Chapter 18: Bering Two Chains

“W-who are y-you?” I stuttered as I stumbled back into the cool brick wall behind me. There were a million thoughts going through my mind in this moment but the main one was panicking over my imminent demise that seemed to taking another step towards me. I felt panic wash over me as my heart was beating do fast I was afraid it may rip out of my chest and my hands were trembling at my sides.

“Relax my dear, I am last person who would harm you, I assure you.” He spoke as he stepped more into the light to allow me to get a better look at him. His hood covered most of his face but the light hit his jaw line and the bottom half of his face. He looked rather young but it was hard to tell without seeing the rest of his face, his jaw line was lightly stubbled and his cheek bones held a mark of a crescent moon that was somewhat faded and just resembled a bad burn. He was a Warlock.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice was barely audible.

“Let’s just say I’m someone you knows you better than you might think.”

“What are you doing here?” I didn’t know what to say but the questions just seemed to slip out of my mouth as if I had no control.

“To warn you.” He stated simply. “There are people around you, you shouldn’t trust. People who will do you more harm than good.”

“Who?”

“That is something you must discover for yourself.” He spoke with such a serious tone that I almost shivered.

“Does that mean I shouldn’t trust you?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow at him as I tried to read his body language but I wasn’t getting far.

“It would be a wise decision but in this case a costly one.”

“What are you?” I asked even though I knew the answer.

“I think you know what I am already, dear one.”

“A Warlock?” I voiced my suspicions

He nodded simply and slowly, I could almost feel the burning of his eyes on me, watching me closely for my reaction.

“Why would you warn me?”

“Because it is my responsibility.”

“What? Why am I your responsibility?” I pulled back a little form the close proximity as I began to feel a little uncomfortable. Did he know me or something? But how could he, I’ve never had any contact with the underground world let alone any one such as warlock.

“It is a long and timely story my dear.”

“I have time.” I tried to get my answer.

His head snapped up with cat like reflexes while the mist of a smile tugged at his lips which made me relax a little and calm down my beating heart. “You remind of someone, a ghost in my memory.”

“Is that a good thing?” Knowing my luck it was probably bad.

“I’m still deciding.” Yep it’s bad.

“Right, of course.” I muttered under my breath but the slight tilt of his head as he observed me told me he heard me. I didn’t really know how to get myself out of this situation but then there was a part of me that didn’t want to. I felt oddly safe and the questions that I wanted to ask him seemed limitless as they once again began itching at the back of throat threatening to spill out of my mouth like a seriously bad case of word vomit. “What did you do?” slipped from my lips and intently cursed myself for being such a fool.

I knew that Warlocks were once humans who have been cursed and made to become slaves and sever out eternity but this warlock had a faded mark, not a black one like the ones about the castle serving Peter. Was he set free?

“Many things.”

“Bad things?”

“Let’s just say I am one of the few deserving of this mark I bare.” I turned my head back around looking for someone who may help me but knew my chances were mute. He has done bad things that earned him an eternity of servitude, a life of nothing but suffering and pain? What the hell has he done and should I be running for the hills by know?

“But it’s faded, you were freed?”

“In a manner of speaking.” Again with the riddles god, can’t he just answer yes or no?

“But…” I started but he quickly cut me off and interrupted me.

“Enough with the questions, they will have to wait for another time as your disappearance is beginning to be noticed.” He shushed me and grabbed hold of my hand, his slightly chilled skin made me jump back slightly but I soon adjusted to his touch. He reach back and pulled out a necklace and place it in my hands before curling my fingers around it. “You must swear to wear it at all times.”

“Why?”

“Promise me.”

I nodded my head unsure of why I was promising a stranger such a request. “Yes I promise.”

“Good girl.” He praised me before stepping back and letting my hand with the necklace fall down to my side where it had once been. “We will meet again Britney.”

“Wait!” I shouted and looked up. “I don’t even know your name.” My words died on my lips as I realized that he was already gone leaving me standing in the ally way all by myself.

I took a deep breath and looked down at the necklace in my hand. It was beautiful, a simple elegant white diamond that hung low on a gold chain. Deciding to trust the stranger I slipped on the necklace and let it fall down to sit just under my breast plate and tucked it into my dress with the feeling that maybe I shouldn’t let people know I had it, after all it would be a little hard to explain once I got back that a strange Warlock had given me a diamond.

I fixed my dress and looked around the alley, clutching the medallion that Marco had given me to save Logan and walking back out into the crowd of people. I wondered back to where Kyle was pacing back and forth like he was trying to burn a hole in the ground, his hands twitched at his sides and his head face downward. “Hey I’m ready, sorry I was late, got a little lost.” I lied and pushed my way to the door.

“Sorry? Sorry! That’s all you have to say, I almost died of old age and worry and your just sorry?!” Kyle fussed as he started his long ass lecture that had me grimacing and wishing I could secretly block my ears without him giving me another lecture about listening to him. We made it back through the sewers and then back to the castle without anyone saying a word. It was just in time too as the sun was beginning to set setting a beautiful orange glow over the entire kingdom.

Walking into the Castle I say my goodbyes to Kyle and make my way over to the door that was hidden away at the sides and only briefly cheeked that no one was looking but I was in a hurry to get to Logan. I run down the steps taking them two at a time not caring too much if I fall down as long as it got me to Logan faster. I ran over to his cell and dropped down to my knees catching his attention and making his eyes open wide as he looked me over.

“What are you doing back down here? I told you not too.” He started to lecture me which only made me roll my eyes. I grabbed the medallion and shoved it forward, letting it dropped down in his hands. “What is this?”

“Shit. Marco said you would know what it is.” I am so going to kill that man when I get a hold of him.

“No I know what it is but… You shouldn’t have, Britney when they find out…”

“They’re not going to find out.” Although I wasn’t so sure since I never really checked if there was anyone watching me as I walked in here and who knows who has been tailing me today.

“Britney what the hell are you doing, of course they’ll find out…” He started but I quickly cut in, shutting him up.

“Shut up and be grateful.”

He smiled a small, sad smile before pushing the medallion back towards me. “What are you doing, you need it.”

“You’re going to need it more than I am.”

“How are you going to get out, they’ll kill you.”

“Marco got out of this cell in two hours and without the aid of medallion. Watch me do it one.” He smirked at me which in turn made me smile.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. Now go before someone sees you.”

I nodded and leaned in, his lips crashed onto mine and I tried my hardest not to let this kiss feel like it was goodbye, but it was. The one kiss hurt n=more than any words ever could, It was soft and sweet but yet sad and lustful as we both tried to hold our emotions in fearing that we would never see each other again.

I pulled back and stare at him one last time. I felt like I was trying to imprint the memory into my mind like it was the last thing I wanted to remember. His dark hair was tousled and dirty from the dust down in the cell, his eyes were dual and sad while his skin was a sickly pale from the lack of sunlight – but to me he was as I first saw him, dark and mysterious. Hair clean and almost black and eyes that capture you and made you get lost in their view.

“Go.” He whispered softly as he pulled back from me, leaving my skin cold and begging for the comfort and safety of his touch but I knew I needed to go.

Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes briefly before Picking myself up off the floor and walking back up the stairs. I opened the door slightly and peeked around the corner, seeing no one there I stepped out into the hall and started off for my room with the medallion and the diamond wrapped together around my neck and hiding under my dress.

I was walking up the stairs with my head down when I suddenly stumbled into a make shift wall – wait there was no wall here. Looking up I saw none other than King Peter, his arms grabbed onto me tightly as he steadied me and tilted my head back so that I could look at him in the eyes.

“Well, well. And what have you been up too?”