Soul Bound

Chapter 1

Elias

I breathed in the steam, letting the warmth soak into my body, eager for what knowledge was to come.

The large pool of water before me was slowly turning milky from where the kneeling witch worked her magic into it from her submerged palms.

This was the room that my father entered before finding my mother, just as all my ancestors before.

This room was sacred, for it was not one that many of a higher status got to see. Those of lower will only ever hear stories and myths.

Condensation built and dripped down the deep, dark marble walls and ceiling, the sounds of the droplets falling back into the enchanted pool

Today was the day I was to cheat the laws of fate and its plans. It was a power feared and one now well guarded and highly controlled.

I silently watched the chains on the witch's hands sink and float with the magic she was sending into the water. Chains that were slack enough to allow her to work, but still diligently held by one of my palace's highly trained guards.

The old bat had only been provided enough food for this one trick, so I was not worried about any mishaps. She'd always been obedient.

She was a special one who could delve her magic into somebody's very essence, their soul, and follow the strings of fate down into the lingering magics of this world to find our souls' perfect pair.

My soul bond.

The witches called this ritual the 'Crimson Cord Ceremony'.

Today, she would find me my queen, and tomorrow, I will set out to find her.

Willing or not, one's soul cannot be debated, and I needed this perfect match before I could take my rightful throne over this pitiful kingdom.

I stepped up to the side of the man who'd been carefully overseeing this whole process, drops of condensation even dripping from the leather-wrapped twin blades he kept on his back

Vincent was a notable guard, trained and molded by both body and mind, with only one goal.

Protect me, guard me, and provide me with what I need to be safe and tended to.

For as long as one of us was breathing, he would be at my beck and call, placing his life up for mine with no hesitation if it ever came down to it.

He knelt down onto the slick ground at my approach, placing one fist in front of his heart and the other straight down by his side.

"Prince Elias," He rose his bowed head to view me, his pale green eyes hardened through his lifetime of training, "Everything has been secured and confirmed to be as it should."

I nodded, gesturing for him to rise back to his feet.

He can't jump into action for me as fast if he's kneeling.

"Witch."

The wrinkled face lifted to see me, those unnaturally colored eyes most witches seemed to have struck a quick chord of disgust within me at the sight.

Her purple eyes showed a deep exhaustion, and a visible tremor was already showing in her body.

She couldn't possibly have run through the energy we fed her already.

"Your highness," She greeted in a hoarse voice with a bow of her head that the nameless guard holding her chain mimicked, "It is ready. Please enter as soon as you see fit."