I had to get Lycus's staff. I have to run away. I did not know where the thought occured to me, but I knew I had to do it. My father hates me. Heira hates me. Demetri follows Heira everywhere and that makes him unavaidable. I have no one except for myself. My plan is to leave and find the staff before Cassandra gets it. Then I will clear things up with all my new enemies. It must be morning already. I will summon Meraki into my room and tonight I will escape. Jason did not come to dress me and there for I was still in my formal wear. My bow and arrows were on the table. Now I must do a tracking spell. "Ergo Lycus staffius wheee. Findhji." I saw a building in ruins. It was on an island. My eyes opened I knew where to go.

That night I summoned Meraki. "Lord." She bowed. "My good friend,we need to leave this place at once." I looked at her with a commanding expression. Meraki did not have a choice other than to listen. Still she was a headstrong horse. "My Prince, you cannot flee from the castle and I must not be here. The king commanded it. He said if you call me I must call him." She neighed loudly and I could hear people gathering outside my room. I made a reaching gesture and pulled back. The doors closed shut. "You batrayed me, Meraki. Be gone." Before she vanished I gave her one more furious glare. As soon as she left my door flew open. The palace witch stood there with a statisfied smile. "Your father wants to see you. Gaurds, take him." In one swift motion I had my bow and arrows on my back. My sword was still in my belt from the clothes I still wore since yesterday. "No, tell him I left." Her smile faded as I whispered one word. "Gonto." I vanished into thin air.

I appeared in a city. There was what we usualy see in our cities. Massive white buildings, cobblestone streets, donkeys, wagons and people everywhere. From behind me, someone pushed me. "Really? Do not stand in the middle of the street!" When I turned around. The man paled and fell on his knees. "My Lord, may I know your name?" I glared at him. "Rise, boy. I am a prince, but sadly I may not tell you my name." He stood up. There was tears in his eyes and he looked frightened. "Please forgive me! I will do anything for you." I smiled as a thought appeared in my mind. "Good, I want you to find me a horse. I prefer a strong stallion that can go long distances without resting alas a healty mare would also be good. I will wait for you at the main temple. Be there in four hours." He ran off into the crowd. The first thing I had to do was to see the king. When I reached the palace gates, the gaurds stopped me. "Who are you?" I showed them my crown. "I am a prince. Let me enter, I want to see the king." The gave a quick bow and opened the gates. Inside the building another gaurds led me to the throne room. There I did not see the king, but the queen. "My lady." I bowed. She smiled. "Who are you, young man and also you may rise." I stood up. She was still young maybe twenty seven with red hair. On her head rested a beautiful golden crown made of leaves. "I am Prince Alexander Hess of Athens." Her eyes got a sneaky gleam. "It is an honour to meet you. Why do you come here if you live in the wealthiest kingdom in the world?" Something about her made me not trust her. I decided to tell a lie. "My father send me on a quest to make an allience with a foreign kindom, but it is still far away and I need a place to rest." She gave me a sympathic smile. "Where are your gaurds, boy?" For a moment I did not know what to say, fortunately an idea came into my mind. "They are in the city. I told them they could rest while I talk with you." She nodded. "My Queen, may I ask you if I can stay here. Only tonight." She smiled and called two maiden slaves. "Girls, take this fine young man. Give him a warm bath filled with roses. Dress him in new clothes and polish his weapons and crown. When you are done bring him to the dining hall. I am sure the king will be here by then. Rest well, Alexander." I bowed again before I followed the girls. The whole way they would glance in my direction and laugh. After a time I could not take it anymore and when they laughed again, I talked. "Why are you laughing?" They looked at the ground. "Our apologies, my Lord. It is only you are really handsome." I smiled. "Thank you. May I know your names?" They turned a bright red. "I am Shea and this is Cate." I nodded. "Well, Shea and Cate, we are at the bathingroom, please undress me and tell the polisher to be polite with my crown." They started to work and in no time I was in the bath. It felt amazing! Shea was rubbing my painful muscles while Cate was washing me. The whole time they asked me about my life. After that they dressed me in a  tunic with a leather breastplate and strong sandals. Shea tied my old cloak, which was washed, on my shoulders. They also put my jewelry back on. Lastly the gave me my weapons and put on my crown. I studied myself in the mirrior. I did look better than a few hours ago. "Thank you. Please take me to the dining chamber." They took me to a room with a long wooden table. There sat the queen, a man and a dozen children. On the deck was all kinds of food. Next to the man there was an open seat. "Young man! Join me." He gestured for me to sit next to him. "I am the king. It is good to meet you." I bowed my head. "No, the honour is mine. I do not know what I would have done if you did not take me in. Is this your children around the table?" The king laughed. "So noble. A true Hess! Yes, they are my children. My wife told me your story. What kindom do your father want as an alliance?" I gave him a proud smile. "Kos, the island Kos. My king, why are you so willing to take me in?" The man snapped his fingers. On eighter side of me gaurds blocked my way. "While you were cleaning, my wife told me about you. You see I was this morning in a meeting with your father. He invited a few kings to his palace and informed us about you. Our task is if we find you, I must send you back to him. Dead or alive." I jumped to my feet, the force broke my chair in half. "You may trie, but know you will fail." He laughed and told the gaurds to sieze me. I punched the first man in his face and he fell on the floor. "Did my father inform you about the most important detail about me?" His frown gave it all away. I laughed and held out my hand. A flame appearex in my palm. "I am a wizard and-" my fangs grew out, "a vampire. Next time you see him. Tell him his son says he should tell his puppets everything about their target." Everyone was staring at me in fear. The king looked like he wanted to run away and hide in a hole yet he spoke with confidence. "You do not scare me. I have fought hundreds of enemies and won. You are only a mete oppenent in my way. Gaurds, take him down. If he dies, so be it!" They sprang on me like cats, yet I was stronger. After I had to punch a few men, I had enough. As the next came, I froze them midair. "Remember to tell my father. Wait! I have a much better idea. I will teleport you to him now. Send my regaurds." He evaporated into air. I faced the queen and her children. "Have a good day. Your father and husband will return as soon as my father tells him to leave. Farewell!" I turned myself into an eagle and flew off into the unknown.