The Silent Kiss: Chronicles of the Enchanted

By Arianna Courson

"How can I trust you?" 

"You'll have to learn." 

Isabella Magaroth was just a child when her new family arrived, though her tale was quite different than anyone could've ever imagined. Four years after her father's death, Isabella encountered the prince of the lands, Blake, and forced herself to shy away despite him clearly being interested in her health. 

In every tale, she had been made a maid, but in this tale, cruel unspeakable things happened in her household, and Blake vowed to his father that he would get her out at the right time; for if it was even a minute later, Isabella would've been murdered. 

The moment Ella followed Blake into the forest, she wandered into a new world that—even in the medieval times—was considered unreal; a world of witches and angels, magic and sorcery, and Prince Blake was the center of it all. 

For she had fallen for one of the fallen. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arianna Courson
• Release date: Apr 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223957911

Arianna Courson

Arianna Courson is an author of young adult fiction, specializing in paranormal, fantasy, and romance. She lives in Colorado with her two cats and two dogs and divides her time between writing and enjoying the great outdoors.

Book preview

Prologue

Once upon a time, there was a young girl who loved to read and enjoyed every animal that lived in the forest that surrounded her cottage.

Every morning, Ella would open her curtains and sing to the woodpeckers and the squirrels. She knew they would never sing back or understand her hums, but she did it anyway.

Ella was twelve years old. She loved writing at the desk that laid in the corner of her room.

Every morning, when Ella woke up, she sang then sat at her desk. She wrote stories that were made in fairy tales. One about a girl who wore a red hood and ran about the woods. One about a girl that pricked her finger on a spin wheel, falling into a deep sleep where she would never wake. And one about a girl who ate a poisoned apple, falling into a world of death until the magical boy brought her back with a single kiss.

Ella just wrote what came to her mind. She didn’t really understand what she wrote or how she came up with it. It was like her quill had a mind of its own.

Suddenly, the bell rang at the top of Ella’s door. Isabella! her father called. Breakfast!

Coming! Ella yelled back. She finished the last sentence of her story, and ran to her door. Her little feet padded down the halls as she dashed. Sliding down the staircase, she landed on the hardwood floors and walked into the dining room.

Jack, Ella’s father, sat at the dining table. There were three other girls who Ella didn’t know. An older one who had dark brown hair and shining gold eyes. Ella could see her wrinkles slightly form on her cheeks. There was a second girl with the same brown hair and similar gold eyes. The third girl was different, though. Her hair had shimmering golden locks and bright blue irises. The second and the third girl were both Ella’s age.

Oh! Ella! Jack exclaimed. There you are! He smiled sweetly. You’re probably wondering who these wonderful girls are. He pointed to the older lady with brown hair tied into a tight bun. This is Ivy. My new wife.

Shock smacked Ella in the face. You’re MARRIED? she almost screamed. She wasn’t shocked that Jack wanted to marry again. Her mother died three years earlier. She was shocked because he didn’t tell her. Jack never kept secrets like that.

Yes. I’m married. He gave Ella a please don’t freak out look.

Ella saw Jack’s look and stepped back. For some reason, she didn’t want him to look at her like that. Are those my sisters? she wondered.

Her father smiled. Yes. He held his hand to the blonde girl. That’s Ava. Ava smiled softly and waved at Ella. And that’s Olivia. The girl with dark brown locks completely ignored Ella. She stared at her food. A look of annoyance pasted on her face. Did she not want to be here?

After she greeted all three of them with a bow, Ella sat in her designated chair to eat her breakfast. The maids settled poached eggs, hash browns, and apples in front of each of them. The scent of the sugar from the apples and the savory smell of the salt from the potatoes made her stomach grumble. She almost picked up her fork when a thump echoed through the room.

Ella looked up from her plate to find Jack’s head down onto the table.

Dad? she said. Dad?

Ivy looked up from her plate as well. She saw Jack’s face down onto the table. Jack!

Three maids came in the room. They saw Jack’s position and panicked voices echoed through the house. One of them ran over to him, picking up her skirts. She lifted his head up to find blood trailing from his eyes and nose, and foam bubbling at his mouth. She immediately dropped his head.

He was poisoned... Ella whispered.

Chapter One

Four Years Later

Ella stood at the market , Gobhald , grabbing a basket full of apples, beef, and pork. She was to prepare dinner. It was her job now. That and washing clothes, dishes, and towels.

Ever since her father died, Ella felt that she was cursed. An eternal suffering that lasted a lifetime. Though, she didn’t know what she did to deserve this. She had been searching for the answer for ages.

After setting a couple sticks of soft butter into the basket, she started feeling a dizzy spell cast over her, blurring her vision.

No, no, no, she thought. Not again!

She pressed her hand to one of the shelves, trying to steady her breathing as her panic set in.

Why did this have to happen in public? This was horrible.

Ella choked on the air, trying to gasp, but it seemed as if oxygen wasn’t getting to her lungs.

The shelf she was holding onto snapped, and her legs collapsed from under her. Ella bit back a cry as she hit the cement floor.

All the food she gathered scattered across the ground in a mess.

Hoping no one was watching her, she took a couple deep breaths while lying on the ground. After the panic calmed and her breathing steadied, she pushed her hands on the tile, sitting up when a voice entered her ears:

Whoa... You okay?

