Prisoner in the Palace

"I have... seen her before,"

"Her?" It's highly unlikely that we have unless she was frozen with Kai in that damn cave. Life spans aren't that long.

Something about her feels a certain type of safe and warm, I get it, but logically feeling safe just requires a nice enough person that could protect you.

Maybe it was the unruly hair or the comforting feeling she gave off even from a portrait, but to me, she also felt odd... oddly cosy.

"Don't think I've ever seen her in my life. You sure about that Fay?" Damon looked perplexed, trying to understand the correlation.

"Yes. I have seen her before... I believe my instincts," She looked up to stare at the woman's face., "I cannot confirm her identity, however..."

"Maybe we'll see her!" Damon cheered

"We will." I said out of certainty, "Eventually,"

Something tells me, we'll see Kai soon. If she's still alive, I bet she'd be with him.

They're coming here...

That thought made my stomach sink.

"L-let's go..." Let's get out of here. I don't feel too good about seeing them again... why is that? Well, this isn't exactly the time to ask questions, "I'm stuffed! Let's just go back. Let's go back home,"

"As you wish, Amber," Fay opened the door and waited for me.

Damon started to walk towards Fay and stopped to glance back at me. He smiled at me looking like he was waiting for something, "DON'T tell him," I mouthed to Damon, making his eyes narrow and his lips stretch to smile lightly.

"I know," He sang and walked out with Fay as I followed to the door, glancing back at the portrait.

I didn't know why, but I kept staring at it and suddenly, I blacked out. It was only for a moment, but when I shook my head, I saw Kai's portrait, torn by a blunt blade or...

Feeling like I was gripping something, I saw my hand holding the black dagger.

Did I...

No... I really need to sleep. Sleep deprivation gives you a lot of illusions to deal with... yeah... it's only an illusion. I'm good at hallucinating things. I keep having nightmares of a thing that never happened after all. I'll just need a good nights rest when I get back to my room.

At the door, I closed off the hallway and raised one hand up to gesture goodbye to Damon without another glance and left him leaning on the door.

"Shall we go get Shin?" Fay asked, trying to find a purple head in the crowd.

"Yeah..."

We have to get out of here before Grail finds her... before THEY come.

"What do you want?" Shin stood in a corner stuffing his mouth with fancy desserts and washing it down with wine.

Let's hope he's not drunk! Yay...

"We gotta go," I pointed to the exit.

Will he listen to me and go quietly without asking questions? No. Will I have to end up dragging him out of here? I hope not.

"Now?" He asked.

Honestly more tamed of a question than I thought.

"Yes," I replied instantly, the suffocating aura approaching is getting stronger every second.

"You'd better tell me why later," He gobbled up the rest of his food and walked to the exit, intentionally bumping me on the shoulder.

He's oddly... cooperative.

I grabbed Fay and followed Shin. We shouldn't get lost in the crowd, not at a time like this. Swiftly, I try to navigate my way out of the crowd without making it look like I was in a suspicious hurry until Fay came to a sudden halt.

Looking back, I found her stunned. Her eyes widened as her iris shrunk. Following her line of sight, I found him. HIM. Grail.

I was so focused on Grail not finding her I forgot... what happens if she finds him? If she wants to go... is it my right to stop her?

As far as she's concerned, I'm only an acquaintance that claimed to be her friend before her amnesia right? It's not my place to stop her, but I can just let Fay go to that monster! Her safety isn't his concern at all!

Though... I can't make decisions for her.

My grip on Fay's arm loosened slowly... if she's happier that way. It's not my place to do anything.

I moved back a little as people started to block my view of her. Stay safe, Fay...

Don't do anything stupi-

Suddenly I feel a soft grip on my arm, "We have to go correct?" Fay emerged from the crowd with her handkerchief covering her mouth.

"Y-Yeah," She... stayed? The notion stunned me for a bit, but I continued walking. Why? Why did she stay? Shin? Alfie?

My mind raced trying to find a rational answer but to no avail. I only walked in confusion. Finally, we escaped the crowd. I came up the stairs as claim and collected as possible to not be noticed. A glance in the direction of that hallway revealed Damon in front of the door. A gentle nod from him and a wave saying 'see you later'.

"Where's Alfie?" Shin asked, expecting me to know.

In my confusion, I had forgotten to tell Alfie we were going back...

Welp, time to dive back into the crowd... "Stay here with Shi-"

The constant aura that was growing suddenly spiked sending chills down my spine. I wasn't 1000% certain that they were coming here before, but now... they're close.

"Nevermind, we're going," Alfie will be fine. She's strong. Something tells me even if this palace becomes a crater, she'll be fine.

"How about Al-"

"NOW," I demanded and power walked to the door before axes cross to block my way.

"Is there something I can do for you, sirs?" My eyes didn't budge, staring straight.

"I knew you'd come, especially when it's a masquerade," A kid's voice came from behind me or in this case I should say, a king's voice.