Cursed to Hide

Traitor

      "Come on! You're not afraid, are you?" Jack leaned against the bars, his hands folded across his chest, as he crossed his legs, waiting for Liat to leave her gilded cage. Her coined toes remained hesitant, dipping from the stage towards him.

     She had waited so long, yet something didn't feel right. What if they didn't make it? The King and Marcaus would surely make her betrayal unbearable, and who knew what he would do to Jack? How could she lose him? He was her only friend.

     Liat's globes widened as the young man offered his hand, reaching within her cage, "What helps you to be brave?" Jack's crooked teeth smiled at her as the side of his cheek dimpled. Though even his cute, uneven smile couldn't lift her worries, Amara figged with her fingers, "Singing. Singing helps me to feel brave."

     "Then hum a comforting melody. And just think, you can sing all you want when we get home. Now, come on. We have to leave before dawn breaks." Liat bit the ends of her hair as she positioned her hand on the boy's.

      He was right; she had to take the chance. She breathed in deeply, "Okay." Jack guided her swiftly down the leg of the table and motioned her to keep close to him as they steadily passed the hall and slipped underneath the doors. Liat continued to hum a pretty tune under her breath, gaining the attention of a nearby guard. The clouds below their feet wrapped around their ankles like pudding as they earnestly made it to the opening of the clouds, where a beautiful bulky green stalk rose, curling upward from the clouds, "Come on, Liat. We're almost there." Jack whispered, remaining his hold on her, though a hand grasped the both of them. The Beast before them smiled with pride as he clenched them in his palms. Jack stabbed the Giant with a pin he had stolen from the servant's quarters, watching with glee as the soldier released him; he also let Amara plummet, grasping his other hand and sending her into the clouds. Jack slid from the Giant's guard's shoulder, jumping towards the ground below him, though a firm hand dug around him roughly, pulling him back.

     He turned up to see the Giant King, "Where's Liat!!"

     "Yeah! Where is my Birthday gift, thief!" The King's son, Marcus, appeared below him with a scowl resting on his face. Jack struggled against the King's hold, feeling the groves of his rings digging into the back of his spine, "I didn't steal anything!" Jack said, struggling. The King squeezed tighter, "Liar! I've neglected you, vermin, for far longer than I should have. To think I thought you were just a poor boy stealing food. You have robbed me of countless golden eggs, encrusted gems, my precious treasure's fine tears, and now her!"

     The King looked down at his son, "Remember Marcaus, when you become King, never trust even the smallest of humans. They are selfish creatures only caring about their interests." He turned to Jack, "I will see your head staked on a kabob and roasted over the kindlings of your home for this treachery."

     Jack's eyes buried into the King, "You call us humans selfish when you stole Liat's Kingdom from her. Playing a false ruler under a false crown."

     The King of the Giants scoffed, "Liat's father was unfit to be King, and it was his fault. I am the King of the Golden City of Ray. I have served my people diligently, giving them all they desire."

     "Even stealing from those you call selfish? You are not a King...but a dictator sitting upon a throne of lies." The King's eyes blazed, digging his fingers deeper into the boy, who at last whimpered as he opened his eyes, "I'll grind your bones to make bread, little English boy!"

     Jack was foolishly unafraid, feeling he had no reason to fear. He had gotten away so many times, so why wouldn't he get away again? Jack slipped his hand out of the King's grip, clutching the sewing pin tightly as he lunged it into the King's eye socket. He screamed in agony, letting go of the boy to clutch his eye, and began to tear with thick red. Jack rolled himself into his invisible cloak, hugging himself tightly as he landed on the ground safely, earnestly looking around for the golden harp. "Amara! Amara?! Where are you!" He tried to listen for her light humming, though there was nothing. The King stamped his boots, sending the boy tumbling as clouds below them seemed dark; Jack dug his fingers through the cloud, searching for the harp of gold.