Realm of Shadows

Chapter Six

I wake up lying on the cold, concrete ground on top of stray hay. Looking around as I opened my eyes, the room was dark but only lit with torches hilted onto the walls. Four concrete walls held me inside with the door locked. The door had a small window that was barred up, but I was still able to make out the shadow of a helmet on the outside wall.

Where was I and why was I locked up?

Panic started building inside me. I attempted to run, standing up and trying to run to the door but I was pulled back down to the ground with a loud and very painful thud. Looking down, I could see my hands were chained to the wall. A few tugs of the chain showed me that I was not going anywhere.

"Hello!?" I yelled as loud as I could trying to get the attention of anyone that could possibly give me an answer. "Please help me this is a mistake!" I kept pulling against the chains to make a sound as I kept yelling and yelling, but no one was answering.

Falling back against the haystack, I let myself rest for a moment. My breathing was hard, and my heart was racing a million beats.

Where am I and why am I locked in a cell? I thought to myself looking around the dimly lit cell. This surely could not be the dungeon beneath the palace grounds. Even if it was why would I be put in here, Callian would have put an immediate stop to it if he had seen sentries drag me down here.

How long have I been here? I continue to think about the wedding. Had the morning come and gone? Am I now a missing bride or was the wedding cancelled?

Tears began falling down my cheeks and onto my now dirty night dress. I felt miserable, with my stomach empty and without a drop of water since I met with Elyot for our horse ride. I wonder what he was doing right now. Was he still upset at me for what I said to him?

The sound of the door unlocking made me look up, and a woman entered the room. She had pale white skin and her hair light blonde hair. It was like she was glowing with her every movement, like a goddess. Her dress was a mix of white and gold, it was flowy and fell down to the floor like water. I had never seen such an outfit before.

There was a light smile on her face as she entered holding a tray covered in what looked like to be a meal. The door closed loudly behind her and she stepped forward.

"Hello." Her voice was soft and almost angelic. She sounded happy as well as curious. "Do not be afraid, I've just brought you something to eat." I stared at her as she walked closer looking around the room.

She scoffed, "goodness, there's no table," she looked up at me, "I hope you don't mind if I put this on the hay?" I simply stared at her unable to speak like my tongue had been tied.

Setting the tray on the stack of hay, I got a good look at the small variety of fruit and bread, a cup of water on the side.

"Thank you," I whispered looking up at her and back down at the food again. "But unfortunately, my hands are a bit tied for me to eat anything." I tugged at the chains, so it made a rattling sound and she gasped rather dramatically.

"Oh, that silly old prince! How can he think that a tiny girl like you try and escape?" She walked behind me and crouched down so that she was at my level on her knees. "Let me help you."

I turned my head slightly to watch as she closed her eyes and placed her hands on the chains just above my hands. I began to feel a burning feeling just barely touching my wrist and then the weight of the metal was free. I brought my hands forward and inspected the missing chains and then it hit me. She was a magic bearer.

I quickly jumped up from my spot on the floor, my muscles aching as I did, and I moved to the other end of the cell.

"What- ?" I began but didn't finish.  She stood and tried to walk closer to me, but I stopped her. "Don't come any closer to me. I know what you are."