The Lost Prince || Dreamnotfound

twenty-two

It's been a week.

Dream's heart falls with each passing sunset.

It's like time slows.

He can't imagine what George must be going through.

Dream has searched every inch of the castle. Lav has searched every place outside. Unless Tiberias and Valerie have a secret chamber, Dream isn't going to have any luck searching the castle again.

Though, there is one place Dream has yet to search. It's the place that terrifies him the most: the King and Queen's bedchambers.

Dream works up the courage a few days later. His parents are supposed to be in a meeting with their advisors and other nobles. So, quietly, he opens the door to the room. He expects to find a trap, but the room is pretty much normal.

Other than the dark shade of gray that lines the walls, the room is peaceful, at odds with what Dream expected. Dream searches their bathroom, the closets, even under the bed. He checks behind tapestries for hidden doors, but there's nothing amiss.

He sighs, letting the final tapestry fall from his hands, and turns around. Valerie stands at the door, watching Dream.

Dream freezes. Valerie's pale lips curve up in a mocking smile. Her eyes are on Dream like a cat, waiting for her moment to pounce. The words that roll off her tongue are lowered, unsettling. "I know what you're looking for," she says, eyes alight. "Or rather, who you're looking for."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Dream swallows as Valerie steps forward. She knows not to be afraid while the bracelets wrap around Dream's wrists.

"I gave you the freedom of the bracelets, boy," she hisses. Her hands are cold as she grabs Dream's wrists, bringing the iron into view. "The other option was to chain you up and torture you like the other one."

Dream winces, shrinking away from the Queen. Her hands tighten and she rubs her thumbs across his skin. The movement raises the hair on his arms. He tries not to tremble, but fails.

Valerie is only a few inches shorter than Dream, but she seems to look down upon him. He shrinks back further. After a moment, she says, "I am not your true mother, but you do well to respect me. Or that wicked prince will be punished for it."

Dream knows better than to say anything. With narrowed eyes, Valerie releases his wrists and croons wickedly, "It's useless to look for him. You'll never find him. I made sure of that."

Valerie steps to the side, and Dream doesn't hesitate to walk past her, rushing out of the room. When the door closes, he chokes on air, tears pricking at his eyes. He stumbles up to his room and lays on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

What is he going to do now?

~

It's been another week. Dream has stopped his search, but he still has a plan.

He feels like he's read every book in the library; his eyes burn and words blur together. His sleep is restless, haunted by his mother's words. But George's voice in the back of his mind always picks him back up on his feet.

He's trying to find a way to get rid of the iron bracelets around his wrists. With them off, no one would be able to stop him. He could fight his way to George.

The skin around the bracelets is red, irritated from Dream's scratching. All of his attempts have been useless. He sent Lav off a week ago to return to the Enchanted Kingdom and inform them of the situation, as well as to look for a way to get the bracelets off Dream.