Chapter Five

Raven

The darkness of the night had fallen, and the eerie quietness that prowled the halls put me on edge. The memory of my tiny bed at the cabin Cassius and I shared brought me little comfort now that I was occupying this vast space.

I jumped out of my thoughts when a tap echoed from the door.

Pushing the dense blanket off me, the coolness bombarded the exposed skin that lingered out of my shorts and tee shirt the young maid had provided me. I twisted the doorknob and tugged the door open to find Cassius standing out in the hallway.

“Can't sleep either?” His arms were crossed over his chest, tucked firmly into him. I could feel the cold air between us and the chills raked up his eyes.

“No, it's freezing in here.” I responded, and he nodded while rubbing his hands against his arms for a little bit of warmth. Stepping back into the room, I pulled the door wide for him to enter, and he did so.

"These rooms are too big and empty for me, it's a reminder we aren't home anymore.” He grabbed a seat in one of the armchairs that was situated on the opposite side of the dimly lit room. I pulled the cord for the lamp and it clicked on, radiating the surrounding area on the solid flooring.

“Yeah I agree.” I moved over to the armchair opposite of the one he occupied only then noticing a fire place as Cassius pointed it out. I opened my mouth to say that I hadn't even noticed it but he stopped me with a shake of his head and a chuckle.

Cassius flicks his finger swiftly and produces a spark before the entire fireplace ignites.

“So, what's going on in that mind of yours?”

My eyes flickered towards the fire that now crackled, forming a harmonious sound throughout the room. I leaned back into the chair to settle in before I spoke. With all honesty, I wasn't sure what was going on in my head. The thoughts on why they'd want us here was enough too keep me guessing for years but I didn't have years. Hell, I wasn't even sure if I had another day.

“I don't understand why we were brought here or what they want. The 'we want you safe' bullshit is just that, bullshit.”

“That we can agree on, something about the gleam in that Prince's eyes set me on edge.” Cassius said while a shiver shot through him, making him writhe. I scooted my chair closer to the fire to ravish in the warmth it was emitting.

“We just have to hold on long enough for me to get the Prince on my side, take the information we collect and pray it's enough to send this entire palace crashing to the ground.” My teeth gritted when I spoke. Cassius leaned forward and sent me a mischievous smile with a malicious look in his eyes.

"The prince? You're stretching there. He wouldn't so much as speak a single word about his family to either one of us. Let alone spill the kingdoms skeletons they have loaded in the closets."

"I don't need every detail, I just need enough to help bring them to the dirt they believe us to be." Cassius looked skeptical at first before I spoke again. "The prince offered for me to get to know him, and that's what I plan to do."

A small menacing smile slid on to his lips as he brought his fingers up to them, rubbing along his lips. No doubt thinking about how pleasing it would be to see them fall.

His eyes finally cast up from the fire and meet mine, holding just as much determination as I felt. 

“We'll make it happen for our people.”

Yes, for our people.

The sun peaked from behind the broad curtain, shinning on my face. One eye flitted open while I squinted the other shut from the brightness.

The aching in my neck and back made me realize I had fallen asleep in the armchair, Cassius had done the same in the chair in front of me.

“Are you awake yet, Madame?” A gentle voice came from the other side of the door, along with an easy tap of a knuckle. It was the maid from yesterday.

“Yeah come on in.” I spoke with a slight frown at the word 'Madame'. As soon as she stepped in, her eyes wandered from the bed over to me. Her face fell in shock and her eyes bulged from her skull.

“Oh! I'm so sorry I didn't realize you had... company.” My eyebrows furrowed at her words until I glanced over at a stirring Cassius.

“Yeah, I think I might have thrown up in my mouth.” Cassius grumbled, and I just shook my head laughing.

“That's my older brother, Cassius.”

He rose off the chair and ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair. After a stretch, his gaze settled on the maid.

“You look a little young to be scampering around for royal assholes all day, what's your name?” The maid's eyes dropped to the floor as a smile threatened to cross her lips at his banter.

“Eladia.”

