I suppose, somewhere deep down inside, I had always hoped my father loved me really. That hope was squashed flat when I read those words.
He doesn't care, I don't believe he ever did.
The guards drag me to a cell and I don't protest, the fight was sucked out of me. Frida tries to fight, but she is chucked in a cell down the hall. I see her eyes as I pass, frightened, fearful, but with a hint of defiance. The guard cuffs me and locks the door. I barely even notice.
What shall happen to me? To Frida?
There is a shout from the hall and I look through the bars to see Carlos and Maverick arguing with the guards.
"This is barbaric!" Carlos yells. "Why can we not just leave?"
The guard manages to pin Carlos's arm behind his back and pushes him into the cell beside Frida. The guard disappears from view before remerging without Carlos.
"You and your brother have made a mockery of the king," the guard says, leading Maverick in my direction. "He will decide what to do with you, eventually, but for now you must wait while he finds a way for you to repay him."
Before Maverick can protest he is forced into my neighbouri-ng cell.
"You can't do this!" Maverick protests at the guards back.
He glances over. "No, I can't, but the king can."
Maverick cannot seem to find an answer and the guard leaves.
Maverick slams his palm against the metal bars and turns his head, eyes catching mine.
Maverick's lip curls. "Great."
I open my mouth to make a cutting remark, but Maverick's shoulders sag and he slumps down onto a bench looking utterly defeated.
"What a mess," he states, almost to himself. "It was supposed to be so simple."
"I don't believe anything in life is simple," I tell him. "It's just easier."
Maverick rolls his eyes. "Oh, please, Princess."
"It doesn't mater either way," I tell him, "because it failed miserably."
"Lords, who's Captain Obvious now?" He mutters
I shrug. "Just reminding you of how awful your plan was."
Maverick purses his lips and turns his back on me.
"Ignoring me now?" I say, pulling a pained face. "I'm heartbroken."
"Shut up," he says
I pout. "Aw, did I hurt your feelings?"
He sits up. "Seriously, shut up."
His voice is urgent and I follow his gaze to the door of the dungeon.
"I have no need for them," the king sighs. "If her father wants the servant why stop him."
I inhale sharply and run over to the cell doors. A guard enters Frida's cell and drags her out.
"What do you want from me?" She exclaims
"I don't want anything. But it seems your king has decided to reclaim you- and him."
My mouth drops open as Carlos is pulled out as well.
"Hey!" Maverick shouts, "leave my brother alone!"
"Sorry, Maverick, but I can't do that."
The guards begin to haul them away and I watch as Frida fights against their arms.
"Kamala!" She screams, wrestling in the guard's grasp.
I pull desperately at the bars. "Frida! Frida, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
She is still yelling as they drag her through the hall and I call after her, saying over and over how sorry I am, promising I would find her. Beside me, Maverick is in a similar state, demanding that Carlos be released.
"You can't do anything," the king snaps before leaving. "They're gone, okay?"
I sink to the floor, my hands still clinging to the iron. Maverick just stands there shell-shocked, unmoving.
"What…" Maverick begins, his voice no louder than a whisper. "What will your father do to them?"
My eyes prickle with tears. "I don't know."
"You don't know!" He exclaims
I look at him in desperation. "I don't. He might put Frida back to work in some other part of the palace, but I don't know that for sure, and as for Carlos…"
Maverick's face is ashen and I feel a twinge of sympathy for him.
"Look, don't jump to conclusions. We don't know anything for sure."
"We?" Maverick questions, "Princess, there is no we in this. There is just you and me, I don't want any association to you, alright?"
I roll my eyes. "Fine- and I was definitely getting that
impression by the way you kidnapped me."
"Would you stop throwing that in my face?" He cried
"But it's so much fun," I say, sarcasm dripping from my tone."
He groans and lies down on the bed.
I bite my lip and lean back against the wall, closing my eyes and wishing I could turn back time.
***
"Rise and shine, prisoners," a voice calls over the repetitive clanging of a gong.
"Go away," Maverick's muffled voice emits from underneath the thin sheets in the cell next door.
I uncurl myself from the uncomfortable position I fell asleep in beside the wall. My neck has a crick in it, but before I can do anything a rough hand pulls me up.
"The king has requested your company, so I suggest you get to looking your best."
I am led upstairs and into the hands of the maids.
"Your highness," Elise says, "It's an honour to serve you again."
I give them a withering smile. "Thanks."
They got to work as normal, but I couldn't help noticing that the usual cheerfulness had vanished.
"There," Celia sighs after finishing.
I am left in a knee-length, burnt orange dress with my hair tied up into a high bun.
"Do any of you know what this is about?" I ask before leaving.
The girls exchange sad smiles.
