The Return of the Princesses

Chapter 12

I quickly ran across the floor, grabbing onto the handles. I turned around, Adam was still sleeping. 

Please, please don't make a loud noise.

I slowly pulled on the golden handles of my bedroom door. No noise. I opened it just enough for my body to fit through. I took one last glance at Adam, and he was still in a deep sleep. I slid out of the bedroom, slowly closing the door behind me.

Phew.

I let out a deep breath, not noticing I was holding that entire time. I heard and saw no one, so I started walking down the hallway. All I heard was the padding of my bare feet on the cold, hard ground, and the restraint in my breathing. I was trying my hardest to be quiet. 

I made it down the hallway to a crossroad. It was then I realized I had no idea where to go to get to the gardens. Did we even have gardens? Well, if other me lived here, we'd definitely have gardens. 

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard footsteps coming down the hallway. Around me, there was no door, no plant to hide behind except for the shadow cast by the moon through the windows. I pressed myself hard up against the cold wall, holding my breath. 

All I could hear were the footsteps getting louder, and the racing of my heart. 

There was no way this plan was going to work, the stranger would see me instantly and send me back to my room. 

Just then, the shadow of my disturber cast across the floor before I saw his body.

He walked right past me.

Shivers ran up and down my spine as I let out my breath. 

I needed to find the gardens and find them fast.

_____________________________________________________

My feet had begun to go numb as a raced down the halls of the unfamiliar palace. I held the bottoms of my nightgown in my hand so I didn't trip, and was running full speed down every-which hallway knowing I had just as good of a chance guessing which way to go then to waste time pondering about it. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted light down at the end of the hallway I was running down. As I got closer, I slowed my run to a walk.

I seemed to have had walked right to the top of the stairs which below them had the front doors I entered earlier. The light of the moon was illuminating the entrance. I walked down the stairs until I reached the bottom. If I was at the front of the castle, then the gardens should be at the back, the opposite direction of the front doors.

And Papa said I would never be a good geography major. 

I hope to see any kind of back door soon, being exposed in the center of the castle made me extremely vulnerable to anyone, but I couldn't run anymore because the room was so large it would echo. 

To my relief, I came across an entire wall of stain glass doors. The design and colours were difficult to pick out in the darkness but nevertheless looked stunning. I must remind myself to come down here again in daylight. 

I opened the first door I came across and stepped outside. I was immediately hit with a cool breeze and dampness. I was regretting not wearing shoes. But, to my advantage, I was standing right in front of a giant garden. I started my way into the garden that was filled with giant green bushes that reached above my head, all the way down to little daisies by my ankles. 

"Hello?" 

"Hello?" I whispered again. 

What if this was a trick and there was no one here to actually talk to me?

I walked all the way through the garden to what seemed to be the center, a giant circle cut out of the bushes and grass. There was a cobblestone patio with several benches and birdbaths. This would be the perfect place to read a book one day.

"Ah, you have finally come." I heard a voice.

I jumped quickly to the side, scooping out the area around me.

" Yes I am here, can you please show yourself?" I asked, the hairs on my body standing straight.

"As you wish, my Princess, " Said the voice.

Across from me, a large shadow cast across the cobble floor. Rustling of branches, a silhouette took form across the gardens. 

" I'm not scared of you, step out to where I can see you," I demanded, taking one step closer.

Without a reply, the silhouette turned into a complete human in front of me.

At least double in my height, she wore a dark dress, reaching her toes. Every part of her skin covered. Except for her face, her green cat eyes glowed as she stood before me. Two giant horns took the place of her hair, stretching and curling high into the sky, ending in a sharp point. 

" I want you to tell me everything you know, and everything that is going on." I demanded.

" Sure," she sighed, inspecting her long nails, " but I doubt anything I have to say is going to be anything you want to hear."