It has been a few days since I had been granted the luxury to step foot outside of the palace walls and to say I was going crazy would be an understatement.

It feels as though I can't breathe when I am stuck inside, especially since I only recently got a sip of fresh air. I even often find myself reminiscing over the feeling of walking on a different surface.

That is why I have come up with a plan. A plan that I will execute later tonight if all goes well.

Yesterday evening, I was simply spending time on the veranda when I noticed a thin ledge connecting my balcony to another that seemed to lead onto a hallway. I had been a fool to not notice it before - to not notice my escape right in front of my very eyes.

The plan is simple. When the time is right all I have to do is make sure I am concealed beneath a thick cloak, scurry my way along without falling off, hop onto the other balcony, find my way out of the palace, and freedom is mine for the taking.

I am planning on trying to locate where the truthseeker has run off to. I need more answers and it has been proven that they are rather rare creatures to come across seen as they present your prophecies to you.

I'd spent some time in the library researching ways in capturing a truthseeker and have found that blood seems to do the trick. Of course with my luck, it is my blood that is needed.

A knock sounds at the door and I turn to say something to Serene but find that it is Manin instead. "Why, hello? It feels as though we haven't spoken in a while," I begin and he bows his head as always.

"I just wanted to let you know that Sire will be presenting you to the court tomorrow night. Serene will prepare you and tell you what is to happen but I just wanted to let you know," Manin bows and goes to leave but I stop him.

"Why didn't Darian tell me himself?" I question, or at least Serene.

"Sire is a very busy man, many meetings to attend to," Manin answers and I furrow my brows. My inquisition is what'd get me killed not loss. A shiver runs through me every time I think of the words that slithered in between the truthseekers yellow fangs.

"What are these meetings about... asking for a friend, of course," I clarify and Manin holds back a laugh. Well, it was worth a try.

"I am afraid I am not allowed to enlighten you on the subject m'lady but I can assure you that it is nothing of importance to you," Manin insists and I decide on leaving it there.

"Very well then. Thank you for telling me, Manin," I smile and he returns the gesture.

"My pleasure," Manin bows one last time before he leaves the room, locking the door behind him surprise surprise. I am unfazed by the sound of the door locking now, it's become a part of me, of my life.

Once Serene had served me my supper, I begin to get ready. This can either go very successfully or fail terrifyingly. I'm hoping it is the former but you know what they say about hope.

The cloak wraps around me effortlessly and I am thankful for how light it is despite how much it covers me. I pull the mask up over my mouth to ensure that my identity is concealed and make my way onto the balcony.

I am warm under the thick material and hope that it stays this way.

I look towards the small ledge and find that it seems to have grown vastly thinner. Lifting my right leg, I place my foot on top of the railing and brace myself. My hands grip onto the wall as the wind seems to pick up.

I have no clue how high I am but it is high enough. Don't look down. The pads of my fingers grow sore and ache as I grip the wall with all of my might. Hesitantly, I step onto the small ledge that connects both balconies.

My whole body ceases all movement when I am completely on the ledge. Why did I ever think that I could do this? No, you can and you will.

One step. You are a future Queen. Two steps. You will not be confined. Three steps. You are better than this. Four steps. You deserve freedom. Five steps. You will not be a prisoner. Six steps. You are more powerful than they will ever know.

And I am across.

My feet beg to be grounded and I accept its pleas. I have never worshipped the floor more in my entire life. Although, the feeling of practically dancing with death was rather exhilarating.

I've always been bound to the name of my family, never allowed to do anything exciting. So, to have this minuscule breath of freedom is more than refreshing.

Something moves in the corner of my eye and I notice a guard walking past. Immediately, I glue my back to the wall to conceal myself from the naked eye. Adrenaline courses through my veins just from the pure panic of the height and also the possibility of getting caught.

When I am sure no one is going to spot me, I sneak into the hallway. To my surprise, the glass door doesn't make a single sound and I thank the heavens. They must be on my side tonight.

The hallway seems more eery than usual but I am sure that I am only reading into this due to my unyielding paranoia. All I have to do is stay calm and not let myself be dragged into the pit.

Every hallway seems to be the same like I am in a never-ending loop. The only difference being the paintings hung precisely on the wall. I should have known when I first stepped in here that the depictions of the devil had truly meant something.

