The Allure of Darkness

27

Emrys

"We can clearly sign papers later," I say slightly with a tone. Loki nudges me in the ribs. I gave him a look.

"I'm sorry ma'am, what he means to say is that once we are situated then we can finish these papers," Loki says with a forced laugh.

The woman laughs too. I didn't think it was remotely funny.

"It's okay lads, we can finish the papers later," she spits out laughing again. "The girl is room 87 and you guys are room 117 and 119."

We both tip our heads as we walk by, carrying our luggages.

Where did she go, Emrys?

Somewhere away from us. She'll find us later, I know she won't run just yet.

You know? Just like you know dad's plans?

Loki and his longing to know things.

The halls are all filled with gold. I think it's useless flailing all of their wealth around while the villages in this kingdom are practically living off of what they had in store from the winter.

The Kingdom of Nichle is preparing for war, so are we.

Emrys, we have to find her now. We don't know what she is doing, she could be in trouble.

"Whatever you say brother."

Loki

I hope we don't find her until later. I want her to have freedom. To know what it feels like to be able to move around freely around everyone with not a thought of fear.

I want that too.

I know she is from the Kingdom of Ploy, the brand on her is covered by her sleeves, but that brand on her tells you that she is owned. Owned by my father, will be owned by the crown prince, whoever my father picks.

It will be Emrys who is the next crown prince. My father always plays favorites. Emrys this, Emrys that. Always about him and always so interested in having him close. The only way I'm close to my father is when he's ordering my lashes.

I miss my childhood. I miss when my mother would pamper me. When my father would teach me to fight. When Emrys and I would sneak out at night.

I don't miss them, I miss who I thought they were.

Azia

The stairs squeak at me as I move up them. 

I have to leave. I have to find Cree. I want my family back. I want my Kingdom back.

The walls and stairs are all wood, wood is puncturing from the walls.

I thought this castle was all luxurious but this isn't like the stories I heard about it . The stairs only keep going even as my breath hitches.

One step after another I reach the top where light shines through a door. I catch my breath for what feels like forever.

I push the gold door open with no noise. From wood to gold just like that.

The walls are white and the ground is gold.

I should turn around. I should go back to Emrys and Loki or just run away.

I try to not make a noise as I walk forward into this unknown hallway. Into this unknown Kingdom where I'm trapped by the rival Kingdom princes.

I reach the first hallway where I have three different options.

Left. I choose left.

The hallway interior stays the same but after a few minutes of walking and trying to find a single idea of what's up here the white walls turn to dark wood. Different wood from the stairs and doors.

The first door is on my right and it's all black. Black door, black handle with a gold mat.

I place my hand on the handle and start to turn. It pops right open to a room encased in darkness.

"What the hell. Who is in here?" A voice that rumbles from my right.

"I'm sorry, sir. Wrong room I'll leave." I say quickly and then turn towards the door.

Candles light all around the room. Showing me the truth behind the darkness. A room with a man sleeping inside of it.

"These rooms are hidden, how did you get here?" His voice raises as the heat does.

I back away from the door to get away from this man.

"I must have taken a wrong turn, I'm so sorry. I will leave now." I try to smile acting like this was an accident, which it was.

He stands out from the bed, blankets falling from his body leaving him with his clothes on. He flicks his hand and fire leaps out of his hand.

His long-ish blond hair starts to get burnt by his flame. His gray eyes are lit with fire. His eyes have hatred burnt into them.

He walks towards me with no sound as my breath catches when I can feel his flame burning me. I jerk away.

"Please I've been traveling for days with these guards I barely know. Help me." Maybe he will sympathize with me. He said these rooms are hidden, I want to stay here.

He stares at me with no telling of what he is thinking. His hair is all along his face with sweat sticking to it.

"No, go away." He said as the candles in his room went out.

Okay. Difficult.

"No? You can't just tell a young lady no when she is lost?" Maybe I'll make him feel like he has to help me. Make him feel bad for me.

"I'll wake the another guard if you like? Maybe he'll only feed you to the dogs and not the dragons."

Dragons. Wow. How the world has changed.

"Atlas what are you doing with this young lady, turn the lights on and you need to calm down you're gonna burn your room down." A voice comes from behind me.

"Alden, get her out of here."

I don't know what to do. I have no idea who these people are, I'm out numbered. So I do the most reasonable thing to do and I start to head for the door.

Alden

Who is she? How did she even find Atlas's room?

I try to block  her from leaving but she passes through right under my arm as Atlas lights more candles.

"She said she needed help. I didn't want to help her but you can, Al. I won't forget how helpful
you are." I can hear Atlas's laugh as I slam the door shut and go after the girl.