Tangled Castle Novels & Stories

She was not twelve years old. That fact had been abundantly clear to the pack of idiots loitering near the front steps when Leo pulled up to the curb. Three of them. Maybe four. I'd stopped counting when the tallest one—some lanky kid with the audacity of someone who'd never once had his jaw broken—had let his gaze drag over Hazel like she was something on a menu. I'd felt my hands ball into fists against my thighs. I'd felt something dark and territorial claw its way up through my chest, something I had no rational claim to, no sane justification for.

I laughed out. He huffed and pulled his tongue out at me, and I did the same. All the while, I knew auntie Meg was shaking her head at our silliness. My best friend was dumb, but I loved him a lot; maybe I would consider going on a tour to look at all the bikes and cars he was yapping about the way here but only if he promised to explore the castle with me and watch the new tangled movie with me. I grinned at the idea.

My pace quickened, my heart pounding in my chest as I raced through the undergrowth, ignoring the branches that scratched at my skin and the root that threatened to trip me. Just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor, I saw it; a castle, looming out of the mist like a phantom. It was a dark, foreboding structure, its high walls covered in twisting vines, Its windows like hollow eyes. It stood in the middle of nowhere. I knew from deep within, that this was where Sara was being held.

She flew faster, determined. Scarlet turned a bend in the river, and there, in the distance, she saw one island in particular, bigger than the others, on which sat the structure of a towering castle, surrounded by trees. In the center of its roof was a wide, hole, open to the heavens. There was no mistaking it: this was Boldt Castle.

Magic hummed in the air. The castle itself towered like a living entity. Its foundation was wide and claw-like, and the structure climbed upward in tapering layers, almost like a dark tree reaching for the sky. Creating a spiral that ended in a single spire at the top. Thick black vines wrapped around the stone, pulsing with what looked like veins of molten gold, as though the castle had its own lifeblood. The very air vibrated with spells and enchantments. Old ones. Servants flooded the courtyard, bowing low. They moved like whispers, silent, swift, and afraid. Not one met my eyes.

It feels like we’re entering another world entirely. As the car ascends, I catch glimpses of the castle through the gaps in the trees. Each twist and turn reveals more, and I can’t stop myself from leaning closer to the window. The castle grows with every loop, its tall turrets reaching toward the sky like something out of a storybook. The stone walls, a blend of warm honey and soft greys, seem to radiate both strength and elegance, aged to perfection.

There was a plan, and a single loss didn’t derail it. Then, just as the room began to settle, the door burst open. Director Hargreaves, flushed and slightly out of breath, stepped inside. “I—I haven’t cast my vote yet,” he stammered. Conversations stopped instantly. All eyes shifted to him. Liam’s confident smile faltered just slightly, Marianna’s expression brightened, but only for a moment. I straightened in my chair, smiling proudly. One vote, one single vote could change the outcome if any anomalies occurred.

In hi​s h‌a‌nd was a bott‌le of‍ che‍ap‌ w​ine, already half empty. Her phone lay on the f‍loor close‌ to her feet. Th⁠e scre⁠en was cracke​d‌,​ shattered like a‍ spiderweb‍. S‌he rea⁠c‍hed⁠ f‌o​r it withou‌t th⁠inking, panic guiding her hand—but the rope s‌top‍ped her.⁠ Her chest tightened. “​W​illia‌m…” her voice came out‍ small. “Why… why are you doing thi‍s?”

“Cassie, you literally screamed and hid under the blanket during the last twenty minutes.” Cassie waved a dismissive hand. “That was one time!” I snickered. “And you screamed so loud the neighbors banged on the wall.” Cassie crossed her arms. “Okay, fine. Maybe Hereditary was a little intense. Let’s go for something less terrifying this time.” Mica arched a brow. “Like what?” Cassie tapped her chin, pretending to think. Then her face lit up mischievously. “Oh! Let’s watch The Conjuring.”

"Fair. But I know my brother. And I know this… game he’s playing with you won't end well.” A loud crash cut through the murmurs in the room. Heads turned to the fallen tower of champagne glasses, shards glittering like ice beneath the golden glow of the chandeliers. Aiden stood beside the mess, his jaw clenched, his chest rising and falling with controlled fury. Don Carlo's hand gestured sharply, his voice too quiet to hear. "Predictable," Kane said under his breath, for which he got a glare from me. "Do you ever stop talking? "Not while I'm having so much fun," he said, downing another swallow of his drink.