39. Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ayse
Seok’s plan was incredibly detailed, evident from his comprehensive knowledge about every nook and cranny of the palace, as illustrated in the elaborate maps he’d drawn up for me.
We crept along the winding, uphill corridor leading out of the dungeons, with Seok’s shadows extinguishing most of the torches in our path.
I’d forgotten how long the descent down to the cells was—it felt endless.
The anticipation of seeing sunlight again fueled me despite it being the dead of night and the persistent pains coursing through my battered body.
We carefully picked our way over the twenty guards sprawled across the dungeon floor. Seok assured me they were still alive, but his words did little to soothe my nerves. I couldn’t shake the fear that one of them would suddenly reach up and grab my ankle as I stepped over them.
After we got past them and the prison door, we began the long trek up to the main floor.
Gradually, the rough stone of the dungeons gave way to gleaming black granite.
As we moved, a dense black cloud enveloped our feet and ankles, swallowing the sounds of our boots against the polished floor.
My chest tightened as we approached where the dungeon corridor met the palace hall.
This marked where the true escape mission began.
Seok had briefed me that the dungeon entrance strategically lay in the heart of the palace, distanced far from every exit.
The castle corridors in this area were undecorated and unmarked, transforming them into a black labyrinth to confound potential infiltrators or escapees like myself.
Only as we moved further from the dungeons would we encounter tapestries on walls and statues flanking walkways.
We peered into the main hallway, its towering arches and recessed alcoves shrouded in darkness, untouched by the flickering sconces on the walls. Seok motioned for me to stay close and silent. He then stepped out of the passageway.
Alone in the dungeon entranceway, I froze. Distant echoes of conversation and the occasional clink of armor indicated the presence of patrolling guards.
Seok reached out and grasped my arm. I felt blindly over the top of the satchel for my journal, letting out a sigh of relief when my fingers brushed its familiar outline.
With a deep breath, I left the perceived safety of the known and joined Seok, the two of us melting into the shadows together.
We crept along, hugging the walls, moving at a painfully slow pace. Then again, any movement was painful for me, so what did I know?
Seok used a small mirror to ensure the coast was clear around each corner before we rounded them. The dimly lit corridors stretched endlessly, each turn feeling like another mile. Unfortunately, the number of guards seemed to increase substantially as we ventured farther from the dungeons.
And at least two sets of echoing footsteps were headed our way.
A hushed voice carried through the halls.
“Isn't she the one who killed Marcelo? The idea of someone taking down a brute like him is terrifying. I heard the Queen suspects her of being Fey. We could all drop dead at any second.” They paused for a moment before adding, “I definitely don't want to be the one to find her.”
How did they already know I was gone? Had the guards below already woken? We must have cut it so incredibly close.
Seok’s grip tightened on my arm, and wordlessly, he changed our course, leading us down a narrow side passage reserved for servants.
“Nonsense,” said another voice, this one a bit gruffer. “Marcelo probably died of a heart attack from all his demons catching up to him.” They chuckled.
A small bit of pride crept up at their words. Marcelo deserved his death, that much I knew. Perhaps Seok’s actions would discourage others from such cruelty in the future.
“No doubt the Queen will reward anyone who recaptures her with the highest honor.” My flesh pimpled with goosebumps as their voices approached the entrance of the passage. We slowly backed down it, our movements consumed by shadows. “And that anyone is going to be me.”
Panic set in as the unmistakable silhouette of a palace guard emerged at the end of the passage. Seok’s hand covered my mouth, enveloping us in darkness. My back pressed against his lower torso, and searing pain ripped across my burns. I bit down hard, fighting the urge to scream.
After a long, tense minute, the guards passed by, their footsteps fading away.
I sighed as my body sagged against Seok’s. His fingers caressed my cheek before he grabbed my hand, tugging me along. We couldn’t afford even a second of relief.
At the end of the hall, another main corridor awaited, identical to every other one we’d traversed—always that glistening black granite, high ceilings, metal sconces, and a small, empty recess every ten to thirty paces.
It would be easy to get lost in these halls.
As we walked, I took a moment to focus on my unlikely savior in front of me, trying to calm my nerves. I could have predicted getting imprisoned after trespassing, but never in a million years would I have predicted the Shadow Prince of Ittora helping me escape.
