Chapter 5
DAHLIA
The carriage I’m thrown into is old and smells like stale bedsheets.
The guards dragged me straight to the back entrance of the palace, ignoring all my protests and begging to at least let me say goodbye to my sisters or change out of my dance clothes first. My face being thrown into the carriage’s worn carpets was my only reply, the door slamming shut behind me.
We’re moving before I can scramble to my feet, the wooden carriage lurching as it pulls away.
I try to remain calm, at first. Steadying my breathing as I try the door, the windows. All locked, of course.
I throw myself against the door, slamming my body against the wood until my arms are as red as my dance gown.
Nothing works. The carriage keeps moving.
Eventually, I resort to screaming. My fists clench and I double over as sound tears from my throat. There’s no reply, and the carriage wheels keep rolling, and rolling, and rolling.
It’s dark outside when it finally pulls to a stop. I’d fallen asleep on the bench, and the sudden stop has me tumbling off the seat, my dance shoes smacking against the door.
The moment it opens, I snarl, “How dare you have me thrown in here. You cannot just kidnap me like a—”
“Princess Dahlia, I presume?” a stern guard says from the doorway. “You’re still a day’s ride from Lord Elheart’s palace. We’ll rest at this inn for tonight. Lord Elheart has provided a lady to attend to you.”
My teeth grind together. I want to demand he spin this carriage around and send me straight home to my sisters, but my gaze catches on something – or someone else – and my mouth pops open.
A young woman stands beside him, her hands folded neatly against her pale blue gown.
Blonde ringlets frame her face, falling just past her shoulders.
But it’s not her pretty hair that steals my breath, nor is it her eyes though they’re darker than a moonless night.
It’s the two black horns sticking up from her head, each one about as long as my little finger.
I gasp at the sight of her. She seems to notice my fear, flushing slightly and passing me a kind smile. It calms the rocking in my belly enough for my anger to return.
“Return me to my family,” I demand.
“You will come with us,” the guard ignores me, extending his palm.
With a scowl, I push myself up from the floor and slap the dust from my skirt. I don’t take his hand, though. Instead, I shove past both of them and march out of the carriage.
Trees surround us. Dense forest stretches as far as my eyes can see, the twisting branches blending into the night sky above.
My first instinct is to run, but there’s nowhere to go.
The pebbled road only goes in two directions: back through the gloomy forest or ending metres ahead of us at a small, candlelit inn.
“This way, Princess.” The guard pushes me towards the thatched-roof cottage. The entire building is smaller than our banquet hall, with many windows lining its cobbled walls.
As I’m shoved through the doorway, I almost trip, but two small hands grasp my arm, steadying me gently. The horned girl passes me another smile.
“Thank you,” I speak through gritted teeth.
I’m taken to a room near the back of the inn and warned not to open my door until morning by the guard who takes his position outside in the hallway.
The second my door is closed, I turn to the girl, my fists clenched. “What are you?” I jerk my chin at her horns. “Tell me those aren’t real.”
She just blinks at me, flushing again.
“Tell me that those horns are just some weird new fashion and I’m not being taken to marry a monster right now.
” My voice cracks. Monsters aren’t real.
But the longer I stare at her, the more I seriously doubt that.
It’s more than just the horns. There’s something off about her cheekbones and her eyes are too dark for her complexion.
My head tilts as I study them. There’s something recognisable in them too, like I’ve seen those eyes before.
Shaking my head, I keep pressing, “What are you?”
Her lower lip trembles. She opens her mouth, but no words come out. Eventually, she points to her throat and shakes her head sadly.
“What is it?” I draw closer. “You can’t talk?”
She nods, lowering her hand.
“Of course you can’t.” I want to pull my hair out, but instead I choose to pace around the room. Monster or not, there’s got to be a way to escape. If I can break out of this inn, I can steal a horse and ride back through the woods.
It’ll be easy. I’ll just follow the road home.
The horned girl watches me in silence as I march around the room.
Against one wall is a bed and nightstand, and opposite that is a dressing table with a stool and a mirror.
Tucked into the corner, there’s a smaller bed, presumably where my new friend will sleep.
But I barely consider our sleeping arrangements because, a few feet from her bed, embedded into the cobbled wall, is a window just wide enough for me to squeeze through.
