The Crown of Pearls

"ONCE UPON A TIME THERE LIVED A HAPPY AND CONTENTED QUEEN IN HER PALACE."
Mara liked hearing Ezra's voice. It was so relaxing. Like hearing the splash of the waves in the ocean. Or hearing the rustle of the leaves. It made Mara feel safe. And he though he's telling a fairy tale, Ezra still seems so manly. Mara could almost sigh.

"He is so cute!!!"

"She had many jewels and servants. Her subjects respected her authority. That's what made the Queen so happy.

"It so happens that that the Queen had an only daughter. The Princess was a shy beautiful little girl. Everybody loved her.

"When the Princess grew up into a fine young lady, she fell in love with one of the Queen's knights. Of course, this was forbidden. Their love had to be kept a secret."

Instead of feeling sleepy, Mara became wide awake because of the story. She was anxious to know what's going to happen. Or maybe because Ezra's voice had this effect on her. The only thing she knew for sure is that she's not going to sleep anytime soon.

"Sleepy yet?"

"No, continue the story. I like to know what happens next."

"One night, when the Princess sneaked out of the palace to meet her Knight, someone had seen them. That person immediately went to the Queen expecting a reward for his information. Of course, he was given plenty of that.

"Once the Queen heard of her daughter's affair, she was furious. She demanded that the Knight be brought to her at once.

"The Queen told the Knight that he was no good for the Princess. The Knight explained how true and pure his love is for the Princess, but the Queen would not hear any of it. She wanted him to leave her daughter, but the Knight's true love would not let him leave the Princess he so dearly loved.

"The Queen was enraged. She would never let her only daughter marry a common knight. He could never give the Princess the the comfort and riches she so rightly deserved. She planned a bright future for her daughter. There were many princes from other kingdoms who seek her hand. The Queen decided to take drastic measures.

"'You have three little sisters, am I right, my Knight? I know that you're the only one who supports them, since your parents died five years ago. How would it be if you suddenly disappear? I'm sure no one would keep them, since you have no relations left. Your younger sisters will be sold as slaves. And I believe you have a sister old enough to be of service to the men of this kingdom. Now, how would you like that, my Knight?' the Queen threatened the Knight, and she was most pleased with his reply.

"'As you wish, my Queen. Me and my sisters will be out of the kingdom as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.'

"'Very good, my Knight. You will be escorted as far as to the gates of the kingdom. You will also be provided with whatever you will need in your journey.'

"Still not sleepy?"

"You're stopping at the most exciting part! Continue!"

Ezra chuckled. Mara found the sound of his voice beautiful. She was instantly captivated.

"Once the Princess heard that her Knight had left the kingdom for good, she was heartbroken. She refused to eat her meals. The Queen wasn't the least bit alarmed though. She knew that the Princess would soon be tired of being starved. How wrong she was.

"The Princess didn't go out of her chamber for several days. She ate very little. Now, the Queen was distraught. Even though she was cruel, she was still a mother. All mothers love their children, or so they say.

"So, what do you think will happen next? Any guesses?"

"Hmmmm . . . I think there are only two options that the Queen can possibly make. First, is to call for the Knight, so the Princess and him can live happily ever after. But it sounds too easy, don't you think? So I'm more into the second option, which is to make the Princess hate the Knight. Girls move on more easily with hatred. Did I get it right?"

Ezra relied with a smile. Mara was dazzled. She could feel herself melting. She just hoped Ezra doesn't notice.

"Good guesses. But none of them came even close.

"The Knight cannot forget about the Princess. He entrusted his sisters to his close friend in the neighboring kingdom and told him that if, somehow, something happened to him and he could not return, that he should take care of his sisters.

"The Knight sneaked into the castle at night and into the Princess' chamber. He asked her if she would go with him. They will go to the neighboring kingdom and hide. The Princess agreed to at once. They were soon off.

"The soldiers saw them on their way outside the kingdom. They thought that the Princess was being kidnapped. The soldiers chased the pair and in no time they were surrounded. The Princess was taken from the Knight, and he was killed before her very eyes.

"The Princess was in shock. She could not accept the fact that her beloved knight was dead. She won't stop crying. She won't eat. She won't talk to anyone. She only stared into space, and there was always a blank look in her once alive eyes.

