"Qui acceperit gladium gladio peribunt"

When I met those lifeless eyes my feet automatically moved a step backwards. Something sprayed over my face and for I moment I thought those are tears but no. Blood. I realised when I smelled it. Danniel's blood.

My eyes widened in shock and I looked at his body under Prince's feet. His head was cut off. Prince killed his best friend.

I can't believe.

He really did that. Just like with that solider.

If I said something I don't remember. My mind was fogy field with no words. My eyes rested on dark forest when I felt Prince's hand around my elbow and I turned around.

The snow was falling. It didn't look white anymore. The place around our feet was red. Dark. Like hell. Like some mine.

I can't take this.

I turned, and I felt Prince is hugging me. My head was under his. I was so low he could rest his head on mine. My arm was around his waist and my head was on his chest. I heard his heartbeat. Nice and steady. Like he is reading something not murdering a person.

I let out a gasp, and I felt him hugging me even harder.

My hands hugged him tighter wishing I don't have to let him go. For a moment I wished I can stay in his hug forever, caged like that bird, but safe.

Nothing from this would happen. I would never feel anything toward him, and he would stay alive, but I didn't feel guilty. I didn't feel shame. I felt nothing. I just don't. I think that is something he deserved. Some punishment. I didn't think this will be hard but still; the decision wasn't in my hands. He is after all the person who raped me.

That is the truth. And now the truth is just on me. Another person is dead.

Oh.

I exhaled, and I looked at him.

Even in dark his eyes shone with some light. Like two lamps in dark. Like light after the dark tunnel. Light after all.

"I don't know what to say," I said looking at the ground.

I'm not the brave one, but I felt like stone fell off my chest.

I don't have to fear anymore.

"I don't need you to say anything." He said, and I surprised looked at him.

His head was low. Snow was falling around it placing on his dark hair and jacket.

He looked like part of that darkness and wood until he raised his head.

"It's what I said, after all." He said, and I saw little dust on his face.

Must be blood.

"Here take this." He gave me something white, and I took it. I didn't ask questions.

Tissue.

I cleaned my face the best I could without a mirror and gave him back.

He closed eyes for a second and then rubbed his face. Placing it in the pocket he met my eyes.

"Ready?" He whispered, and I nodded.

I don't want to see this place ever again.

He took my hand and for the first time, he didn't put it on the elbow. I felt his cold skin on my glove. His hand was in mine.

I don't know how that made me feel.

My lips wanted to smile, but I didn't. I didn't talk, ask anything or demanded.

He killed his best friend because of me.

I didn't know how that made him feel.

That person was with him for the whole life. They grew up together and now it's dead. His body was there while his head is somewhere else under snow.

Slowly we came back on fighting court. He made his way toward the house next to the labyrinth.

"I need to leave this." He showed at his bloody, fancy sword.

I nodded and swallowed hard.

Okay.

"Okay," I said and stopped.

"We can go to the castle after." He continued and let my hand.

Instantly I felt empty. Like part of me is missing, like I'm the half person now. There is no heat of his body and strength.

I looked at the ground. This is where everything started.

Well, not actually. Everything started at the main house in my town, but here, in this place killing started.

I asked none questions after he killed that guy. I mean I was in the hospital.

God. That was like miles away. I survived everything in this four months.

In my old life, my only concern was when he came to my town, but here. I had to take care of every castle drama, every gossip and besides that with healing.

I think the hospital became my second house.

I don't have a house anymore. I remembered.

He made me clear that I can't come home. Never. I can't.

I looked at the labyrinth. It's hiding his secrets.

I want to know them.

"You good?" I asked. I felt Prince next to me and I also felt him smiling.

"Yes. Why?" He came to my left and looked at the same thing and me.

"You killed your best friend," I said carefully. I didn't know how that would make him feel.

"That person wasn't my friend moment he decided to put his hands on you. That is worthless and disgusting. Like a coward." I felt anger in his words and I thought for a second.

