CHAPTER 19: TANGLED IN THE DARK
The palace was huge and Ravenna didn't want to head in the wrong direction, she carefully hid herself and listened to the footsteps of anyone passing before moving to another hiding spot.
Her sack-like gown rubbed harshly against her skin, causing painful burns. still, she didn't stop running.
Two soldiers chatting with each other in the distance caught her attention and she quickly hid again, between the barrels of water in the shed she had come across, her small frame crouched in between two barrels perfectly blending with her sack-like cloth.
Waiting for them to pass before proceeding to sneak out again.
She suddenly paused, sensing another presence, close to where she stood as if also tailing someone stealthily.
' someone's behind me, perfect. if i get killed in a sack cloth, at least they'll call me a dedicated theif '
Her heart drummed in her ears, but she managed to keep calm.
She was able to sense this because she had been thoroughly trained as a theif, now she just needed to attack first before the person did.
As she felt the presence getting closer, Ravenna prepared herself to launch an attack, slowly and with calculating speed, she sprang out as soon as he got closer and launched a powerful kick.
She was sure she had gotten who ever it was, but what she didn't expect however was for the intruder to easily deflect her attack, grabbing both her hands and locking them in place.
She couldn't understand how the person had moved from her front to now be behind her locking her in place.
' fast but undisciplined. she's no palace guard, that much is obvious ' the intruder clicked his tongue.
Refusing to die just like that, Ravenna stubbornly struggled against the person's hold till they both fell to the ground, with her laying on top.
" Who are you ? " A deep masculine voice rang in her ear, it belonged to the intruder.
Ravenna couldn't think straight as her skin felt like it was on fire, this feverish burn she suddenly felt and her head spun.
" I should be asking you the same thing " she glared at him despite the pain in her eyes,
' Defiant, I've seen generals with less courage ' the intruder smirked
' He surely wasn't a guard as he would have alerted the others , but they now laid on the ground too close to each other '. Ravenna suddenly realized they were too close.
Her skin crawled and her body stiffened at the closeness they shared and she struggled to free herself from his grasp.
' How strong is this guy ? ,Did he grow up wrestling oxen ?
She glared at him, frustration already filling her whole system
For a moment their eyes met and as if locked in an intense staring contest, neither looked away.
Out of nowhere, a glinting sword caught her attention, the cold blade pressing on her neck brought her back to the present.
" Get off the prince this instance " A commanding voice ordered. Ravenna's eyes flew wide open at the words she heard
' THE PRINCE !!! ' Her head spun at this revelation.
Of course, it had to be the prince. Of all the people in this cursed palace, i tackled royalty
lovely '.
Ravenna screamed in her mind, immediately jumping off of him, standing straight before bowing, her knees shaking and her pulse racing.
" forgive this lowly servant your highness " She immediately pleaded, knowing how arrogant and hot headed the royals could be.
' I swear, if I survive this, I'm burning this gown and never bowing to anyone again ' Ravenna swore
She must get herself out of this mess as quickly as possible before she was caught by the guards.
Both men squinted in suspicion the moment she spoke. she was clearly clothed in the slave uniform and she dared to speak.
The second prince however was lost in his own thoughts.
" You impudent..... " Kaine had already marched forward to deal with her but prince Aurelius stopped him.
" K , let her be " he glared at the girl watching her sprint off in another direction.
Kaine just stared at the prince, confused.
He had Known the prince since they were both kids and Aurelius never humored anyone.
Infact as a warning he killed anyone who stepped too close, everyone but kaine avoided him like a plague.
but today he had surprisingly let this lowly slave go, and by the looks of it he could tell she was trying to escape.
" Li, what are you unto ? , she seems suspicious for a slave " Obviously displeased about leaving the slave unscathed, kaine truned towards the prince.
' suspicious ? she's more than that. The shadows wouldn't follow her if she were ordinary ' Aurelius thought to himself
He had always done things however he liked, taking everyone by surprise was his specialty, this Kaine knew very well but tonight was too strange and unexpected, it was so unlike him.
Aurelius just stared off at the direction the girl had ran off, not forgetting how his skin burned upon contact with her.
" she didn't see it " he murmured.
" see what ?" Tonight, Kaine was sure the second prince was drunk on something, but then he never drinks.
' so only he had seen it ' His brows creased at this realization
The dark energy he had felt the moment it stepped on the palace grounds, had vanished and the moment it did, he realized it had come for her.
' just who are you, little mouse ? '
And why is this shadow so interested in you ? . it left him pondering, However what he had seen before she got off him was interesting.
Who knew there were girls who lived such lifestyle ...
Until today he had never been able to see the past memories of others, it was something only strong spirits like Maa' or the Naida could pull off but he had done it on this girl, and everything he saw left him speechless.
The wicked gears in his head already moving....
It's high time to put his plans into motion and the perfect tool had just presented itself.
" Kaine , a new card has arrived " the excitement of what's to come danced in his eyes, that wickedly oppressive Aura wrapping him once again.
Kaine stared at the second prince, who looked as if he had found a treasure he could exploit.
' that evil glint in his eyes '
kaine nodded, the second prince was back to his usual self, however whatever he was talking about, kaine had no idea.
trying to understand the prince was the Same as loosing a huge amount of brain cells.
" Li, it's a good thing you stopped hunting for whatever it was you were hunting. look up there " Kaine with his eyes, pointed towards the tall building close to the dungeon.
In a tall building, very close to the dungeon, stood the crown prince of Alcheria. His gaze had fallen on the second prince and his personal guard.
The huge distance between them did nothing to stop the intensity of both their stares...
Crown prince Caspian stared down at his brother, from where he stood.
A small smile settled on his lips, when his brother stared back, even though he could sense the hostility he was still glad to have gnared his attention.
' when last had they spoken to each other , a decade ? ' Caspian couldn't remember. The boy was hard to get in touch with and seeing him today even though it was just for a brief moment, he was satisfied.
He however knew his brother was hiding something, not just from him, but from everyone. He would wait, to see what his mischievous brother had up his sleeves.
His eyes trailed towards the direction the slave had taken.
If they hadn't interrogated the lord Paramount
they wouldn't have found evidence that the girl wasn't actually a slave, she was a replacement.
He had his suspicions as no slave dared to defy the royals, now she had escaped...
He snickered at the girl's bravery
' let's see how brave and smart you are ' His eyes shone with mirth as he walked away from there.