A breath of laughter escaped me and a huge grin took over my features as I scrambled to move ever faster and the shadows chased me. They were playing too, as desperate to win our game as me.
Heavy footsteps crunched across the gravel and I fell still, darkness clutching at my heart as I was gripped with the urge to hide.
My heart pounded and I didn’t think twice as I ran to the trunk of the maple tree and leapt up towards the lowest branch. I managed to catch it despite my short stature and heaved myself up, then up and up again until I was hidden in the canopy.
The tree’s branches were warm from the kiss of the sun and its leaves brushed against me in a gentle caress as it promised to keep me safe. I felt like I’d made another friend and I wound my arms around the maple’s trunk in a silent thank you.
Trees aren’t friends, they’re trees! They’re inanimate objects - they aren’t even alive!
“They are too alive,” I hissed, knowing that my other self was wrong about that.
Before any response came to me, the source of the footsteps arrived and I fell silent inside and out.
The man who prowled closer sent a prickle of unease rolling through me. The leaves at the end of the branches which hid me concealed his face and all I could see was his legs as he came to a halt just beyond the reach of the tree’s patch of shade.
I tilted my head trying to see him better and the tree listened, its branches parting in a strong breeze so that Prince Gurvine was revealed.
The tree is not helping you!
I squeezed the trunk in a silent thank you, knowing that my other self was wrong about it but as I looked at the Prince a little more closely, my eyes widened.
He had one of those bugs in his brain, just like the boy who’d come to steal my lamp. I was sure it hadn’t been there when he’d fought against Kahn which meant that Gothel must have planted it afterwards.
I chewed my lip, my gut churning with unease as the sense that something was truly wrong with him filled me. Not that having a bug in your brain wasn’t cause enough for concern but the Emperor had one of those bugs and he didn’t feel like this. There was something familiar about it but I couldn’t quite decide how.
The Prince tipped his head back, inhaling deeply and I held my breath, sure that he was trying to sniff me out.
Men can’t sniff you out. You’re thinking of dogs.
I knew that that should have been right but in this case I felt like the rules had been bent.
I hugged the tree tighter, willing its sappy scent to merge with mine and hide me from this creature who wasn’t quite a man.
“Oh there you are!” Gothel’s voice reached me and I made myself go even stiller than still as she drew closer to the Prince.
Her dark eyes softened as she looked at him and she reached out to cup his cheek in a loving caress.
“Poor baby, you must be hungry,” she cooed, running her fingers along his jaw.
“Starving,” Prince Gurvine croaked in agreement.
“Then it’s time to get you a little snack.” Gothel tittered a laugh before turning and heading away with the Prince following at her heels.
I dropped out of the tree silently, watching as they moved along the wall then passed beyond it through a wrought iron gate which was manned by twelve guards. I didn’t have permission to leave the inner wall and I chewed my lip as I wondered whether I should be trying to follow them. There was a secret here. Something which I needed to unravel. Gothel was trying to hurt my master and steal my lamp, if she got her way then I’d be a slave to her whims and I was sure that having a master like her would be a fate worse than death.
Quickly, they’re getting away!
I inhaled deeply, deciding that Aladdin needed to know what she was up to, which meant I had to follow them.
I let my magic have my body and the breeze swept through me as I was turned to smoke. I drifted up, passing through the branches of my new friend before reaching the top of the wall and gliding over it.
Gothel and the Prince were moving quickly and I urged my insubstantial body to follow them, watching from high above as I danced with the clouds.
They moved down a long hill, following a gravel path which twisted through the palace grounds towards the furthest reaches of the Emperor’s stronghold.
A group of guards stood to attention before a wall which blocked the way on and I was glad to be smoke as Gothel and the Prince passed between them wordlessly. All eight of them had bugs in their brains too though they didn’t feel as strange as Gurvine. They bowed low to their Queen, staring at her like she was the sun and their whole lives revolved around her. They were like ants or bees, totally blind in their devotion and only concerned with the happiness of their monarch.
