Ariadne's POV

Putting on my nightgown without my maids proved more difficult than I wished to admit. But my thoughts wouldn't stop as I recounted the events of the past week over and over in my head. Trying to think of something else was pointless; no matter what I tried, either the Prince or Peter or that strange man would appear in my head and my heart would sink lower and lower into despair each time.

Finally, I gave up the notion of sleep. I hurriedly sat up and began pacing the room, but that grew tiring fast and Iris was beginning to stir in her sleep because of my loud footsteps. I couldn't remember if she was there when I came in or if she had snuck in sometime during my restlessness, but leave it to Iris to be the first to fall asleep and the last to wake up.

I quietly closed the bedroom door behind me and then angrily kicked the ottoman that rested in the center of the room. Luckily, I only managed to hit the cushion that sat on top of it. Well, it was there until I forced it off its comfortable seat. I bent down to retrieve the fallen cushion when something shone in the corner of my eye through the dimly lit room. I turned back to the ottoman and saw small blood-red jewel-encrusted in the polished wood. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as if there was a small R carved into the beautiful stone. I traced its smooth service and the stone almost looked as if it was glowing.

The more I stared, the more I realized that it was not my eyes getting used to the darkness. The jewel was glowing and getting brighter every second, in a blood-red hue. I stumbled away from it, but my eyes were glued to the glowing red stone. Then a wave of light forced my eyes shut as a blast of wind hit me. And just as suddenly as it came, it was gone. I opened my eyes to the room that was even darker now than it had been before.

The silence was so intense that it took me a moment to get my courage up enough to crawl over to where I thought the ottoman was. When my hands blindly found it, I tried feeling for the stone again but felt nothing. There wasn't a top on the seat, it was just a circular frame surrounding empty space.

I hurriedly went into my room and grabbed the lit candle on my nightstand and then ran back to the common room. I held the candle over the ottoman and saw a black hole that did not end where the floor should be. I lowered my candle even lower and found a glass step that almost looked as if it wasn't there.

I gingerly reached my hand down and touched the smooth, cold surface, then put some weight on it; it didn't budge. I pulled my hand away, and slowly rested my foot on the clear step, then put all my weight on it, while holding onto the outside of the seat. It held, I sighed and slowly put my other foot on the next step down, and kept repeating the process until I could no longer hold onto the edge of the seat. Then I grabbed my candle and slowly made my way down, wishing there was a railing or something I could hold.

Then I realized that the closer I got to the bottom the better I could see. By the time I had reached the bottom, I could see as clear as in pure daylight. I set my candle down on the last step and stared.

All around me there were trees of every color that sparkled and gave a glow, which added to the light in the huge cavern. Some of the trees were glass, like the staircase, and would've been nearly invisible if they hadn't been frosted with a variety of colors. Other trees were different colors, and as I looked around, I realized that none of the trees were the same, and the forest seemed to go on forever.

I looked around, seeing four different paths leading away from the stairs. They all looked about the same, so I decided on the rightmost path. I continued through the shimmering forest until I saw some glowing orbs appearing and disappearing ahead of me. I quickened my step and realized that the orbs were, in fact, glowing fish, jumping in and out of a huge black lake.

"Care for a ride out on the lake malady? The fish are much more agreeable further out."

I inspected the man who addressed me. He was wrapped in a dark cloak and had on a long hat that covered the top half of his face.

"I'm sure I can see the fish better next time I come," I said stepping away from him. Something about him didn't feel right.

"I promise no harm will come to you. I have never harmed a woman in my life and do not wish to change that now," he said, offering his hand.

"I... I really must be going. My family will surely be wondering where I am."

"And if they can't find you then they will come here and search for you, thus I would be punished if any harm was to come upon you. Please, let me show you some more wonders of this land."

I prayed I wouldn't regret it as I slowly put my hand in his cold one and he led me into a boat that looked like it had been prepared already.

"I was planning on going on the lake today, I am glad to add company," he explained as he helped me into the boat.

The man climbed in after me and sat facing me, then grabbed the oars and pushed us away from the safety of the dock.

"Who are you?"

He raised his head so I could see two gleaming blue eyes staring into my soul.

I gasped. "You... You look like the man from the storage closet!"

He chuckled. "Perhaps because I am."

I quickly looked over his shoulder at the dock, but it was much too far to jump to, and I didn't want to swim in the unnatural black lake. Besides, he was stronger than he looked, I remembered with a shiver. He could easily pull me back into the boat without much trouble.

He seemed to be able to read my thoughts and laughed. "I'm afraid you are at my mercy until I decide to take you back to land."

I shivered and shifted as far away from him as I could on the small boat.

"You know who I am?"

I do indeed, princess. You are the one who is going to break my curse."

"I will do no such thing!"

Was he mad? So far, he had forced himself on me and kidnapped me and now wanted my help?

His grin didn't fade from my outburst. "You will, your highness. If you ever want to see your family again."

I stared at him in shock. "They will come looking for me."

"Undoubtedly." He nodded. "But that does not mean they will find you."

My head began to swim with the seriousness of my situation.

"Unless you agree to come back here every night until the curse is broken."

"Come here? With you? Never!"

"I don't think you understand. Either you come down here every night until the curse is lifted, you could even bring your sisters, but only them or you stay trapped down here forever."

"What would we possibly do here every night? With my sisters no less!"

He looked me over, and I glared at him. "Why, we would dance of course. And you will report on your findings."

"That would be tiring! Especially as the grand balls of the palace are underway and won't be finished until the end of the week."

"I suppose I will start seeing you every night after the end of the week then. I wouldn't want my darling princess to get too tired."

"What curse are you under?"

His smile faded and was replaced with a dark look. "Stop asking so many questions," he growled. "Just promise."

I gulped. "What happens if I don't?"

"Then you will still be here every night, and every day as well. You will be in my hands," he smiled, sending shivers down my spine.

I once again slowly placed my hand in his. "I promise."

"On your word of honor?" He said smiling. "And promise that you will not tell anyone else of anything you hear or see in this kingdom."

"Yes, I give you my word of honor that I will come every night and will not tell anyone of what I hear or see here."

Something swept through my entire body as those last words left my mouth. It felt like magic.

"But how am I supposed to break this curse?"

"Silence!" He cried standing up so fast that the boat tipped towards him, flinging me over the edge into the dark watery abyss.

Thanks for reading!! 

What do you think of this mysterious man???