1. Princess Davina
Chapter 1
Princess Davina
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
— Audrey Hepburn
T ime moves differently when you’re walking through a dark forest. Our footsteps echo in the silence, and the deeper we go, the darker the sky becomes, casting an oppressive gloom over everything.
The air turns colder, and the trees loom taller, their shadows growing denser. It’s more than just a drop in temperature—it’s the way it drains the warmth from my body, the way it seeps into my bones.The branches of the trees are twisted, reaching out like gnarled fingers and creating a canopy. It’s sinister.
I’ve spent my entire life within the protective walls of the castle, sheltered from the dangers that lurked beyond, unaware of?—
“Ouch!” I yelp as he grips my arm, shoving me forward.
“You need to move faster.”
“But it’s freezing,” I complain, shivering. “My toes feel like they’re about to fall off.”
“It’s always freezing.”
“Always?” I ask in disbelief. “It’s always this cold?”
“You’ll get used to it,” he says tersely, pulling me along with a firm grip. “If you don’t, you’ll freeze to death out here.”
“That’s comforting,” I mutter, struggling to keep up with his long strides.
“All you do is whine,” he sighs. “A terrible unbecoming trait.”
“Well, if you’d stop dragging me around, maybe I wouldn’t have so much to complain about.”
“You know, if you spent half as much energy focusing on walking faster as you do on whining, you’d be toasty in no time.”
“Maybe if you spent half as much energy being less annoying, I’d actually want to keep up.”
“If you want me to be less annoying, you’re going to have to work on your listening skills.”
I suppress a groan. If I’m going to be stuck with him, we need to find a way to get along. But I have a feeling he couldn’t be nice if his life depended on it.
“I bet you practice that scowl in the mirror, don’t you?”
He huffs in response. “Oh, there’s no need to practice. It comes naturally when dealing with someone like you.”
“Good to know. I’d hate to think you’re putting in extra effort just to make my day more miserable.”
“If you were as observant as you claim to be, you’d notice that I’m actually doing my best to ignore you. But you keep insisting on proving me wrong.”
“If you’re really trying to ignore me, you’re doing a terrible job,” I shoot back. “Your every comment just makes it more obvious that you’re paying attention to me.”
“It’s not my fault that you’re incapable of taking a hint. Maybe if you stopped making such a spectacle of yourself, I could manage to forget you’re even here.”
“Wow, it’s astounding how you manage to drag me around and then complain about my presence. At least I know I’m leaving an impression.”
“If by ‘impression’ you mean ‘nuisance,’ then sure, you’re unforgettable.”
I choose to tune him out; his words are nothing more than background noise now.
The path ahead twists and turns, leading us deeper where the darkness seems to swallow us whole. I should be thrilled to finally see something else besides the castle walls, but instead, I find myself in the midst of a nightmare. The scene before me is horrifyingly different from the landscapes my mother used to paint.
Everything looks decayed. The trees look sick, their bark peeling away like old, rotting skin. No grass can be found on the ground, only a layer of brown, dead leaves and brittle twigs. There’s no sign of life—no birds, no animals, nothing but the two of us. It’s as if this place has been forgotten by the world, left to wither away for years, maybe even centuries.
Though I have no desire to continue the conversation, I ask, “Is Lorelda responsible for this? Is it true she used her magic to destroy the nature?”
He clenches his jaw, eyes narrowing as if trying to hold back his anger. “Yes.”
“How much farther?”
“How can I convince you to stay quiet?”
“Just answer the question, and I’ll?—”
He stops abruptly, turning to face me. His eyes are cold and penetrating, like he can see right through my bravado. “It’s another mile or so,” he says, his voice flat. “Can you manage that without any more questions?”
I nod, trying to suppress the shiver running down my spine; whether from the cold or his gaze, I can’t tell. “Fine.”
“Good. Just keep up, and keep quiet. We don’t want to attract any attention.”
“Wh—” The word gets stuck in my throat as a chill wind sweeps through the trees, the air growing thick with an energy that makes my heart race with fear.
A haunting melody drifts in the air, sending another shiver down my spine. I feel a growing sense of unease, as though we’re being watched by unseen eyes.
