Iturned toPallas, “What’swrong with him?!”Shestared at me, unmoving.
“Oneminute.”Shekept staring at me.
Iturned back toJun, andIknewPallas’ eyes were still on me.Iwould have to be discreet.Ithrew my arms around my brother, pressing my chest to his.Ilet fake sobs rack me.
“I’msorry,Jun,I’mso sorry.”Itturns outIdidn’t need to fake it, as real tears streamed from my face.Iheld him close, and then through my sobs,Iheard it.Asmall crack, like the shattering of glass, from whereJun’scollar sat, just beneath my necklace.Ididn’t dare look, didn’t dare move his shirt to see, butIpulled back, his face in my hands.
“Jun, wake up please.”Buthe didn’t.Hisface was still pale, and his breathing so dangerously soft.Iwanted to shake him, scream at him, butIwas pulled away.
“Time’sup.”Itried to pull away from her, to run back to him even as she sent pain radiating up my arm again.Sheyanked me harder, andIwas forced to look at her, “Wehave to get back.”
Iknew it was pointless to argue, and she was right.Ifthey noticed we had left, it would arouse suspicion.Irealized then that she had put herself at risk to let me see him.Ididn’t know why, but that didn’t matter.Shehad unknowingly kept our plan on track.
“Thankyou,Pallas.”Shedidn’t say a word, just kept pulling me down the hall.Whenwe re-entered the great hall, she released my arm and walked away, without a word.Butit was time for the next phase of our plan, andIhad no time to waste.
* * *
Iwas drunk,or at leastIappeared that way.LordBolonhad found me, and he was the perfect companion to down drink after drink with.Itoasted with more and more of the nobles, and let my speech start to slur, stumbling asIwalked.Iwent to get more drinks, andIcrashed right into a servant, and his tray of drinks clattered all over the floor.
Thehall went silent, all eyes on me.Inan instant,Abraxaswas there, his hand gripping my face harshly, nails cutting into my skin until they drew blood.
Hisvoice was quiet, butIknew everyone could still hear, “Whatare you doing?Youare an embarrassment.”Heshoved me, andIfell to the floor letting loose a whimper.IsawHadeonandAvlynfrom the corner of my eye.Hadeonlooked disgusted as he stared down at me.
Abraxasturned his back on me, and waved toAvlyn, “Takeher back to her room, immediately.”Avlynnodded and grabbed me roughly, but by my uninjured arm.Theyled me out of the hall, but not beforeIsawHadeonwave two of his own guards after us.Justtwo.Easy.
Istumbled down the hall inAvlyn’sgrip, leaning into them for support.Iheard the guard behind us murmur, “Sloppyslut.”Oh, he had no idea.Istumbled again and used it to reach under my dress, grabbing my dagger.
Wereached my door, andAvlynpressed it open.Welocked eyes for just one moment before we both spun.Ihit one guard straight across his neck, in that tight seam between his armor and helmet.Istruck true and hard, and almost took his head off.Hetried to scream but couldn’t with his vocal cords severed.Heslumped down, bleeding all over me andIcaught him, just asAvlyndid the same to theirs.Wequickly dragged them into my room and closed the door.
“Nogoing back now.Timeto move.”Avlynthrew me a linen from the bed, andIdid my best to wipe the blood from my face and chest.Itdid basically nothing, but at least it wasn’t dripping into my mouth anymore.
Iused the dagger to cut the sword free of my dress and gave it one swing for good measure.Itook the crown from my head, and set it gently on the bed, giving it one last lingering look.
Avlynhad managed to clean their armor much more effectively thanIhad my gown, and the dark color hid the rest.Imade to leave the room when their hand came down gently on my shoulder.
“Ihave to head back now, butI’llsee you on the other side,Princess.Goodluck.”Irested my hand on theirs for just a moment, steeling my resolve.
“Seeyou soon.”
* * *
Imademy way down the routeIhad traced over and over inAbraxas’ study.Idescended deeper and deeper into the bowels of the palace.AsIneared my destination,Iran into more and more guards, but always no more than two at a time.Withthe element of surprise,Itook them down easily.Ishouldn’t have bothered cleaning the blood off me earlier, asIwas drenched in it now.ButIkept moving.
ThefurtherIgot, the more confidentIfelt.Yes, it was just as we planned, exactly as we planned.
Suddenly, unease snuck into my chest.Itwas too easy.Mypalms grew sweaty, butItightened my grip on my sword.Nogoing back.
Thewalls around me were no longer elegant, but roughly rendered from grey stone.Theair reeked of rot, but it carried a static charge that set my teeth on edge.Close,Ihad to be close now.OnceIgot to the entrance to the laboratory,Iwould break the sealing enchantment with the gem, and any other protective measures that guardedHadeon’sgreatest treasure.ThenIwould grab whatever this treasure was and run.Avlynand the soldiers were positioning themselves now, ready for the momentHadeon’spower fled, andAbraxaswould challenge him.
ButIhad to hurry.Imoved faster.Iwas close now, close to the area of the castle no one could enter.ButasIrounded a corner, all the torches went out.Iskidded to a halt, and pressed myself against a wall, hopingIcould defend from there, but it was too late.
“Apleasure to see you again, gorgeous.”Outof the dark came a head of dark hair, with a long white scar over his left eye.
“Ican’t sayIreturn the sentiment,Luxos, but at leastI’llget to introduce myself properly this time.”Iraised my sword, ready to strike.Hejust sneered.
“Iwon’t underestimate you this time,Princess.”Hesnapped his fingers, andIheard the clatter of dozens of boots— a whole cohort.Theyhad been waiting for me, andIcouldn’t fight that many, not alone.
Iran. “Afterher!”IheardLuxosshout.Therewas another way, deeper into the castle,I’dmemorized every route.Butit was longer, more twisted, and my lungs already burned.
