You Aren’t Regular. Nothing About You Is.

‘Zekiel’s Point Of View’

“Where on earth is Kael?”

“This is beyond sickening.”

“He needs to come. Now.”

********

‘Evadne’s Point Of View’

“You’ll see.”

The words still played in my head. What did he mean by that?

I was about to press the matter, when the violent neigh of a horse startled us, sending Kael bolting outside the door, which I realized had been left open.

I limped right after him, assessing the open space.

How did I not notice sooner?

“Hey! you left my door open!”

I was about to protest but I suddenly stopped.

My mouth gaped in awe when I saw Kael stroking a beautiful white mare, making me forget everything I was just thinking about.

Though I couldn’t shake off how terrified it looked, even as Kael tried to coax it.

“It’s so beautiful!" I exclaimed, not knowing when the words came out of my mouth.

“Someone was here.” Kael’s words landed heavily, his eyes searching the vast space.

That was not the reply I was expecting and the statement didn’t sit well with me in the slightest.

“S-someone? How are you sure? Besides, it could have been a passerby.”

Though I knew people hardly came here.

“She wouldn’t react to some ‘passerby’. Something was suspicious.”

I didn't notice that I had begun itching my arm, my head turned to the open door, scanning it again.

The thought of being watched made me uncomfortable. Especially now, in this situation.

“Are you trying to imply that someone was…”

“There could be a possibility.”

No.

“Maybe it was an animal. Squirrels do come here often.” The nervousness in my voice was audible now.

“Evadne…”

He could probably tell how I was feeling.

I didn’t want to come into agreement with what he was insinuating.

“Honestly, I think you should leave Prince Kael.” The words slipped out of my mouth without caution.

His expression changed but I couldn’t exactly read it.

“I appreciate your concern, and seriously I do. But all this is becoming a bit too much.”

“I understand, but what if it wasn’t a squirrel, are you sure you’re going to be oka—”

“I will!” I declared, cutting him off. “Matter of fact I already was. You don’t know me to care this much.”

The silence was loud.

He got on his horse, turned it around and said, “take care,” then took off right after.

I bit my lower lip.

Was I too blunt?

********

‘Kael’s Point Of View’

What was I doing?

I couldn’t blame her because she was right.

I didn’t know her.

But is it a bad thing that I want to?

“Pull yourself together. You have bigger responsibilities,” I muttered to myself on my not-so-quiet journey.

The familiar sound of hooves on pavement was my constant reminder that:

You aren’t regular.

Nothing about you is.

By the time I reached the palace, my father’s voice was the first thing that greeted me as I walked past the throne room.

“KAELEN CHRYSARION!” he screamed. “Bring your irresponsible self here!”

I answered hesitantly.

Both Zekiel, who stood next to my father with a serious gaze and my brother, who sat on one of the thrones, stared at me as I walked in.

“What is this I’m hearing?” he asked, leaning forward.

“I don’t quite understand you,” I lied through my teeth.

Zekiel just kept glaring at me. I knew there was something else on his mind.

My father leaned back. “Do you want your privileges taken away?”

His brows furrowed at my next response.

“I own my privileges now, father. And last I checked you were the one who assigned me to monitor the gates.”

He narrowed his eyes “Does monitoring the gates equal beating up a civilian? And are you trying to blame me for your nuisance?!”

I didn’t reply.

He closed his eyes, taking a long deep breath, before letting it go.

“What exactly is your problem? You just got injured a few weeks ago and you’re doing this.” He turned to face Zekiel. “Care better for your frien— I mean brother.”

Zekiel gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“I’m twenty eight. I don’t need someone to care for me.” I interjected.

“Then act like it Kaelen.”

I hated when he called me that.

“Zekiel obviously has a better head on his shoulders than you do.”

Father turned to Lucien who was now staring into thin air. He knew better than to speak when father was talking.

Not everyone had the energy to face him like I do.

Or better still, not everyone feared him.

He looked at Zekiel once again. “And make sure he always has his meals before leaving this palace.”

I rolled my eyes at the statement. “Caring doesn’t suit you father, please stop it.”

He gestured towards the door.

“Get out.”

“Happily,” I muttered as I left the room.

Zekiel was behind me in an instant.

“Where on earth have you—“

“Let me tell you how it all went down Zeke.”

“I don’t give a horse’s tail about that.”

“Then what is it? I noticed your expression earlier.”

He leaned closer then whispered. “You won’t believe what I found. Matter of fact, who I found.” He looked around then spoke, “follow me.”

We walked till we reached the entrance of the dungeons. Zekiel pulled the latch, lifting the door from the ground. I retched as the smell hit me. Rotten flesh and years worth of decayed blood.

I clasped my hand over my nose. “Why here?”

“Suggest another place where no one dares go.”

Even the guards don’t stay inside, they monitor from the outside.

Zekiel covered his nose as well before we descended a flight of stony stairs till we reached the bottom. Cages, dozens of them.

In a slightly lit one, sat a rather old-looking woman. My eyes widened in recognition.

We entered the cage and I got a better look. She looked highly different but her old face was still somewhere in there.

Aside from that, she also seemed completely out of it.

Almost insane.

She had no reaction whatsoever to seeing me or Zekiel.

I was about to move closer, but Zekiel stopped me, signaling not to go near.

“This is great Zeke, how did you find her?” My speech was muffled as I kept covering my nose. Same for Zekiel.

“Don’t get your hopes up.”

Zekiel walked up to her, then squatted by her side.

My breath hitched as he brought his index finger and thumb to both sides of her cheeks.

“Seems your suspicion about mother’s unusual death was right,” he said as he applied pressure on her cheeks making her mouth involuntarily open.

I stumbled back when I saw it.

“What in the—? There’s no-no.”

Zekiel helped me finish the statement.

“No tongue.”