Betrayal of Blood

Chapter 1: Escape

     Blackness. All around me is dark and I feel cold air coming from in front of me; it raises the hair on my neck and arms. Even though I've only been here for three days, it feels as if its been weeks, but I can't stay here. Not with the royal trials so close to being completed.

     For the past month, my strengths and weaknesses have all been tested to determine if I am truly fit to lead the kingdom. Though I graduated top of the academy and none of my peers can keep up with me, my father still won't let me off easily. As usual, he always expects more out of me than I can give him. I am snapped out of my thoughts suddenly as a loud screech echo's from somewhere in the distance behind me. The abyss wolves have caught my scent and will be upon me soon. I groan in frustration. It's been hours since I lost them. They sure are some persistent little bastards, but I can't blame them. Cast into this maze of inescapable tunnels, all they have to eat is the occasional rat or whatever poor soul is unlucky enough to be sentenced to death by forever wandering these paths that seem to go on indefinitely. I leap up and grab my pack as I equip my scimitar. I finish eating the last bite of my biscuit and set off down the endless tunnels once again.

   I have no idea how much distance I've traveled or how much more lies ahead of me, but I keep going forward. I just need to keep following the cold air. I make sure to keep a good pace as to not let the wolves gain ground on me too quickly. I am not eager to fend off another pack of those beasts. I keep running hoping that I might be getting closer to the exit. Then it happens suddenly I meet a dead end of the tunnel. I look up and see a faint light shining through the ceiling. That must be it, the exit! I look around for something that could help me make my way up to the top. Then I see it. Roots twisted and dangling near the entrance of the roof and I get an idea. No sooner than that, I hear many paws apon the ground behind me mixed in with heavy panting, snarling, and sharp claws scraping the ground. I quickly reach into the pouch I have hanging from my belt and pull out a small bladder filled with flammable liquids. I turn around and spew a complete line of the blue oil on the ground from one side of the tunnel to the other and strike my flint apon the ground. A wall of bright blue burning flames forms and singes the hair from my fingers. Just in time, I look up and gaze apon a cluster of vicious shining eyes pacing back and forth.

" You're not quick enough to have me as your meal"!  I yell to taunt the wolves and they respond with a flurry of snarls and frustrated screeching.  I turn around and grab the harpoon I have dangling from my belt. I'm not out of danger yet. I must act quickly. the flames are intense and hot enough to melt steel, yet they will only burn for around thirty seconds. I spin my harpoon around in my hand as I acquire my target. Then I release and the blade is thrown towards the ceiling and wraps itself around one of the larger roots. I grin and put my feet forward as I start to ascend the wall. I'm nearly five feet up and I hear the flames begin to falter. One of the abyss wolves jumps over the dying flame and dashes towards me. he leaps at me fangs bared. I draw my scim and swing at his muzzle. Blood flies from his snout and spatters on me and the wall. The wolf flies backward with a yelp and lands on the ground with a thud. I sheath my sword and continue my ascent. When I get to the top there is a mass of boulders piled up from the cave collapsing sometime in the past. I dig my spiked boots into the soil of the wall. Point my flat palm at the rocks and brace myself by grabbing my other arm. "Expel"! I shout. a shock ripples through my body and is sent down my arm. a tremendous force is sent from my palm and blows the rocks backwards. Grains of dirt, sand, and crushed rock rains down on me. I pull myself up through the cleared path. I take one last look at the scene below me. The wolves have begun attacking the one I injured, drawn to the scent of blood. They prey on the weakness of others. For his failure, they will devour him. I turn to the exit expectantly, Sunlight shines through the tunnel ahead and excites me. Three days of wandering through cold dark tunnels will make you yearn to see the sun again. I move forward and the warm fresh air soothes me. Ahead I hear the voices of many people in conversation. When I step from the darkness I am blinded by the brightness for a brief moment then my eyes acclimate to the sunlight. Silence. I look around at the thousands of people staring expectantly from atop the ceremonial platform. I reach into my satchel and grab the thorned crown I retrieved from the depths of the catacombs. Made as a trophy for my completing the third trail if I was to survive. I raise the crown above me and place it atop of my head. Thousands of cheering voices and clapping erupted from the crowd. I draw my scim and raise it high above my head in glee. I look at the royal booth in the middle of the platform ahead of me and see my father standing next to many other people of high standing and royalty of a neighboring kingdom. He glares at me. I cant say I thought that he would be happy. He never is happy with anything I do, but it wasn't my father I was looking for. It was the beautiful warrior princess of our neighboring nation, Alvasta, that my eyes were seeking. Then I find her standing beside her father. Tall and slender but with a good physique. she's a very attractive woman. Between the curves on her body and her toned figure. beautiful green eyes that seem to pierce through you. Long black hair made into a bun with her bangs hanging from the sides of her face and freckles on her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. I'm interrupted from my thoughts when I notice her staring back at me. We make eye contact for a brief time and she turns and disappears behind her father in a crowd of royalty which is now laughing and conversing amongst themselves and both of the kings. I sheath my drawn blade and begin walking to the canvas-covered Pavillion that my father is standing in. Then I hear the echo of a voice I am unfamiliar with.
"Well done, prince." I stop and look around for the source of the voice but there is nobody around me. Confused I shrug it off. Perhaps I've been alone underground for too long and have begun to hear things. I continue my walk.  "How will he go about degrading me today?" I wonder.