It sounded like a boy, young, maybe in his teens. Ella cast a look above her to see a tall boy with coal black hair and bright green eyes gaze softly at her.

He tilted his head at her stare. You... okay...? he repeated.

Ella looked away. Oh, yes. Yes, I’m alright.

Need help? The man offered his hand.

She stared at it for a brief moment before resisting and she stood on her own. He put his hand down, defeated. Ella’s legs wobbled, threatening to buckle again, but she forced herself to steady them.

What happened? the black haired boy said. Were you sleeping on the floor or something?

No. I just tripped, she lied. No need to tell a strange boy that she fell constantly, and her stomach twisted and turned, forcing her to starve. Those were the main two reasons Ella kept on collapsing.

What’s your name, Princess? the boy wondered.

Did... he... just call her... Princess?

Was she supposed to cringe when he said that? She didn’t. In fact, she found it rather soothing to be called that. Mainly because she was treated horribly. But... there was something about how this boy said it... How his tone was... It made Ella feel a rush of warmth consume her.

I’m Ella, she said. And I’m not a Princess....

Is that short for something? he asked, ignoring her comment.

It’s short for Isabella.

The boy smiled, sending tingles through Ella’s skin. I’m Blake.

She froze, breathing shallowly. Wait... she whispered, "Prince Blake?"

A nod. But just call me Blake. I don’t like all the royalty stuff.

Ella looked around in a panic, hoping no one was watching this encounter. She was trembling slightly, half in fear, the other half because she was starving.

It seemed as if Blake noticed this. Are you okay, Princess? Why are you looking around like that?

Ella stared back at him, heart pounding. I have to go. And she started walking, but Blake grabbed her arm, tugging lightly so she faced him.

You look famished, he stated.

He was right. Ella was quite pale and skinny. Her bright red hair made her skin look white. Like a blank sheet of paper. The only thing that wasn’t white were the brown freckles that scattered across her cheekbones.

Please... let go of my arm....

I saw you fall, Princess, he continued, making her heart drop with guilt. You didn’t trip. You grabbed this shelf. He held out his free hand to the broken wood. It left large spikes poking out of the edges. It snapped. And you fell. I saw it.

Ella felt her stomach drop down to her feet, she started panting slightly.

She just lied to the Prince... And he knew it... Was he going to punish her...?

Blake watched her gaze for a moment, and his eyes darkened. Ella, you’re not in trouble, he promised as if he read her thoughts. I just want to get you something to eat. Is that okay?

Her lips parted as she studied him. Why?

Because you’re clearly sick, he answered. And I want to help.

Ella stared at him for a moment, seeing her reflection in Blake’s soft green eyes. She started getting lost, her emotions heightening to the tip and she wanted to cry.

Oh, God... her energy was dissolving inside her and her emotions were getting out of control.

Why me? she whispered, trying to stop her knees from buckling again.

Because you’re one of my people, Blake responded. I take care of my people. I am their Prince. And, he added, you’re very pretty.

Ella was too overwhelmed with exhaustion to feel her heart flutter at his response. Her vision started blurring again, her head wanted to float while her body became heavy.

Ella? Blake’s voice came from a distance. It was as if he were miles away and she was falling though the floor.

Can you hear me? Blake questioned, panic rising in his tone.

Ella was too dizzy to respond. The world was spinning as if she were in the center of a tornado. She needed to eat something. Her stomach was consuming her entire body and her head felt like it was in the clouds.

I’m going to pick you up, Blake warned.

No... she thought. Please... I don’t want help...

She wasn’t sure if she responded or not, but if she did, he didn’t listen.

Barely, Ella felt Blake’s arm under her knees, the other supporting her back as he scooped her up in his arms.

She felt light in Blake’s hold, like she was flying.

Ella couldn’t resist closing her eyes. She tried to force them to stay open, but she was too deprived of energy to stay awake.

Please...

She hoped Blake wouldn’t try to kill or take advantage of her. There was something else, as well... Something Ella was afraid of... She couldn’t think of it at the moment.

Ella faded into darkness as Blake carried her out of the shop. A loud whooshing sound entered her ears, and she heard a flutter of wings. Like an Angel. But no... Angels couldn’t exist, right?

Chapter Two

Blake sat on a chair next to Ella, who lay on one of the cots in the infirmary. One of the nurses, Lia, was feeding Ella some herbs and medication for her illness.

But Ella lay still, unmoving, like a corpse.

Lia, Blake whispered, is she going to be alright?

The nurse looked down at the girl that lay on the bed. I’m not sure, Prince. She’s really ill.

Blake raked his fingers through his black hair, letting out a frustrated groan. After calming the anger that started swelling up, he managed to look down at Ella, noticing her relaxed expression, but also seeing her cheeks and nose flushed due to a high fever.

God... Blake grumbled, covering his face in his hands, why did it have to be her?

You know why, Lia stated. You just don’t want to admit it.

Yes. Blake rubbed his eyes, trying to cover the rage in his expression. Yes, I know why....

This girl, the nurse stared down at Ella, is so fragile.

I know, Blake admitted somberly. It’s just all that she’s gone through is horrible. She doesn’t deserve it.

Have you found out who cursed her yet? Lia wondered.

A slight shake of the head was his response. The word curse sounding so unfamiliar in his ears.

But the nurse was right. Ella was sick because of a curse someone placed on her. Clearly it was a witch, but Blake was unsure if the witch was