back and forth. Her high voice moaned in rhythm with his low baritone and now at once love came flooding from inside both of them like apricot juice pouring into a gold cup. She closed her eyes and felt her genitals contracting around his gender. He started pumping faster and faster, sweat dropping onto her belly and down between her legs Now at once love juice came flooding from inside both of them like apricot pouring into a gilded furry oyster cup.
“You know what arouses me, don’t you.”
”You know what arouses me.”
“My parents sleep right above us. Do you think they’re hearing us?”
“Maybe they’re doing the same thing as we are,” he said and took the wine from her hand, drank the rest and put the cup back on the armrest. Slowly panting, he lingered inside her a few minutes before carrying her to the bed. The last thing that she remembered hearing as she lay there on her fiancée’s chest was his breathing. The last thing she remembered feeling before they both entered a land of mutual dreams was the hauntingly warm breeze from the open balcony door against her right cheek and Steven’s scratchy chest hair rubbing gently against her left. She closed her eyes and imagined walking among the sunflowers, faithful, loving, peaceful and happy.
Remembering the dark autumn of 1411, Forest of Callenia, Deepest Nocturania
It was a nightmare that kept him restless that night. He had had slept for no more than an hour when he woke up screaming, waking up Sieglinde, who caressed him to sleep again. He remembered how he had to sit by Belinda’s side for hours to calm her down because of what had happened. He tried to forget, but the ghosts were back. He remembered that evening after the return. His daughter had been crying on his way home from Rigor Mortis. The thought still lingered. The question was still unanswered after 11 years.
“Who is Nina Ray?”
“What did you say, Love?”
“Lucinda spoke of a woman named Nina Ray. Who is she?”
”I have never heard the name, Sweetie.Who has told you there is such a person?”
Belinda in his shivering arms, the question left him baffled. All the
“Come and look,” she cried. Patrick looked toward the window.
A few others followed his example.
“What is it?” Alexander said.
“There on the hill.”
Morgana said, pointing out toward the open space on the hill toward the full moon.
Five people, including Alexander and Patrick, stood up and walked to the lead glass window. She pointed and the family looked out and saw a figure standing up there. It was obviously a person that was wearing a cape of some sort, for it was blowing in the very strong wind up there. The light of the moon was shining upon the hill and the person was looking at them. No, it was really a fact and every one in the room knew it. There was no indication of it, but they knew. “Who is that? Who would be standing there at this time of night?” There was a silence here now that spoke of a family petrified. Someone shrugged. Though they knew who it was. Then the unspeakable happened. The figure on the hill lifted from the ground and flew away. It circled the grounds and when it was close to be recognized it was obvious who it was.
“Lucinda” Alexander said. “She is back.” Belinda’s father turned to her and looked her deep in the eyes and asked her, “What did you dream? I need to know.”
Belinda’s hands were shaking. “Lucinda appeared to me during a feast. I was chosen, she said. Blood was dripping from her mouth.” She looked up and leapt into her father’s arms. “My Lord, oh Father.” She wept. “Don’t let her get me.”
Alexander embraced Belinda and caressed her head. “You’re much too strong for that. We’ve won over her before. We will again.”
The Winsletennas, aware of the moment, stood there comforting a girl who was making Alexander’s nightgown wet with her tears.
Late Wednesday evening, April 29th, 1422 A.D.
Marie-Louise had brought up the two lead glass lanterns from the Grand Hall at sundown and since then the candles inside had been exchanged and relit twice – by the couple themselves. Positioned on either side of the table, they seemed to light up the entire balcony. It was a beautiful spring night and the couple had been standing there for quite a while just gazing at the Big Dipper, Orion, Pegasus and, of course, the Evening Star. Occasionally, one of them would point to a star and the other would nod. A few crickets here and there gave the garden an eerie, sleepy sort of atmosphere. There was a bowl of grapes and figs and apricots on the table next to the one lantern and Belinda, who was closest by, fed Steven with grapes. On the stony armrest in front of them they had each one bronze mug of red wine.
The light of the four candles within each one of the lanterns seemed to flicker and glitter in each of their faces. Steven’s arm was around Belinda’s waist and Belinda was holding on to his shoulder, leaning against his upper arm. It was warm and Belinda wore her nightgown with a silk scarf around her waist. Her right nipple was erect from the night air.
Steven was wearing his red robe, as he was accustomed before going to sleep. He looked at Belinda again, calmly. She saw his half-closed eyes in the light of a lead glass lantern. She saw a future there and prayed inside that she could have a reason not to be suspicious. She needed to be able to trust him. She had often spoken with her mother about how hurt she had been about what had happened between Madeleine and her father. God knows where the Grand Duchess was today. She was probably old and bitter. Steven nodded and kissed Belinda on the cheek.
“Thank you for telling Morgana off today.” He smiled at her, a bit confused. “Thank you for telling her to mind her own business.”
He shook his head. “I just told her what I felt she deserved” he moaned, kissing her earlobe.
“She kept following me around the entire walk. I could not saunter a step without her being after me like some dog on a leash.”
She giggled at this since she knew he was hurt because she had been so suspicious.
“It means a lot to me.” She looked out into the open air. “I was worried.”
”About what? Us?” She nodded. “Don’t worry.”
She looked at the moon again. “The other day before father returned?” Steven nodded as Belinda spoke. “I heard Morgana rushing out as the chapel door closed. She spies on us.”
