Coalesce: The Escape
Chapter 4

The first thing I hear when I come to is frantic shouting and the scurrying of feet. Sitting up was a slow process, mostly due to the commotion of the maids. My head ached and I felt sick in an indescribable way. Maybe, I thought, remembering the strange conversation, my pleas to the Deus have been heard. But, why was I on the floor? I didn’t know what to think about anything at the moment. Then I remembered the man had left and somehow I had fainted. That is what happened… Isn’t it? I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Maybe I dreamt it all.

Once I had cleared the maids away, I went and pleaded for Phillip to give me more time. He almost willingly gave me another day. Because of this, I decided I would at least try to get to know the princes better. At least a small effort. For appearances, of course.

It hadn’t gone much to my liking. It was about as bad as it could have been. All the princes were as dull as the wooden sword Edward treasured. My extra day was now up and I was faced with the decision. Out of them, only one was within a year of my own age. This was the Prince that had come from Shadow Mountain. He was tall and had blonde hair and blue eyes, he was kind and seemed the only one who actually cared enough to want to know me. So, I chose him, Prince Luciack of Shadow Mountain. Now that I had chosen him, I was even more determined to leave. I wasn’t ready for marriage, or the throne.

I stood up and made my way down to Luciack. He smiled at me in a most peculiar way. The look sent shivers down my spine like a phantom hand caressing my back. I forced myself to smile back and curtsy, I could only hope I wasn;t stiff as a board. The gown I was wearing was made of soft gray silk with a black sash tied around my waist, the ends hanging down from my left hip, and was trimmed with dark blue. My hair hung down my back in a loose plait and a circlet, much like the one I wore the day the Prince’s arrived, sat atop my head.

“Might I say you look lovely tonight,” Luciack takes my hand and presses his lips to the back of it. He looked up at me and in a moment he was leading me toward the stairs, with permission from the King, of course. Once up the stairs he led me to my room and gently closed the door, never looking away from me. Honestly, this concerned me. I sit on the edge of my bed and pull my feet out of my black satin slippers, then I pull my legs onto the bed and arrange my skirts over them.

“May I ask why you brought me to my room?” I ask patiently, keeping my voice soft, oblivious.

“If we are to be wed, I’d like to become better acquainted.” At this, I try to slip my legs off the bed without being suspicious. I just didn’t feel I could really trust him. He was too… Well, I can’t quite describe it, really. Everything set me on edge. I pretend to fret over my hair as I look into the mirror at my bedside. I use it to my advantage and keep my eye on the door and my not-so-soon to be husband.

“I’m feeling a bit weary, I think I shall rest before we are to attend the royal council meeting,” I turn from the mirror and fake a yawn, which I daintily cover with my hand. I see something flicker in his eyes as I face him.

“I was hoping to spend a little more time with you, my dear, but if you are not well, I will leave you to rest,” He comes over to me and lifts my face to his and gives me a quick kiss then walks out. The stiffness in his movements concerns me and I swallow. Shaking off the feeling, I jam a chair under the door handle, just to be safe.