Arcanum

Chapter 9: Lucas

I stood outside of the prison, listening to her screams. I was leaned against the wall and had my arms folded against my chest.

I felt guilt. It made me feel sick, and I closed my eyes slowly.

"Lucas." A voice spoke, and I opened my eyes to see Trisha standing there.

I frowned at her, and said nothing.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, obviously suspicious.

I sighed softly, and looked away.

"Just wanted to get away from all the noise." I mumbled, and Trisha snorted with laughter.

"So listening to a catori screaming is so much better?"

I looked away, and she punched me playfully. I flinched though because she hit the scratched arm.

"Whoops sorry!" She exclaimed and rested her hand on the wound, blushing madly.

I turned away, and shook my head.

I walked to the bar, and ordered some stew and a beer.

When they slid in front of me, I ended up staring at it blankly. I wasn't really hungry to be honest... but I knew that I had to eat. So I forced the food down my throat, and washed the rest down with my beer.

I got up, and began to walk, but didn't think about where I was going, until my feet took me to the dungeons.

I stared blankly at the door that led to the cells, and I glanced around.

I grabbed some rubbing alcohol, and a cloth that looked clean, and walked in.

I scrunched my nose at the rank smell the cells carried, after all. Bodies have rotted down here.

I reached Aiyana's cell, and I peered in.

She laid on the ground, with blood around her.

I sighed, and couldn't believe I was about to do this, but I opened the door, and placed the alcohol down, and the cloth on top of it.

I quickly walked back out before anybody could see me, and I rushed all the way to the palace's garden. I panted heavily, and I put my hands on my knees.

"Lucas?" A voice spoke, and I looked to see the princess.

I immediately bowed to her, and she giggled.

"It's alright Lucas. We're friends. You don't need to treat me as a princess." She said, and smiled.

I straightened myself, and she led me through the garden, talking about random things, until my father came into the conversation, so I decided to pay attention.

"It's too bad your father became a renegade. He truly was the best knight ever. Sadly, he betrayed us by friending the catori." She sighed. I nodded absently, as I began to think about it.

My father isn't allowed back in the kingdom. He's been banned, shunned. He isn't allowed with the catori either because he isn't their species.

I never even got to say goodbye to him either.. He was gone by the time my mother told me that he left.

I was barely listening to the princess, until she walked in front of me, and stopped us.

"What do you think?" Her eyes twinkled with excitement, but it died when I never responded.

"Ugh Lucas you never listen to me!" She whined, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Sorry princess." I apologized.

"I'm just tired." I added, and she nodded in understanding.

"It has been hard work for the army. Always going off fighting.. You always seem to be the best out of all the knights though." She stared at me with admiration, and I felt uncomfortable.

"Er yeah. Well I'm going to go to sleep. I really want to get a full night of sleep for a once. Good night princess." I said to her, and she smiled.

"Good night!" She cheerfully said, before I turned away, and walked to my room.

I sighed, and went under the covers, wanting to sleep more than just two or three hours.

I willed that I'd get to wake up to the sun.