The Prince was growing agitated now, excited. His head was swinging back and forth and he was snapping his jaws as saliva ran down his chin.
“We’re here, my pet,” Gothel said soothingly. “Just a few moments longer.”
They hurried towards a huge, brick dome which protruded from the ground like a hump. A staircase was cut into the curving roof of it and they marched up it at a fierce pace.
On the very top of the dome sat a strange contraption. There was a heavy iron cage attached to a pulley system by a thick chain. It was suspended above a wide hole which appeared to be the only entrance to the dome and whatever lay within it.
Gurvine rushed forward, leaping into the cage with no encouragement from Gothel and the Shaitan chuckled darkly as she moved to the wheel which operated the pulley system.
“I’ll leave you to eat in peace,” she said. “One of the guards will come back for you in an hour once you’re fully satisfied.”
“Hurry,” the Prince groaned desperately, his voice deeper.
Gothel began to turn the wheel and the chain clanked loudly as the cage was lowered into the hole. It wasn’t loud enough to drown out the cries of fear that came from the space beneath it though. They echoed out of the hole and set my heart racing with the certainty of impending death.
It couldn't have taken more than a minute for the cage to reach the bottom of the pit but the time stretched on endlessly as those cries grew more frantic.
As Gurvine made it to the bottom, the cries turned to screams of panic and a roar of pure, desperate hunger came from the Prince himself. It was too dark in the hole for me to see what was happening down there from my position in the sky but I had the terrible feeling that I knew.
Run, fly, flee! You shouldn’t be here, you need to get back to the others!
I ignored myself, watching as Gothel turned and sauntered away with a faint smile on her lips. She made it to the foot of the dome then marched back towards the wall where the guards stood watch.
I couldn’t help myself, I had to know for sure. I had to see it with my own eyes.
I drifted down until I reached the top of the dome where I materialised back into my body again.
As my feet made contact with the cold stone which marked the top of the structure, my heart started pounding with a fierceness unlike anything I’d ever known.
I dropped to my knees, crawling forward until my fingers curled around the edge of the hole and I could poke my head over the top.
It was dark inside, so dark that I couldn’t make out more than shifting shadows which danced to the tune of the screaming.
I created a ball of blue light and let it fall down into the space.
A crowd of people dressed in soiled clothes which had once been fine were illuminated before me. They fought each other back, yelling and pushing in desperation as they tried to flee Prince Gurvine in the confined space.
The Prince grinned at the game like a cat toying with a mouse. His eyes lit with a desperate kind of hunger and suddenly I knew why he was different to the other men controlled by the bugs. He was dead. Just like the boy last night. That had all happened so fast that I hadn’t fully taken in the feel of him to recognise the Prince right away but it had suddenly snapped into p
lace. And though the bug had brought him back, it had brought something else back with it too. A desperate, unending hunger which could only be sated by one thing.
One of the bigger men grabbed hold of a woman and threw her towards the Prince with a determined cry.
The woman screamed in fear and panic as she fell at the feet of the Prince, desperately trying to crawl away.
He pounced on her before she could get more than a few inches and her screams echoed off of the stone chamber as he drove his teeth into the flesh of her neck.
Red, red, red. So much blood. Pouring down the Prince’s chin, staining the ground beneath them as she gargled the last moments of her life away into the dirt.
He began feasting, a ravenous, desperate beast. This hunger in him would never end. He was a vessel that couldn’t be filled. The gnashing of jaws and sobbing of the survivors filled the space as the screams died down.
The crowd who remained to witness the act pressed their backs to the stone walls, watching as the beast who was once a Prince devoured the flesh he craved.
Red, red, red. More blood than even I had ever seen before.
My mouth felt dry. My limbs locked in place. I should go. I shouldn’t still be watching. But somehow I couldn’t look away.
