The Dark Prince

y aware of

e, until I realise that my facial muscles are stiff. As I raise my han

y peel open, seeing nothing but swirlin

ts clicking in response. I must have fallen aslee

m I? No matter how deep I scrape the b

mber no

ds against the ceiling above me, the bite of

cratching painfully at my thr

crete casing I'm trapped in, an

w I've come to be without any memory, I just kno

en the sound of more talking before e

em from the sound of scraping that e

ng in. With my hand draped over my eyes, I lay still until the sound of scrapi

u're alive,"

as I'm helped into

g me, grips my elbow tightly, trying to help me up so I'm standing. It takes a moment,

p, looking around t

just crawled out of. Large bouquets of fresh flowers are

they sound so shocked? I watch them curiously as they pus

ee

at my skin, at my eyes. I want to crawl back into whatever dingy spac

d blooming, giving off more overwhelming scent. My white dress dr

f me are thrown open, and a particularly frantic

she calls out, adv

e man beside me holds my forearm tightly.

cascading down her front, seemingly unbothered by her frantic rush forward toward me. Sh

a keen eye. "What were you doing c

houlder. Is she

p," the man says, holding my arm out to the wom

my skin. She tugs me right into her, the vani

bed," she insists, motioning to

g at me with wild eyes. One or two run back

pulled through an extravagant stained glass entrance, the natural p

warily at the woman's grip. She's d

on't kn

My mind draws blank when I think back to an

ith widened eyes.

t to answer to the pani

th

seen her in my life. Any thought of childhood, i

iliar voice trills, emerging fro

and frail in appearance. His hand carved cane knocks against the

Avila

her tomb," the wom

beyond bewildered. "

id I seriously just emerge from

e. But that doesn't answer the question of who these people are, where I a

ive," the women snaps. I look between her and the older

utch the glossy banister, willing more energy into my legs than what is currently being supplied

on?" the man asks, cloudy grey

oments from losing my min

s silent, st

itely tempting. I don't know who Avila is...If she's me, then I have no r

he looks at the woman holding me. I can feel he nod her head, befo

to be my bedroom, yet I'v

ft lavender colour. The room is peaceful, although there is no evidence anyone has ever l

bed, which I wilfu

" the woman asks, sitt

s around my waist, smoothing them down

es to the other side of the bed, arms crossed o

ou know?"

rred since I opened my eyes in that small, cramped

ke my

my hand, her knuckles as pale as her face. One particularly str

s territory, and this is your mother, Crimson. She is the Queen," Roel explains sl

ave no memories? And Crimson is a Queen? She looks like one,

d to panic, we are going to take care of you, and help you come to terms wit

so kindly, that I c

is truly a blessing," Crimson murmurs, clutchin

a horrify