The clock tower chimed twelve, its mournful tolls echoing through the silent castle. Darkness cloaked the grounds, punctuated only by a few flickering torches and the pale luminescence of a sliver moon peeking through the clouds.
Inside the castle, every soul seemed to be asleep, lulled into a false sense of security by the thick stone walls and watchful guards. But within one particular room, a shadow stirred. It was Aurelia, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.
Tonight was the night. The night she would escape the suffocating confines of the castle and take a step towards freedom.
Clad in dark clothing, she moved with a practiced silence, the result of weeks spent planning her escape with Finn. He had provided her with a map of the castle grounds, meticulously drawn on a scrap of parchment, that outlined their escape route.
Reaching the window, Aurelia cursed under her breath. She'd forgotten how high up the window was, this one was a good ten feet from the ground, a clear indication that the castle wasn't designed for easy exits.
But there was no turning back now. Gritting her teeth, she surveyed the situation. Thankfully, a sturdy oak tree, its gnarled branches reaching towards the window, stood conveniently close to the wall. With a deep breath, she grabbed a sturdy rope Finn had procured, its rough fibers digging into her palms.
Securing one end to a heavy chest of drawers in the room, she carefully lowered the other end out the window, her movements slow and deliberate. Testing the rope once, twice, she finally steeled her nerves and began her descent.
The rough rope scraped against her skin, but Aurelia ignored the discomfort. Her focus was solely on reaching the ground safely. Inch by agonizing inch, she lowered herself, the moon casting an eerie glow on her determined face.
Finally, with a soft thud, her feet touched the solid earth. Relief washed over her, so intense it almost made her knees buckle. She had made it. She was free, at least for now.
Taking a moment to catch her breath, she glanced back at the window, a flicker of worry crossing her mind. What about Finn? Had he managed to slip away from his duties unnoticed?
The dagger, nestled in the folds of her clothing, felt heavy and useless in her hand. It was meant for revenge, a weapon to be used against the King, the man who had taken everything from her. But in this moment, survival was all that mattered.
Escape. That was all that echoed in her mind. Escape the castle, escape the King, escape the title of "slave" that branded her like a searing iron. Revenge could wait. First, she had to get out of here alive. Her parents, she believed, were watching over her, their love a source of strength even in their absence.
Aurelia's heart hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs as she crept towards the stables. The air was crisp, carrying a faint bite of winter that sent chills through her despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The moon, her only guide, cast long, skeletal shadows that danced and stretched on the snowy ground, making every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig sound like a pursuing guard.
Reaching the stables, she peeked cautiously around the corner. The familiar scent of hay and leather filled her nose, but the interior was shrouded in darkness. Disappointment twisted in her gut. Where was Finn? Had he changed the plan, or had something gone wrong? Had Malcolm discovered their plan? Was Finn captured, punished for daring to help her?
Just as despair threatened to consume her, a strong hand clamped over her mouth, effectively muffling the gasp that rose in her throat. Aurelia's eyes widened in terror, her mind conjuring images of cruel guards and a swift return to her captivity.
But then, a familiar voice whispered in her ear, warm and calming despite the urgency it held. "It's me, Aurelia," Finn rasped, his voice barely audible. "Stay quiet."
Relief washed over her in waves, so intense it almost made her legs buckle. She let out a shaky sigh, nodding her head frantically against his hand.
Aurelia's breath hitched as the voices of guards echoed from somewhere outside the stable. One spoke in hushed tones, claiming to have heard a sound. The other scoffed, dismissing it as mere imagination.
Relief washed over her, fleeting but intense. They weren't discovered... yet. But the close call served as a stark reminder of the danger they were in.
As the footsteps faded away, Aurelia turned to Finn, her voice barely a whisper. "Where's the carriage?" she hissed, urgency lacing her words.
Finn's face, pale in the moonlight, remained serious. He gestured for her to follow him, his movements swift and silent. "Come on," he whispered, leading her deeper into the maze of stalls and hay bales that filled the stable.
They emerged from the stable through a back door, stepping into a secluded courtyard hidden behind the main building. The night air, cold and damp, bit at her exposed skin.
