Ash Prince

Chapter 2 - Fragments of Trust

Content Warnings: betrayal and deception, imprisonment, violence, death sentence, powerlessness, emotional distress, manipulation of trust, desperation.

Mare

I'm so stupid.

Regret gnaws at me. How could I have been so blind to what was unfolding right before my eyes?

Cal and Maven both left me. I should've known. No matter how much they may love, no matter how much they care, their father's crown will always be the top priority.

I always knew Cal and I would end up being enemies. But Maven, I thought he would be the one for me. I thought we would rise together with the red dawn.

His mother's son. Julian's warnings echo in my mind; I should have listened. This time, the betrayal cuts deep – not just against me but his mother.

Now he attains what he desires – his father's trust and love – even if it means I rot in this cell.

The dim light reveals the cold, metal bars. The ceiling, oppressive, mirrors the underground air. Unfamiliar yet known, this place is etched in the shadows of my consciousness.

"The Bowl of Bones," I whisper, not expecting anyone to hear. The door swings open with a grating creak, revealing a sickly, dimly lit passage. Hesitating at the threshold, I sense the guards' watchful eyes behind me. Tension thickens, foreshadowing the impending isolation.

A shove propels me forward, the force jolting through my body. The cell door clangs shut, and darkness engulfs everything. Metal meeting metal echoes, a chilling reminder of the confines closing in.

"Ahh, the Bowl of Bones, quite the iconic place, isn't it?" A cruel voice fills the empty cells.

My blood freezes. I recognize that voice.

Maven. Just the thought of his name makes my blood boil. Disgusting, cunning, evil, Maven. My once-beloved prince, now the ultimate architect of my torment. The sting of his betrayal, like a tightening barbed wire around my heart, intensifies with each passing moment.

He betrayed us all, divulging our secrets – the list of Newbloods, the Scarlet Guard base – compromising my safety.

I will kill him.

Well, if I don't die first.

For a moment, I catch Maven's eyes, those cold, icy blues devoid of remorse.

His once-soaked clothes and black locks are now replaced with perfectly styled hair and lavish attire, making him look rather handsome, if it weren't for that smug smile.

This isn't him. I want my Maven back.

It had never been real, had it? My mind wanders back to our moments – the warmth of his arms, the taste of his lips, the whispers of a different life we wove in stolen moments. They were nothing more than cruel illusions. Illusions he now wields to perfection, deceiving me into believing he wanted to help me. The fire of his ultimate betrayal, the burning agony of a thousand scalding memories, lances through me. I'm the shadow of the flame. I believed Maven when he spoke of his hatred for this world. Now I know it was all a trick, a masterful deception. Every word, touch, and look was a lie. Once, he told me Cal hated to lose. Now I realize the one playing to win was always Maven. Every breath, every word was in service to this bloody victory.

The hollowness in my chest seems endless, the depth of the betrayal unfathomable. I allowed myself to fall into the trap of hope, a trap set by Maven. My heart aches with the memories, and for a brief second, I wish I could turn back time, erase those moments, erase him from my heart.