I don’t let myself stare. Turning away, I rush towards the desk, taking a seat on the stool.
“Will you help me with this? My hair has been up all day and it feels so sore.” I peer into the mirror while massaging my scalp.
The window is just visible over my shoulder.
There’s no lock, but I see a handle and a hinge. Perfect.
Wordlessly, my handmaid steps up behind me. She’s gentle as she slips the pins out of my hair, setting them quietly on the desk. Eventually, she finds a brush and sweeps it through my hair.
My racing heart pounds with every second that passes.
I just need to wait for her to fall asleep, then I’ll—
A hand taps my shoulder. I look up to see the horned girl watching me in the mirror, worry tugging at her brows. She blinks at me expectantly.
“I-I’m fine,” I tell her.
Her brow lowers, unconvinced.
“I’m just scared.” There’s no lie there.
The thought of riding through the forest at night makes my chest feel tight, but I feel worse thinking about what will happen if I stay.
“I… I was just wondering about this Lord Elheart person,” I say, not wanting to think about dark forests anymore.
“What’s he like? If I’m supposed to marry him, then I’d like to know a bit about him first.”
The girl chews her lip.
“Is he like you?” I ask. “Not human, I mean…” I feel ridiculous even asking.
She shakes her head.
“He’s human?” My eyes widen.
She nods, laughing silently.
“Is he… is he kind?”
Her laughter slows. With a shrug, she goes back to brushing my hair.
“I shouldn’t have asked.” I drop my chin into my hand.
The girl passes me a sympathetic look. It doesn’t make me feel any better, but it’s nice to know that someone cares. Even if that someone has two horns and isn’t entirely human.
Guilt burrows inside me. “I didn’t mean to imply you were a monster earlier.”
The girl glances at me.
“I mean… unless you don’t mind being called a monster. I suppose I wouldn’t mind being called human by a monster, since that’s what I am,” I think out loud. “Do you call yourself a monster?”
The girl shakes her head, chuckling.
“Oh, sorry then.” I wince. “I’ve just never…
I mean, I’ve never left the palace before and Father doesn’t like us talking to people outside of our family.
” She watches me curiously as I chew my lip.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter now. Whatever Father’s been hiding from us all these years, I’ll find it out soon enough.
” When I run away from here, but I keep that last part to myself.
A hand squeezes my shoulder, and I lift my head to find her watching me, concerned.
“I’ll be alright. I’m just nervous.” I drop my gaze to the wooden desk.
“Not because of you, obviously. It’s just scary being practically ripped from your family.
I had no warning, either. One moment I was in a ballet lesson and now I’m here.
” My voice wobbles. “And I’m fairly certain my father will never speak to me again.
” Not that I would’ve wanted him to. But that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
Our relationship has always been complicated, but he’s still my dad.
Though I suppose not anymore.
My new friend rubs my shoulder, sadness tugging at her brow.
“Thank you for being so kind,” I tell her.
The girl just smiles sadly and helps me undress. Before I know it, I’m tucked between the bedsheets and she’s blowing out the candle.
I wait until her breaths are slow and even before slipping out of my bed and tiptoeing across the room. Moonlight spills onto the floor from the tiny window. It’s just light enough for me to slip on my dance gown and loop the ribbons of my pointe shoes over my neck before creeping over to it.
The handle is a little tricky, but I manage to pry the window open without too much squeaking. Then, after a small hop and many silent swears, I squeeze through the window and land ungracefully onto the grass outside.
With shaking hands, I pull the window shut behind me. If I squint, I can just about see my handmaid’s sleeping outline on her bed.
I really hope she isn’t punished when she finds my bed empty in the morning. She’s as sweet as Eden, and I’d never want her to get in trouble because of me.
After slipping on my dance shoes, I turn to face the forest. Somehow, it’s even darker than I remembered. The warm candlelight that once came from the inn has long since been doused, leaving the only source of light coming from the moon.
And of course it’s now hidden by a thick, looming cloud.
My knees wobble. It’s alright. I just need to find the stable. My legs move for me, padding across the grass. Everything will be alright once I get to the stable. Just need to—
A twig snaps and I yelp, smacking a hand over my mouth. My head whips around, but I see nothing but trees. Endless trees and a—
My body freezes.