A knot of unease tightened in Aurelia's stomach as they crouched behind a stack of empty barrels, their vantage point offering a clear view of the carriage. In the pale moonlight, she saw two figures – one loading crates into the back of the carriage, his movements brisk and efficient, while the other leaned against the side, a lit pipe glowing red in his hand.
The men seemed preoccupied, their attention focused on their tasks and not the surrounding darkness.
As the crate-loader disappeared into the carriage's depths, the other guard took a long drag from his pipe, blowing a plume of smoke into the night sky. This was it. Her opportunity.
A surge of adrenaline coursed through Aurelia's veins. She glanced at Finn, his face etched with a mixture of concern and determination. He gave her a quick nod, a silent message of encouragement.
With a deep breath, Aurelia rose to her feet, her movements silent and practiced. Crouching low, she darted across the courtyard, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Every rustle of her cloak, every crunch of a stray pebble underfoot seemed amplified in the stillness of the night.
The guard, his back still turned, remained oblivious to her movements. Reaching the carriage, Aurelia cast a nervous glance around. Now or never.
Aurelia froze, her breath catching in her throat. Silence stretched, thick and heavy, as she strained to hear any movement from the men. Her hands curled into fists around the rough wood of the carriage door, knuckles white with anticipation. Victory, victory at last…
Suddenly, a smooth, chilling voice shattered the silence. "Taking a rather unorthodox stroll, aren't we, sweetness?"
Aurelia whipped around, her heart leaping into her throat. There, bathed in the pale moonlight, stood the King himself. An unnerving smile, devoid of any warmth, played on his handsome features. His hands were buried deep within the folds of his luxurious cloak, the only hint of movement coming from the glint of his ice-cold fiery eyes.
Panic clawed at Aurelia's throat. How? How did he find out about her escape plan? Just moments before, she had tasted freedom on her tongue, only to have it snatched away in a cruel twist of fate.
Slowly, hesitantly, she turned to face him. Denial seemed pointless, escape impossible. She was dead. Caught.
Samael, however, took a step closer, his smile widening ever so slightly. "I must admit," he drawled, his voice laced with a hint of amusement, "I was rather impressed with your little scheme. Sneaking out with a stable hand, using the carriage for a midnight getaway – quite daring, wouldn't you say?"
Aurelia remained silent, her mind racing for a way out. His words held an unsettling undercurrent, a hint of something more sinister than mere amusement.
A sardonic chuckle escaped Samael's lips as he cast a fleeting glance towards the direction Finn crouched. "Your friend," he drawled, his voice dripping with amusement, "seems to have a penchant for inopportune moments. Does he truly believe he can defy a king?"
Aurelia's breath hitched in her throat. She wanted to warn Finn not to follow her, the dangers were far too great. Now, the King's words confirmed her worst fears. Samael, his amusement tinged with a hint of cruelty, was toying with her. Finn was caught, they were caught, and their punishment would be swift and brutal.
"You… you wouldn't dare," Aurelia stammered, her voice laced with a desperation she couldn't control. Images of Finn, tortured and broken, flashed through her mind. She had to do something, anything, to save him. She didn't want him to end of dead because of her, she didn't want the king to kill him just like he'd killed her parents.
Samael's smile widened, a cruel crescent moon in the pale moonlight. "Wouldn't I, darling?" he countered, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "You gave in to my words. Perhaps your little escape attempt has rekindled a spark of… entertainment within me. You see, you've been rather… predictable lately. Almost… tiresome."
A wave of nausea washed over Aurelia. He was bored? Bored of her existence?
"So," he continued, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "maybe it's time to change the game. Your escape attempt, however clumsy, has certainly provided some unexpected… excitement. And your little friend…" he trailed off, a glint of malice dancing in his eyes, "well, let's just say his fate now rests entirely on your shoulders."
The full weight of his words slammed into Aurelia. Finn's life, her freedom, everything hung in the precarious balance of this twisted game.
Aurelia's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic counterpoint to the unsettling silence that followed Samael's chilling words. The two guards, oblivious to the drama unfolding before them, finished loading the crates. One glanced towards the back of the carriage, his gaze landing on Aurelia. Confusion flickered across his face, quickly replaced by a deep bow as he recognized the King.
