The Prince's Indentured Bride

exploration

After walking through sodium lit corridor for about five minutes or so, where we passed three main lanes and two right’s at the first intersection and then a left at the last one, all through the main doors of entering the living quarters of the King, finally Gabriel stopped in front of an iron door with a set of horizontal and diagonal bracing of heavily painted metal; Is he going to give me a survival lesson and show the real blue print of the palace so that I can be helpful if some sort of war happens… Oh God! I should keep remembering that this isn’t medieval kingdom sort of arrangement.

“Ready for it?” I nodded a ‘whatever’, although secretly I was happy and really exciting about what was behind the door. Hopefully not a black mage cave. Okay, that was a bit too much.

I thought the door would make a creek sound when opened, because of how old and rusted it looked, but it was as good as a healthy modern door, and more surprisingly it had a very tight security with a digital lock installed too, of course which pass code I managed to see when Gabriel was typing in it, hawk eyes of mine, but the disappointment was it had GSM model, with an SMS confirmation in his phone, talk about the advancement of technology!

“Whoa… What a royal disappointment!” I declared after entering inside this highly protected place, located in the middle of somewhere where my phone was not even having a signal, then how did Gabriel get the SMS confirmation?

“I thought you liked libraries.” He said to me, probably referring to our first meeting after those five years, at my father’s memorial service, when Jules the bastard had left me to go find a lighter, and I wanted to smoke. On that note I am craving for some cigarette even now.

“I am not fond of them.” I replied to him, after giving a look around, it was not a very big place of collection, and I am sure there is a main library somewhere else in the palace premises, so this place of books must be filled with banned, removed, and rare manuscripts of history which the court would want to protect and keep for use. Not bad.

“My bad that I didn’t consider asking your opinion on it. I thought you would’ve liked it.” I scoffed not able to sympathize with his epic failure of an adventure, “Anyhow you never consider taking one, so it is nothing new. How about some marshmallows and cold night air?”

“Books are worth starting a war for and holds the ruth of stopping one too,” He entered into the third row and started shuffling with the nature books, “So, don’t ever try to get disappointed with words and their power of forever being alive.”

He totally dismissed my idea of having a relieving time near a fire place, such an asshole. And he calls a visit here powerful. Hypocrisy to its crispy fry.

“I want to smoke so let’s save your powerful weapons of war.” I turned around to go back to the door, and seemed like I was already directionally challenged when I couldn’t see it although I haven’t moved from my position from the moment I have entered. I turned towards the other sides, but it was all walls and there was no trace of an exit, strange because we just came through one, and then I looked at Gabriel for an answer on this, which he did by plastering a smile of amusement on his face.

If it were not for the situation to make me angry, I would’ve definitely complimented on how dazzling and attractive he looks with a smile, and that must be the only reason why woman went through heartbreaks when I appeared at Garima’s interview show as the nation’s heartthrobs wifey.

“You are a person who either expects too much or just too less.” I am not! I don’t expect unless someone hints there is something to even keep looking forward to.

“And you are someone who is so into yourself. You are Welcome!” I ridiculed the thanking part. Maybe getting angry riles me to become a mocking a person, which again I am not, usually when I am angry, I pledge the fifth.

“Why did you accept my offer of marriage?” He asked it so nonchalantly and out of the blue that left me no time to think, as if it were a raid fire, “Because–“

There was a loud clang from somewhere and my heart leapt out due to the sudden shock, and my breathing became shallow with

fevered hitches in my throat. I can't stand loud noises, especially crackers, due to gunshots and pending murder cases.

"Why did you bring me here?" I screamed, terrified of the possible outcomes.

How did I end up being in such a situation?

Now that I think about it carefully, this place is so typical for every hideous crime, and what could be his purpose to bring me here?

What if he simply wants to lock me up here for a few days for whatever reasons satisfy him? It would be a piece of cake, nobody will ever reach to me through all the twist and turns of the entry inside these special chambers!

Wait

Beginning point shall be: Nobody will try to find me!

I don't have any special connection with anyone here, nobody will be interested to know about my whereabouts, and it will just need a convincing statement from their beloved king.

My wife is on a year long fast for the future and betterment of her pupils and this nation.

I am a PR master, and I know that will totally do the trick; emotional, responsible and utterly patriotic, it is the master stroke of belief. Only Yash, Rose, and Rashmi will doubt me.

On that note, I should've at least made some secret codes of survival with them to communicate. Damn! s**t!

That is why it is said that humans don't realise the gravity of the situation until it's about life and death, and this is that mistake which people never learn from; always the taken for granted child.

"Patience gives you the best of life. Keep waiting."

Is it only in my head or is he really sounding so dangerous right now? Should be the latter one.

Let me not panic.

"And sometimes brings death too." I added very carefully, not wanting to trigger off either me or him, but I guess I actually did that.

He laughed. And it was sounding so sick and threatening, the ones where the villain laughs before sending the last shot.

"Vhrea I have been a businessman, a coach, player, son, brother, friend, lover and now a king, and nothing in that hints towards being a murderer." I should’ve bought my knife! Very quick realisation baby, bolt lightning!

“Murderers are also humans and that’s the biggest flex.” I stated, and looked at the giant hole in the middle of the shelf, it looked like a set for Doctor Strange's scene. Forgotten about my murder trance I stepped forward to take a better look at the fascinating display.

“Careful there. It's steep.” Gabriel warned me, as I took two more exciting steps towards the circle of calling. When my eyes landed on the ground through the hole only darkness greeted me, and the echoing coos of joker welcomed me.

“Whoa! This is… sick!”