Chapter 2: Cursed Encounter

"Isleen, I'm glad you're up. This is---"

I interrupted him, "He's the prince" I said more talking to myself than anyone else.

Even I couldn't believe the words I was saying. The boy's eye widened.

"As I feared, you already know" father replied calmly "please take care of prince William, he'll be staying for tonight." I began to move my lips to ask more questions.

"Don't call me that!" the boy spat and shifted from under father's grip.

Father gestured to me, " Isleen please take him in and don't ask any further questions. I need to leave."

With those words father spun and the door slammed.

I quickly paced towards the boy, and the awkwardness of the situation tugged on me.

"So pleased to make your acquaintance, I'm Isleen" I murmured. The boy just stared silently at the wall.

I awkwardly stand there, not knowing how to approach a boy who was stained with blood and could easily shatter.

A boy who I knew was going to die.

I inhaled a gulp of air and asked: "what's your name?" The boy shifted his gaze towards me, staring with an eye full of pain and cruelty. "Didn't you hear him?! I suppose it's William" He spat at me. I was taken aback by his rudeness. I didn't understand him, only seconds ago he hated being called "William" and yet he refuses to tell his own name. "I meant your real name?" I calmly reply and with my words his tension and anger slowly seem to disappear. After what seemed like an eternity, "Jiwon" he breathed out.

"Jiwon" I repeated with a short breath, the name sounding foreign yet beautiful on my tongue.

"Yes?" he said, with a bit of amusement glittering in his visible silver eye. But I could feel the pain and sorrow in his tone.

I stared at him with curiosity, I only said his name only for the sake of saying it, I hadn't expected an answer nor such a quick change in his expression. Hastily I said: "Would you like to come in? I can clean the..."

"blood" he finished my sentence for me.

A look of dark mirth passed across Jiwon's features and he stared into what seemed to be nothingness.

I moved to grab his wrist; he didn't object. His skin pale white, felt surprisingly cold.

Together we entered the kitchen and I sat him on one of the wooden chairs. I slowly cleaned the blood and was relieved to not see any wounds. Although the patch on his left eye disturbed me. His silver eye kept watching me as I paced back and forth in the kitchen trying to find the right equipment to clean him up. His stare made me nervous, yet questions kept swarming my head; What could have happened that he was so shocked? Why was there blood? How on earth, could there be another prince?

I want to ask him all of my questions but I bite them down.

"How did you know?" he says, as I place the bloody towel in the basin.

I blink in surprise at the sound of his voice, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Know what?"

"of whom I am?" he stammers out

I begin fidgeting with my dress, now covered in tiny droplets of blood.

"I-I, its complicated" I puff out.

"Try me then" He replies with curiosity.

I turn to not face him; the pain of disbelief was too much.

"I saw you in a dream" I say my voice barely a whisper. I knew how is reaction would be, the pain of rejection already flooded through me.

For who would believe I saw you in a dream. Most people thought I was mute, and I allowed them too, it made me second class, worthless even, but what could I do to make them believe me?

The existence of a Somnium, a dream shifter, was impossible. My own parents didn't believe in its existence until I proved them wrong with my accurate predictions.

"I believe you" I barely hear his voice.

His answer was what I had longed to hear for years, someone who believed me. Even in his state, he was showing me kindness.

I sank to my knees and began to cry; I know I couldn't save this person. My tears of sorrow fills the house.

I feel the sudden touch of fabric brushing against my skin. I look up to see Jiwon covering me in his cloak and sitting next to me on the ground, listening to my sobs.

"I-I'm sorry" I say whipping my wet face.

"What for? you're the first person to give me any comfort in my hellish life." he firmly replies "So don't be sorry."

The golden morning light crashed in from the kitchen windows, I hear the front door of the mansion open again. Both me and Jiwon look at each other startled. I stand up to go towards the door, but I'm held back by the young prince who has a firm grip on my hand.

"Don't go" he says firmly, and I can see the fear and desperation in his eye, "I'm scarred of what will become of me."

My eyes betray me, flying towards his face "it'll be fine" but I know it won't be. But what could I do? I can't expose myself, I can't do anything. The pang of guilt hits my conscience hard.

He lets go of me and I walk towards the main doors, father stands there in his crimson uniform.

"I'm here to collect him" father commands and from his tone I knew I could not ask any questions.

I saw the uncertainty in Jiwon's eye, I wanted to tell him to run, to get away from here. To save himself from his ill fate but I knew it wouldn't help, he would only think I was insane.

"How old are you?" I ask instead. Jiwon's expression softens "sixteen" he replies "and thank you" he adds on quickly. I'm surprised by his answer, but I compose myself and give him a sad-smile.

With that they both left into the cold and I was left alone.