"Your Majesty," he stammered, his voice laced with surprise. The other man followed suit, their earlier nonchalance replaced by a nervous alertness. Aurelia, however, remained frozen, the weight of the King's words pressing down on her like a suffocating weight.
Samael, his eyes never leaving hers, dismissed the guards with a cold wave of his hand. "Do yourselves a favor, gentlemen," he drawled, his voice devoid of warmth. "Return to whatever the hell it was you were doing and consider tonight's events a… lapse in judgment."
The guards bowed again, deeper this time, and scurried back to the front of the carriage, their hushed whispers lost in the night air. Now, Aurelia stood alone with the King, the oppressive silence broken only by the distant hoot of an owl.
A glint of amusement flickered in Samael's eyes. "Now, where were we?" he mused, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "Ah, yes, the consequences."
Aurelia couldn't tear her gaze away from the spot where Finn stood, he should just go. Her heart ached with worry.
With a clenched fist, she forced herself to focus on the King. Taking a deep breath, she lowered herself, she knelt before him, the very act a bitter pill to swallow, her knees deep in the snow. It mirrored the image of her parents, kneeling and pleading for their lives before his men had ended them.
"Please," she rasped. "Spare Finn. This… this was all my doing. Punish me, but let him go."
She didn't want to have another life to feel guilty for.
Samael stared down at her, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until finally, he spoke.
"Spare him?" he echoed, a hint of surprise lacing his voice. "My dear Aurelia, you seem to misunderstand the nature of this game. His fate is merely a… pawn, a way to test your resolve. However," he continued, a cruel smile playing on his lips, "considering your… performance, I suppose I can offer a concession."
He reached out a hand leaning, the tips of his fingers brushing against her chin, tilting her head up to meet his icy gaze. "For now," he emphasized, his voice a low growl, "I will spare him. And your little friend here…" he trailed off, his eyes flickering towards the direction Finn stood, "well, let's just say his safety now rests entirely on you."
Relief washed over Aurelia, so intense it almost made her knees buckle. Finn would live, at least for now.
Samael's lips curved into a cold smile, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing in his eyes. "Rise, Aurelia," he commanded, his voice a low rumble.
Aurelia, her body aching from the strain of kneeling, scrambled to her feet. A puff of white dust escaped her cloak as she brushed off the clinging snow, a stark reminder of the harsh reality of the situation.
Samael tilted his head, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. His gloved finger tapped a slow rhythm against his chin, as if deep in thought. "Punishment," he mused, the word hanging heavy in the air. "A slave who attempts escape from their master… what fitting retribution shall we devise?"
A knot of dread tightened in Aurelia's stomach. Punishment. As much as she loathed the idea of returning to her life as a slave, the thought of the unknown consequences awaiting her was far more terrifying.
But then, a smirk played on Samael's lips, a flicker of amusement replacing the cold calculation in his eyes. "Perhaps," he drawled, dragging out the word for emphasis, "I'll save that little dilemma for later contemplation. After all, a good punishment deserves a thoughtful execution."
He extended his gloved hand towards her, the gesture unexpected yet oddly compelling. "Though," he continued, his voice low and silken, "I wouldn't want you to catch your death out here, would I? Unless, of course, freezing to death is part of your escape plan."
Aurelia stared at his hand, a silent war raging within her. Taking it meant returning to her captivity, but refusing could provoke a harsher response. With a deep, begrudging breath, she reached out and placed her hand in his.
As they began to walk towards the castle, Samael cast a pointed glance towards the direction Finn had disappeared. "Your… friend," he drawled, his voice laced with amusement. "Does he plan on making a night of it out here?"
Aurelia understood his words. She darted a quick look at Finn, her eyes pleading. There was no time for conversation, no room for explanations. With a silent nod, she urged him to disappear into the shadows, to find safety.
Finn, his face pale but resolute, gave a barely perceptible nod in return before melting back into the darkness.
As they walked back to the castle, the silence between them was heavy with unspoken words and simmering tension... She was going back to the gilded cage.