VILLAIN

Chapter 22

For a split-second, I only stared, frozen, at the oncoming wave of armor. Then Max swept his sword up from the ground, and my stupor was broken. All three of us bolted as fast as we could for the small, disguised servants' door that Marci and Muriel currently occupied, the guards hot on our tail. The doorway was narrow, and a wide-eyed Marcelline leaped out of the middle of it just before Max would've plowed into her. We raced through the cramped, dark hallway on the other side, not knowing where we were going but all too aware of the clanking metal that was just on the other side of each corner we turned. The guards followed us relentlessly, but the narrow halls made for at least some relief, as it took the lot of them several precious seconds to squeeze themselves through.

I watched the mermaids struggle ahead of me, and something struck me. "Where's Marin?" I panted.

Marci almost stopped running then, but Max spurred her on. "She wanted to stay here – with that silly prince of hers."

I furrowed my eyebrows, lost in thought, before I very nearly tripped over my own feet. I thankfully recovered just in time, but it was enough to scare the rest of my questions away – for now, at least.

I did very little thinking after that, focusing all my energy on keeping up with the long strides of Max and not slowing down Tiger Lily, who was right on my heels. Marci and Muriel ran in front of Max, which made for painstakingly slow progress – their awkward legs flailing in every direction and threatening at any second to stumble and fall. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, and my lungs burned, but still I felt as though we were going much too slow. I could hear the sound of the guards sharp behind me, each stride taking them closer to our group.

Right as I feared we weren't going to make it, Max wrenched open another door and we raced through it and out into the light of the noonday sun. I was just beginning to hope that my crazy plan might have worked after all when suddenly I felt a sharp jerk on my neck, and my feet flew out from under me.

I yelped, hands flying to my neck, which was currently being compressed by a large, meaty fist. My eyes flicked to the person who had grabbed me, and my blood ran cold. King Douglas stared straight into my soul, his eyes glittering with triumph – as though the hunger I'd seen in them before was finally being satisfied. I stared back at him, eyes wide, unable to look away no matter how much I wanted to. Time seemed almost to freeze, my hands clutching uselessly over the king's as he slowly squeezed all the air out of my windpipe. Then the others skidded to a stop, and time sped back in full force.

The king laughed down at me gleefully as the guards that had been following us streamed into the courtyard. "Don't you just love it when everything turns out exactly as you planned?"

I tried to gulp, but he was squeezing me too tightly. I drew in a shallow, strangled breath, desperately prying at the king's meaty fingers.

"Put her down!" Max demanded at the same time that Tiger Lily said, "Release her!"

King Douglas only laughed again, even as Max brandished his sword.

"You know, it would really be in your best interest to keep quiet," the king advised. "Or better still, to run while you still can."

Tiger Lily spat on the ground at his feet. "A pack does not leave a wolf caught in brambles."

Muriel slowly nodded, standing up taller, and Marci followed soon after.

King Douglas smirked. "They don't, do they? Well then, by all means, watch."

His grip tightened, and my movements grew more desperate. I clawed at his stubby fingers, scratching against them and kicking out with my legs as best I could. I could barely manage the tiniest wheeze, and I knew it wouldn't be long before I ran out of breath altogether.