The level of fear that gripped her made her thoughts completely disappear without a trace.
The only thing on her mind now was fight or flight.
And by fight or flight, she meant; as the wary aura kept increasing and spreading out, would it be wise to explore by going to check where it came from?
Or rather, she should be on her heels by now. Searching for safety.
Her greenish pupils dilated with palpable fear, embedded in their depths as it glittered.
Marlowe was glued to the spot as she halted.
Slowly, she turned around only to stare at the empty hallway. Which made the knot in her stomach tighten the more.
It was ghostly. Eerily creepy!
Gulping down hard, she resumed her strides at a faster pace that didn't look too obvious.
But the constant feeling of someone trailing her kept growing and she felt her heart punching faster.
Marlowe regretted ever leaving that premise to escape her embarrassment. Or she would have requested assistance instead?
Against her better judgment, she preferred this situation rather than to be followed by creatures she didn't know whatever ulterior motive they held.
The worst part is…the dark aura following her felt overly familiar. Every ounce of it.
With her heart stuck in her throat, Marlowe decided to act like nothing was happening.
It could be that this is just the normal ambiance of this part of the Castle, judging that it was the territory of the pure blooded Vampires.
Stabling her breathing and tenseness, Marlowe didn't know where she was going, but she knew she was deep within this wing.
Heading further down, she noticed a different passage linked with the hallway.
Her curiosity got ahead of her as she fearfully hesitated, biting her lower lip before taking that route.
It could be that the passage led to a place that would guide her away from here.
Yes! Another motive she held other than leaving to escape her embarrassment, was to filter a way out of the Royal Castle without alerting anyone.
Perhaps this could be it?
She knew for sure, that the wing which she was placed in, won't have any secret route of any sorts.
But certainly, a Royal Castle should have a secret passage of escape, not so?
And Marlowe guessed it'll be among the major wings.
The ones which the important members of the Royal family reside in.
She didn't know when her palms molded into fists from nervousness and fear as she threaded in deeper.
It was dark with no doors or rooms, just plain smooth walls.
The passage was light deprived, and by now the aura behind her was growing stronger, but she ignored it.
Deciding not to allow it get in her way.
Marlowe halted, a smile of glee spread her lips as the moon light reflected from a tiny window that stood beside a tightly jammed metallic door.
Arranging her gown in a perfect grip, she rushed towards the light.
As she had guessed, the door was tightly locked.
Pulling the handle was of no use with the little strength she possessed.
She hastily looked beneath to find the keyhole that was void of any key.
"What am I supposed to do now?" she mused worriedly. The delightful gleam in her eyes was gone.
The distortion in her face momentarily smoothened when she reached her hand to her hair which was styled in a manner she detested.
Pulling out one pin that stuck out, she smiled.
But to her surprise, the part of her hair which the pin supported, fell in waves cascading down her slender shoulders.
It made her frown, but she decided to hurry up instead.
As she inserted the hairpin into the keyhole, she struggled to gain her results.
It was taking a lot of time, but she was still hopeful.
Marlowe incessantly kept trying, but it appeared the tip of the hairpin wasn't sharp enough to break through the lock.
Sighing in defeat, she relented and pulled away.
This time, her eyes went to scan the environment.
Making sure she would properly remember the passage in the future.
She took her gaze up to the tiny window that was far from her small figure, maybe if she should lift herself with a jump, her fingers might graze the edge of it, but her figure wouldn't pass.
She heaved dejectedly with slumped shoulders. All hope is lost.
Her dull eyes moved with one thought, though.
She would surely come back to this place, and she won't leave dejectedly just like today.
With that, Marlowe turned on her heels and headed the opposite direction, where she had come from.
With her sour mood and droopy shoulders, she hadn't sensed the thick mist of dark smoke like clouds, materializing into a tall man with red glowering eyes that threatened to pierce a hole in her back with his intent stare.
Once out from the creepy passage, Marlowe was surprised to bump into a maid on her way out.
"Sorry…," she apologized as her eyes went round in astonishment.
Was this not the empty hallway that was void of workers and servants?
How then was it this filled?
"Can I help you?" the young maid asked, eyeing Marlowe with a suspicious glint.
She couldn't blame her, from what she knew so far, not all the Castle's workers knew exactly who she was.
But she could see the contemplative look in the maids' eyes; maybe because of the regal attire she was putting on.
"I'm trying to find my way back to the main hall," Marlowe told her, hoping she could be of help, and make her finding easier.
A look of skepticism flashed in the maids eyes before she nodded, "Alright, this way," she said.
Marlowe obediently followed behind until they came to a stop at the familiar door she earlier ran out from.
"Your Majesty!" again! Came the thunderous acknowledgment from the guards stationed outside.
She forced a tight smile at them before striding into the already parted double doors, forgetting that she left with her head styled upwards and a pin holding it up. But she's returning with her hair down and a missing pin.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to her, she had left the maid in shock of her identity, as fear flashed in her eyes while she mumbled to herself, "S-so she's the Q-Queen?"