His Caged Princess

11. A Vision 

“Ignite!” she whispered, feeling the coldness envelop her despite it being a warm night. Deep in the stone walls of the palace she felt cold. “Ignite!” she felt frustrated with the stone that remained dark in her hand. 

“It won’t work, these passageways are probably made so no magic can work here,” Declan’s voice came 

“Then how are we supposed to see?” she replied trying to feel for the walls when her hand touched something warm, she froze realising she was touching Declan’s chest and made to pull away “sorry!” 

“I’m beginning to wonder if you simply just wanted to get me alone,” he said. mockingly gripping her wrist, something about her touch awakened something inside of him. 

“You wish,” she retorted jerking her hand free from his hold 

“Don’t think so highly of yourself princess, you are not my type,” he replied, thinking if he had a type she would be it. 

“Good, and you are not mine either,” she shot back not knowing why his blatant refusal irked her. 

“Well, since we’ve clarified we have no desire for the other, shall we?” he said. 

“Can you even see?” she asked. Her eyes had time to adjust to the darkness but there was no source of light at all. The darkness was as black as could be.. 

“A little,” his reply came, and she felt his gloved hand grip her wrist as he began. moving along the passageway. 

“We will find our way back will we not?” she asked 

“Who knows,” came his not so helpful reply, although he knew he would be able to, he enjoyed seeing the princess getting worked up. 

He could faintly make out the passageway, it branched off at times, but he decided to stick to the middle path. Although the passageways suppressed magic it did not work on bloodlines. This was one of the reasons that powerful bloodlines were hated and feared. Just like his family’s… 

Layana was not sure how long they walked, Declan held her wrist tightly and she let him guide her, feeling helpless with no source of light. They had climbed a flight of steps at one point too, with Layana’s only support being Declan’s hold. Soon he stopped and she realised that there was a very slight faint line around an 

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area ahead. 

“What’s wrong, is there no way to open it?” she asked quietly 

“That’s not it princess. Let’s just hope no one is on the other side,” he murmured as Layana realised what he meant. 

“Then let me go first if I get caught you leave,” she said trying to move past him until he pulled her back, 

“No! You will stay in here unless I tell you to step out. if anyone’s caught, we both know I’m the one who can defend myself,” he said coldly. And Layana felt a pang of pain at his words. 

“I am not weak,” she whispered in annoyance 

“Maybe not, but you are powerless,” he said. She bit her lip knowing he was right, as much as she hated it, it was the truth. She stayed silent as he let go of her and felt around before he pulled a small lever on the side of the wall, and the wall swung open with almost complete silence. The room they were looking into was dark. Layana peeped around Declan as he stepped out. 

The moonlight shone through the barred window and Layana’s eyes widened in realisation, the shelf swung shut behind them with a small click. 

“Father’s office,” she whispered. “Ignite,” the mage stone sprang to light and Declan glanced to the door, before turning to the large bookshelves that lined the kings‘ office, his black cloak draped around his shoulders, only adding to his imposing aura. 

“We should be quick,” he said thinking if they took anything noticeable from here, the king would notice without a doubt, and right now he did not need his attention on him. He would get his revenge when the time was right, and he had the names of all who were responsible. 

Layana nodded as she walked over to one side of the room and quickly began scanning the shelves. Declan started on the other side as they both moved efficiently, scanning the thick spines of the books and files that were stacked on the shelves. 

It was a short while later when Declan crossed the room silently while holding a large black book out to her. She glanced at him questioningly, noticing those dark grey eyes were rimmed with thick black lashes, his straight slender nose was lucky to be untouched by years of training 

“If you’re done checking me out princess want to take a look at what I’m holding?” he said mockingly looking into those gorgeous eyes of hers. A faint 

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blush tinted her cheeks as she quickly looked at the book, “The Supremacy of the Forbidden Bloodlines‘ co 

Her eyes widened in shock and happiness, a breath–taking smile crossing her lips as she looked up at Declan, making his own heart feel a little strange under the 

dazzling pure le frowned at her looking away. 

smile. 

