Visha

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I feverously whisper to Sky as we creep along the corridor.

It was the dead of night, and one of the unspoken rules for the castle servants was that we weren't allowed to leave unless we were explicitly told we could. If we did, and were caught it would mean a terrible punishment was coming our way or even death.

"I can't believe you're abandoning me for some guy!" I indignantly shout at her, before slapping my hand over my mouth.

"Shhhhh! What the hell is wrong with you? Are you trying to get us caught?" Sky harshly whispers as if this wasn't her bad idea in the first place.

'Sorry' I mouth back, but I was still angry at her. The only reason we could even be permitted to leave the castle was to pick up more supplies.
We only left the first time because Brea wanted us out of the way, though I can only imagine for what. The more I hang around this Palace the more and more suspicious I become.

It's really becoming a bad habit, two days ago, when we were in town Sky had met a man. Rodri, they had chatted briefly, if I would say so. And now she's actually going out with him but there's one fatal flaw in her plan. We're not technically allowed to leave the palace without permission!

And no one's given her permission, which is why me and her were currently sneaking through different corridors, trying to find the best way to sneak her out and sneak her back in before anyone realizes she left in the first place.
I'm supposed to be the lookout, but I'm not doing a very good job of it... probably because I'm still following her around trying to get her not to go. I just can't help myself, I want us to stay safe and alive for as long as possible.

The guards have been well- on guard, no pun intended. Since the attack two days ago and now they're very cautious of anyone coming and going. I didn't know how many people were actually in charge of keeping this place safe but I didn't want to find out.

Not that it wasn't already a punishable offense to be caught out after dark if you are a servant. But now it's a killable offense.

"Oh just go already, see what I care!" I whisper shout to her.

"I will, and I will have a great time while you're here continuing to look out. Now be a good girl and stay." Sky replies, a smirk growing ever so slightly on her face.

" I am not a dog." I bite out.

With a roll of my eyes, I wait for her to finish climbing out the window. Like hell I was gonna stand around here waiting for her to get back if she wanted to risk her life and our cover that was her prerogative but no way would I let her and cover mine.
With a huff I turn and stomp away from her. Knowing she wouldn't yell to try to get my attention or walk back to her. I continue on my way back to my room.

I've barely been able to get any sleep the last few nights so I was determined to get some tonight. I was being haunted by a pair of gold eyes that kept me up for the past two nights. No way would they do it again.

Just before I could duck back into the hidden hallways, the servants used to get to our rooms and around the palace. Someone decided to stop me. Someone I never wanted to see again, someone who could very well make me lose my head.

"Someone could lose their head for being out this late," a gruff voice says suddenly from behind me.

Shit, shit, shit.

"Hello little bird," the voice says again only this time it sounds more and more familiar. I slowly turn around, and those blazing golden eyes are on mine almost immediately.

"Hello your majesty," I quietly greet back knowing it would be rude to not respond. I jerk my eyes down to floor not wanting to maintain eyes contact with him for too long.

"Would you care to have dinner with me, little bird?" His deep voice asks not wasting anytime with pleasantries. Though it was phrased as a question it was clearly a demand.

"This late at night?" I blurted out without realizing, looking back up at him.

He says nothing, but instead stares at me, and slowly nods his head. All right, then to my choices, I could either be beheaded or to go have dinner with the Emperor, decisions, decisions...

"Alright, I'll have dinner with you." I agree doing my best to keep calm while I was internally freaking out.

"Good choice," he says, humor evident in his voice, as if I would dare choose another way.

Hey gestures for me to walk in front of him, practically in the opposite direction I had been walking. My palms beginning to sweat as he walked slowly behind me, was much larger than I was and had to shorten his stride considerately to keep up with me. I could have sped up to make it a little less uncomfortable for him, but a sadistic voice in the back of my head kind of enjoyed having this power over him even if it was only slightly.

I suppose I had no reason to fear it's not like I could be punished for being out with the Emperor . Unless he decided he wanted to...
And what was with that nickname? 'little bird.' no one ever called me that, but why is it that when he did it? I got butterflies in my stomach. I'm must've been so nervous I just need to vomit, yeah, that was probably it.

We headed up into the West Wing, the Emperor's private Wing no one ever came he. Even other master's weren't allowed to be up here without explicit order's to do so. So why the hell was I allowed?

We stopped short in front of what I could only describe as a glass room, all for walls were just pains of glass, and in the middle sat a table. Small and cozy only seating two at a time, with food and drinks already prepared. He walked over to one of the chains and pulled out the chair for me.

I hesitantly say down as he pushed in the chair, keeping my head low and eyes focused on the food laid out in front of me. Then all too quickly, he was only a breath away from me. One of his  hands rested on the table the other on the back of the chair as he leaded down, and gently looked me over. 

He gently raised his hand, and cupped the side of my face. His finger tracing over the cut I had gotten a few days ago, it had been healing up quite nicely and I was hoping it wouldn't leave a scar, but that didn't mean it wasn't still noticeable.

"What happened to your face?" He all but growled.

"A little incident in town," I found myself whispering out. He touch was so soothing, I almost didn't want him to stop.

"Who?" he continued to gently graze the mark.

"I'm not sure, it was probably the same dude that tried to kill you." I explained hoping it would get him to move away from me.

He thankfully took the hint and moved to sit in the chair across from me. "Would you care for a game?" I ask, 

"Depends, what does it entail?"

"Questions, and nothing more. I'll ask one and you answer and vise versa." I explain while reaching over for some food.

"I'll start, so my little bird, why did you come here?"

"Work," I say smoothly trying to remember my lies.

"So simple, so very intriguing nonetheless." He smiled... actually smile over at me. And my heart nearly leapt out of my chest as I swallowed deeply.

"My turn, why did you want to have dinner with me?" I ask wanting to know his motives behind out little question game.

"You fascinate me in a way no other has." He says, honest and raw leaving me a little thrown off. I never expected him to be so open with me, he's supposed to be heartless and calculating. "What is you real name little bird?" He asks and my eyes widen ever so slightly before I'm able to catch them and relax my face making sure to give nothing else away.

A loud band erupted out in the hallway distracting me from my answer, and just in time but all too late. It had to have been Sky...

"What was that noise?"

"What noise I didn't hear anything," I rush out, trying to distract him, in truth, I did hear the noise, and I know exactly what it was. 

She was sneaky when she wanted to be but if she even had a little bit of alcohol, she was louder than a bull in a China shop . And if she went out on a date, they would most likely be drinking involve one of the other reasons why I had to be a lookout for her if she came back, someone would need to make sure she kept quiet.

"Stay here." he ordered.