There was a steady and very slow drum-like sound. Complete and total darkness, a lack of any sensation. A state of true peace -floating in nothingness..
The drum beat sped up a bit, and then a bit more. Little flickers of light pierced the void and annoyed the senses. Yes.. the senses.. They were coming back.
Muffled noises, along with the more and more intense drum beat, disrupted the quiet.
The holes in the void from which light came through got bigger and bigger.
Badum,badum,badum,badum,badum. - His heart rate got unbelievably fast.
The noises ..Those resembling voices got louder and louder.
His eyelids were heavy and so he poured every ounce of his energy to open them for he did not know what dangers awaited.
He could hear his own breathing - it sounded the insides of his head making it impossible for him to understand what was happening around him.
He tried to move but gravity had pinned his legs to the floor, his fingers were as heavy as mountains and his eyes he struggled to open.
"Shit.." He thought - this was bad.. Really bad..
The voices got a bit clearer.. And then finally he could hear.
"So.. is this where we die?" A man's voice, likely in his 30s.
"Stop saying that.. You're scaring me.." A very gentle, soothing feminine voice.
"Finally you're realizing the gravity of this ridiculous situation, princess!" He snapped back at her half-whispering
"Ugh.. Just.. go stand next to the door you're pissing me off."
"You really want me to do that?" He challenged.
"N..no…" she reluctantly admitted.
"Yeah.. that's what I thought.."
"He's breathing better.." She leaned closer and put her head on his chest. "His heartbeat is.. really loud…" She backed off.
"So.. he's awake.." The man added. " Oh gods.." He gasped as he noticed the boy's eyes were slightly open.
"Hey.. I.. we.." The princess was nervous." Guh, what the hell do I say?!" She hissed at Lex needing his assistance yet again.
"Oh I don't know princes-"he sped up" MAYBE you should have THOUGHT A BIT before bringing this..thing in your chambers!" He hissed back.
"Lex! I agree.. Now help!"
He let out a sigh as he leaned back on his knees making the bed creak underneath.. "Right.." he composed himself and turned to the boy. "I am Lex Talinney, the princess' personal-"
"Do you think he cares?" She interrupted.
"Princess.." there was a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"I'm just saying.."
"Okay I don't know who or what you are… But we mean no harm.. Truly…" He paused for a bit and exhaled. "We wish to speak with you, the princess is a.. Curious person and she has many a question, she unfortunately-" he exhaled again" for both of us -requires an answer to.."
They both waited for some sort of response but aside from the ragged breathing of the boy, nothing else happened.
A strange.. Tension-filled silence took over.
"He needs more rest.." The princess tucked the boy in those expensive white sheets that made you feel like you were being enveloped in a world of comfort.
"Yeah princess.. Let's wait for him to recover his strength.." he said and continued with a heavily sarcastic tone "So that we too can end up on that pile."
"Oh, will you just trust me on this?!" She snapped back.
Lex sighed. "Alright so what's the plan? You going to sing his incapacitated ass to sleep every night until he falls in love with you and decides not to kill us all?" He mocked.
"Yes. Precisely! Now shut up and go watch the door, he's not moving anytime soon.."
Lex scoffed. " and thank the gods for that."
"Why thank them? The mighty Lex is here to stop the devil in his tracks, is he not?" She mocked back.
"Rude.." The rustling of armour was heard and then a few heavy footsteps. " If your dad sees any of this - I'm dead, you know that right?"
"You know he never visits his good for nothing daughter.."
"..Yeah that's true.." the footsteps continued and Lex made his way to the big heavy wooden door. "Well.. In case of murder happening in this room - I'll be outside"
"Thanks Lex.." The princess scoffed lightly. "I'm grateful.. You mean a lot."
Lex paused and then just smirked, opened the door and began to stand guard outside.
The princess just stared at the boy, laying there with his long dark hair spread across and contrasting with the whiteness of the bed and pillow. She gazed some more and then the thought hit her.
"Can you blink? Yes that's right- Blink!" She snapped her fingers " Blink once for yes and twice for no, got it?
There was a delay but the boy blinked once.
"Oh! Gods! Okay.." her heart felt like it was going to explode, she was finally communicating with him.
"I suppose.. I ought to ask.. Did you hear what we said earlier?"
Once.
"Okay.. Should I be.. Scared of you?" She hesitantly asked.
Twice.
"Oh thank the gods!" she let out a sigh of relief. "I was right!" she joyfully declared.
"Okay.. wow you don't know what a relief this is to hear.. I almost thought I was crazy for doing this.." She took a few seconds to compose herself.
" Are you.. Human? Like.. a regular town boy?"
There was a pause that made the princess' heartbeat race.
Twice.
"Gods.." this made her heart race even faster. It was real.. All the stories.. They were real.." You could hear her inner child come out there for a second.
"Are you.." Her chest was throbbing - this scared her. " The Devil?"
…
Twice.
The princess let out a sigh of relief. "..Then what the hell are you.." She mumbled to herself.
"Are you in pain?"
Once.
"Can I help ?"
Twice.
"Okay.. well I do have to ask.." She trudged carefully. "Do you remember.. What happened? We found you on top of a.. Pile of .. well.. You know-" Before she could even finish her sentence the boy started to blink uncontrollably - he started to tremble and shake. His breathing became even more ragged and loud and all of that scared the princess. She got off the bed and took a few steps back.
"What the.."
This continued for a few more seconds, it got louder and louder, the wooden bedframe started to shake along with the monster. The princess felt pressure unlike any before, she wanted to run but she just couldn't move - her breathing slowed down to the point where she felt like she couldn't at all.
"Lex.." She whispered. "Lex!!" She tried to call him but barely any sound came out. Her vision started to dim, the corners of her eyes going dark and all that she could focus on was the bed and whatever was happening on top of it.
The door burst open and he came dashing right between the princess and the accursed boy.
"What in the name of-" he turned his head facing the princess whilst holding his sword towards the bed "What happened!?"
"I just.. I.. Just.. Asked him if.." her eyes were wide open.. Shock.. Disbelief.. Fear.. All of it was on her face beautifully portrayed in every muscle.
"Okay.. Alright!.. Here goes!" Lex breathed in and gripped his sword with his metal glove, preparing to quite possibly die and right in that moment..
And then - It all went quiet.. The boy stopped moving, only a tear carefully slid down his cheek.
A moment of silence.. The morning sun light gracefully filled the room, illuminating pieces of dust in the air. The light breeze playfully danced with the white curtains of the princess' room.
...
Lex slowly turned around, put his sword back in his sheath and just looked at the princess.
"What. The actual. F-