Unfeeling

Three | The Blonde Boy

Amberley

As I sang, my mind wandered. I didn't know what to expect but never would I have thought that the crowd would be weeping and sobbing as if I had lined all there loved ones in front of the firing squad.

Was I that bad? I had only sang to myself in the past so perhaps I was horrible. I kept singing despite this. I was already up here, I might as well take advantage of my limited freedom. These were my last few hours alive, I wouldn't be scared.

Glancing at my father, I was suddenly hardened against his judgement. This was my moment and he couldn't take that from me. He couldn't hurt me anymore.

The song I had chosen was a blur of tears and pain that I had been humming for years. The words were like talking to an old, close friend. Comfort surged through me. My father couldn't touch me here. This was my song and he would listen.

My memories of this song are varied but I feel like I've heard it since before I was born. I like to think my mother sang it to me when I was in her womb.

I dared to glance at the Royal throne, to my dismay, my father was studying me with a fiery glare that I only saw before he beat me. My stomach dropped and I released
the microphone, my song halting. I stepped back hastily and sprinted off the stage. He knew.

The backstage was fortunately empty as I made my escape. Fear curdled my blood. He would never forgive me for this. I had crossed over the line. I could already feel the belt on my bare back. What would it be 10 lashes? 20? 30? A beating? Maybe he would do it all. Maybe he would end my life before I could.

I had to get out of the castle. He would kill me. My father had nearly killed me for less. My whole body was shaking as I made my way down the castles gloomy corridors. I don't want my death to be at the hands of my father.

My fate dawned upon me. I had nowhere to go. The Iniquitous had us surrounded from all angles, they would kill me the second I stepped out of Adana's borders. Maybe I could go North to the Vex Mafia camps and pose as a fugitive servant. But they had been silent for years.

My cloak had come flying off but I knew better than to go back and receive it. I needed all the time I could get. Just as I started to fear the worst, I collided with something hard.

I gasped as the figure wrapped there strong arms around my waist, studying me. I rushed out an apology and tried to step back. The man's hands were like iron. I felt the hairs on my arms rise.

"Sir, I'm fine. You can let go now." I demanded lightly. I couldn't make out the man's face in the shadows but I knew whoever they are, they didn't collide with me on accident. Fear rang out in me, but for a whole new reason.

"Sorry princess, but I just can't do that," they replied and with a flash of metal and violent jerk, the man drove a blade into my stomach.

I tried to scream as pain racked through my body but the man's bloody hand was clamped over my mouth. I fought to get free but as I saw the blood rushing down the front of my dress, I went limp, suddenly exhausted. The man yanked the knife out and I moaned.

Before rushing down the hallway were he had come, he gently lowered me to the ground. I felt my life dim and fade as the cold from the ground was absorbed by my body.