I watch him as he scans the darkness, as if he thinks the same. “Stay close to me,” he orders, his voice barely reaching me through my unease.
My heart drops as a group of shadowy figures emerge from the darkness. They move in the air, looking like creatures that should not exist in a mortal realm.
Cole steps in front of me and draws his sword, his stance poised for a battle. “Don’t move or make a sound.”
I manage a nod, my heart pounding in my ears.
The figures circle us, their movements fluid and uncanny.
Cole reacts fast, his sword cutting through the shadows with precision, but they seem endless, their numbers overwhelming and their eerie whispers echoing through the air.
My breath catches in my throat as one of them lunges at me, baring its sharp teeth as a low growl escapes its throat, its claws reaching for me. My mind races with horror, but Cole intercepts before the shadow can make contact, his sword slashing through the darkness.
The creature lets out a guttural cry before it dissipates into nothingness, a wisp of smoke lingering in its wake.
I watch in awe as he fights them, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.
A few of them vanish on their own, and as the last of them dissipates with a slash of his blade, he turns toward me.
“Hurt?” he asks dryly.
“No,” I respond, my voice barely above a whisper. “What are those things?”
“Shadows. Creatures of the darkness that feed on fear and despair. We have to keep moving.” His eyes scan the forest, and panic threatens to overwhelm me, but he appears unfazed. “Just keep moving.”
My heart pounds a wild rhythm against my chest, and I stumble over a gnarled root, nearly falling to the ground.
His hand catches my arm, steadying me. “Watch your step.”
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I’m doing my best.”
“Well, your best needs to be a bit better.”
“So gentlemanly for a prince, are we? I just need a minute, it won’t—” Air whooshes out of my lungs as he lifts me up and tosses me over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” I snap, slamming my fist into his spine. “Put me down!”
His hand squeezes the back of my thighs to hold me in place. “Time is very precious, and we’re running out of it.”
“I hate you.”
“And you say that with such passion. Should I feel flattered?”
I continue to struggle against his hold, my face pressed against his shoulder. “Put. Me. Down.”
He adjusts his grip, unrelenting. “I’d rather not have you stumbling around and slowing us down. We’re almost there, so hang on.”
I squirm, though it’s more out of frustration than actual hope of escaping, earning only a snort of amusement from him. “Seriously, I can walk!”
“Scream at me again, and I’ll give you a real reason to scream.”
I glare at his back. “The way you’re treating me is already giving me plenty of reas?—”
“Do try to behave, darling. I’d hate to have to punish you.”
My heart sinks, and I can’t shake the feeling that this is truly going to be far worse than death.
After finally setting me down, he steps back, and a wave of dizziness hits me from having been upside down.
“We’re here,” he announces.
To my surprise, it isn’t dark or cold anymore—instead, it’s warm and bright, the sky above filled with fluffy pink clouds.
It’s breathtaking.
I squint my eyes, gawking at the palace in front of me. It looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. Tall, pointed towers with dark blue and pink roofs stand out against the warm beige walls, the light casting a warm golden glow over it and making it seem like it shimmers with an ethereal light.
The air is filled with a sweet scent, and the garden blooms with vibrant flowers and towering, pinkish trees. In the center of the courtyard stands a massive fountain, its waters cascading down marble sculptures of nymphs and faeries, the sound of the water soothing.
This place is nothing like I expected it to be. I’m not sure what I was expecting—perhaps chains, blood, and scowling soldiers everywhere.
I glance back at the dark forest looming behind me, then back at the dazzling scene before me. “It’s so different here,” I whisper to myself, bewildered. “All these flowers…”
What if he was telling the truth, and Lorelda’s magic doesn’t extend to this place?
“Where are your guards?” I ask.
“I don’t have any guards.”
“But you have soldiers.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He sighs in annoyance and chooses to ignore my question.
“Ugh,” I groan. “This is going to be torture.”
“You do realize I can hear you, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I snap back. “That was my intention.”
He shoots me a sideways glance. “You don’t act like a princess.”
“If you want me to act like a princess, you should make sure to treat me like one.”
He snorts at my remark but doesn’t bother to reply.
