An Uneasy Alliance

Chapter 7: My Life as a Teenage Prince of Death

POV Jace- Chapter 7: My Life as a Teenage Prince of Death

The bed was hard, but it had always been hard. His back hurt, but it always hurt. It was dark, but it was always dark. It was the Kingdom of the Dead, after all. He rolled out of his bed, leaving the room with only the addition of a black leather jacket to his pajamas. It fit loosely off his lank frame, it made him look weak--at least, that's what Jaxon told him. A long staircase wound down to the main hall, only a weak torch lighting the way every once and a while. But Jace knew the way down, he could've done it in the dark. He made it down in record time, without making a sound.

"Hello, Master," a voice called out from inside the open cupboard. Jace stumbled back, catching his breath.

"Did I scare 'ya, Master," the voice breathed again, this time a ghostly face popped out of the drawer.

"No, Harrison," Jace said, a small smile tugging at the side of his lips, "Everyone needs a good surprise every once and a while."

"That's kind of 'ya m'lord," the spirit said, his thick scottish accent echoing from the cupboard, "While I'm here, is there anythin' ya'd be wantin' for breakfast?"

"Just some dried meat should suffice," Jace said as he sat down at the black marble table.

"Not exactly a meal fit for a prince," Harrison raised his eyebrows.

"Prince of the dead," Jace leaned back, sighing.

"A prince nonetheless, but I'll do as you wish m'lord." And with that, Harrison disappeared into the cupboard.

"How many times have I told you, just call me Jace," Jace called back to him.

"Not enough, m'lord," Harrison yelled back. He reappeared with the meat and placed it in front of the hungry prince.

"T'has been a pleasure, m'lord. I shall leave 'ya on your own, now." The ghost bowed his head and began to float away.

"Ah, nonsense! Come back and sit with me for a minute. You deserve a break. I don't think I've seen you not working in years."

"If you insist, m'lord," Harrison said, as if reluctantly following an order, but Jace could see the happiness in his eyes.

"Just Jace, Harrison."

"Ah yes, m'lord," Harrison said, yet again. Jace let out a chuckle as Harrison sat down. Harrison's pale blue, transparent legs shook back and forth as he sat. Jace had never understood how his family treated the ghosts as they did. They were so cruel. 'They're not even human' they'd say. But they looked human to Jace, and he could still see who who they were. Harrison was still the man he was when he died. His wrinkled suit, ruffled, ginger hair that he would never be able to calm down again.

"Are 'ya alright m'lord?" Harrison asked, tapping carefully on the prince who was lost deep in thought...again.

"Yes, fine." Jace snapped back to reality. "So, how's the Mrs?"

"Very good m'lord, very good. Any word from m'boy?"

"Nothing yet," Jace said, sad to ruin the hopeful look on Harrison's transparent face. The ghost's eyes closed as he let out a heaving sigh. "But that could be a good thing. He might be alive in one of the tunnels."

"'Ya know as well as I do, orphans don't make it more than a few weeks," Harrison sighed, "I don't know why we're still looking."

"Don't say that, Harrison. I'll find him if it's the last thing I d-" Jace was interrupted by a crashing sound upstairs. Anyone else would think it was a burglar, but Jace knew better. His brother walked into the room, wearing a pair of normal black pants and a white shirt.