"After a few weeks, it was discovered that the Princess was pregnant. When the Princess was informed of her condition, she came back to life. She started smiling again. She ate her meals and got out of her room. She was slowly returning back to normal. The Queen was so pleased that she decided that she'll let the child be born even though its father was only a common knight.

"Rumors about the Princess was spreading throughout the kingdom. She was pregnant, yet the Princess was not married. It was giving the royal family a bad image.

"The Queen betrothed the Princess to a Prince of a neighboring kingdom at once. The Princess did not even know her fiancee, but she still agreed because she wanted her child to grow up with a father. In a few weeks time, they were married.

"Many months have passed. The Princess left her kingdom and lived at her husband's kingdom. The Prince was kind and gentle, and he loved the Princess dearly. The Princess could not love the Prince as much as she loved the father of her child, but she loved him like a dear friend. In those months, they lived happily and contentedly.

"The Princess finally gave birth to a little baby girl. She was named Catherine.

"The baby was loved by everyone, and she was the symbol of unity of the two kingdoms. Catherine will be the Queen of those two kingdoms when she comes of age. She was always guarded by several royal guards and knights.

"When the Princess was a child, the Queen ordered the family to visit her. The royal family inclined, and soon, they were off.

"The Queen was ecstatic when she saw her granddaughter. She was very fond of the little girl. When it was time to leave, the Queen cried because she will be departed from her sweet little granddaughter. The Princess did not have the heart to take Catherine away from her grandmother, so she and her husband left for the other kingdom without their daughter.

"Unfortunately, while traveling, the carriage that the Princess and the Prince was riding accidentally fell of a cliff. They both died.

"The two kingdoms were devastated. There was no heir left to the throne except for Catherine, but she was still a child. So it was ordained that Catherine will be the next Queen as soon as she reaches her sixteenth birthday.

"At fourteen years old, Catherine was already a fine young lady. She was matured for her age. At this young age, she already helped managing the two kingdoms. She was loved by all of her people.

"One morning, when the Queen went to her granddaughter's chamber to wake her up, which she does every day, she found the door locked. This was the first time Catherine locked her door. When the door was opened, the found the window wide open. Catherine's bed was empty.

"All the servants were ordered to search every single room of the castle for the Princess, but she cannot be found. All of the soldiers and knights rummaged every kingdom that Catherine can possibly reach, but she was nowhere to be found. The Queen was heartbroken. All of the people of the kingdom mourned for their lost princess.

"Two years has passed since Catherine's disappearance. In those two years, the Queen barely said a word and never permitted herself to smile. In those times, witches and dark magic were widespread all over the kingdoms, and the Queen focused all her anger on hunting for them. Once proved to be practicing any form of magic, you will be tortured or burned at the stakes. Hundreds of assumed witches and wizards were killed.

"In her sixteenth birthday, Catherine finally returned at the Queen's palace. The Queen was overjoyed. For three days after her arrival, there were feasts in the two kingdoms.

"When asked what happened, Catherine only says she could not remember. She acted like nothing ever happened. She was as sweet and kind as ever.

"Catherine's replacing the Queen and ruling the two kingdoms was being held trial by the officials of the kingdom. It was preordained that she will be the Queen when she reached sixteen, but she was gone for two years. It was finally decided that she will get the throne at her eighteenth birthday.

"One night, the Queen heard Catherine talking in her room. She couldn't understand the words, but she was sure that it was her granddaughter speaking. She'll recognize her voice anywhere.

"The Queen entered Catherine's room slowly in order to make no noise. If its someone with a bad intention towards Catherine, then she wants to have the element if surprise with her. She hasn't expected to be the one surprised."

Silence.

"What?"

"So, aren't you sleepy yet?"

"You're stopping at the most exciting part again!"

Ezra smiled one of his dazzling smiles again. Mara was sure she was hyperventilating.

"You look more beautiful when you're angry."

Mara blushed ten shades of red. It was dark, but not dark enough for Ezra not to see her flaming cheeks. She could even hear her own heart beating hard. But for some reason, she couldn't take her eyes away from Ezra's. There was something in those eyes that was so captivating. Maybe because its the most unusual shade of sapphire that Mara has ever seen. Also the most beautiful.

They remained staring into each other's eyes for a long time, slthough for both of them it seemed only seconds have passed.

"Do you want me to continue?"

"Of course. Its a beautiful story."

"Well then, listen carefully.

