The Exiled Prince and His Siren

Chapter 8

Violetta hasn’t felt serenity like this in a long time. After spending the last two years running and hiding from everything and everyone that has to do with who she is. She didn’t realize she was exhausted. Prohibiting herself from the water was a punishment she just now realized she inflicted on herself, thinking it was survival. Little did she know she was killing herself slowly.

She’s been with the unusual trio for weeks now. Can’t say she’s used to the trembling cannot be placed feeling she gets whenever the prince is around, but she can definitely get used to the extravagant bathroom where she can submerge herself into warm velvet water for hours on end.

She was slowly drifting off into sleep when a knock sounded outside her door. Her eyes opened on instinct but she didn’t get up just yet. The knock grew louder so she had no choice but to sit up. Water spilled as it fluctuated with the change of weight. She was still warm from the water but the air slowly started growing cold from her hastiness to tend to whoever was at the door. She quickly threw on the thick garments she laid out and made her way out of the bathroom.

Throwing the door open, she was surprised to see the straight face of prince Maximillian.

“I apologize if I’ve disturbed your bath.” He said, eyes locked on the small furrow of her brows that immediately formed when she saw him.

“There’s something I would like to discuss. However, I can see I came at an inopportune time, so I’ll leave you to your business and just meet you at the waiting room.” He hastily said before he walked away, but before he could disappear down the hallway, Violetta called out his name.

“It’s alright. I’ll go down with you.” She said as she stepped out of her room.

She took hurried strides to get to him all the while feeling the water from her hair cascading down her back, soaking her thick cloak. Maximillian looked at her apprehensively but didn’t waited for her nonetheless.

The distance was minimal as they walked down the steps but there was something in the air none of them could quite place that was overwhelmingly heavy. Even their beasts were fleeting by the surface. It was a long way down with the pace they were going, still gauging each other.

Violetta let her eyes wander in front of her and to the side where there was nothing but dark marble and gold. Maximillian on the other hand, kept his gaze straight. His face serious and blank but his mind was elsewhere.

Arissa has gotten word of the king’s hunters headed to Nihiltra. She said if they were ordered to come then the dragon king must think he was alive. If so, then without a doubt, he would want him captured. It was the only way for him to secure his place on the throne.

It will take a long time for them to get to this part of the deep forest however if they search persistently enough, they’ll eventually stumble on the cottage. He took it upon himself to talk to the siren, half-siren rather, as he remembers she would correct that every time, to relay the immediate message of an upcoming threat. Arissa and Callahan looked at him surprised when he said that.

Quite frankly he himself was too. The only excuse he accepted was that they’re inevitably part of each other’s lives and so it’s imperative they learn how to work together quickly.

They finally reached the waiting room after what seemed to be a long procession down the stairs. The doors were closed like before, and the chairs were facing each other this time with no table in between.

Violetta took a seat in one and Maximillian in the other.

“What is this about?” She asked softly.

“There are hunters headed here by order of the dragon king.” There was no point beating around the bush. “It will take some time before they find the cottage but they will eventually.”

Violetta’s blood ran cold at the thought of hiding once again. “And where are Arissa and Callahan? Aren’t we supposed to confer our next course of action?” She asked.

“Arissa and Callahan have a different role to play in the next turn of events.” Max answered vaguely.

Violetta nodded absentmindedly. “How many are there?” She asked.

Maximillian held her gaze. “Five. He sent his head hunter.” He answered.

“Alright, so I assume were here to discuss how we’ll rectify this?” She pressed.

Maximillian couldn’t help the grin that fell on his face. She was peculiar to him. Her reaction one thing, her words another. He nodded in response.

“Yes. They will be scouring Nihiltra for us. We’ll need to leave the forest entirely.” He said.

“Where will we go?” She asked.

“Arissa is taking care of that as we speak.” He replied. Violetta tipped her head slightly to the side, as if to tell him to elaborate.

Maximillian quickly understood. “We will portal our way out.” He clarified.

Violetta couldn’t help but groan. The memory of the awful aftermath the last time she went through a portal came screaming back to her. This time she looked away and shook her head as if to rid of it.

“What is it?” Maximillian asked, confused by her reaction.

“I was thrown around the last time I went through a portal.” She admitted, making his brows furrow.

“It was the portal in the river Arissa might have told you about. I remember how nauseating it was I was unconscious for a day.” She said.

“You won’t be alone this time around. We will travel through in pairs.” He said. Warmth spread through Violetta’s chest at his statement and she covered the feeling with a small cough and nodded at him.

Just right then, the double doors opened to reveal Arissa and Callahan. “It’s time.” The sorceress said with a hint of urgency.

Both Violetta and Max stood immediately and approached the two. “Where will we be going?” Violetta asked.

“Malhelm” Arissa answered, both she and Callahan shared a look before glancing at the prince for a brief moment.

The action wasn’t missed by Max but he didn’t bother question it. Malhelm was where his mother originally came from, he can expect to find so much about her from there. That is if the dragon king hadn’t destroyed everything of hers yet.

“We will divide into two groups. Arissa and I, and you and Violetta.” He said to the prince, who merely nodded once in response. Violetta didn’t dare object. Personal feelings will be dealt with later.

“Alright, I’ll start now. Violetta, I apologize for the haste, but we will find you better clothes when we get there.” Arissa said, taking in her ruffled cloak and clothes underneath.

“I’m quite alright Arissa don’t worry.” She assured.

“Alright, follow me.” She said, and turned to walk towards the same door they came from. Callahan was right by her side and just when she was at the threshold, she looked back at the two behind them.

“Once you walked through, we’ll be in Malhelm and the charm around this cottage will fall, leaving nothing behind. So, do not walk back once you’ve walked through. Otherwise you’ll be walking into a cottage in the middle of the forest.” She warned.

Then without waiting for a reply, she took hold of Callahan’s hand and they both walked through. Violetta and Max were left. They both reached out their hands at the same time, yet with no time to lose, they threw all hesitance away and held each other’s hands. With a few steps forward, they were out of the palace and into Malhelm soil, just in time for the cottage doors to break down open, revealing the king’s hunters on the other side.