Lost Woman

CHAPTER 2 : HELL UNDERGROUND

"Run far from me." Carlos uttered with unhidden anger in his voice. Clearly seeing the Superior Manor Insignia on his waist, the devilish brute, though tough, had no choice but to run. He scoffed and left the prince's sight.

Wiping the maddened look on the prince's face, he turned to the fearful woman and calmed her down with a warm smile and an assuring voice. "Are you alright?" He said. Rid of her worries, the woman loosened her grip on the child, relieved to have been saved. "Yes, thank you for rescuing us. I owe my life to you." she replied.

Upon observing the woman's tarnished face and her child's smallness, they indeed are fragile humans. Carlos was reminded of a memory from the past, seeing them in such a state made him almost cry. "Did you... who brought you here? Did they do horrible things to you too?" he asks, holding back his tears.

"No..." the woman's answer surprised the prince, but her next words surprised the prince even more. "I brought this upon myself. I entered this place on my own."

The prince was unable to believe that she'd do such a regrettable thing. Confused, he continued to question her. "What? Humans can enter the Red Courtyard on their own? How? Who told you?"

"I... don't remember... It was a man with a face that I forgot..."  The woman answered with a tired look on her face. 

"That's Lucius, alright." Arriving abruptly, Priscilla struts towards Carlos with a mischievous expression plastered all over her face. "Unfortunately for you, you entered the wrong gate." she continues to mock the woman.

Hearing this, the woman could only lower her head. "I've accepted my fate. I'll forever be stuck here." the woman had a disheartened look whilst speaking. Completely ignoring Priscilla and Ruby who had just arrived, the prince kept questioning the woman. "How long have you been here?" He impatiently asked. 

Still, the woman replies: "I no longer remember. I haven't seen the sun and moon for so long, my fellows no longer remembers the existence of time. We're just stuck here living the same day for the rest of our lives."

"But why did you not run back to the gate?"

"I tried. It does not let me leave."

Carlos was silenced, still confused by what he had just heard. He did not turn to Priscilla, but he heard her mention Lucius, as he is the one who lured the woman into the gate of the Red Courtyard. Judging by his past experiences, it truly is impossible to leave a demon's territory, especially when it is protected by barriers. Worse, the Red Courtyard was founded by Lucius. The labyrinth that housed him during his years with Lucius was a place with many doors and windows, but once you try to open each, you'll find an endless void of darkness. Trying to leave would only lead to insanity. He simply concluded that the woman had lost her hope.

However, now that he escaped his captor, there still is hope. As the prince who now has to ability to save others, he does not hesitate to help. "Where are the other humans? Lead me to them." he said.

"Your Majesty, what are you planning?" Ruby asks the prince, unsure of how to react to his words. Hearing the words "Your Majesty", the human woman was unpleasantly surprised. Carlos turns to Ruby after hearing her and dictated his intention. "I'm going to get all of the humans out of here."

Priscilla bursts out laughing. "Really?" She now turns to the prince and mock him after the human. "And how are you gonna do that?" She says while wiping her tears.

"Let me help you, Your Majesty." Ruby suddenly said to the prince without a hint of hesitation. "Yeah, sure- Wait, what?!" Priscilla was dumbfounded by what she had just heard. She turned to Ruby and was hit in the face with the sight of her ally's genuine loyalty for the prince. Her face became distorted.

"Let's take all of the humans out of here as soon as possible." Carlos continued. Ruby walked to his side and replied obediently:  "Understood."

While Priscilla was contemplating Ruby's sudden kindness, Ruby looked at her commandingly. "Priscilla, clear the area and make sure nobody will know of this. We have to get the humans out safely." She ordered Priscilla. Yet, even with such seemingly chivalrous resolve, they still are the cronies of Anarchy. "Do not alert the Asperities." Ruby spoke, relaying the message with an implication unknown to the prince.

Priscilla knew what Ruby was trying to say. Since the prince was still listening to them, she hid her grin and pretended to disagree yet obey. "...Fine. You go ahead." she said.

From Carlos' point of view, Priscilla wasn't happy with what they're trying to do. "Priscilla, please don't... do anything bad." Carlos says, worried she might end up causing trouble. He felt guilty for thinking that she would, but she probably would do it anyway.

Priscilla smirked, almost giving away her mischievous intention. "Relax." She boastfully replies. "I'll catch up when I'm done. I still remember our deal you know."

Carlos takes a deep breath, then sighs. "...Alright... We'll go ahead now." He turns away from Priscilla, along with Ruby and the woman carrying her child. Ruby gently pats the prince's back as they walk forward, following the leading woman.

"See ya later!" Priscilla waves at them. After doing so, she walks to the opposite direction in a hurry. She wasn't panicking, she was delighted to finally return to the Red Courtyard. Of course, she'll look for her companions and make sure they're aware that the prince has found his way back to the courtyard where he once belonged.

After I'm leading your Cardinal Bastards here, I'll make sure I'll kill all of you. Once they're all dead, I'll finish you off too, Carlos. The fiend thought as her lips' corners reached her ears and her eyes widened.