What Lurks Behind The Trees

Something Precious

Her hands gripped the old stone window sill, her lips trembled as she watched the women that were once with her in the dungeons leave the capital as large, nasty creatures. Isabella shivered at the view.

Though her father did spare her from turning her into a Night Slayer, he locked her in a room high up in the castle, far from her mother and isolated from the world. She watched as the people of the capital peaked out of their windows in fear, watching as the Night Slayers made their way South.

Isabella paced around the room, the wood creaking under her bare feet. She couldn't just sit here and watch her father destroy the kingdom.

"Argh!" she yelled in frustration, running her hands through her brown hair. She fiddled with the door handle, hoping that somehow it would magically open, but to no avail. She bashed her shoulder on the weak wooden door, using all her weight to push the door.

She jumped on it once more, and again, and just as she pushed the door one last time, it opened and she fell into someone's chest. The guard who opened the door helped her up.

"Princess..." he muttered. He was quite old for a guard, his face showed no sign of anger.

"I-I wasn't trying to escape or anything... please don't hurt me..." she backed away from him.

"No- no Isabella, I want you to listen very carefully." he closed the door behind him. Isabella backed into the corner of the room. "I'll help you get out of here if you help me find something,"

"What?" she whispered, "who are you?"

"Your father has done terrible things in the past, we need to stop him, I know you of all people want to do that... Listen to me, we need to find his book of dark magic," the guard said.

"I- I don't know where he keeps it, but why?"

"It might help us stop him."

"It's probably in his room?"

"No, it's not the king who hides it, its Rogerus. Come with me, your highness." the guard said.

He opened the door for Isabella and they both made their way down the castle.

"What if anyone sees me?" Isabella asked.

"Don't worry, most of the guards are out in battle, you should be safe as long as you're with me."

"Can I see my mother? I haven't seen her in years."

"Isabella, this is an important task that could save the kingdom, after we find the book, I'll take you to your mother," he said.

"Why are you doing this? Shouldn't you be loyal to your king?" Isabella was honestly curious, she could understand why someone would do such a thing but if he failed, he would face death.

"Your father and his father killed my friend, Edison Truman, a fellow guardsman like me, I've kept quiet for many years, but after meeting his son, Darren, I've never seen such determination in my life, I figured I could be useful somehow,"

Isabella clenched her fists, it seemed like the more she found out about her father the more she despised him.

Where would he father hide something so important? She couldn't figure it out, she couldn't think or a place. Maybe he kept it with him? No, it was too big to hide. Somewhere he would hide something precious.

"Can I see my mother? Please-"

"I'm sorry your highness-"

"She might know something!" she raised her voice unintentionally "...please?"