"When the Queen entered Princess Catherine's room, she saw the most unexpected sight.

"The Princess was wearing a long black cloak, and there were cards in front of her, and they were floating. She was chanting spells. It was a ritual she was performing. There was no mistaking it.

"The Queen was hysterical. For the first time, she lost her composure. Catherine was her only granddaughter, now who will inherit the throne? The Queen demanded to know what was going on, and when Catherine replied, she was cold and emotionless. She lost the sweet and gentle tone of her voice. She was a whole different person.

"'Why, Grandmother, don't you know what this is? I would have thought that with the hundreds of witches that was burned in the stakes, you would know the difference of witchcraft from those not. Yes, my Queen, I am performing magic, and I am not ashamed of it.'

"'How dare you! You're going to be the next Queen! Royalty does not practice dark magic! This is an outrage!'

"'No, how dare you Grandmother! How dare you kill hundreds of innocent people! How dare you take their parents away from those children! You have no right, Grandmother! You are not the one to determine their fate!'

"'I am the Queen, Catherine. I have every right to do those. As for you, you have no right to answer back to me!'

"'You are not God, Grandmother.'

"'Don't you call me Grandmother! I am disgusted with you! I never want to see your face again! Get out! get out of my sight! NOW!'

"'As you wish, my Queen. But remember I will return, and when I did, you will regret that you even let me born in this world.'

"Many years have passed. The people did not forget their princess. They were never told the reason of Catherine's departure, only that she had to leave.

"The Queen was growing old and weak. She could not continue being the head of her kingdom any longer. The officials were expecting that Catherine would soon come back to take her throne, since they also did not know the reason for her sudden departure. But years had gone by, and yet there was still no Catherine. So it was decided that the Queen's nephew would be the new ruler of the kingdom when the time comes.

"There was a ball for the Queen's birthday. All the important people of all of the kingdoms were invited.

"All of the guests were having a very good time. The castle was decorated splendidly. Red and gold curtains were in every window. Bejeweled chandeliers filled the ceiling. Roses were in every table, intoxicating the guests with its scent.

"The door of the grand hall suddenly opened. A figure cloaked in black emerged. It moved noiselessly. Everything the figure passed turned as still as a statue. Finally, it reached its destination.

"The figure was now in front of the Queen. It let its hood fall, and when it did, Catherine's face showed.

"The Queen was not the least bit surprised by her appearance. If she was, she did not show it.

"Catherine returned to take her throne. Of course, the Queen did not let her. When Catherine saw that she will never oblige, she decided to take desperate measures.

"'If that is what you decide, Grandmother. Your descendants will pay for your mistake!'

"With that, Catherine cursed the Queen's entire bloodline to possess dark magic, to be passed on to all the generations that will follow.

"With the gust of the wind, she was gone.

"The party continued as if nothing happened. Music and laughter can be heard from all sides of the room. But if you base it on the Queen's face, it could've been a funeral.

"The symbol of a curse-bearer was that a person had a triangle birthmark on his/her left palm. The Queen had it. And so did her nephew. The Queen was so ashamed that it was ordered that this will be kept top secret.

"The powers they had were extraordinary. The Queen could consume darkness. Her nephew could summon any object at will.

"Nothing was heard of Catherine after that event. The Queen researched on how to remove the curse, but every book about dark magic has been burned.

"The new King enjoyed his powers quite well. But in respect to the Queen's wishes, their powers were kept a secret. Even after generations, it was still practiced."

"Is that the end?"

"Yes. Did you like it?"

"Oh, of course. It was very entertaining. But I'm awake now more than ever, so you failed. But that's alright. Anyway, I have a question."

"Sure, what is it?"

"You said that the story came from your family. So, do you have a triangle-shaped birthmark on your left palm?"

"Oh, yes, of course. Here it is."

Ezra showed Mara his left palm and there it was, a triangle-shaped birthmark. Mara was greatly impressed.

"Wow! That is so cool! Is the story true then?"

"I've always believed in them."

"You're a really good storyteller."

"Thank you, Mara. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I should be the one saying thank you. It was really great, Ezra."

"No problem, but can I ask a little favor?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Can you look at your left palm?"

"Are you implying that I'm a descendant of the Queen?"

"Humor me."

"Fine, Ezra. As thanks for tonight."

Mara raised her left hand and looked at her palm.

There it was.

A Triangle-shaped Birthmark.