Between a few oaks, not far from the inn, is a tall, cream-coloured horse walking slowly towards me.
“Angel?” I gasp.
But it isn’t Angel. His velvety flank is the same colour as hers, and his mane is long and full, just like his swishing tail. Little red flowers decorate his head, and there’s a saddle and bridle already secured on his strong body.
I reach forward to stroke his nose. He huffs gratefully.
“Are you real?” I breathe. I must be dreaming. I must’ve fallen asleep while waiting for my handmaid to drift off. “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
The horse nuzzles against my hand as if pleased.
“Will you take me home?” I whisper.
The horse nods. I’m definitely dreaming. But climbing onto his back doesn’t feel like a dream. Nor does the cool night air on my face when he trots off into the forest. His cream coat seems to glow beneath me, lighting up the trees and scaring the dark away.
I feel at peace, at ease. Until the horse dives headfirst into a gallop.
“Hey! Woah!” I call, but the horse doesn’t slow. I throw my arms around his neck, my thighs hugging his flank. I try every trick I know to make him stop, but he ignores me. “Stop it!” I beg. “Slow down!”
The horse just huffs, his powerful legs moving faster. The forest passes in a blur. Trees and shrubs whip past us faster than shooting stars. I squeeze my eyes shut. Wind batters my face and my hair, the air cutting at my skin. It’s almost painful to breathe.
But then something strange happens.
The horse’s body begins to vibrate. My eyes snap open to see the grass beneath us has transformed into a black, glittering mist. I lift my head.
The dense forest is gone, the trees replaced by an ominous void.
We’re still moving forward, but the horse’s hooves are slamming against nothing but darkness.
It’s like we’re galloping through the night sky.
Until suddenly, I’m thrown from his back.
I scream. My arms thrash through the air, desperate for something to grab onto. The void opens beneath me, swallowing me up, and then I’m falling, flailing—
Stone hits my back and I’m out like a candle flame.
“Dahlia?” a voice echoes through the void. “Princess Dahlia?”
I groan.
“Alert his Lordship. Lord Elheart’s bride has arrived.” Voices titter around me. Many, many voices.
My bones ache as my eyes ease apart. A man’s face, I think, looms over me, his hair a dark, blurry mess.
“Kasimir?” I croak. There’s a flicker of red behind him. “Ami?” My heart stammers. Thank the Stars. I’m saved! My oldest sister and her handsome assassin have come to rescue me. I let out a relieved sob.
Amaryllis told us before she left the palace that if Father ever tried to marry us off, she and Kasimir would come to rescue us. I should’ve known she was on her way. They were probably following the carriage and have been watching me this whole time! They—
Tears wash away the blurriness, clearing my vision. My heart stops. Scrambling backwards, I scream again.
“You’re not Kasimir,” I squeak to the monster-like man standing over me. The dark hair I thought I saw is really two twisting horns. And worse, he’s not alone.
I’m completely surrounded.
There’s a female-looking monster with crimson horns and a blood-red dress. Another male, who could pass for a human were it not for his grey scales and bat-like wings.
I whip my head around, desperate for an escape, but there are monsters everywhere I look, laughing and sneering.
Behind them, colossal black walls arch towards an impressive ceiling.
Iron chandeliers hang from huge chains, and the floor I’m sitting on is made of brown wood. It’s like I’m in some kind of castle.
A castle full of monsters.
“Give her space,” a deep voice thunders through the hall.
The monsters around me dip their heads and step back. Chest heaving, I grip the tulle skirt of my dance gown. I want to stand up, but my legs are like jelly.
Footsteps sound from the other side of the hall.
I twist myself around to see a man marching towards me, a heavy cloak dragging behind him.
He’s tall, wearing dark regal clothes and a spiked crown in a fiery shade of red.
His hair is short and slightly wavy, its honey-blond shade reminds me of something sweet. But his lips, and those eyes…
Memories of a birthday party one week ago slam into me, like a rush of hot fire.
“Tauren?” I mutter. It’s him. The stranger from Blossom’s party.
His jaw tenses. I almost see the recognition as his gaze drags up my shaking body and stops at my face. Then, his gaze turns molten. “What the hell are you doing here?”