I hear the heavy footsteps of the king's soldiers pacing outside my doorway. I knew he had assigned them to monitor my movement, preventing my escape.
It took a while for me to familiarize myself with their habits, but I knew they wold each take a break half past the hour in the night.
I rubbed my necklace one last time to see if Poseidon would come to my rescue. It had been 3 days and he had not shown! Granted, he never told me how long it would take for him to appear but I knew I could not wait for him.
I hear the guards disspear into the night and begin to pick the lock with a sharp needle I had stolen from the king's room. After a few minutes of cursing and prayer, I break the lock open.
I took one final look at my room and clutch my black cloak closer to my body to obscure my form.
No one noticed as I walked out my room into the hallways of the palace, past the souls of the dead. My pace quickened as I neared the iron gates of the palace. With one final leap, I run into freedom and blend into the crowds just beyond the palace walls.
——
I continued down the path, towards the gates of the realm and see Cerberus, the three headed dog, guarding the exit, preventing those who came in from escaping out. The dog barked excitedly as they saw me approaching, each of them wagging their tails with glee.
"Shhhh" I beg them for silence but they panted violently, sliding their heavy paw through the gates to touch me. I giggle and kiss their paw affectionately. I had forgotten the king trained them to love me; if I went that way, they would never let me go.
I turn around and pull up to the city center and see a group of people by a fountain. The hustle and bustle of the streets made me more aware of my surroundings so I retreat to a tent near the shops and pretend to look at the goods for sale, making sure to listen into conversations for clues to escape.
As I am surveying the scene, I spot the mistress of the king. Her eyes focused on my physique as she inspected me suspiciously.
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I quickly turned my head in an attempt to blend into the crowd.
"Have you heard of the new prisoner the king has captured." the small crowd of people conversed.
"I heard she is actually a godess and he is going to make her queen!" an eager woman proclaimed as she drank from the fountain.
"Queen? He is going to make me his queen" the bold mistress intruded into the conversation.
"He has been courting you for years Minthe but there is not a proposal in sight! He had no intention of making you his queen" the people laughed shamelessly.
"You are incorrect! It was rumored the king would soon propose" I disguise my voice, "that godesss is nothing but a prisoner of ...war" I lie.
"And who are you" one man pries, taking in my form.
