Chapter Text
‘Wake up, little prince. Your story isn’t over yet,’ a singsongy sharp female voice sounded.
He blinked, trying to open his eyes. He couldn’t remember where he was, or what was happening. He felt lost and cold, like he hadn’t been conscious in ages.
Through his eyelids he saw something bright and blue. He forced his eyes open, and tried to shoot upright, but he felt extremely dizzy with the movement, grasping his head. He was regaining sensation in his limbs, but he immediately wished he hadn’t. Everything hurt and felt cold.
‘Come on now, gather yourself. You haven’t been asleep for that long.’
He turned his head, sitting up now, looking at his surroundings. His face contorted with disgust and quiet anger once he realized where he was. A jail cell. One of the dungeons below the palace. And Nomenziona was looming over him, blue flames floating beside her, looking at him, neutral and impatient.
He had failed.
He had no idea how long he’d been trapped in that wretched, inhumane coma. Now Nomenziona had woken him up, seemingly wanting something from him. Perhaps a new attack plan. Though he couldn’t imagine Her being very gracious about his failure.
‘What do you want from me?’, he asked, voice raspy from disuse.
‘You’ll see soon. Come with me,’ She said.
He got up, feeling his bones all over, following the Witch of Witches out of the cell. He supposed he could thank Her for freeing him. Though he wouldn’t thank Her out loud, admitting that you were indebted to Her was showing weakness, and dangerous in the long run.
He followed Her tall figure through the dungeons, towards the stairs, their footsteps clacking on the wet stone. They reached the palace halls, clad in the darkness of the night, only the black candles on the chandelier still burning evermore.
‘You go ahead, little prince. You know this place better than I do,’ She said, eyes pricking into him.
Tch, a surveillance trick. Having him walk in front to make sure he wouldn’t pull any tricks.
‘Though mind that the palace staff is no longer in any coma. They sleep, now, but they can be easily woken up. Such a hassle to curse them into submission if they do,’ She spoke.
The palace staff was awake? Why? How had they even managed that? Was his father still asleep? Had the entire staff betrayed his father? That last thought made him seethe with anger. He hoped for their sake that they had been blackmailed into submission to those treacherous wretched royals.
He stopped, ceasing his stride in the middle of the palace hall.
‘What?’ Nomenziona asked, impatient and mildly annoyed.
He turned, looking her in the eye. She was far taller than he was. ‘Are you not planning on waking my father?’
She laughed. ‘Why would I? His realm was promised to us witches long ago. I have no need for him.’
He narrowed his eyes, cold anger growing behind his dark, clouded eyes. She would have paid for her arrogance and games had She not far outmatched him in magical prowess. He wasn’t sure where exactly they both stood in comparison, but it would be ridiculous to test that right here and now. If he lost, She would throw him right back into that coma.
He set those thoughts aside for later, molding his face into an emotionless mask once more.
‘At least let me change into different clothes before you take me somewhere.’
She sighed. ‘Fine, as you wish, little prince. Be quick about it.’
They made their way to the second floor of the building, on their way to the two royal bedrooms.
The Prince stepped inside. Nomenziona prepared to follow him. He turned on his heel.
‘Some privacy, if you will,’ he said glaringly.
‘Fine, have it your way. Don’t dawdle.’
He closed the door. His room had a dark elegant interior. Some books laid inside, and an astrolabium. On his nightstand stood a little box with holes in it. His chest tightened, stepping towards it, picking it up in his hands. He slowly opened it.
In the little box laid a cobalt insect on its side. A foul smell emanated from it.
His face contorted with pain. A single tear flowed down his face as he gritted his teeth.
No one had looked after his beetle while he was kept sedated.
He hurried over to his closet, pushing the pain down. Nomenziona would barge in if he took too long. He didn’t even have time to properly wash himself.
He put on one of his simpler tunics, dark in color, and a set of durable pants. He grabbed a spare cloak, and the little box.
Time to get out of here. He didn’t trust Nomenziona at all. It was clear that she needed him, but he had failed. Nomenziona was not patient with failure. She couldn’t have anything good in store for him. She likely planned to take advantage of him, strip him of his magic and have him pave the way for her witches.
He would not wait to find out. He had requested this moment of privacy for himself, and to buy time. He took hold of his amulet hidden under his clothes. He closed his eyes as the eyes of the amulet started glowing, summoning all his focus.
If there was one thing he was good at, it was disappearing off the face of the earth.
No one would find him this time either.
In an instant, he was gone.
Nomenziona wasn’t worried. She would barge in if he took too long, and She knew he couldn’t teleport very far without drawing a circle in the ground. He couldn’t do that anywhere in his room. And there were few places to run to in the palace, with the staff now taking up a lot of the spaces. He wouldn’t be so cowardly.
Still, he was taking his time. Vain boy.
She opened the door to see what was taking him so long. When she barged inside, he was nowhere to be seen.
Her hands flared up with rage, blue flames latching onto pieces of paper left lying around, catching fire.
She would find him. No place would escape Her sight.