"I'm sorry," I said finally. That is what I could say.

"You don't have to be. One coward less."

"I'm sorry," I repeated. I could only guess what is the feeling.

He could say that he doesn't care but he must. Everyone is sorry for the murder of his best friend.

I felt a squeeze on my elbow. He turned me to him.

"Look at me." He commanded when I looked away.

"No," I said staring at the ground. I guessed what I will see in his eyes.

Disgust. Fear. Sorry. Pain.

I don't want to see that.

"Look. At. Me." He commanded and took my chin with his hand.

I felt his long fingers on my chin and index finger was touching my scar.

There was a fine line on my neck that weirdly I became proud of. It showed that I survived. All those memories will be with me.

I can't forget them. I will have them with me even when I'm old. If I survive long enough.

"I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I don't care about that person. I knew someone else. He wasn't the same person. He is a stranger. The irrelevant person in my life. I did not care for that. That is nothing. I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I'm okay as always. I shut emotions. I lead with my brain."

I looked at his eyes and for a second I could swear that I saw little emotion in crystals. He is feeling liked he that or not.

I nodded and he let my chin.

"I want to see labyrinth." I showed in his direction.

It represented a mystery for me from day one. Why I couldn't see it? What is so secret about it? Why people avoid it?

I wanted to know. To see it.

"Fine." I heard his voice, and I smiled.

Nice. Relived.

I put hands in pockets and followed him. He drifted like he is waiting for me. I had small steps after all. Mrs Gren thought me to walk like that.

I looked at the labyrinth. It was massive. Like two of my heights. Giant.

We stepped inside and I instantly felt trapped.

Like I'm in the cell. There was a dark thing iron cage at the wall. Wall too high. Frightening, around my head.

I automatically stepped closer to him. I felt his warmth and relaxed. He is here.

We slowly moved to the centre. It looks like Prince knows a way. There are no dead ends, walls. No. Just a path to the centre.

I exhaled. I'm getting cold. This is very late and I could feel my nose is freezing. Probably not the best time to wander around.

When a center cleared up I saw a big fountain. A big lion. With something around him. Cold marble benches around lied now covered in snow, and brushes around looked dead, and rotten.

"Why it's a lion?" I asked and stepped closer.

"Our royal symbol." He answered like it's obvious.

"No not that. I know that. Why is that a royal sign?" I asked and touched the cold stone.

I took off a glove. I felt nothing with it.

I touched stone again. Now I could feel his coldness, hardness and texture. On some kind, it reminded me of the Prince.

He is presenting himself like that.

"Our grandfather chose it. There is a legend that lion helped him to win in battle. He chose that brave animal to represent our family because without him it would never be the King." I turned to him.

"Will you choose the same?"

"Of course. I don't think to change anything else." He answered and came to a step closer.

"I don't know. It's weird." I said looking at the statue again.

"This world is so complicated that you needed years and years to learn everything. I understand you don't and I respect that. But changing something that precious would be foolish. It would show that I, in some parts don't agree with my ancestors. And I do."

"With every part?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

He even agrees with using my people and enjoying in precious parties in the castle? Not visiting towns, people, places. Not worrying about their life. Just one thing. More money.

He can't agree with that. He just can't.

"Every." He sai quietly.

My heart sunk. "I think I will go in my room," my words got out in a shape little cold balloon.

I felt his squeeze.

"What happened?" He asked.

I looked at his hand and then at his eyes.

"It happened that you agree with your father. Everything will stay the same." I somehow took off his squeeze and turned.

I just need to figure out how to get out of his and everything is okay.

Except for the big elephant. The whole time I thought he is different. That he will do something different. He will change something. The way of working. Working hours. Something. Just a little thing that would be different. For some future. Something that would push people to go.

But no. He is the same as his father.

As I thought in the first place.

"Qui acceperit gladium gladio peribunt" Who take the sword shall perish by the sword.