shackled

chapter three - kaian's perspective

"Just because she has a crown doesn't make her life worth any more than mine. She was a terrible person. Not everyone has the protection of a bloodline." Her eyes bore into my soul, unravelling the secrets desperate to escape.
"What makes you think your life is worth anything at all?" The woman flinched slightly at the harsh remark, as though she had any emotion at all I chuckled silently. 'Fuck. Why did I say that?' Despite the fact she started this tremendous mess, I can't help but feel a bit guilty as the tears well in her eyes, threatening to spill at any moment. Her clear blue eyes mimicked an ocean full of actual salty water and I can't help but be reminded of my favourite quote 'I wonder how the person who discovered that their tears and the ocean share a taste felt.' I certainly would have felt - at peace, I guess. Words can't really describe a sensation like that. While reminiscing of my better days at sea, I hear a gulp of air captured by the woman across from me. I look up and stare into those mesmerising eyes. 'Wow. She's so gorgeous.' I catch my mind straying from the topic at hand, captivated by her beauty for a split second. My eyes fall. I am ashamed. I don't know why. As Prince, my job is to handsomely stare and smile at everyone I see... Why is it that this convicted criminal is the one I must fall for? I hesitate for a moment before looking back up, being sure to swerve around those enthralling, icy eyes of hers. My much more mediocre mud brown eyes analyse every inch of her body. From the way her messy bleach blonde hair is sitting on her smooth shoulders, to the way her figure is miraculously enunciated by the usually ugly, slate grey convict uniform, the way she looks in those handcuffs- 'GOD, get it together, Kaian! She's got the death sentence for fucks sake. I mean even if she wasn't a terrible person, she'll be dead in a week no matter what.' Thousands of polite responses bounce off the walls of my brain but I know that just because her eyes are slightly nicer than the average woman, I cannot let her get into my mind and make me buckle. Hell, this is probably how she entices all the men she murders. Probably. Is she a murderer? I don't even know the full extent of her story... maybe the murder was in self defense? 'No Kaian. She willingly took a life. That is inexcusable and as King you should know that.' "Take her back to her cell." The guards unanimously move towards Ethora, the tears flowing down her cheeks completely stopped, like a river in drought. The intimidating men walked past me then to the right and as they left, I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of those eyes. A smile slipped from my lips. 'Fucking gorgeous.'

You know what I find fucking crazy? Me. Yep. Haha. I am totally not falling for this slightly attractive criminal who my Father gets to execute in seven days time. Not falling for her tantalisingly blue eyes, not falling for her unnaturally blonde hair, not falling for her perfect body. If I am so certain I am not falling for her, why did I spend my night dreaming about visiting her in the cell? Delivering her food and sneaking her kisses? Breaking this woman out of her cage and running away to a place where there is no royalty and no death penalties. I know they say dreams are your subconscious telling you what you want, but I never took it seriously. This is insane. I am insane.

Speaking of subconscious, I now consciously find myself meticulously looking for all the negative aspects of Ethora's personality. Throughout her time in the palace, she has been the gossip of the guards, particularly the friendly ones I sometimes each lunch with.
"That Ethora girl worries me," One of the burlier but kind-hearted guards, named David, told me one afternoon. I like to think of Dave as the golden retriever of all our palace guards. Although he seems scary, this man would never hurt a fly. "She seems so content with life... but I mean she does have to make the most of her 6 days." The reality struck me straight through the chest. 6 days to live. I needed to get to her. I don't know why, but I know to trust my gut.
"Please excuse me for a minute, Dave. I'll be back!" I flashed him a reassuring smile and dashed down the spiralling staircase.
"Bye Kaian!" he raised his hand and I turned away hurriedly.

