Cross My Heart and Hope to Die!

The next day, Iyana was wandering the hallways of Luna Crescent castle. She had finished what she could do of her morning chores and had some free time to herself.

"Far west... Blue door with a moon face,"she said, her brow pinched together in thought, making her way down the corridor.

Thoughts of Lazarus came to her mind. "What's he possibly up to...?" She wondered out loud, ignoring a pair of giggles maids as she passed by an open bedroom.

Walking in the direction of Dominic's room, she figure that it was about the time to check up on him considering it has been an hour or two. She arrived to the doors of his room and knocked softly before entering.

Dominick emerged from his bathroom, fully dressed, just as Iyana entered his room. Her presence causing him to pause in his steps. He smiled and begun making his way over toward her. "Good timing." Am I imagining things or does she look happy about something?

As he approached her, she studied his face. There was a different look in his eyes, one that she hadn't seen, since her days back at the castle.

Stopping in front of her, his eyes searched her face. "I have another job for you, princess. You have time?" Rising his hands, they came to rest on Iyana's shoulders. "At least you do now. Now!" Stepping to the side, the prince pushed her in front of him. "If you'll step across the room, princess."

As he said this, he pushed her forward from behind. The push enough to get her moving, not falling. In a matter of steps, the reached his dresser.

She cocked her head slightly as steer her to the dresser. "Dominick...?"

"Have a seat." He ordered Iyana to sit down on the chair cushion. In front of her rest a circular mirror. Items, such as a brush, ribbons, jewel, had been set out across the flat surface.

He turned her chair to face the mirror. "Before you do anything-I must fix your hair. I hate the way they did it. I.e. you. You are your own worst beautician."

She flushed with embarrassment and mumbled a few unintelligible words under her breath. She sneaked a glance at him through the mirror.

He stood behind her, glaring at her hair. A few seconds more, his hands begin to undo her hair arrangement. "I should have acted earlier. Then this mess wouldn't be a mess. No moving, by the way." His tone carried an edge of nagging to it. An softness resting in his blue eyes with the familiar activity bring a soothing feeling to him.

"Okay Mother, I'll sit still," she said sarcastically in response to his nagging. Relaxing, she studied his face, getting lost in his blue eyes that now had a sense of security that was lacking before. She smiled softly, choosing not to say anything in fear that he'd get upset or stop. Instead, she sat in silence, closing her eyes as the familiar feeling helped her relax.

After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and looked at Dominick through the mirror. "Your cousin is quite the character," she says, thinking back to the previous conversation with him.

Dominick glanced up at the princess for a few seconds to acknowledge that he was listening, but returned his gaze to his work. His hands never stopping as he spoke. "That man has a way of turning everyone he meets life upside down. He's a man that will one day make a strong king, but then he would be a dangerous foe." Dominick's eyes narrowed as he said this.

His cousin he knew wasn't one to take lightly, despite the mischievous personality he carried. The prince himself had kept his cousin close without yet making the other prince his enemy.

She listened as he tugged at her hair, wincing every so often because her hair enjoys to tangle, and he was not the most gentle of people.

Tangles. It's my fault for not taking care of this myself promptly upon arriving here after the trip. Reaching for a brush, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Why the interest? Please tell me he's not your type." He chuckled as he joked about the fact that Iyana had managed to find something to dislike about any suitors she met in the past. "Now that would be something!"

She let out a small laugh. "Him? Please, do you even know me Dominick?" She said jokingly. "He's full of himself, and he... definitely knows how to get your mind working," she said, recalling their conversation from earlier.

"Completely annoying..." She added quickly before looking back up to him. A small smirk rose on her lips. "Why are you wondering, don't tell me the prince is jealous? Or worried?" She grabbed a ribbon off of the dresser and began to play with it, not breaking the prince's gaze, an innocent smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

He was relieved to hear that she didn't fancy his cousin, but at the same time, he was curious to know the meaning behind her last words. What had transpired to make her say that? His thinking was interrupted however with her question about him being jealous. He paused in his work. He stared back into her eyes, thinking the same thought he had numerous times: Beautiful eyes.

Dropping his gaze after a few minutes, the corners of his mouth turned upward in amusement. "I have nothing to be jealous or worried about, Princess Iyana." He glanced back up at her reflection and returned to doing her hair.

She tried her best to sit still as he finished with her hair. She could tell that what she had said got his mind reeling. And that's exactly what she wanted. She loved these little mind games, they were always so much fun.

