THE PRISON
748 Words
ISABELLA’S POV
I hated the room, Which was ridiculous because it was probably bigger than the entire room that I had grown up in. The bed was enormous, The fireplace crackled softly. The furniture looked expensive enough to buy half my old pack. The windows stretched from floor to ceiling, Everything was beautiful. Everything was perfect, Everything made me furious Because it wasn’t mine…Because I hadn’t chosen it and also because no matter how luxurious the room was, it was still a prison.
I paced across the floor for what felt like the hundredth time, then I paced back. Then I paced again, I was going to lose my mind. A knock sounded at the door, I froze. The knock came again, I didn’t answer. A moment later the door opened anyway, a man stepped inside carrying a tray. My heart jumped, for one terrifying second I thought it was Lucien.
Thank the Moon Goddess it wasn’t, this man looked younger. Friendlier. His dark hair was slightly messy, a crooked smile sat on his face. The kind of smile that immediately made me suspicious.
“Good morning.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Who are you?”
“Killian.”
He set the tray on a nearby table.
“Friend of the terrifying monster who kidnapped me?”
His smile widened.
“Something like that.”
I folded my arms.
“If you’re here to convince me he’s misunderstood, save your breath.”
Killian laughed.
“I am not nearly brave enough for that.”
I hated that answer, mostly because it made me want to laugh too. I refused, instead I pointed toward the door.
“Take me home.”
“No.”
“Very convincing.”
“I wasn’t trying to convince you.”
I groaned, apparently everyone in this castle was impossible.
Killian sat in one of the chairs, completely uninvited.
“Lucien asked me to keep you occupied.”
I blinked.
“He what?”
“Keep you occupied.”
The absurdity of it almost made me laugh.
“So after kidnapping me he assigned someone to babysit me?”
Killian winced.
“When you say it like that, it sounds bad.”
“Because it is bad.”
“Fair.”
I stared at him.
“What does he want from me?”
For the first time the humor disappeared from Killian’s face, a shadow crossed his expression. A hesitation, it lasted less than a second but I noticed.
“What does he want?” I repeated.
Killian looked away.
“I don’t know.”
“Liar.”
His jaw tightened.
“I genuinely don’t.”
That answer unsettled me more than any lie could have, because if Killian didn’t know… Then maybe nobody did.The room fell silent. My gaze drifted toward the window, far below stretched endless forests and mountains. No villages, no roads. Nothing familiar, I suddenly felt very small. Very alone, a lump formed in my throat. I swallowed it down, I would not cry.
Not here, not in front of him. Not because of Lucien Nightbane. As if sensing my thoughts, Killian spoke.
“He is not what you think.”
I immediately stiffened, there it was. The defense, the excuse. The explanation, I knew it was coming. My laugh was bitter.
“Really?”
Killian sighed.
“I didn’t say he was good.”
The answer caught me off guard.
“He isn’t kind.”
He stood.
“He isn’t friendly.”
He moved toward the door.
“And he certainly isn’t normal.”
I frowned.
“Then what are you saying?”
Killian paused, his hand rested on the door handle. For a moment he seemed to debate something internally. Then he shook his head.
“Nothing.”
The door opened.
“Enjoy your breakfast.”
I stared at him.
“Wait.”
He glanced back.
“What?”
My voice came out quieter than I intended.
“When can I leave?”
For the first time all morning, Killian looked genuinely uncomfortable, his gaze dropped to the floor. Then toward the hallway, then finally back to me and somehow that answer terrified me more than anything else because he didn’t say no.
He didn’t say never, he didn’t say tomorrow. He simply looked at me with pity, then walked away. Leaving me alone with a question I wasn’t sure I wanted answered. Because if even Killian pitied me… What exactly had Lucien brought me here for?
- Writer