I took note of that, cursing myself for not asking her name yesterday when we first met.

“Oh! I have a message for the two of you." She reached into the pocket of her baggy gray uniform and pulled out an envelope. There was a glossy, red wax stamp pressed on the front with a C embedded into it.

“These royal bastards have to be fancy with everything I see.” Cassius pointed out and Eladia sniffled a second laugh.

I popped the seal off and slid the portion of paper out.

Royal Guests,

You are expected in the throne room to discuss the matters at hand.

“They wasted that piece of paper for a sentence. A sentence for crying out loud.” I rolled my eyes and jumbled the piece of paper up, tossing it into the fireplace.

“What did it say?”

“We have to meet the King in the throne room to talk about all of this.” I gestured around to the room around me and Cassius just chewed on the inside of his cheek.

“While the two of you are gone the maids were told to bring up clothing for you, I hope you don't mind.” Cassius and I both shook our heads simultaneously.

“No, not at all that would be genuinely appreciated.” He spoke, and she bowed her head once before turning towards the door, I took the hint to follow her.

As we walked out of my room and down the hall, I couldn't help but notice how quiet our footsteps sounded on this flooring. The gray and white coloring had ended in my room because the spacious hallway had stone walls and barely any decorations on them at all.

Of course, they were empty. What was I expecting, an oil painting of a sunflower plastered to each surface?

We made our way down a staircase and were met with golden rimmed doors at the bottom. Eladia cleared her throat towards a guard and the tall man just sneered. His short blonde hair was sleeked back to show off the dead look in his eyes. I decided I would try my luck with the douche bag.

“We're here to speak with The Royals, so if you would excus-,”

“Did I ask? The royals are awaiting on an important arrival. Now move out of the way.” His deep voice rumbled and I could've laughed at his stupidity.

“We are the important arrivals.”

He looked at me, then towards Cassius and Eladia.

“Don't see an invitation. You know,” He stepped closer to me and I felt my magic flicker to life, cursing myself for throwing the invitation in the fireplace earlier, “lying is punished with ten lashes. That's if I'm being generous. But... I think I'd like the sound of your screams.” 

He smiled and the sight of the black smut on his teeth made me internally gag.

“You might want to take a step back from her.” Cassius snared his teeth, his eyes held the guard's gaze. The guard took the moment to rush towards Cassius, but with the flick of my finger I pinned him against the stone wall behind him. A strand of blonde hair had fallen down over his forehead while he struggled against my hold.

His eyes enlarged as he stared down at me.

“You'd do well to listen to them, Aurthor.” Violet eyes and dark hair came into view and the guard stopped struggling immediately. I pulled my magic back, allowing him to fall to the floor and into a low bow.

“Your Majesty, these servants were-,”

“These people are not servants, they are our guests.” The Prince began adjusting his cuff links on the black suit he had on avoiding eye contact with Aurthor.

“And for your despicable lack of hospitality, you'll spend a month in the cells.” The Prince gestured towards the second guard to carry him out.

“No! No! I have a family to get back to... children! They'll starve for that month!” Aurthor cried out and the Prince just shrugged.

“Did I ask?” The Prince repeated what the guard had said to me earlier, telling me he had been listening the entire time.

After he had been dragged out of the room, the Prince turned towards us.

“I'm sorry for that inconvenience but I assure it won't happen again.” He cleared his throat before allowing his alluring eyes to fall on me.

“It's nothing we haven't already experienced in the village.” I answered, and I caught the furrow of his brows but thought best to ignore it.

“What about his family?” Cassius spoke up.

“The guard that placed him in the cells will personally tell them what occurred and food will be sent to his home. I wouldn't allow children to go hungry because of their father's mistakes.”

It was my turn to furrow my eyebrows. Kids were dying every day in the village, either from starvation or dehydration. Did he not care about those deaths? Or did he just not care simply because they weren't relevant enough…

Or… Maybe he didn't know.

He ran a hand through his dark-colored hair before clearing his throat and holding a hand out towards the doors.

“Shall we?”