Beyond The Realms

Chapter 10

The next morning I wake up to a grisly surprise.

There are bodies around me half in and half out of the ground as numerous thick roots of surrounding trees continuously wrap around their bodies like blind but strong serpents dragging them inside the ground.

" Morning," Says  Prince Ruslan emerging from the forest with the motionless body of a  strange animal hovering in the air beside him.

He looks at my horror-stricken face and then at the bodies around me and lets out a little sigh," I thought by the time you woke up the trees would have taken care of them"

" Who are they ?" I ask equally bewildered and horrified.

"  Assassins  commanded by Ayelet " 

" You fought all six of them ?" The surprise in my voice is noticeable.

The prince's handsome face is impassive as always as he gives a small nod .

I really think I should learn some self-defense but at the same time, I  feel relieved by his presence.

" Thank you " I say " But haven't you said that killing a fellow djinn is forbidden by your laws ? "

" I haven't killed them but made them immobile, " The prince says letting the body of the animal smoothly settle on the ground.

It has the shape of a deer and thick rust-colored hide with blue stripes running all over its body also there is a single vivid slash of red against its throat, no doubt the place where the prince had delivered his death blow. 

Its open and unmoving blue  coloured eyes make me look away "Is it possible to turn someone immobile?  " I ask still careful not to look as the prince slashes his sword into the animal's belly.

" It is, " The Prince says simply and goes back to working on the animal.

Despite myself I look and catch the sight of blood covering the prince's hand as his sword moves in a quick and sure manner separating the animal's flesh from it's bones and cartilage.

It is a very unsettling sight but it shows that the prince isn't the kind of royalty who relies on his servants to survive.

He is a person who is capable enough and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

When he is done he summons fire and soon enough I hear the meat sizzling.

I'm not a vegan I love meat too much for that but I prefer not see the animal from which the meat is obtained and how it is obtained.

When he  gives  me a sizable piece of meat I shake my head in refusal." I miss my bowl of cornflakes " I mutter. 

" I suggest the sooner you forget about your life as a human the better it will be, " The prince  remarks " It will make it easier for you to accept your  life  and responsibilities here"

I sigh in silent understanding and a second later I'm ready to die of embarrassment when  my stomach lets out a shamelessly loud growl .

Though the Prince pretends like he hasdn't heard anything  I see his hand discreetly move the meat in my direction.

Not forcing me to eat it but waiting for me to decide.

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It's weird how your supposed kidnapper could turn into your trainer.

I and Prince Ruslan are standing at the mouth of a large river with outgrowths of circular rocks breaking over the center of its watery surface after regular intervals.