Labyrinth: Into the Malignant Book 2

Epilogue

This is a messy chapter.... I have been so focused the on new version of the book that this was the best I could do... enjoy anyways!

I stood in the middle of the ballroom with my arms wrapped around myself. I could hear the children of the royal families running around led by Pacen. The maids were putting everything together for the next day. It was to be widely celebrated for a very long time. I had been preparing for the day for the past three years. "You will not be alone" was hard to swallow when coming from my Intangible.

I felt someone come up beside me. I didn't want to look at them, but an arm around my shoulder forced me to look up at my father. "It's going to be okay" He said squeezing my shoulder.

"I know I'm not taking over yet, but this is still scary. My future is decided in one day with one ceremony" My father had a thinking face.

"That's exactly how I felt when I married your mother" With a gasp, I elbowed my father and he gave out a boisterous laugh. "I'm just kidding! Seriously, when your grandfather passed away so many years ago I was devastated. I had experience running the Goblin City, but I was in no shape to run the High Kingdom and overlook the other kingdoms. It's scary business, but you have the hope that you will not take over immediately. You will be by my side all the time and learning until the day I think you are ready. If that day comes sooner, so be it, but the only way to start preparing is when you understand that you will rule one day" I put my arm around him and gave a soft smile.

"Thanks dad that means a lot"

"Oh! I was told a boy who claims your touch was looking for you. It seemed important, but remember no closed doors or unsupervised rooms. I will not hesitate to make him run the labyrinth" I punched my father's arm before turning and walking out of the room. I looked all around the castle trying to find my Intangible, but he was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until one of the guards called out to me and said he was outside that I was getting tired.

I walked out to the courtyard and looked around. People were wandering around minding their business. I huffed and turned back to the castle, but a weight tugged on my arm. Someone threw something over my eyes and put their hand over my mouth. With a silent scream I was picked up and pulled away. Fear ran through my body as I felt the trees around me. I tried to wiggle free, but my arms were tucked under me. I let out a string of screams, but nothing went past the gag.

It wasn't until we came to a stop and the blindfold was taken off my eyes. I was fully prepared to fight, but the sight in front of me caused me to go still. My eyes traced over the open ground and the trees. The setting sun turned everything a pink and orange color. Flower petals led to the trunk of a very big and familiar tree. There was a ladder made from wood spiraling up a tree. I could see something in the leaves at the top, but couldn't put my finger on it.

Suddenly, someone wrapped their arms around me from behind. "He wasn't supposed to kidnap you" were the first words whispered in my ear. A grin plastered itself on my face as I leaned my head back to rest on the persons shoulder.

"That's a charming way to start the night" The chest pressed to my back rumbled from a chuckle.

"Would you like to do what I did plan?" His voice was low and nervous. I turned to my Intangible and smiled. He had been doing a lot of these mini dates in the past couple years. The first one he took me on was at this tree, but the ladder was new.

We walked to the stairs and I walked up to our spot. What surprised me was the flooring put in and the pillows against the tree. There was a small blanket on the ground with two baskets. My Intangible rushed ahead of me and guided me to my seat. I sat down carefully and waited for him to rest beside me. He pulled out the first basket and took out an intricate looking cake I had never seen before.