Chapter Two
1074 Words
Seraphine POV
The palace gates rose before me like the mouth of something waiting for its meal to swallow.
It's structure was a beautiful edifice, twice the size of any other structure I've laid my eyes on…
They were people, so many people…
They lined the steps, the courtyard, the balconies above.
Some were soldiers and guards in positions, some were nobles of their houses, most were villagers trading around the palace yards..
The moment my boots crossed the threshold—
“Traitor!”
The word split the air.
Another voice rose again.
“Betrayal!”
Then more.
“Treason gets you married to the General!”
Other sharp and cruel words followed, but ignored it and kept walking.
Two guards flanked me, taking me to my new husband's chambers..
They treated me like i was a prisoner, or like I would run, to where? Back home to a hateful aunt and cousin?
I didn't have a home here, not anymore.
“Eyes down,” one guard barked to me.
“I prefer them forward,” I replied evenly.
His fingers tightened around my arm. “This isn’t a parade.”
I didn't argue further.
As we pushed more in, I felt something wet struck the hem of my gown.
Spit.
I didn’t look down at it.
“Snake!”
“She sold us out!”
“Let her kneel!”
“Make her beg!”
Their voices blended into one roaring mass.
If they wanted tears, they would be disappointed.
I had long ago shut the doors to those chambers of myself.
Hurt. Fear. Shame. Love.
All useless and all gone.
We climbed the wide marble steps leading into the palace.
The doors opened inward and for a moment the noise outside dimmed.
Then—
A body slammed into mine so hard I lost my footing.
I dropped to the floor, my palms scraping the ground.
I looked up instantly—
But whoever had hit me was already gone.
The figure disappeared into the rest of the crowd.
The guard jerked me up roughly by the arm.
“Move,” he snapped.
“I was getting up,” I said coldly, pulling free from his grip.
We resumed walking again.
But as we continued something about that impact lingered.
It hadn’t felt accidental, but then again, everyone here hates me so of course it wasn't.
We moved deeper into the palace and into a quieter sector.
Soon, we stopped before a tall wooden door.
Kael’s quarters.
We entered in, the quarters leading to many doors and rooms.
The gaurds let me to one.
One of them stepped foward and opened it, the other gestured me inside.
I stepped forward slowly.
The moment I crossed the threshold, the door shut behind me with a heavy thud.
Then the lock turned.
I turned sharply.
“Open it.”
Silence.
I stepped closer and struck the door with my palm.
“I am not a prisoner.”
Nothing.
My jaw tightened as I sighed in defeat turning back to face the room.
It was spacious.
It had high ceilings, a large bed with dark blue covers, a fireplace and a writing desk near the window.
This was not a dungeon, heck this was supposed to be paradise.
But it sure felt prison.
I exhaled again and turned away from the door.
Fine.
If they wanted to cage me in velvet, so be it.
I crossed to the bed and sat slowly.
My fingers slipped absently into the pocket of my outer coat.
They brushed against something that didn’t belong there.
Paper.
I frowned.
Slowly, I pulled it out.
It was a small folded piece.
My pulse shifted.
I hadn’t placed anything there.
Carefully, I unfolded it.
The words were written in bold ink.
Your days are numbered, b***h.
On the night of tomorrow, you die.
My breath stilled instantly.
The room seemed to narrow.
Tomorrow night.
I read it again.
On the night of tomorrow, you die.
And then it hit me.
The collision… that was when it had been slipped into my pocket.
Someone inside the palace wrote this.
Tomorrow night.
That meant during the wedding ceremony to Kael.
I stared at the words a moment longer before folding the note slowly.
I would not ignore a warning.
I was not foolish.
If someone planned to kill me within these walls—
Then I wasn't waiting on it, it's not like I liked being here anywhere.
I rose immediately.
If they wanted me dead, they would have to chase me outside this kingdom.
I moved to the mirror and pulled a thin metal hairpin from the intricate twist at the back of my head.
I crossed back to the door and knelt down.
The lock was simple but sturdy.
I slid the pin inside, twisted it and…
Boom!
A click.
I rose and opened the door, stepping into the corridor.
The quarters were quiet, almost dead quiet.
It felt like I was the only one here.
I closed the door behind me gently as I could.
I couldn't afford to make noise.
I moved slowly down the corridor, memorizing the turns we took coming.
If I reached the eastern servants’ stairwell, I could descend unnoticed.
From there…
The stables and a horse an freedom!
How hard can it be?
I reached a wider intersection of halls.
Ahead, I could see the exit from the quarters.
I stepped toward it… I stopped myself instantly .
A soft blue light flickered from a room to my left.
The light felt unnatural in a way I couldn't explain.
I stared at it for a moment.
Ignore it.
Leave now.
I couldn't let my curiosity better me.
I took a step toward the exit and then stopped again.
The blue light were coming from a chamber in Kael’s chambers…
I had to know what it was atleast.
I turned slowly and then moved toward it despite myself.
I took slow steps.
The hallway felt colder near the door.
I reached the door and placed my hand against it.
Something hummed softly on the other side.
Magic.
That was magic.
My pulse shifted again.
What was Kael hiding?
If I left now, I might never know.
If I stayed…
My fingers curled around the handle.
I began to push.
“Are you lost?”
The voice came from behind me.
My breath stilled.
Slowly, I turned to face him…
Kael
- Writer
