Borrowed Time

Chapter 9

Gasps interrupt the harmonious atmosphere as the doors burst open by a man stumbling down the aisle. Guards shout whilst chasing after the intruder but are stopped by the presence of Eric blocking their way.

"You were right" Hunter pants to Eric.

"What is the meaning of this?" The King angrily asks.

"Who are you?" Eric spits out as he drags his sister behind him.

"I do not understand"

"What is going on?" The King announces as his voice booms out.

"Your Majesty, Prince Elias is a fake" Hunter declares.

A low chuckle escapes passed Elias' lips as he shake his head gently staring at the ground. People stare in disbelief at his reaction feeling stuck in their seat unable to mutter a single sound.

"Care explaining yourself?" The King states in confusion and rage.

"I thought I would at least be able to marry you," Elias says staring straight into Marcy's shivering eyes, "before I killed you" he finishes with a strange calmness.

"Kill me?" Marcy gulps as her hands begin to shake.

"You have some gut coming in here saying that" Eric hisses out.

"GUARDS!" The Kings shouts as Leo, Hunter and Eric draw their swords in defence.

Elias' sly smirk is the last thing Marcy sees until she is dragged swiftly from the room watching the four of them have a battle with their swords dancing in the air. Her attention returns to the tight grip on her wrist looking up to see Esther shaking anxiously. Marcy's body goes into autopilot as her feet lead her further away, yet it seems like they are only running in place.

"Marcella RUN!" Esther orders as she turns to go back.

"I'm not leaving you!" Her eyes brimming with tears.

"Please, I promised your parents I would protect you now go!"

With her stubbornness and curiosity, Marcella marched back into the Great Hall when the ruckus suddenly stopped only to freeze in shock when she encounters an image of the scene, literally. Screaming guests are fixed in time as Elias calmly walks past the stone figures dropping a small watch into his pocket.

"I admire your courage, Princess, but unfortunately it won't last long" A dark aura surrounds him as he twirls a sword between his fingers.

By instinct, Marcy too draws a blade from a frozen guard holding it up in front of her. Elias underestimates Marcella's abilities as he pounces forward only to receive a deep cut on his upper arm. Without hesitation, Marcy runs once she sees Elias smile once more sending chills down her spine. Her misty thoughts now clearing up as her lovesick memories of Elias turn twisted and dark.

Dashing deep through the forestry, Marcella ditched her shoes long ago replacing them with sticks and rocks scraping along her bare skin. Sweat drips down her face as her heavy breathing drowns out the haunting echoes of Elias' laughs through the dusky forest. Stealing quick glances from behind she sees a faint shadow intertwining with the trees at an inhuman speed.

Marcella abruptly comes to a halt at the edge of the forest line, looking frantically for another path of escape but her thoughts are stolen by the slow clapping emerging from the dark. "It better feel worth it for chasing you through that forest," he says humorously observing his surroundings, "now where will you run to Princess?"