Ever After

Chapter Fifteen

I was led to the bottom of the castle, and I was transferred from the Knights to the regular castle guards. They took me down a hallways lined with criminals in cells. If this was going according to my plan, I would have taken these guys down. But with the Knights of the Beast, no weapons, and no certainty that Red and Rapunzel were on my trail; I didn't think that this would turn out well.

The prison was built underground, out of the rocks. The cells were divided by rows of bars, so there was just two lines of cell after cell. The hallway led down far and there was a guard stationed at every fifth cell down.

I saw most of the criminals in their cells were hiding in the back corner shaking, or going ballistic and shouting or screaming while shaking the bars. Another guard on duty clubbed one of the guys on the head to shut him up. As we passed, I noticed a lot of the criminals here were staring at me. Was I that obvious to being Ashes with just my mask on?

We reached a cell that was empty at the end. Before they shoved me in, I saw the cell next to me was occupied by a guy wearing a white button up shirt and a black jacket over it. He had dark cream pants and wore black bucket-top boots. He sat down with one leg up on the bed, and winked flirtatiously at me when I walked by. I groaned and rolled my eyes.

The guards shoved me into the cell, and I fell onto the ground. But got back up quick enough to see them slam the door in my face loudly, like they were scared I would jump on them in a matter of milliseconds. Which is basically how my rep upholds me.

"Don't even try to escape. We'll be back to question you." One of the guards said.

I spit at them, and it hit the ground. Then the walked away triumphantly, leaving one of the guards posted on the other side of the hallways in front of the divider of bars, separating me and the other cell with Flirty.

"So what you in for?" He asked after they left.

"What, did my appearance not give away enough for you?" I snark. I faced his direction and when he saw the Ashes on my face, he flinched and I smirked. I noticed he had messy blond hair and extremely dark brown eyes. He had a sculpted face, and I saw the makings of a tiny goatee forming. I think he was around one or two years older than me.

"So...you're Ashes." He said after regaining his confidence. So, I'm even a threat to other criminals.

"Yeah, and If you know my work. You'd know I don't take kind to people who bother me." I said making him back off a bit. I leaned against the bars on the door and stared at the ceiling. How did I get myself in this mess? Even after I decided I wasn't going to put up with Anastasia, Drizella, and Elaine. They still found a way to make my life horrible. Now, I was even farther away from finding out who really took Adam.

"You know there are some rumors that you and I are working together." He said. I whipped my head around to see him staring at his fingernails casually.

"What?" I asked.

"But of course that's not true. Because you haven't been in Calvera until Hook brought you and your friends here last night."

"How do you know this?" He's been locked up in here ever since Adam was kidnapped. How did he know that I've been here and when I got here. And how did he know about Red and Rapunzel?

"Let's just say I have a good source." He said slyly. I was suddenly very intrigued. If he was the guy who was working with the person pretending to be me, then he must know who it was.

"Who was the person pretending to be me?" I said cutting straight to the point.

"Let's make a deal." He said walking up to the bars separating our cells. "If you get me out, I'll tell you anything you want to know." He offered. I considered taking it, but how was I supposed to get him out. I didn't even have a way to get myself out. And who says that if I do free him, he'll keep his promise? He held his hand in between the bars, which the guard didn't seem to notice. If I was such a wanted criminal, why didn't they put more security on me is what I am wondering. Did they really feel so proud, that now that they have me, they don't need to worry anymore?