The Harvest || h.s.

Chapter 24

XXIV. I CANNOT EXECUTE FAMILY

Lena

The echoes of her steps were the only thing anyone in the deserted dungeons could hear as she gracefully and full of confidence made her way into the very end of the corridor, stopping in front of the last cell block. The cells reeked, dampness and old moss made their way into Lena's nose, and a few rats ran past her. She crouched down until she was eye to eye with the prisoner being held.

"What are you doing here?" the person being held asked in a whisper, not looking up. His jet black hair covering his bloodshot eyes. Once he heard no response from Lena, he looked up at her, pale as ever. "What do you want?" Crawford spat, anger showcased on his eyes.

"Just came in to make sure you got what you deserve."

"Get out of here, harlot." he replied, stiff as a board. He was not looking directly at her, but at something behind her. Careful, echoing steps made her stiffen too, her blood turning to ice.

"He is right, Lena. Leave." She did not dare to turn around. Her eyes were closed when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, comforting her in an odd way. "Wait for me outside, I will be right back."

Lena managed to get a look at the Prince's eyes over her shoulder, irradiating darkness; very much unlike his usual lively eyes decorated with green gemstones. As she waited outside for Harry, her teeth started to bite into her nails, a very bad habit of hers. But it wasn't enough. The deafening shackles could be heard all the way to where she was standing. Cells opening, grunting, guards shouting, bloody coughing, and the final closing of a large wooden door. So she started tugging at her hair. God knows what Harry just commanded the prison guards to do to Crawford. Lena felt as if this was her fault, even though he did deserve it. She never should have come to visit him. Stupid.

"I cannot execute family." A voice was heard from beside her. "Such a shame. What he did was unforgivable." Harry looked directly at her with the same eyes filled with a void. "Lena, do you remember the one order I give everyone who steps into this court?"

She was too scared to answer, and didn't even look into his eyes as he spoke. This is it, she thought, this is where he kills me. At least I wasn't abused by him as I thought I would be. God, make it fast. Please, I beg you.

"Wha- what is wrong with you? Why is your face so crimson? Just-" he sighed. "Just let it be the last time you dare to climb the stairs to the third floor, Lena. You very well know no one is allowed here but me. You are excused, but consider yourself warned."

She nods, watching her feet and hearing the footsteps of the Prince as they turned to the maze of hallways and left her alone in the forbidden floor. But no, she didn't dare to explore it yet. It stung her soul not being able to visit it. What the walls hid were for sure her ticket out of Harry's court, either dead or alive, and it was sucking the life out of her to find out what it was.

Servants at the castle have been treating Lena with a higher respect lately. She hated that, because even though is very pleasant to be treated like royalty, she was afraid it was going to get stuck in her head, but this was a very hard thing to avoid. This came with an attitude change within Lena, she was very surprised when she raised her voice earlier in the day to Crawford, and when she rolled her eyes at Harry when he warned about roaming the forbidden floor. She was even surprised as she reached the top of the stairs; her brain didn't even process her actions until she was convincing the guards to let her in to see Crawford. The Lena Marrow from a couple of months ago would have never picture herself doing this. But well, she was partly gone.