The Red Cape

VIII.

Hunter awoke from stiff limbs, his eyes still closed, he groaned and slowly sat up. The lids of his eyes opened little by little. He looked around him and saw he was surrounded by hazy crystal walls.

His hands were shackled by silver chains on the floor. His wrists were stung, rubbed raw by the metal and his throat felt dry.

Hunter quickly realized he was in the king's glass palace, and he was being held prisoner for reasons he was not aware of. There were several reasons he could have been arrested for, but every reason that went through his mind didn't make sense with the situation in context.

Did they capture him because he was with Rose? Were they after her?

Hang on, he thought, and looked around wildly. Where is she?

She was nowhere to be found. He started to think panic like thoughts and wanted to scream aloud in worry, but thought it illogical given his situation and remained silent.

Hunter then heard the sound of footsteps echoing from outside of his seemingly doorless cell.

He became stiff and braced himself for whatever was to come.

Suddenly, a door appeared then was opened. A soldier dressed in all black, similar to the ones at the gate, appeared.

He came into Hunter's cell and walked toward him, some keys in his hand.

"Where is she?" Hunter demanded. "Where is Rose?"

The guard did not answer his question, but said something else.

"You will be dining with the King this evening," he said as he unshackled Hunter. He then put silver cuffs on Hunter's wrists.

"That is for if you try to escape," he said, leading Hunter out of his cell.

Outside, there were two more soldiers waiting for them.

They led Hunter down the halls of the palace, and passed the hazy glass walls. Most of the doors in the castle had beautifully and intricately crafted silver handles upon them.

They led Hunter up a few sets of large, and what must've been made of diamond or crystal staircases.

When they reached the top, they stood in front of a set of enormous glass doors, which opened to reveal a long dining table set with numerous platters of delicious looking food.

At the end of the table sat a man around the middle of forty, with broad shoulders and a square jaw. He was pale and his brownish hair was brushed back with a silver crown rested upon his head, his grey eyes surveyed the room with distrust.

Hunter saw that a woman was seated on the left side of the table, not far from the man at the end. She wore a beautiful long sleeved emerald green dress, and her auburn hair was styled in an intricate braid.

"Rose!" Hunter tried to run forward, but the guards pulled him back as he struggled, and they brought him to the right side of the table.

She caught sight of him, and arose quickly. She had a pair of silver hand cuffs on her wrists as well.

"King Alexander," she protested, "Please, your majesty, what is the meaning of-"