Liam leaned back against the slick stone wall of the cell, flickering torchlight creating ominous shadows upon his face. The fact that it was the Princess who masterminded this entire fall of the kingdom churned in his mind like an incessant storm. Next to him, the youngest prince simply sat silently, eyes once so innocent and now so hollow and lost turned to the ground.
"It doesn't make sense," Liam muttered under breath, almost inaudibly. "The Princess... she helped us last time. She promised to help,"
"Promises from snakes mean nothing,' the youngest prince added bitterly, his voice wavering from emotion. 'She was always the one pulling the strings.
Liam furrowed his brows, his mind racing through memories of the last floor. There weren't signs quite evident even then, but now everything was cast under a much darker light. Was she already manipulating us from the start?
"Tell me everything," Liam demanded, turning away from the prince. "How did the kingdom fall?"
The prince tightened his fists, knuckles turning white. "It happened right after you left. The Princess revealed herself as the heir, using dark magic to manipulate the council. Those we trusted—my mother's loyal allies—she turned them. It was as if their wills were stolen, and they began to serve her as if under a spell. I... I tried to fight back, but—" he swallowed, shame flickering across his face, "I failed. She threw me in here to rot."
Liam sharpened his mind. Dark magic, manipulation... something deeper is afoot.
Suddenly, a familiar whisper echoed within his mind. "Master, something is wrong. I can't move..."
Liam's eyes widened. Nyx.
"Nyx!" Liam called out mentally, but there was no response. His link to the shadowy companion felt... stifled. "Damn it. They got Nyx, too."
The monotonous feedback of iron scrapes could be heard across the dungeon as the dungeon's cell door creaked open. A horde of mighty armored guards stepped inside, their faces hidden beneath helmets, and pointed their weapons toward Liam.
"The Princess has ordered to summon you," growled one of them.
The guards caught him before Liam could speak a word. One last time, Liam cast a glance at the prince who mouthed a message silently, "Don't give up."
The Princess' Court
The throne room was once crowned with golden sunlight and deep burning tapestries, but it had become a hall of shadows. Black banners brought up dark walls, and the air felt heavy, almost civilized, embittered with dark magic. The boots of Liam echoed through the floor, dragging him up toward the dais.
And there she sat—the Princess.
Beauty there was, but it has got twisted. The face used to be soft: now it was hardened so that the once-bright emerald eyes now glowed with faint dark power. A cold smile curled her lips as he was made to kneel before her. To her right stood former allies of the youngest prince: blank faces, their loyalty stolen.
"Liam." Her voice was smooth, yet venomous, as if honey were laced with poison. "It's been a while."
"Didn't think I'd get to see you on the throne," Liam spat back at her, glaring. "You've ruined this kingdom."
The Princess only laughed softly, resting her chin on her hand. "Ruined? Oh no. Liberated. For too long, this kingdom festered under weak leadership. The king's illness, his quarreling sons... they were dragging this land to ruin. I merely took it over."
"And your dark magic? Turning loyal men into slaves?" Liam shot back.
Her smile slipped entirely. "They chose to serve me. My magic only helped them see reason."
Like a raging storm, Liam's fists clenched, but he managed to control himself with remembering. He scanned the room subtly; there were too many guards with many enchanted allies. There was no way to fight his way.
Think of something, Liam.
She wore a flowing black gown that was liquid shadow, rising to her feet. "You should've stayed away, Liam. You don't belong in this story."
"You'd be surprised how stubborn I can be."
She tilted her head as amusement flashed through her glowing eyes. "I know what you're after-you're going to save the youngest prince, aren't you? Pathetic." She leaned closer, her dark aura prickling against Liam's skin. "Let me show you why you'll fail."
The Prison Break
After being dragged again in the dungeon, bruised but not dead, they threw him into his cell. He turned towards the prince as soon as this last guard drifted out.
"We're sneaking out tonight," gave the vague informant of the story Liam.
"What?" blinked the prince. "How? We're trapped."
Liam's faint smirk turned into a whisper:
"Underestimate me."
Liam initiated his grand plan at midnight.
He scurried away just as the small explosive talisman-a purchase of his from the Tower Store-and tucked tightly in the sleeve of his flowing pajama blew out the weakest portion of the stone wall. The noise was fully muffled so it could be 'heard' by distant guards only.
When he was out of the cell, he had picked from earlier trading stashes a cloak of invisibility that he would find very much to use now. Covering both himself and the prince, they were to slip out into the shadows of the dungeon, avoiding the painstakingly prying precision guards.
He found during their exit Nyx that had been entrapped in one such enchanted cage. "You finally set me free," she grumped, but Liam felt his resurgence-their bond reestablished-across the myriad stars as the magical twilight shone.
Just before dawn broke, Liam, the prince, and Nyx broke prison and into the heavy forest bordering the kingdom. Exhausted and free, they lay in a small clearing.
"Now what?" asked the prince, looking hope-wearily at Liam.
Liam gazed into the distant dark silhouette of the castle, towers shrouded in ominous energy. A grim smile crossed his lips, and determination burned in his eyes.
"We make her regret sitting on that throne."
To be continue...