He grabbed her tenderly and she looked at him with wide-open eyes. “We have no secrets.”
“That’s right. We have no secrets.”
He smiled. “Anything else you want to talk about before we make love?”
“I sent Marie-Louise home for the night, that’s all.”
They started caressing one another, closing their eyes. “We’ll have to blow out all the candles ourselves? I’ll have to carry you to bed, tuck you in, and make love to you all by myself.”
“Well, I should hope that we’ll do that last part by ourselves.” Belinda giggled.
Steven nodded. “I should, too. I wouldn’t want Marie-Louise crawling over me while I am entering you with all of my might.”
She looked at the balcony arrangement of flowers and fruit. “She can clean this up tomorrow for breakfast, but we’ll have to drag ourselves to bed alone.”
“Dragging is a little bit of an understatement, don’t you think?”
Steven giggled and Belinda started giggling as well.
“I would handle running to bed very well, I suppose.”
His slightly unshaven mouth touched her soft lips.
“I can handle you tasting so good!”
His tongue entered her mouth, playfully swaying inside it. Belinda closed her eyes and caressed his back. “Me, too!”
Steven started kissing Belinda’s neck, slowly letting her scarf drop to the ground. As Belinda opened Steven’s robe, he unbuttoned her nightgown, but could only manage the first button. She smiled because she knew that he had always had problems undressing her. Steven’s nightgown was the first to drop to the ground. He stood there, naked. Belinda opened her nightdress and let the spring air caress her body. Now, at midnight not a single person around to see this and they both felt like youngsters.
They had fought a lot the last few weeks and now feeling close to Steven was something new and exciting.
“I hope you enjoy the view, Steven!”
Her chest was heaving and falling. The nipples were big as cherries now on two honey melon sized breasts. She saw his long gender rise and as the moon shone upon the couple as the princess knelt down, embracing her fiancées waist with her hands and his manhood with her lips. She felt the perfume of his manly odour in her nostrils. He picked her up gently by her waist and she spread her legs. Steven caressed her body as she lay there enjoying the sight of her man. Then he entered her slowly and she felt every inch of his masculinity sliding into her body. Her head slightly bumped against the lantern again and again as she looked up at the stars, seeing Orion in the sky and her own home upside down, feeling Steven’s sweat drop down on her skin.
She wondered what was up there in those stars, if someone else was looking at her from up there. She felt herself getting so excited looking up at the stars and being loved to at the same time that she had to sigh, giggle and cry all at once. Steven was going harder at it now, much harder, grabbing her. Making love outside had always been a great inspiration to Belinda. She had heard of the wealthy Romans doing it. A long line of rulers had made it an art to consumate their love in the open. Caesar and Cleopatra, Gallius Julius and Appolonia as well as Wandiffian rulers like Zumian the First and Latitia Julia had written about making love in the open and where and how they had done it.
She felt spiritual and decadent at the same time doing it. Looking at her naked fiancée now in the light of the green lanterns was an almost breathtaking sight that made her look forward to feeling his hard gender inside her, just like Latitia spoke of when Zumian entered her in those old erotic documents from the 9th century. Looking down again upon her loved one, she saw him going faster and faster and trying to hold back his climax. He convulsed several times, seemed to jerk back and forth inside her and the speed seemed to increase every time he entered her opening. The warm night air caressed her skin and it felt strange and animalistic to be making love under such beautiful stars and under a full moon that large.
She groaned several times, felt the marble table under her squeak and rattle, her body slightly wobbling with every blow. From inside an eruption came and vibrated in her from head to toe. It started in her bowel and went like a tidle wave to her toes and up to her head. She threw her head back, arched her back and shook her hair back and forth. Her high voice moaned in rhythm with his low baritone and now at once love came flooding from inside both of them like apricot juice pouring into a gold cup. She closed her eyes and felt her genitals contracting around his gender. He started pumping faster and faster, sweat dropping onto her belly and down between her legs Now at once love juice came flooding from inside both of them like apricot pouring into a gilded furry oyster cup.
“You know what arouses me, don’t you.”
”You know what arouses me.”
“My parents sleep right above us. Do you think they’re hearing us?”
“Maybe they’re doing the same thing as we are,” he said and took the wine from her hand, drank the rest and put the cup back on the armrest. Slowly panting, he lingered inside her a few minutes before carrying her to the bed. The last thing that she remembered hearing as she lay there on her fiancée’s chest was his breathing. The last thing she remembered feeling before they both entered a land of mutual dreams was the hauntingly warm breeze from the open balcony door against her right cheek and Steven’s scratchy chest hair rubbing gently against her left. She closed her eyes and imagined walking among the sunflowers, faithful, loving, peaceful and happy.
Remembering the dark autumn of 1411, Forest of Callenia, Deepest Nocturania
It was a nightmare that kept him restless that night. He had had slept for no more than an hour when he woke up screaming, waking up Sieglinde, who caressed him to sleep again. He remembered how he had to sit by Belinda’s side for hours to calm her down because of what had happened. He tried to forget, but the ghosts were back. He remembered that evening after the return. His daughter had been crying on his way home from Rigor Mortis. The thought still lingered. The question was still unanswered after 11 years.
“Who is Nina Ray?”
“What did you say, Love?”
“Lucinda spoke of a woman named Nina Ray. Who is she?”
”I have never heard the name, Sweetie.Who has told you there is such a person?”
Belinda in his shivering arms, the question left him baffled. All the
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