"You said yourself that he wasn't your type. What right do I have to doubt your word? After all, a princess first vow is to say what she means and mean it."

She later caught his gaze and smiled slightly. His eyes were so dazzling. When he looked away she continued to study his features: his hair, eyes, lips, even his jaw line was mesmerizing. She caught herself blushing slightly and promptly stopped the act. Even though she was done with her utter hatred for the prince, she still wasn't one to blush.

He leaned over and reached around her. His hand rested on top of the one that held the ribbon. His face beside her, cheek slightly touching. "Besides if I was jealous, Iyana, I'll find a way to make you like me more than him." He chuckled and gentle took the ribbon from her hand.

"I wonder what that could possibly be..." she said slyly, looking up at him and meeting his eyes.

A few minutes later, he had her hair finished with the ribbon nicely intact into her hair. "You look lovely like the princess you are."

She admired the style in the mirror. "You certainly haven't lost your touch, Dominick. It's beautiful."

Iyana's praise brought a genuine smile to the prince's face. Back at her castle, he would do all he could just to have her throw a few kind words his way. Her voice in the moment of being pleased seemed to make her sound slightly happier than normal. He moved to her side and held out his hand for her to take. "Now. I have something I want to show you. Come."

She took his hand and stood, brushing the wrinkles out of her dress. "Very well," She said, smiling, "I can't wait to see."

He took her hand and placed it in the bend of his left arm. "This way." He gestured in front of him. Leading her out of her room and down the hallway, they passed several palace guards.

Unbeknownst to them, the king watched his son from a high place balcony. A look of displeasure formed on his face as he watched his son look to Iyana with a look akin to love. As the pair leave his sight, he disappeared into a inner chamber.

Dominick lead Iyana outside. Iyana followed Dominick throughout the hallways then out into the courtyard, looking around in awe as they walked around the beautifully structured area. She absolutely loved the nature that surrounded the castle. Iyana glanced up at Dominick and smiled softly. He looked to be so at peace in this area, and it couldn't help, but reassure her further. She relax slightly and ran her hand down his arm absentmindly while they walks further and further into the gardens. She couldn't help except sigh longingly at the scenery. It was all so beautiful, like the forests by her home.

The wave of sadness that washed over her only lasted a few seconds as they stopped in front of a cluster of bushes.

"You will love this. It's a favorite secret spot of mine." He lead her further into the garden, which resembled a mini forest, for ten minutes before they came to a clutter of bushes which stood in front of a large stone wall.

Dominick placed himself between Iyana and the brushes. "Before we go any further, you must cross your heart and hope for a merciful death if you ever revealed the secret of secret to anyone." He grinned playfully, crossing his arms over his chest.

It was if they were children again, making silly promises and joking around. Iyana made sure that she was standing up straight when she crossed her heart and said, "I promise to never tell anyone this secret, whatever it is, or may a merciful death befall me." She then linked her arm with his again and smiled excitedly, waiting for him to show her this amazing secret.

Brushing back the bushes, he lead Iyana through. "This was my private home when I was a boy."

Not to far from them, sat a beautifully made wooden house. It sat under a large oak tree. Tree branches covered the roof of the house. It was a one floor house, complete with two window, a door, and a small porch.

Looking at the wooden house, he couldn't help, but feel a sense of peace. Turning to Iyana, he watched her. "My mother had this build for me. She told me it was our secret, but I was sure my father knew about this place. He knows all apparently. Anyway, I use to come here a lot to play. As a teenager, this place acted as a second home." He lead her up the wooden steps.

"I won't lie. You're not the only person I brought here. But," He opened the door to reveal the interior which held similar wood design as the outside. "You are the first princess to come here. Don't mind the Boys' Only sign." He stepped away from her, and moved to the center of the wood house.

"I wasn't the average boy." He gaze shifted to the desk in the far corner that held maps of all kind.

"I liked to play a game where I could create any world I wanted." He moved toward the table and picked up a map of Iyana's kingdom.

"Even as a boy, I had dreams of visiting your kingdom, my enemy's world." He looked over his shoulders at the princess. "What do you think, Princess Iyana?"

"I think you were delusion."

He blew, placing his left hand on his hip. "I wasn't taking about your opinion on me, Princess."

Placing her hand over her chest, she said in an so and so tone. "My apologies, Your Grace."

"I can always tell when you lie." Dominick walked toward Iyana "In fact, I think you remember that I dislike when you lie and what I would do if you do lie to me."

"You wouldn't dare."

Dominick lip twitched and his eyes narrowed while he took a step toward the princess.