Bound to the Shadow Prince

Chapter 5: Attacked

Again, I dreamed about the Dark Kingdom. Something was drawing me to them and to the secrets that laid in the dark. As I approached the castle of the Dark Kingdom, the doors swung open with no greeter on the other side. Inside, it was pitch black until little stars began to pop up, forming their own constellations as if these stars displayed another universe, another world to observe and document.

Again, Torrin sat on the edge of my bed watching me when I opened my eyes. He asked about my dreams before departing.

I was thinking about my dream late into the afternoon when Torrin found me hiding in the garden watching the falling sun.

“Still thinking beyond the castle walls?”

He sat next to me on the bench. I wished I had chosen a bigger bench, for if I were to scoot over, I’d fall off the side.

“No, the stars. Did you know astronomers and mathematicians have predicted there are multiple universes out there, each with its own constellations of stars?”

“Why would you care about other universes? You live in this one.”

“But don’t you ever find a wonder in it? Of what could possibly lie beyond our own eyes?”

“No. We must use our eyes to assess and make decisions. What lies before us is the facts.” He stood. “Time to go in, Isadora.”

I glanced up at him. I complied, taking his hand. He helped me rise before escorting me into the house and to my room. Inside my room, he sat down on the edge of his bed, silently watching me. I casually went to the vanity and slowly took out each of my hairpins, allowing my black hair to fall. I carefully and subtly watched his reaction. He shifted on the bed.

Gracefully, I rose.

“Do you care to indulge me in a little mischief?”

He lifted his eyebrows, obviously interested.

I pulled out two glass cups and a bottle of wine I had hidden earlier in the day.

I approached him, sitting on the edge of his bed, handing him a glass cup. He took it and I opened the wine, pouring him and me a drink. I brought it up, having the liquid touch my lips and faked a swallow. I knew he wouldn’t drink unless I did first.

He watched me before taking a long drink of his own. I took another fake swallow before bringing my drink down.

After a couple more sips, he leaned back on his bed.

“Why this?”

I shrugged.

“Warming up to me, are you?”

He blinked a few times. I set my cup down knowing the effects were now starting. He lifted his drink to his nose and sniffed it, swirled it, before taking another drink. His eyes flashed to mine.

“You laced it.”

I stood. “I did.”

He stood, but stumbled to the ground. Torrin struggled to keep his eyes open. I knelt down beside him.

“We will marry, and I will stand beside you on the throne, but you do not control me, Torrin. I’ll be back before you awaken. I just need one more night.”

I tried to stand, but Torrin grabbed my ankle, yanking me back onto the ground. I fell hard onto my back. As I gasped for air, he crawled on top of me before slumping against me. Pinning me underneath him.

“It’s-it’s too dangerous." His words began to slur. "You don’t… don’t under-understand. It’s dangerous.”

His head fell against my shoulder. I tried to wiggle out from underneath him, but his body weight was crushing me. I pushed my arms against his shoulders as I tried to pull out my body. It took much longer than I anticipated before I was finally able to get myself free.

I ran to my closet, quickly putting on my dark blue cotton dress and shawl. I leaped over his body, knowing I would get the full consequences of my actions in the morning.

But my spot by the ocean was beckoning. It was a clear night with the moon becoming more of a crescent, the stars would be shining brilliantly tonight. I wanted to be among the peaceful beauty. I jumped onto the sequoia tree and quickly climbed down.

Carefully and cautiously, I followed my route outside the castle walls and to the forest. Once, I went further into the forest where the city lights could no longer be seen. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the fresh pine air.

I went to my spot, listening to the ocean, letting the noise wash over me, pulling me with the tide. Without as much moonlight, I could see more of the stars and constellations.

I could feel their light penetrating into my soul proclaiming its existence and the things it has seen across the whole earth. Staring up into the stars, I felt like I was in my own galaxy, a universe across from King Torrin and his demand for compliance, away from the pressures of becoming Queen, and away from talks of a war between kingdoms.

I wasn’t sure how long I laid in the grass letting the blanket of stars tuck me into a calming state. But by the time I became conscious of it, the moon was high above me. Torrin would be waking up soon, and I needed to get back before he did if he hadn’t already.

Slowly, I stood. Stretching my muscles before putting my bag over my head and departing back through the forest. It was darker with the thick canopy of the trees blocking more of the moon’s light. But I had never been afraid of the dark, and confidently continued my way through the trees.

I paused when I heard rustling through the trees as if some animal had stepped on a dead leaf or stick. The sound did not re-occur, and I could see no unusual shapes in the dark. Quietly, I retook my path until I heard it again.

I paused, and the noise stopped. I glanced behind me, but again, no unusual silhouettes appeared. Again, I walked along the path, and again I heard the same footsteps as if I was being followed.

Quickly, I rolled behind a tree, wondering if my stranger had found me again, but something told me it was not him. My heart started to pound as the footsteps drew nearer. I searched for my steel knife in my bag, gripping it hard. A hand grabbed my arm, I gasped as I threw my knife at his upper abdomen, embedding it into him.

I pulled away to see a man inches taller than me with pale skin that contrasted against the black of the night. His eyes flashed, glowing in the dark. He hissed as he pulled my knife from his abdomen, throwing it to the ground.

“You smell so good, living, and I’m so hungry. We aren’t supposed to touch you, but after what your king did to one of our villages… I don’t think those rules apply anymore, and now it's feasting time.”

I staggered backwards. Fear cascaded over me as I saw the distinct gleam of his fangs.

“Please,” I whispered.

“Shouldn’t have wandered so far off.”

I ran. I wasn’t sure which direction I was running. I hoped I was running towards the castle, though I knew I was another mile or two off. I could hear the rustling and breaking of branches by my pursuer. My heart pounded in my ears as fear clenched my chest. I zig-zagged through trees hoping to deter my attacker.

Suddenly, I was flung to the ground. He landed on top of me. I twisted away from him, kicking him off of me. He grabbed the string of my bag as I pulled hard away from him.

The band of my bag broke, scattering my books across the ground. I stumbled to my feet as I continued to run blindly through the woods.

It didn’t take long for my attacker to catch up to me. As he yanked on my hair, pulling me hard against a tree, I screamed. His hand came around my throat, silencing any further sounds.

I wiggled and kicked, throwing my arms wildly hoping to cut him or hit him. With his hand still on my throat, he threw me to the ground. I screamed as I fell, but all the air was knocked out of me as I crashed down.

The man pounced on top of me, ripped open my dress. I scratched at his face and arms. Again, I screamed, hoping someone would hear me. The man flew down upon my neck and I gasped at the pinch of pain. I wiggled again, but my body had stopped responding to me. I felt numb. All I could feel was fear and pain. But I couldn’t scream, I couldn’t fight, I was frozen with conscious thought and little by little I could feel myself being drained away.