Chapter 2

Rapid, incessant pounding at the door roused the sleeping princess abruptly from her slumber. Elyena quickly crossed the room donning her violet silk robe, sending her heart into a hammering rhythm that matched the knocks assaulting the oak barrier.

"What is it, Caitlin?" Ely asked her maid and friend, barely able to open her eyes.

"Princess! Princess, you have to get dressed." The pale girl two years Elyena's junior pushed the princess back into her chambers and locked the door.

Ely grabbed the young girl by the arms to stop her running around the room. "What is wrong? Is it my Uncle?"

Her Aunt Elaine passed away in childbirth not long ago. Perhaps his grief was taking a dark turn. He hadn't been attending meals, becoming reclusive.

Caitlin shook her head, tears streamed down her face. "W-we are under attack! You must escape."

Immediately jerking into action, Elyena followed Caitlin who held up a plain gray dress she took from Ely's trunk. After quickly removing her night gown, hands shaking as Ely slipped on a chemise, Caitlin slipped the outer woolen dress over Elyena's head. Caitlin tied the laces on the back despite her trembling hands while Ely fumbled with her boots.

"Caitlin," Ely called after the girl who rushed toward the floor to ceiling tapestry hanging above her hope chest. "Who is attacking?"

Swallowing hard, Caitlin answered, "The colors are crimson and gold."

"Killian..." Ely whispered in disbelief, chest constricting. "No."

Pulling back the tapestry of the Kildarian mountains, Caitlyn said, "Princess, you must go!"

Ely stepped onto her chest then glanced back. "What about my Uncle? My sister?"

"They're also being sent through their passage accessways by their servants." Caitlin shoved Elyana toward the secret opening. "You must go. Now!"

Ely threw her arms around her friend's neck and pecked Caitlin's tear-stained cheek. Cloak in hand, Elyena clambered over the threshold and descended into the secret passageway built within the walls. When the cloth dropped to cover the opening, she was swallowed by darkness.

While she waited for her vision to adjust,the sound of wood splintering against stone followed by Caitlin's shriek shattered the silence. She had barely escaped. For a moment, Ely paused, tempted to go back and fight for her friend, family, and subjects. Then, she heard his silky baritone voice. It turned her blood to ice and sent her sprinting down the cold, pitch dark corridor toward escape.

Growing up in this castle, Elyena and Vanessa had used these passages many times in their lives to play hide and seek, avoid tutors or evade their duties. Despite the shadows clouding her vision, she knew by memory the location of every secret entry door in any room of the castle and where each corridor led in the underground labyrinth.

Slowing down at a familiar junction she felt an iron plaque stamped with Vanessa's initials bump against her fingertips. Ely turned toward the room it led. She stopped at the entrance to Vanessa's room and curled her fingers around the edges of the tapestry hiding the entrance. Vanessa's terrified sobs gave her pause. As Ely was about to go in and collect her sister, a tall young man clad in glistening onyx armor dragged Vanessa by her arm and tossed her into a heap on the floor.

Ely let the tapestry lay back in place, once again concealing her form. Stepping to the side, a small wood panel lay among the stone. Ely flipped it open, peering through two small holes that were eyes in the portrait hanging on the other side of the wall.

"I asked you a question and I expect an answer!" The voice belonging to the man who towered over Vanessa bellowed. She trembled and sobbed on the floor curling in a ball of terror.

Watching the ominous figure remove his helmet, Ely clapped a hand over her mouth. She recognized the man. She had been introduced to him only months prior. In his early twenties, he was well-built and tall. His eyes were deep charcoal, gleaming with an ominous coldness.

Flicking his crimson cape behind, he slowly squatted down until he had his face close to her sister's. Upper lip curling, he gripped Vanessa's chin between his thumb and forefinger forcing her to meet his gaze.

Vanessa whimpered. Tears streamed down Ely's cheeks. She was overcome with helplessness and an urge to burst in and save her sister. The chilling words she heard next, kept her frozen in place.

"I am going to ask you one more time, Princess Vanessa," he sneered in a menacing whisper, enunciating each word. "Where is your sister?"