I continued further and further down the stairs, goosebumps began to rise on my skin.  The air was denser down here, I never failed to notice. I scurry down the last few steps and nod towards a guard as I breeze past. His eyes dig through the back of my skull in confusion but I continue my journey. I finally reach the only occupied cell, the one right at the end. The steel bars are matte, there's minimal light to reflect off of them; the walls a stand-offish grey colour, like that of dreary, clouded skies begging for the sun to say hello again. My footsteps echo like a whip cracking through the thick air, only punctured by the soft, musical humming. 'She seems content,' I remember Dave telling me. She does. Surely she must hear me now, I think to myself my eyes still scanning the empty hall.
"Hello," a disembodied voice, completely different to the croaky mutter I heard before. The girl seems to be in a dreamlike state, subliminal even. The melodic humming as stopped and she was staring at me, glancing up and down. "What are you doing here?" My mind was bare of thoughts, yet I had to answer her question:
"I wanted to talk to you," I murmur hesitantly. 'Shit. She probably hates my ass, why did I think this was a good idea?' I almost resorted to leaving. Almost
"Um?" She cleared her throat.
"Sorry, did you say something?" she seemed inquisitive, not at all like she wanted me to leave, but she probably didn't exactly want me to stay either. I'm probably the most company she'll have in the next 6 days.
"I said why." 'Why do I want to talk to her? God what can I say? Well it's funny, I haven't been able to get you off my mind since we met the day before last and I think you're really attractive, despite having killed my mother. Not that I particularly mind that part. What the fuck Kaian??'
"I just uh-" 'I never struggle with speech what the hell?' "I feel as though you need some company in your last week of being alive I- I guess?" My voice rose on pitch on that last word, like a prepubescent teen's.
"Six days." She smirked. I chuckled softly. 'Was that insensitive to laugh? Oh well.' There seemed to be an ethereal aura radiating from the woman. It was as though there was a golden halo around her head, greatly contradicting her current situation. "What would you like to talk about then, Prince Kaian?" The golden glow moved closer towards me and I felt the heat creeping up my neck. It's time like these I thank the dim light in these facilities. Ethora was a few inches shorter than me, I like it. Her acidic gaze penetrated my skull, converting my brain into mush in her presence. She took a seat on the bed in her cell and looked up at me expectantly.
"What would you like to get off your mind?" It was the best thing I could come up with and I mentally slapped myself.
"So. Much. But I daren't burden the Prince." Her laughter danced through the air - a light, airy giggle. "Why don't you ask me some questions?"
"Uh, ok." I scrape the bottom of my mush brain to find something suitable for discussion. "What song were you humming?" 'Great fucking work.'
"The Blue Danube," Her head fell abashedly, "I tend to whistle but my lips are so chapped it's not funny."
"I can grab you some lip balm or something?" I ask hesitantly, my voice yet again doing that thing.
"Oh! Only if it's not too much trouble... although I feel like whistling would annoy the guards much more," My fingers fumble in my pockets and grasp onto a familiar cylinder. I yank it out, accomplished before realising 'Why would she want your used chapstick???' Her eyes lit up, a shade bluer than I thought imaginable and she announced "Oh my god! You're a lifesaver, thank you so much your Highness." With a small curtsy. That was cute. I extended my hand apprehensively before she grabbed it through the bar. Her hands were almost as cold as the steel bars.
"God, you're hands are freezing!" I exclaimed as she untwisted the lid.
"Yours are sweaty," she applied the lip balm onto her pale lips, rubbing them together before producing a loud 'pop!' sound. Butterflies danced in my lower stomach as she handed it back to me through the bars.
"Oh uh, you can keep it if you'd like," Her head moved side to side,
"I'd very much like you to visit me again tomorrow, with the chapstick." I can guarantee she saw my cheeks flush even in the low lit environment. " I mean only if you want,"
"I think that would be cool," My eyes fell downwards and and I felt the sides of my mouth tug upwards.
"Oh my god, you have dimples!" My hands instinctively rose to my cheek, they've been my biggest insecurity for as long as I can remember.
"I- yeah-"
"They're so fucking adorable!" She squealed adoringly, reaching her hands through the bars like a baby begging for food. 'Ok, yup. She can definitely see me blush this time.' "Well, bye Mr- oops! I mean Prince Dimple man," She giggled lightly again, before backing deeper into her cell. "It was lovely talking to you,"
"Bye Ethora, see you tomorrow. And uh, likewise," I took that as my cue, despite wanting to talk for so much longer. 'David was right.' I thought, 'her personality is refreshingly happy.' I slept well that night, having the first day in a while I was looking forward to.

authors note - lordy lord sorry that took me so long to upload I am so bad with writers block <\3 anygays thanks for reading i promise it will faster soon <33333 love y'all

extra note - i'm a fuckinf idiot and dont proofread my shit bc i'm lazy so sorry 😞