Midnight. Shadows cloaked the walls, rendering the world to silence. The air was still, with a damp, dusty feel. Nothing moved, and the castle corridors were still as death.
Suddenly, shadows moved. No, not shadows. A figure, gliding down the corridor. A ghost? A thief?
The figure moved silently, stealthily. It turned gracefully through the lengthy, lavish halls, twisting without stopping or encountering the few, sleep-deprived or drunk guards. Never pausing, the figure continued through the halls, until finally it reached the back kitchens. Slowly, the figure opened the door. As soon as the space was wide enough, it slipped through and shut it as carefully as it had been.
The black shadow prowled purposefully through the kitchens, winding across the floor to another door at the back. It pulled that open, too, and exited outside.
The air outside was far different from the musty stone corridors of the palace. The air here was warm, with a slight cool breeze. The air hummed with nighttime insects, and swaying trees. Otherwise, all was silent.
The secret space the mysterious figure had exited into was a courtyard. Small, with several crowded, overgrown beds of colorful flowers and a few small tables and benches. The figure relaxed, glancing around. Then, its stride losing its confident, silent airs, the slight figure knelt by a patch of roses. Picking one, the figure threw back their hood.
The girl held the beautiful red rose to her nose, sighing with deep, unspoken relief. Her hair was a dark, ebony black. It hung loose like a peasant's to midway down her back, straight as the finest arrow. When she opened her eyes, her eyes shone violet. Her features were straight and pretty, and no blemishes marked her hands or face.
The girl sat a few moments longer, gratefully breathing in the cool fresh air. Finally, she sat up, tucking the rose into an obscure pocket. Standing up, she sighed and tucked her hair into her hood, shook the arms back down and threw up the hood. She carefully opened the door, and stepped once more into the gloomy dark of the castle.
YOU ARE READING
First Wing
FantasyEverly is just a lowly servant in a big castle, but by night she is so much more. Living in a fantasy world, there are very few things lacking. But soon, her thieving escapades get her and her new friends in deep trouble, discovering a well-kept sec...
