The Prince and the Witch Prisoner | Prinxiety

9

TW: Violence, death threats, specifically Alec trying to unalive Virgil, mentions of torture

Virgil woke up with a headache from crying the night before. He did not want to get out of bed today, he was far too tired. Unfortunately he doesn't always get what he wants.

"Virgil," Roman sang as he shook his shoulder to wake him.

Virgil just groaned, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Come on bud, you have to wake up."

"No." Virgil pulled the blanket over his head.

Roman sighed but didn't give up. He grabbed the edge of the blanket and pulled it off the bed.

"Hey!" Virgil complained.

"Breakfast time, you need to eat," Roman told him.

Virgil sighed in defeat. "You could have just told me."

"Oh but that's no fun."

"Jerk, it's cold."

"Here." Roman threw the blanket back on him.

Virgil pushed it off his head, glaring at the prince as Roman handed him his breakfast. Oatmeal with berries in it.

"Well, at least he's been giving us better food," Virgil commented.

"That's true, I could hardly take anymore of that mush we were given while in that cell." Roman sat down next to Virgil.

"That was rice and beans, and occasionally mashed potatoes. He probably brought us up here so we could start to warm up to him and finally give in. It's not going to work, obviously, I already made up my mind."

"And so have I! Just wait until I take you to my castle, though, I'll make sure you have the best meals!"

Virgil almost choked on his oatmeal. "What do you mean? You're... you're going to take me to your castle?"

"Of course, until we find your brother that is. I'm going to owe you one for helping me escape. Just a few more days."

Virgil smiled. "Yeah, a few more days."

After eating breakfast, Virgil got to work on finishing up their cloaks and backpacks. He was able to quickly hide them under the bed before lunch came around.

Roman and Virgil agreed that they would need some weapons in case they were caught. There wasn't much to work with there, the room was pretty bare and the dressers were empty. The only thing they could possibly use would be a lamp to throw at someone, but that would make too much sound. So they would have to find some outside of the room.

Their plan wasn't much better from what they have though. They don't know the layout of the mansion or the guards shifts. It seems like at night either there are no guards outside of the door or if they are they aren't very active since they didn't respond at all to Virgil's shouting the other night.

"It sounds like they are bringing us food from the right," Virgil whispered, they were trying to figure out where the kitchen might be.

"I've been to many mansions but I'm afraid I don't know this kind of layout," Roman commented. "The ones back at home are built differently."

"Okay mister rich boy."

"What? I was just trying to help."

"By not being very helpful."

"I'm just saying usually the mansions at home are built in the same sort of format. The kitchen isn't too far from the dining room and there's-"

"And I'm bored, I don't care much about rich men or their homes since none of them care about me."

Roman faltered. "Well I-"

Whatever Roman was going to say was cut off when there was a knock at the door. They both frowned in confusion since they finished lunch not that long ago and there was no way it could be dinner.

A guard opened the door and Alec was standing there with several three other guards.

"Alec," Virgil spat, glaring at him.

"Virgil!" Alec greeted. "I was just coming to see if you had considered my proposition at all! It's been a few days, I've given you plenty of time to think it over, and I would like to hear your answer!"

"No."

"I'm sorry?"

"My answer is no."

Alec frowned slightly and laughed in disbelief. "Seriously, this is the best offer I've come up with for you yet! Not only will you be rich, you'll never have to sleep on the forest floor, never go hungry again! You'll be safe from those that want to harm you, you'll be free! And you'll have the freedom to find your brother! All you have to do is help me invade-"

"My answer is no and that is final," Virgil growled.

Roman couldn't help but smile in relief, Virgil left no room for anymore discussion about if. Of course, Alec wasn't happy about that.

He sighed, "Very well, if that is how it's going to be. I gave you almost seven months now after all. But, now I see you're just a waste of my time. I should have done this a long time ago."

Two guards stepped forward, putting Virgil on edge as he prepared for a fight. Alec drew a sword, making both Virgil and the prince gasp, and the two guards grabbed Virgil's arms.

"Hey! Let me go!" Virgil yelled, struggling against their grip but they twisted his arms around his back and forced him to kneel.

Roman's heart was pounding in his chest and he felt frozen to the ground, but as Alec pointed his sword at Virgil and stepped forward he acted on impulse. He ran in front of Virgil and blocked him from Alec.

"Don't!" Roman demanded. "Don't hurt him!"

"Get out of the way, this doesn't concern you, Prince Roman," Alec told him.

"I won't let you hurt him. If you want to hurt him, you have to go through me." Roman glared daggers at Alec.

Alec quirked an eyebrow as the other two guards came forward to grab Roman. Before they did, Alec smiled and said, "Let them go."

"Sir?" one of the guards holding Virgil asked.

"You can let him go. It seems he can still be useful to me."

Virgil's stomach dropped, he knew what that meant. Alec was going to use him to get to Roman, and it's not going to be pleasant for either of them.

The guards let go of Virgil and Virgil rubbed his arms which were now sore. Roman seemed to relax a little once Alec sheathed his sword and the guards returned to his side, but he was still tense.

"We can talk more on a later date," Alec said, "perhaps tomorrow? I know you two have nothing planned tomorrow anyway."

Virgil and Roman continued to glare at him, neither saying anything.

"I have a feeling it will be a very interesting talk," Alec continued. "Have a nice day you two."

Alec turned around and left, quickly followed by the four guards. Only once the door closed did Roman allow himself to relax completely. He turned around to Virgil who was still on the ground, hugging himself.

He asked, "Are you okay, Vee?"

"I'm fine," Virgil grumbled, looking away. Though Roman could see his hands shaking despite them gripping his sleeves tightly.

Roman knelt down in front of him and pulled him in for a hug. Virgil leaned his head against the prince's shoulder and let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm not going to let them hurt you," Roman promised.

"Why? They're going to unless you help them," Virgil told him. "So why protect me?"

"I won't let them hurt you because you are my friend, Virgil, and I don't betray anyone."

Virgil was silent for a moment before he spoke up again. "Tonight."

"Hmm?"

"We're leaving tonight."