One of the men in the pit seemed to notice the light I’d cast for the first time and he turned his gaze from the monstrous act before him to look up at me.
“Hey!” he called and I suddenly recognised the man who’d fought Aladdin in the first bout. Lord Kalaviv looked different with his clothes filthy and dishevelled but it was definitely him. “Hey you! Help us!”
“Please!” a woman screamed as she saw me too and soon all of them were begging for my help.
But I couldn’t help them. I may have been free to use my body and mind for myself but my powers weren’t mine to wield. They belonged to my master and he was far from here.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, though I knew none of them could hear me beyond their cries of desperation. “I’ll come back.”
I pushed myself away from the hole, the ball of light disappearing as I withdrew, leaving them in the dark once again.
Their screams grew wilder, begging, pleading but there was nothing I could do.
I willed myself to become smoke once more and moved into the sky just as the sun dipped beneath the horizon so that I could head back to the palace and find Aladdin. If I wanted to help them then I needed him to agree. He had to wish for it. Which meant I needed to find him.
Evening rolled around and I shared a meal with Aladdin, the tension in the room gnawing at me like a hungry dog. Kyra hadn't returned and I could tell it was bothering Aladdin as he continually glanced at the door.
I cleared my throat to break the silence and Aladdin glanced up from his now empty plate. He'd literally licked it clean. “So are you ready?” I asked and he nodded calmly. “Because Kahn is off his pills.”
“I'm aware.” He tugged at the hem of the white linen shirt he'd changed into for the fight.
“And he attacked Rapunzel today.”
“You told me. Twice actually.” He leaned back in his chair, casual as hell.
Tension knotted my muscles and an uncomfortable feeling stirred in my gut. “I'm...worried about you.”
His brows jumped up and he stared at me as if I'd just told him I killed his mother. “Pfft.” He looked away, his eyes flicking to the door again. “Don't go soft on me, Cassian. We're not friends.”
Irritation crackled in my chest. “Oh aren't we?” I growled. “Excuse me for getting the wrong idea.”
“You're excused.” He smirked and I clenched my jaw, rising to my feet and walking across the room to grab the Forken sword from the couch. I strapped it to my hip, wondering if I was ever going to give it back to the kingdom. They had plenty of swords, would they really miss one?
I glanced at the clock. “We should go.”
“Five more minutes,” Aladdin said firmly.
I frowned. “She'll be at the brawl. Maybe she's already there.”
He shrugged. “Don't know who you're talking about.”
I fought an eye-roll. “By Osaria, stop pretending you're made of stone. As much as you don't want people to know it, I'm aware you actually have a heart. Even if it is pebble sized.”
Aladdin picked up a fork, twirling it between his fingers as he refused to answer.
“Well I'm going.” I walked to the door and Aladdin stood up.
“Wait,” he said tersely and I glanced back at him. He chewed on the inside of his cheek, seeming to be struggling with something. “If I die today could you just...just look after the lamp, alright? Don't put Kyra back in it. Ever. And promise me you'll make this one wish...” He strode toward me, his eyes soft as he rested a hand on my shoulder. “Wish the stick out, Cassian. All the way out.”
A laugh escaped me and he slapped me on the arm with the widest grin.
“Alright shitbag,” I said. “Deal.”
“Good.” He beamed, wrenching the door open and leading the way out. The palace was quiet and I suspected most of the household had gathered to attend the final fight tonight.
As we exited into the gardens under the light of the moon, the clamour from the stadium called to us. The night air tasted bitter and fear crept into my gut as I walked at Aladdin's side.
He has to win. He has to beat Kahn. He has to hand Rapunzel the throne.
Our way was lit by a series of burning torches along the edges of the path and as we drew closer I pulled Aladdin to a halt.
I stood before him, giving him a serious look. “I know you already know it, but I think you can win. I believe in you,” I said stiffly, unsure why I felt this had to be said. But he didn't have anyone else to tell him. And despite his planet-sized ego, he must have had some doubts about this fight, no matter how deeply hidden they were.
