The Dark Princess

Milo

I told myself I was crying because she had just saved my life and now I was probably going to be unable to return the favor. I wasn't going to be her friend. It would just bite me back later. No, I wouldn't become friends with her, I had to live by the rules that had kept me alive all these years. I couldn't love anyone. Not even in a friendly way. I had tried once, and it had almost killed me.

Six hours after I dragged her out of the castle and into the river, Brooke finally woke up, fully healed. Well . . . fully healed except for a broken leg from the beam landing on it. The look on her face was one of surprise. I couldn't resist asking why she was surprised, but I didn't like her answer much. She looked at me from the bottom of the river incredulously.

"I'm surprised for several reasons," she replied weakly, "First, I was stupid enough to shove you out of the way." (that one stung a little) "Second, I'm still alive. Third, I was saved by you, of all people; and, finally, I was smart enough to shove you out of the way." That confused me a little, but I decided against asking. It would probably just make me more confused. She was female, after all. Females never make sense.

We didn't get back to the castle that night, due to Brooke's broken leg and the long time I waited for her to wake up. We didn't even get back the day after that, which was a problem, because we were supposed to be at the castle on that day. The following day, true to my mother's word, we began to get sick. This slowed us down even more, as if the universe were out to kill us. It was a pretty depressing couple of days.They were long and quiet. The dreary quiet was interspersed only by grunting and extremely short conversations. One such conversation began with a bit of a stupid question escaping my lips.

"How are you both full witch and half Dewdrop?"

She gave me a piercing look and replied: "How are you both a human and can walk?" I gave her a confused look. She just snorted at me, rolling her eyes.This gesture caused her to trip over her makeshift crutch, and she fell with a grunt.

She then glared at me and continued. "Dewdrops are a race of people. Magic is a skill, as you should know by now. Do you get it?" I nodded and we continued, sweating not from the heat - it was actually pretty cold out - but from the sickness. We were almost halfway accross the plains leading to the castle, but at the rate we were going, we'd have to travel another day.

Miraculously, we got to the castle late that night. On the way there, however, Brooke decided to burden me with a little secret. She had decided that though my mom's cause was a worthwhile one, she was going at it in the wrong way. In short, Brooke wanted out of the army. I tried warning her. The Dark Princess was not someone to double-cross. She refused to back down, and I reluctantly told her that I wanted out too. She didn't tell me her plan until later, and this saved our lives.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brooke acted differently, and if I noticed it, I was sure my mom would. I told her this, but she didn't change her actions. Also, for someone who hadn't ever picked up a sword before, Brooke was really good at using it. All the more reason for my mom to eventually kill me off and adopt Brooke as her child instead. To my surprise, we were supposed to leave that night. She told me as we trained in the courtyard that day. I tried to get her to move the day back just one day, and, surprisingly, she obliged. I was relieved from bag-packing for another day.

That night, the Night Men came. I was dragged out of my bed and a rag was stuffed in my mouth at the same time. I couldn't cry out, and I couldn't move. I couldn't even do anything to stop my head from banging into corners as they whisked me through the corridors through their native element. in no time at all, I was in my least favotite part of the dungeon. The inquisition room. This name was a nice way of saying torture chamber. If my mom wanted to know something, they were kidnapped and taken here, like I was. If they wouldn't give the answer right away, it was tortrted out of them using the fire whip. I was getting used to the fire whip, and I was sure the device would soon be made worse. I only hoped that it didn't happen tonight. My mother appeared out of the shadows. She was the only one who could use magic in here. My head was still spinning from the bumpy ride, so it was actually two Sashas that marched toward me.

"I need to know something, Boy." She hissed. "I need to know why the girl is acting wrong. She didn't like you before, and suddenly you're friends. What happened, and what is she lying to me about. Don't lie, I will know."

I staggered backward, not ready for the interrogation yet. "TELL ME." The words finally processed.

I cowered. "I don't know," I lied.

She lunged at me and locked her hand around my throat. "What part of 'don't lie' don't you undrestand, Boy! Tell me her secret NOW!" I struggled for air for another few seconds before she let go.

I gasped and fell to the floor, wheezing. "I . . . won't tell," I coughed out.

My mother had already regained her composure. "Very well then," she said, then, to the Night Men, "Strap him down." I didn't stand a chance against them. The next thing I knew, I was slammed face-first adainst the metal table in the middle of the room and the ropes were holding me down. My shirt melted into the shadows and disappeared. Good, I thought, just the whip. I can handle the whip.

I handled the whip nicely, gritting my teeth and still refusing to tell her about the escape plan. That was when she brought out the poker. The thing glowed red it was so hot, and, after I refused to tell her again, she calmly placed it against my skin. I swear my scream could be heard in the First Kingdom. She only took it off after my voice was hoarse and my face wet from tears of pain.

I sobbed. "Please don't do that again," I begged.

"I won't if you tell me the secret." She whispered in my ear. I'm ashamed of what I did next. I sobbed again, quietly, and I told her all I knew. I'm the reason for Brooke's pain the entire week after that. Just when I'd begun to think I could have a friend, I had betrayed her.

A.N.

How's that for a chapter, SadeDCliff? About time I published it, huh? Anyway, I have a question for all readers of this book. I've been thinking about doing a fanfiction of Percy Jackson. Should I? Comment yes if you think I should. :)

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~Dedicated to SaydiSpencer, who showed me Wattpad~