“I’ll admit it’s quite beautiful,” I mutter, “but that doesn’t mean I want to be here.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m not exactly thrilled to have you here either.”
Annoyance turns into bitterness, spreading through my blood like poison. I take several deep breaths, trying my hardest to feign nonchalance. “Then what am I doing here?”
“I need your help.”
“My help?” I laugh, disbelief evident in my voice.
“Yes, your help. Despite what you might think, you’re not just a pretty face. You’ve got abilities I need, whether you believe it or not.”
“What are you talking about?”
He picks up pace. “Let’s get inside. You’re only safe inside the palace.”
“But the flowers,” I begin, “they aren’t affected by Lorelda’s curse?—”
“You’re not a flower,” he cuts me off, his tone sharp. “Get inside. Now.”
I sigh in frustration, following him. He places a rough hand on the small of my back to guide me toward the glass doors, but I quickly step away. “Don’t make the mistake of believing you’re allowed to touch me again.”
“I’d rather not, but it seems you’re very eager to act as if each step you take won’t determine whether you survive the day.”
I file up the stone stairs of the palace. “Oh, it’s so very touching that you care about my well-being.”
He turns around to scowl at me, but I avert my gaze when we reach the top to enter the palace, and I stop short at the sight.
It’s nothing compared to our castle in Yorilia.
The castle back home is full of history and life. Loud children and servants fill the halls with sound while the walls themselves hold relics from our past and my mother’s favorite paintings. This feels solemn by comparison, with no people wandering the halls, and no children or servants running around. It’s eerily quiet, making me aware of the sound of my shoes on the floor.
Everything in here is minimalistic and modernly decorated, the lighting dim and romantic. There are two large princess staircases splitting to either side and several crystal chandeliers hanging from above.
“Follow me,” he orders as he takes long strides to the left. “Your belongings will arrive no later than tomorrow.”
I quicken my pace to keep up, but the moment I glance down, I stop short. A dark stain of blood stains the pristine marble floor, and my heart races as horror grips me. I swallow hard, trying to suppress the dread creeping into my mind.
“Upstairs,” he says impatiently, gesturing toward the staircase. “Your quarters are up there.”
“And where are your quarters?”
He points to the other staircase, and a wave of relief washes over me, momentarily pushing aside the fear. My footsteps echo as I follow him up the stairs. As I reach the top, a long corridor stretches out before me, lined with six imposing oak doors.
“Your room is the one on the left down the hall. The room next to yours is the library. You aren’t allowed to enter the other rooms. Understood?”
“What, are you hiding dead bodies in there?”
“If I were, I’d make sure to give you a tour. But since I’m not, just stick to your assigned room and follow the rules.”
I head toward the room, no longer willing to listen to him.
The room itself is spacious, with cream-colored walls and a four-poster bed adorned with green accents. It’s surprisingly cozy, with just the right amount of sunlight filtering through the balcony windows.
“Make yourself at home,” he drawls from the hallway. “I’ve got some things to take care of and won’t be back until later.”
“What?” I stare at him in disbelief.
“Don’t try anything foolish,” he adds.
“You’re just leaving?” I’d rather avoid his presence, but the idea of being alone in this palace is unsettling.
“Looks like your listening skills are finally improving. Who would have thought I’d be the one to teach you?”
I grit my teeth. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Pardon?”
“You can’t just leave me?—”
“Oh, so you do want my company after all.”
“Are you seriously holding me here and mocking me? You’re cocky as hell, aren’t you? You can’t just walk out now!”
He steps into the room, closing the distance between us. Stopping directly in front of me, he places a hand over his chest in a mock gesture. “Princess,” he says, “your wish for my company is rather touching, really. But I’m still going to leave. Try to get some rest, alright? Can you manage that for me?”
I’m at a loss for words.
Utterly speechless.
The arrogance that oozes out of every pore of his body is too much to bear. He insists that I go with him, only to drop me off and leave just five minutes later, acting as if this is perfectly normal.
Closing my eyes, I try to come up with a convincing argument.
I open my mouth to protest?—
It’s pointless, because he already left the room.
Happy birthday to me, I suppose.