His lips twitched and I could tell I was making him uncomfortable. “You're gonna hug me, aren't you?”
“Yes.” I wrapped my arms around him and he snorted into my shoulder. Before I pulled away, he embraced me, clapping my back before we both quickly parted.
He gave me a look that said never-speak-of-this-to-anyone and we walked on down the path.
The ring became clear up ahead; a circular pit of fire had been built around it, lighting the sand in a deep orangey red.
The crowd cheered, rising from their seats as they spotted Aladdin approaching and the roar was deafening. My heart swelled with pride as I looked to him. The street thief, applauded by the noblemen of Osaria. That didn’t seem to bother me one bit anymore.
My eyes were automatically drawn to the stage where the Princess sat to the right of her father. She wore a black dress, nothing like anything I'd seen her wear. Silver coins hung from the hem, tickling her feet which were bound in lacy shoes. She looked ready to attend a funeral and I prayed she wasn't about to.
She rose to her feet and Gothel glared at her back from her chair beside the Emperor. Faisal looked tired, his skin glistening under the light of the torches either side of the stage.
Rapunzel waved at us with a hopeful smile and I bowed my head before moving to sit in the stands. My heart strummed an uncomfortable beat as my eyes were drawn to her once more.
Aladdin walked up to the stage, bowing before sharing words with her which I couldn't hear.
Kahn had moved to the edge of the ring, his beastly form throwing a dark shadow over the sand. His left eye continually twitched and he seemed to be muttering something under his breath.
My heart slammed painfully against my ribcage as I thought of Prince Gurvine.
I can't watch that happen to Aladdin. If it gets close, I'll goddamn step in.
“Cassian!” Kyra appeared, practically launching herself into my lap as she shoved her way through the crowd. I pulled her into the seat beside me, my stomach clenching at her anxious expression.
“What's wrong?” I asked.
She clung to my shirt, half shaking me as s
he lowered her voice to reply. “I saw something.” She looked over at Gothel then back to me. “I was coming to find you and Aladdin but then – then-” She started trembling. “I was so scared and I thought maybe I'd gone crazy again, you know? But now I'm sure. I'm really sure.”
“What are you sure about?” I whispered, aware that people were looking our way.
She inched closer, leaning in to speak into my ear. “I saw the Prince eating someone.”
“What?” I balked, jerking back from her to gauge her expression.
She nodded keenly, her eyes flaring with terror. “They're all in a pit. Eaty chompy eaty.”
“What are you talking about?” I begged.
The crowd suddenly stood up around us, yelling out their excitement.
“Commence!” Marik's voice bellowed through the stadium and I jumped to my feet, spotting Kahn and Aladdin in the ring.
Dread coiled in my gut. My heart pounded a helpless tune in my ears.
For the love of Osaria, Aladdin, you have to beat him.
Kahn rushed at me like a raging bull and it was all I could do to dive aside and avoid the collision. My heart leapt as he spun faster than someone of his size should have been able to manage and flew at me again.
I cursed beneath my breath as I ducked aside once more but my foot brushed against the burning coals marking the edge of the ring and I was forced to flinch away.
The crowd ooohed in an irritating-as-hell way that made it sound like they expected me to lose. But that isn’t going to happen, dammit.
Before Kahn could come at me again, I raced to meet him. I ducked low, releasing a cry of anger as I slammed into him, my shoulder burying in his gut as I wrapped my arms around his barrel-like waist.
The force of our collision should have knocked him to the ground but somehow he managed to stagger back a few steps and keep his feet.
He threw an elbow down onto my back and I gave in to the blow rather than trying to absorb it, dropping to the sand which lined the ground and rolling aside as he aimed a kick at me.
While his foot was still raised, I swept my legs around and managed to kick the back of his other knee hard enough to knock him on his ass.
Forbidden Fairytales- The Complete Series Page 49
