Chapter 2: Escape Plan

The House of Mortem; North of the Realm

Olive's POV

"My Lady." Winifred, and a couple of maids bowed into my chambers. Each of them had a large basket sized to their waist containing wedding garments, ornaments, and garlands.

"Place the baskets on the table," I instructed without looking at them. My eyes were fastened on father and Alpha Cassian under the canopy prepared for them.

"Your father wants us to_"

"I know who my father is and I know what he wants," I turned my head to yell at them. "And I want you guinea pigs out of here now!"

"He'll have us sent to a whore house if we do not return with you." They trembled.

I had pity on them. I had always had pity on them for being slaves to my father. Father used people, and loved things. That had been his manner of judgement.

No one dared defy his orders if they wanted to see the next full moon. But not tonight. I needed to be a little bit of my father to exact the plan I had been nursing two new moons ago. Nothing and no one must ruin it.

Father must pay for betraying me.

My eyes turned bright yellow as I flashed my fangs at the Omega slaves, "Or I can kill you, right now, right here."

"We'll be on our way, My Lady."

They made a rough bow and strutted out of the my chambers. Within minutes, my father would climb up the wooden stairs in a fit of anger, and my plans would be ruined.

If I must do it, now was my chance.

I drew the thin partition over the corner of my chamber where I change my clothes, and placed the purple and cream coloured bliaut over it. To the outsider, they would think I was changing into the dress, and accord me my privacy.

I prepared a scarecrow to be placed behind the partition. It was to appear as my replacement wearing the corset. I never liked corsets anyway. The tailors often made them too tight that I felt my intestines retching in pain. I couldn't breath nor eat in them.

'Too bad I can't be here for your wedding, Ms. Scarecrow," I mocked. "But I assure you, that when you have a son or two, I'll return with gifts in hand. Happy married life to you and your beloved."

I slipped my hand under my bed, and pulled out a basket of male clothings I had borrowed from the wash room.

Okay, I had stolen them. That was the only way my escape would be completed. I cannot be seen in a cote or gown. It would compromise my escape out of there.

Soon, father would send for me, and I must be outside the castle walls before then.

In a haste, I pulled off the corroie and unstrapped the cote on my body, letting them pool helplessly at my feet. My eyes I picked up the light brown tunic and the black leather leggings from the basket, and sized myself into them. They were oversized, but I never minded the size.

The owner must have been a big beefy man. But they do not belong to him anymore. They belonged to me now till they serve their purpose.

I slipped into the leather boots, lacing them up to the shin. At last, something to call 'comfortable.'

Before I got out, I pulled the hooded cape over my head to further conceal my identity. I looked into the full length mirror for the last time, snorting heavily. "Perfect! Now, let's get the hell out of here before we crash dear Ms. Scarecrow's wedding."

I made for the door in a haste, and stopped at the entrance to calm my racing heart. It was a dangerous mission that may claim my life if it went south.

Albeit, there was always a day to try something foolish.

I turned the wooden knob to open the door. It creaked slightly in response as I peeped out of the little gap to see the movement of people. The passage seemed to be in want of activity.

Gradually, I stole out of the room and gathered myself into the narrow passage that ends in a series of spiraling stairs. The stairs further lead into the empty courtyard where my father's throne was.

This was where the wedding was supposed to be held, but for reasons best known to him, he chose to use the bailey. It only made my escape smoother.

"Halt!" A guttural voice from behind me called.

I stalled in my movement and waited for the next line of action. I wasn't much of a fighter, other than watching Drustian train his men from my bedroom window. If I ever learned anything from watching him those long years, I could never have forgotten what he said about hitting the crotch of your opponent so hard when he is up close.

If all it took is a burst testicles, I was ready to do all it took.

"The table has need of these. Take it to them. You don't want to keep the Alpha waiting." He pushed a basket of assorted fruits into my hands, as my claws receded back into fingers. "Are you all right?"

He can't let him hear my real voice, or my whole plan will go south. "No, sir." I sniffed, changing my voice into a husky masculinity.

"It's Summer. It's abnormal for you to be down with a flu. You should see the pack doctor?" He attempted to touch my shoulder, but I was quick to step aside.

"I'll just drop this at the table," I made for the metal doors in a haste, and shut it behind me. It was as if my heart would burst to tiny piece with the rate at which it pulsated behind my ribcage.

I dropped the basket on an empty table and followed the close that led to the dungeon. When I was a kid, I would play my way into the dungeon, picking pebbles. It was during one of my adventurers I discovered a secret passage that opened into the postern at the rear of the castle.

I spirited to the mouth of the dungeon, pulling out a torch from the wall. In a haste, I dipped the head into a metal bucket of fire siting by the wall and made for the depth of the dungeon with sweaty palms.

Halfway into the dungeon, I heard the tower horn blare in the distance. They must have found out I was missing.

"Find her!" I heard my father bark orders. What followed next was the stomping of boots against the ground. Perhaps a dozen royal guards or more, but I must be out of here.

I ran into the putrid dungeon, reeking of blood and rotten flesh. The hole beneath the wall. That was more important to me than the stench that choked my breath. Shortly, I got to the end of the wall, and found the hole beneath the wall. I had found it when father made me follow him into the dungeon to watch him torture a rogue wolf. I was only eight. And I had known the ways of violence.

The hole was smaller than I imagined. Rocks and debris had covered the mouth of the debris, making it smaller for me to pass through.

I dropped the torch to the floor, and went on my knees to claw out the hinderance.

Suddenly, I heard indistinct voices from the mouth of the dungeon, as the yellow aura of light from their torches gained further entrance into the dungeon. I dug and pulled deeper into the hole until it was wide enough to get me through.

When the fresh scent of horse dung stung my breath from outside the wall, I put out the fire by stepping on the head of the torch. I crouched on all fours, and crawled out of the hole to the other side. It opened into a lonely wall at the rear of the castle. In a haste, I sealed the hole with the debris to cover my tracks and heaved a fair sigh of relief.

Quickly, I made for the postern and joined the throng of people coming in an out of the castle.

The small metal gate was manned by two guards. They did little to inspect the large throng of people coming in and out of the castle. It was certain that they were fatigued.

Soon, it would be my turn to be checked, and I must find the most believable to get me out of the postern. I sighted a bed of rosemary plants and uprooted a couple of it.

"Who are you?" His voice was wearied, but searching.

"I'm a humble farmer, good sir." I wore my masculine voice again.

"What brought you to the castle?"

I presented the rosemary plants to him. "These."

"What do you need them for?" He took them from my hands and brought it to his face to examine them.

"It's my little cub's birthday tomorrow, and I need them to prepare his favorite soup."

He fastened his gaze on me for a while that I feared he'd see through my guise. I bowed my head to the ground, expecting the worst.

"Take, and leave."

I was about leaving when he stopped me again. "And happy birthday to your cub."

"He'll be pleased, good sir." I replied over my shoulder.

When I was sure I was out of arms way, I ran as much as my legs could carry me into the woods. I didn't know where to turn or who to go for help, but I wanted to be far away from home.

I ran farther into the woods, with the moon smiling at me from her place in the sky.

"Thank you, Moon. Now, I'm fr_"

Before I could finish my statement, a mighty hand grabbed me by the neck and drove me into a nearby chestnut tree.

***

Author's note: Hello beautiful reader, this story contains lots of cringy graphical contents ranging from bloodshed to torture and fiery sex. Readers discretion is advised. Feel free to interact with me; I'd love to read your comments and reviews about the story. Don't forget to gift a gem as a token of encouragement. XOXO : )