I am about to cut down another long corridor when I am met with the palace entrance. I groan when I see four guards set up outside of the mahogany doors. It's now or never.

I just have to be confident and act as though I am supposed to be here.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" one guard immediately begins and I stop in my tracks. Before I can even take another breath he continues. "Answer the question."

"My work with the King is disclosed and I am not at liberty to discuss the matter with you. At least without identification. I am running an errand for King Acheron and I am on a rather strict schedule so if you would please let me past, I would be ever so delighted."

"Your name?" he goads and I have to refrain from rolling my eyes, for all of our sakes. One wrong move and it's lights out for some of us - but I'll make sure that it's not me, that's for definite.

"Again, I am not at liberty-" the man cuts me off.

"You're not at liberty... we get it," the guard huffs and I declare that I have never met a man so rude in my entire existence. Even Lord Chance was not as rude as this and heavens he was a nasty piece of work.

"So, are you going to let me through or are we going to have to do this the hard way?" I question, prepared for any turn of events.

"I haven't got it in me for another brawl but hell save me, if I see you again I am going to need to know who you are or it's to the drowning docks for you," the guard unlocks the several latches before opening the heavy door and gesturing for me to walk through.

Nothing but darkness can be seen for miles, there is no way I am getting through that. "Mind if I borrow an oil lamp... please," I ask ever so graciously before the man hands me one and pushes my back, slamming the door behind me.

As soon as the door closes, I hear the locks sliding into place and I pray for a safe return and a safe journey.

The oil lamp does little to light the way but it is better than nothing so I have to take it on the chin. To think that people always live surrounded by darkness makes me wonder if any of these people are truly scared of anything.

Darkness has to be one of the most haunting things to exist. The unknown is the frightening part. I am not scared of darkness itself but more so what lurks within it.

The only confirmation that I am not floating amidst a sea of black is the palace lights retreating in the distance. Truthseeker here I come. You sure as hell better not be a waste of blood.

Branches and twigs snap beneath my feet, when I enter the forest, no matter how hard I try to be quiet. I think that where I am trying to be quieter it's ultimately making me louder. The ways of the world.

As soon as I find a spot that isn't too deep into the woods that I would get lost but deep enough that I will be concealed, I begin the... ritual I guess you could call it. I take my trusty paperknife from my pocket and the paper with the scribbled down chant.

Taking the paperknife, I slice it across my palm - biting down on my lip from the pain that encompasses my hand. Squeezing my hand so that the blood pours more vigorously, I begin the chant.

"Avete omnium veritatum latorem. Fortis prophetarum tantum cognoscet. Avete omnium veritatum latorem. Veritatis quaerens, invocote. Tequereveles, et mea fata dic."

The wind whistles and the trees rustle. My palm aches and I close my eyes, opening my mind to all possibilities - hoping that it will allure the Truthseeker. If my blood isn't enough then I do not know what is.

"Veni, bibe sanguinem meum. Salvete. Votum venturi da mihi, ponuntque in palmis."

I stand there, waiting and waiting but to no avail. Repeating the chant over and over again only to come to the conclusion that it was most likely one big hoax. It didn't work.

Wrapping my hand in the gauze, I hope that it heals by the morning. I don't feel like having to explain to Darian how, when, and where I got it. I have a feeling that it wouldn't go too well.

But, this can't be it. This can't be the end of my night of freedom. With every second I spend away from the palace the sooner I am to be found gone from my chambers. Darian sure as hell will not be in a meeting the whole night so he is bound to find my empty room.

However, I can't really spend the night in the woods. What would be the fun in that? I am about to turn around and head back to the palace but then I hear the sound of roaring and laughter in the distance.

I am far too inquisitive to ignore it and quite frankly, I have all the time in the world to discover where this absurd amount of noise is coming from.

The oil lamp begins to dim as I come to the end of a small carriage road only to find that it has lead me to a small village and the bellowing sound of laughter has only magnified. As soon as I hear the sound of metal chalices clinking I know exactly where I have been lead to.

There before me stands the groggiest, filthiest tavern I have ever had the luxury of seeing. But, there's only one thing to do. Leave, you may be screaming.

But I walk straight through the door and grab myself a pint of their strongest ale. Got to make the most of it, right?