Man from the closet's POV

My chariot pulled up to a beautiful yet daunting black castle; with spires so high, it would take days to walk to the top of them. I passed a garden of rare plants and walked up to the slick staircase that led to a massive set of doors with engraved dragons displayed on its chestnut body.

I walked through the doors and floating balls of flame immediately ignited as I stepped across the threshold of this castle I called home. I threw my cloak at a dimwitted servant, frustrated that what I needed most they could not give. Only the beautiful Princess Ariadne could give me what I truly desired. If she didn't fail, and maybe if she stopped asking so many questions.

I spat on the floor. I also had to get rid of her little friend, the annoying one. I didn't know why, but I didn't like him one bit. And I trusted my first impressions of people. He seemed he might prove an irritant to the plan I was still forming.

I sighed. Since when did taking over a kingdom become so difficult?

Storming into my bedroom, I looked around, hoping for my plan to piece together in my mind; nothing happened. My father would have taken what he wanted and had it by now, I thought bitterly.

I started pacing my room and went over what I had already accomplished. She had agreed to come down and dance every night. I don't know why I had made dancing part of the ordeal, perhaps because she looked like a fantastic dancer and I liked the way it made her squirm. However, she had not apparently appreciated our little rendezvous in the kitchen closet. I growled and kicked my bedpost. Why couldn't she be more like other girls, who swooned over you with just a glance?

"Excuse me, sire, but your brothers are having a counsel," my butler, Zachariah, said.

"They finally wanted me to join them?" I growled, knowing that it had probably started the minute I left my kingdom.

Zachariah nodded.

I pushed past him and practically ran to the council room, throwing the doors open, relishing at the loud thud that echoed through the hall as the doors slammed into the walls, turning everyone's attention to me.

"Ah, it's about time you joined us," my younger brother, Myron said with a smile that could be mistaken for a welcoming one. I knew better.

"I think what you mean to say is, it's about time we invited you in," I sneered and my brothers face paled a little.

"Have a seat," he replied, no longer able to look me in the eyes.

"I will, thank you."

"Now, we were just going over the subject of you being the ruler over the entire 12th realm," Titus informed me. He had always been the most obedient of my brothers.

"I've had a slight setback, but don't worry, I have a new plan-" I started explaining.

"How many of your plans have we tried? And how many have succeeded?"

"This one will succeed," I said forming the plan as I spoke.

"We have been running out of time for almost 200 years. You know that we only have this opportunity every hundred years. And the last one did not work out even when you promised us that it would. Look at us - we're still trapped in this dreadful place!"

"This one will be different."

"How is this one any different, brother? Last time the girl was here, you were about to marry her. Then her father found out and he killed his own daughter so that she wouldn't be with you!"

"This time is different," I started and smiled at them all. "Because I need you to help me."

They all looked at each other, surprised at my statement. I had to admit, I was a little surprised myself. "You are all right. I have been... selfish. But if we work together, we will get exactly what we want."

"What did you have in mind?"

They looked at me in disbelief until I pulled out the small red jewel and explained its purpose.

"Any questions?"

Anatello, sitting on my right mumbled something.

"What was that?"

"I was just wondering why you always get to do the fun stuff?" He whispered.

This time it was my turn to stare, did he really ask that? "Because, dear brother, I am the oldest and I have the right to the throne-"

"I know," he interrupted. "It's just that, we never get to leave here and you do," he said turning away from me.

"I'm doing this for all of us," I said and put my hand on his shoulder. He was too young, he didn't understand. "When my plan is complete, then we will all be free to go wherever we want to."

To which, my brothers all cheered.

"And," I added, to win over their confidence entirely. "The princess has already promised to dance here every night, and she did it on her word of honor."

Thank you for reading!

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