He’d tied his hair back from his face, offering a clear view of his slender, muscular neck and shoulders.
This beautiful man was still such an enigma to me.
How he, a prince, could put his reputation—and potentially his life—on the line for someone he barely knew was astounding.
Of course, I might find myself doing the same thing in his position, but not many would.
If I survived this… I was really going to miss him.
Suddenly, the echo of a group of footsteps sounded again. Glancing around for the source of approaching danger, I realized the corridor we were in now had decorative suits of armor positioned in long rows on each side.
And I was walking too close to one of them.
Knocking into one of them.
Knocking the entire row down.
The metal suits crashed to the ground, the noise echoing through the hall. Clangs of armor mixed with the urgent thuds of running guards. My pulse raced, my heart threatening to burst at any second.
This was it. This was the end.
I seized up, but Seok, one step ahead, shoved me—all but threw me—down the hall.
My body collided with the cold, unforgiving floor.
Earth, did that hurt.
But the approaching guards pumped adrenaline into my blood.
Only split seconds remained. Looking up, I found myself next to an alcove and promptly scrambled into it, right as the group rounded the corner. Shrinking in fear, I forced myself to be as thin and silent as possible.
“Your Highness, we have been instructed to take you into custody.”
I dared to steal a glimpse of the hall, counting at least eight guards surrounding Seok before darkness covered me, consuming my vision. More footsteps sounded in the distance. This didn’t look good.
“Where is the girl?” one of them asked.
Seok’s low voice carried through the shadows that hid me. “Long gone, I’m afraid,” he said, chuckling smugly, the sound of his laughter mingling with the slowing echoes of chaos.
“So… how did they realize she was gone? I can’t imagine the ones I knocked out have awoken yet,” Seok said coolly. I heard a couple of soft footsteps and imagined him sauntering toward the group, drawing them away from me.
If Seok fought back, the guards would presume I was still in the castle. It was clear to me—he was sacrificing himself to protect my escape.
“Let’s just say a little bird tipped off the Queen, Your Highness.”
“Dammit, Ren,” Seok muttered.
After a few moments, the sounds of awkward shuffling reached me. I strained, trying to see what was happening, but the shadows blocked my view.
“Well,” Seok demanded impatiently. “Aren’t you going to cuff me or something?”
“Oh, uh-of course, Your Highness. Please, come with us.”
The clinking of shackles was followed by the rhythmic marching of Seok’s new escorts. Despite the distance growing between us, the shadows surrounding me still held.
“Keep up the patrols,” said a guard a little too close to me for comfort. “She may still be on the royal grounds. We’ll send word to the soldiers of Kagé City to patrol the streets outside the wall as well.”
The last of the boots clicked on the granite, gradually fading as they exited the hall. A sigh of relief escaped me as I retrieved my maps, squinting in the darkness to discern my location in the labyrinth.
If I’d been more present during our walk, following Seok’s lead, I might have had a clearer idea of where I stood.
Fortunately, the map displayed only three hallways adorned with suits of armor, and two harbored narrow servant passages.
Cross-referencing my fragmented memories with the hand-drawn map, I narrowed down my position and determined where to proceed.
After memorizing my route, I cautiously peeked out of the alcove, ensuring the coast was clear before swiftly disappearing into the shadows.
Navigating a series of twists and turns, I began to feel good about my progress and my ability to evade the guards without Seok’s guidance.
I wasn’t too far from an exit, and the promise of freedom thrummed in my veins.
Once outside, I still faced the challenge of crossing the grounds and slipping through the gate Seok had assured me would be slightly lifted…
but despite those obstacles looming ahead, the notion of breathing fresh air again and gazing upon the sky’s expanse filled me with a palpable exhilaration.
That was when I heard them—the rhythmic footsteps of a guard coming from the direction I needed to go.
Swiftly veering off course, I found myself in a hallway culminating in a window adorned with a small sitting nook.
Ignoring the moonlight’s beauty streaming through the panes, casting blocks of light on the shiny floor, I floundered.
Could I realistically squeeze behind or beneath either of the two black settees or their satiny, oversized pillows?
Doubt filled me, but I had no choice but to try.
As I reached the first sofa, just before I could duck behind it, a commanding shout rang out.
“You there! Girl! Stop by order of the Queen.”
I was screwed.