"I'm afraid we can't disclose that information," Elise says
I nod and start towards the door.
"Good luck," Faye calls after me.
I'm not sure luck will be enough.
I reach the grand doors once more and, like before, the king is sitting waiting.
"Welcome, Kamala," he exclaims
I am pushed forward and warily take my seat.
"So," the king continues, "I have decided what to do with you."
"Which is?"
He smiles."You are a bright, young lady, confidant, pretty looking."
"Thank you?" I say uncertainly
He purses his lips, "but there are some things that will need to change. You are loud, frustrating, you'll need to control that tongue of yours for this arrangement to work-"
"What arrangement?" I cut in
He turns to the prince. "Has a tendency to interrupt, that will need to be fixed."
"What arrangement?" I ask again
The king sighs. "She's impatient as well," he sees my face and smiles. "I have decided that you are to be put into the control of my son. As his wife."
I feel a hot rage boil in me and the prince is lucky there are cuffs on my wrist to block the magic because, if they weren't there, I would tear him and the king to shreds.
"No!" I yell, springing from my chair. "I will never be subject to that!"
The king raises an eyebrow. "Not good at controlling emotions, the list is growing by the second. And I don't believe you have a choice, in case you forgot, I own you."
I feel desperation rise in me. "Please, I'll do anything, just not that. I'll be a prisoner for the rest of my days inside a tiny cell but I can't, I won't, be your wife."
Prince Aspen's face grows dark. "You will. That is an order, if you don't we will take your defenceless friend back and hang her right next to you."
I suck in a long breath. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me," his face is sneery, and sinister and I feel fear run through my veins like ice.
"I think this is over," the king seethes. "But allow me to be clear, Kamala. Tomorrow, you will get dressed in white, you will come to the altar, and you will say I do. If not, there will be grave consequences, for you and anyone else you hold dear. Have I made myself clear."
"Crystal," I grate out.
The king snaps his fingers and I am hauled away and back to the cell.
"Well," Maverick says when I arrive. "What did his majesty want? Was he telling you you were getting free residence, or your freedom? Maybe he was just letting you know that from now on your meals weren't going to include the caviar. I mean that would be a tragedy.
"Seriously, Princess, you don't know you're living. While you were upstairs getting your hair done and your fancy clothes outfitted, I was here. I was sitting here, being told that I was going to be executed here because he is so appalled by my efforts. So thanks, I hope you choke on your silver spoon."
I bit my lip, eyes prickling with tears. I don't care what Maverick thinks or says, but he has no idea how wrong he is.
"Oh, come on. Aren't you gonna say something? Too ashamed? You walk in here looking like death and it turns out I have it way worse. Are you upset because there's nothing to complain about, not really?"
I swallow hard. "They're making me marry him," I whisper
"What?"
I look Maverick square in the eye. "They are making me marry the prince, okay? So I would pick death over this, I offered it as well but they threatened to kill Frida if I don't go though with it!"
I can feel my rage building and I start pacing back and forth. I'm not even talking to Maverick anymore, just saying my thoughts out loud.
"I have no choice in this world. As a princess everyone tells me what to do, how to act. As my father's daughter I am kept locked away, something to be ashamed of, something to hate. As a woman I am told to stay silent and pretty. I hate that word! It just sounds so submissive, like that is all there is to me, and it isn't. It really isn't."
I finally look up to see Maverick watching me, his eyes dark and uncertain.
"I can't marry him, Maverick. I'd rather burn to death than wake up everyday to a life with him. He's vile and cruel and I refuse to submit myself to that kind of reality."
He frowns. "What can you do?"
I look down and my gaze lands on the muddy bricks lying by the split between mine and Maverick's cells. I move forwards, reaching though the bars and pulling a block through the gap.
"Put it down, Princess," Maverick says in a bored tone
My hands starts to tremble, but I raise it higher until it is suspended over me.
"I can't do it," I hiss. "I won't, like I said, I would rather die than live that life."
I close my eyes and let go of the brick.
I am expecting pain, relief, emptiness. Instead, all I feel is the pull of my body and the thud as it hits the cell's metal bars.
"I should just let you do it," Maverick hisses in my ear, his hand gripping my wrists, "but I need you alive if we ever want to escape here."
My eyes snap open and I turn to face him. "Escape?"
He sighs. "Yes. We can help each other and then we can rescue my brother and your friend."
I raise my eyebrow. "I thought you said there was no we in this, just you and me, you don't want any association with me, remember?"
"Things change," he says. "Look, you've made your point about not wanting to marry this guy and I'm not too keen on dying. So could we maybe work together, temporarily, until this situation is over."
I sigh. "You might have a point there."
He stretches out a hand through the metal bars. "Do we have a deal?"
I clasp his hand in my own. "We have a deal."