Elyena gasped at the question, hand going over her mouth again after. Events from the past several weeks flashed through her mind. Her uncle's discussions with Killian, the offers, and presentation of a new alliance agreement, which her uncle quickly rejected. Tears ran down her face as Elyena watched the scene unfold.

The prince's eyes shot a quick glance toward her secret hiding spot. Rising to his full height, Killian's eyes narrowed in a puzzled expression towards the tapestry of the princesses parents on the wall.

Ely clamped a hand over her mouth to hold back her sobs.

Seeming to shake it off for now, his attention cut back to the older princess cowering on her knees in front of the prince. Vanessa sobbed, body trembling in fear, mumbling over and over she didn't know where Ely was. Her hazel eyes glanced over toward where she heard Ely's soft cries. Yet Ely's legs refused to move.

"Vanessa," the attacker chuckled. "You must know where she is. Her chambers are empty. Do you want to end up like your uncle?"

In mock compassion, he stroked Vanessa's long, blonde tresses. She jerked her head away from his touch but he forcefully grabbed a chunk of hair, pulling her upward roughly toward his face.

"Have it your way. If you won't tell me now-" he raked his eyes over Vanessa's body."-I can assure you, eventually you will. Take her to the tower dungeon."

He released his grasp on Vanessa. She fell back to the ground with a loud thump. Vanessa rolled onto her stomach, casting a quick glance in Elyena's direction. Through the slits in the wall, their eyes locked. The older sisters silent message clear -- run.

Sobbing heavier now into her hand, Elyena leaned her back against the cold stone. She wanted to rush in and save her sister, but that could mean death for them both. Though Ely had some basic knowledge of how to use a dagger, mainly using it for gardening and other small tasks but never combat. Gumption and passion would be trivial compared to highly trained soldiers and a military-wise prince.

Soldiers Ely hadn't been able to see from her vantage point held, Vanessa by each arm, dragged her out of the room. Ely watched Vanessa's struggle. Her sister kicked a table, knocking over a lit candle.

The slow, steady clicking of boots on stone brought Ely back to the present. She peered through the opening to see the prince begin his prowl toward her. Fists balled, jaw clenched, shoulders hunched, he was a predator on the hunt for his prey.

Elyena gathered her wits and her skirts, running down the secret passage, turning down the small corridor that would lead her to the forest. Chances of escape were slim running from a prince like Killian, but she couldn't let that stop her. It was escape or death.

And she wasn't ready to die.

Thick fabric tearing, metal clattering to the stone floor, she now knew the prince had found the passage door and was inside the small tunnel. Glancing behind her, Elyena saw the orange glow of flames from the opening of the escape route.

The Prince's gruff voice echoed down the corridor. "You two follow me. The rest of you, go that way."

With the confidence that Ely knew where she was going and he did not, she pushed her legs faster, descending winding stairs while ignoring the aching burn in her muscles and lungs.

Finally, Ely reached the rusty steel door marking the end of her path. The hinges groaned loudly as she pushed it open. Stooping through the archway, Ely jumped landing a few feet down on grass with a soft thud. She grabbed the skirt of her dress, hiking it up to her knees, and bolted for the woods.

The harsh thundering of horse hooves sounded from behind her. The prince's soldiers were in pursuit. With a sharp turn to the right, Ely ran. She jumped over small bushes and dodged trees and rocks.

"Do not let her get away." His voice bellowed from her left. He must have gone around to outside the castle. "After her, you fools!"

Elyena ran deep into the forest until her lungs burned, aching for a steady flow of oxygen. She collapsed to the ground slipping inside the hollow of a wide tree, panting and sobbing in fear. Burying her face in her hands, Ely willed herself to wake from this nightmare.

But this was her reality.

She pressed her back against the bark poking through her dress and hid amidst the towering oak trees. Thankfully, the sound of horses grew faint. Ely tried to catch her breath, forcing large gulps of air into her lungs. She had to get back up and keep going, find shelter in case they doubled back but her eyes grew heavy then closed.