Page 9

H is eyes burned with exhaustion, but he was too scared to move or take his eyes off the door. The beast had done so much damage, it wouldn’t hold if it came back. Just when he debated crawling back in bed, he heard the familiar chaos of the veil. With aching wrists, he awkwardly stood and looked out the window across the winter wasteland. Compared to the world outside the gates, this place was dreary. The snow continuously fell from the thick blanket of pale clouds that swallowed up the sky. How did such an alluring prince come from such a desolate place?

The roar grew louder and then a wall of fog rushed over the castle and rolled across the kingdom like a lone tidal wave of white. Snow swirled, and trees shook wildly as it disappeared into the distance. How curious to see the veils connection to our world is being pulled away from the inside. Adora, I hope you're back in our world and racing home.

He peered down and guessed he was maybe four stories up. Drumming his fingers on the windowsill, he thought over his escape options. Even if I could get the door open, there's an animal roaming the hall so that's not an option. Maybe I climb out the window? If I catch a branch on the way down, it'd hurt but I wouldn't die. But then what? He scanned the grounds and in the distance, he saw the city. If I went straight to the city, the guards would find me as quick as they found me and Adora the other night. So how am I getting to the gate?

"Sebastian should have killed him," a gruff voice said below. "What is he thinking having a human on a leash? What a waste of resources."

Theo spotted a trio of guards walking together. The first thing he noticed was they were all covered in splotches of grey stone on their face and hands, and dry dead, plants poked out of their collars and hair.

Whatever these people are, they seem to be made partially of rock. Maybe they craft and worship the statues in town?

The one doing most of the talking had thick black hair and a strong physique. Theo turned his back to the window so that his glow wouldn't travel out onto the landscape and kept eavesdropping.

"I shouldn't have been surprised," the leader of the group went on. "Sebastian's been making questionable decision for a while now. Perhaps he's slipping."

"Will you discuss it with him?" the lanky blond on his side asked. "He may listen to you if it's approached tactfully."

"Perhaps, but I want to know how stable he is these days. I could provoke him and see if he kills the human himself."

"You don't think that's bit harsh?" the third, a quiet man with light brown hair, asked. He looked stiff with discomfort. "I don't want to keep the human alive either, but I don't want Sebastian under more distress."

"It ends the need for debate, and would give us information about Sebastian's state," the leader said with a shrug. "If that doesn't work, I can tactfully ask him to reconsider the punishment."

Apparently, I need to leave before the prince kills me. Great. Once the trio made their way out of earshot, Theo went back to planning his escape route with the little he knew about this place. He settled on a plan to avoid the city, get to the woods, and navigate his way to the gate at nightfall. Theo turned his attention to the chain he was attached to. What good is a plan if I'm stuck? He tugged it and groaned. What kind of man has prisoners so much that he has hooks on the end of his beds?

After some poking around the desk, bathroom, and under the bed, he discovered there was absolutely nothing useful in this little room. He huffed and rattled the chain again in frustration.

He kicked the wooden bed leg. I'd need to break it off or—Wait! He awkwardly patted his hip with both hands. To his excitement, he felt his sheathed knife in his back pocket. Awkwardly, he pulled it out and sat down. With sore hands he whacked the leg, and some of the wood chipped away in little flakes. He did it again and again and though it was progress, it was painfully slow.

He hacked away as the morning passed, and by afternoon he was damp with sweat. C oralie and Luna need me. I can do this.

A loud knock made him jump and broke his focus.

"May I come in?" the prince called.

Theo grabbed his blanket and pulled it to the floor to cover the wood chips and dust he had made in the room. "Uh yes. Come in," he said, forcing the panic out his voice as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Sebastian opened the door and stared at him with a tray in one hand and a lantern in the other. "Do humans run warm in the winter?"

"I'm fine, thank you for the concern." He wiped the sweat off his brow and quickly changed the subject. "What can I do for you, your majesty?"

"It's Theo, right?" he asked, setting the items on the small table in the corner.

"Yes," he said, surprised the prince knew his name.

"I don't know about humans really, but I assume they probably eat a few times a day. I apologize for not coming by with something to eat until now. I had personal matters to attend to this morning. I brought extra food to make up for it. You can eat while we discuss what you being a ward here will entail."

"Will you take my shackles off while we chat?" he asked. I need to get these things off so I can work faster, or I'll be stuck in here for days at this rate.

"No."

"I haven't proved that I'm staying yet? I could have run last night, but I stayed even after you forgot about me."

"You take me as a fool." The prince crossed his arms. "I don't blame you for trying to escape, but I can't allow it."

"I told you I'm not trying to escape," he lied effortlessly as he shook his chain. "How will I eat?"

"Humans aren't stupid. I'm sure they can eat with hands tied." The faintest smile crossed his lips. "If not, I can feed you. I don't mind."

"You don't mind treating me like some pet how noble. Have you forgotten my travel partner touched the statue not me?" Theo did his best to not sound as irritated as he felt. "I've done nothing for you not to trust me."

"You aren't one of us and unfortunately, that is enough to warrant precautions."

"Then I'll starve," Theo said, rolling his eyes. I need him to get out and stay out for the night so I can finish this.

"That isn't necessary." Prince Sebastian scoffed. "I know this isn't ideal but—"

"Not ideal? You're treating me like an animal." I need to push him to leave. "Actually, you're treating me as less than since your actual pet gets to roam the halls freely."

"Pet?" The prince's eyes darkened.

"Yes. That beastly monster nearly broke down the door and tried to eat me."

"It tried to eat you?" he repeated in disbelief. "You're sure?"

"Obviously, I'm sure! I'm lucky to be alive. Meanwhile, as a man, I can't feed myself. Do you know how insulting that is?" Theo saw a flicker of hurt in Sebastian's eyes as if his words burned. Instantly, he wanted to apologize, but his sisters panicking over his disappearance kept his apology in the back of his throat. "Please leave me alone and take the tray with you."

"As you wish." He snatched the tray and stormed out, letting the door fall heavily behind him. There was a loud thunk and Theo knew he was once again locked in.

When he didn't hear the prince's boots, he moved the blanket and started chipping away at the last of the wooden leg.