The Crimson Contract

Chapter 5

The Queen's words seemed to follow him around to the courtyard as he unleashed his sword. It sliced through the air, crisp sounds escaping it at the newfound freedom. The moon had disappeared, hidden behind clouds, taking her stolen light along with her presence.

'A lot is depending on you two,' she had smiled, but Alexander could tell what she was doing. The Queen didn't trust him.

Alexander continued to cut through the air as he danced with his sword. Maybe it was his imagination, but the stingy smell of blood seemed to surround him. He remembered it all too well. The red liquid dripping from his sword, covering every inch of him. The soldiers, his friends and foes, bleeding all around him.

"She couldn't handle it," He muttered to himself. The slow breeze kissed him, the cold touch lingering on his skin.

'Fine!' Eleanor had said to him before storming off, disappearing into the mazes of Pylone's castle. How much she reminded him of a young child. His younger brother, perhaps. Daniel and Alexander used to get into arguments all the time, over the littlest things.

"An apology won't hurt," He whispered to the moon. It had barely been 3 days since they had met, yet their differences had already begun to show. 'Unless you want to start a war, cooperate.' The words his father had said to him. The words he had repeated to the Princess. He had to cooperate.

The leather itched against his finger as Alexander rested his sword back into the scabbard. He flexed his hand, letting out one last breath of ice before the castle consumed him.

"Prince Alexander," a woman addressed him. She was dressed lavishly enough to be a noble, but too modest to rival Eleanor. Embroidered flowers covered her body, with a plain periwinkle fabric dropping in ripples from her waist. If he remembered correctly, this was Andrea.

"Lady Andrea," He nodded back in passing. Alexander considered asking her for help navigating the mysteries of this castle, but before he could speak another word, she was already behind him.

The strangers started to become familiar as he made his way to Eleanor's bedroom, the etched designs Alexander had memorised greeting him as he passed by. Alexander was beginning to recognise this castle, and it was beginning to recognise him back.

"Princess," Alexander knocked on her door. Silence responded. "Princess Eleanor?" He tried again. As the dead of night fell upon the castle, everything inside had started to sleep, leaving a sheet of stillness to cover the empty halls and rooms. Each knock echoed back to Alexander, the door quivering at the prince's touch. The rough noises seemed louder than he expected them to be, causing him to shiver as they filled the hall.

"Enough playing around." Alexander rarely raised his voice. He clenched his fists, ignoring the reminders of his fathers as he spoke. Flashes threatened to come back to him, memories he had spent his life ignoring. 'No, not now.'

"Come out Princess." He demanded one last time. The castle seemed to hold its breath, waiting and watching Alexander with curiosity. Whether fate or luck, before Alexander could continue, he spotted blonde hair moving only steps away from him, attached to pale limbs.

"Lady Leona," He called out. "Right?"

Leona heard that voice again, as rough as old bark, as thick as honey. Prince Alexander.

"May I enquire where Princess Eleanor is?" He asked.

"Oh, the Princess went for a walk," she watched the storms in Alexander's eyes grow. "Is everything alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yes," Prince Alexander smiled, his voice turning gentle. How fascinating. "Please excuse me."

Leonna watched as the foreign prince backed away, using the steps of a guard. The rumbles of his feet echoed through the tall hallways as he disappeared into the darkness, heart pounding.