“Do you want it or not,” he said lelly 

“Thank you, yes of course!” she said quietly, about to take the book when they heard footsteps, Declan frowned scanning the room and spotted the round table that was covered with a black cloth. He could not believe he was about to do this, but they had no choice. Grabbing the princess’s hand, he pulled her across the room and lifting the cloth crawled underneath feeling absolutely humillated that he, a grown man was hiding under a table. Layana got in after him as he pulled her between his legs, her back slamming into his firm chest, her heart pounding at their position, his long legs bent on either side of her, as she tucked her legs. 

under her. 

“Extinguish” she whispered, and the stone went out, Declan placed the book next. to him silently as they heard the door open and two pairs of footsteps entered. One was heavy the other rather was a lot lighter. The room was bathed in a bright. glow as the lights were turned on. 

Who could it be at this time? Was her father not asleep yet, Layana thought, her worry overriding the nervousness from being so close to a man. 

“Close the door,” Evaan’s cold voice came, making Layana shrink into Declan, her pounding heart sounding loud in his cars. He slowly placed his arms around her stroking her arms trying to calm the nerves that often seem to get to the otherwise headstrong and feisty princess. “What is so important that you needed to see me right now,” the king’s voice came again as they heard the shuffling of a chair scraping on the wooden floor 

“I saw… a vision my king,” a haggard woman’s voice came. 

“A vision…” Evaan’s voice came, sounding a little strained 

“You know I would never have come to the palace if I had no proper reason to, 

“Fine, I know that, tell me what you saw,” Evaan said with a sight 

“You know 

how these work my king, I cannot make sense of all I saw, but it is dark, dark indeed,” the raspy voice of the woman came. She chuckled suddenly “I think you have mice, my king,” she said as Layana almost gasped, but Declan’s hand went over her mouth. She turned her head looking at him and he simply shook his head watning her to stay silent. If the woman was a seer, she may know 

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they were there. But he was not sure if she would out them, and he had no intention of announcing his own presence. 

“Get on with it,” Evaan said coldly, the woman sighed 

“As you wish my king…” she replied, “You will face three from your own. in the form of Betrayal, Death and Hope.” 

“That’s it?” Evaan asked. 

“I am afraid I can only tell you what I can make of it. Prepare for the three. One of your closest will betray you, you will lose one to death and one will bring you hope, play your cards wisely my king for the end is nearing,” the woman said making Layana shiver at the heaviness in those words. What did she mean ‘the end was near?‘ = 

A heavy sigh was heard from the king, 

“And the dark lord, did you see anything of him?” Evaan asked his cold voice betraying no emotion, 

“The dark lord? My king… we are all essence of the dark, we are what create him, what do you expect me to see?” 

“Do not antagonise me, woman,” Evaan hissed, there was a creak and footsteps. 

“What do you want me to tell you?” she asked sighing as Declan tensed, she was coming closer… Layana turned her head leaning it against his chest, her entire body tensed, her eyes closed ready to be exposed 

“How do we defeat him, please Catherina the kingdom needs any insight you can give us, war is coming, and you know it,” 

“I have seen nothing to offer but… there is something, I could make no sense of” she murmured, 

“What is it perhaps I shall know,” Evaan asked his voice almost pleading, something Layana had never heard on her father’s tongue before. 

“Reveal the truth you have hidden; Reveal the guilt you have suppressed. When the pure light meets the tainted darkness, there you shall find your answer,” The woman said quietly as Evaan hung on to every word that the woman spoke. He did not care if it made no sense, he would analyse and find the answer. 

“Have you no more? if you-” the king began 

“The answer is often right beneath our very nose my king if only you would look,” she murmured, “I shall leave before anyone spots me, 

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“Yes, of course, thank you for your time, Catherina,” 

“I only do this for the oath I am bound by,” she replied, the sound of footsteps receded, they heard the door open and closing plunging them in darkness once again. 

Layana took a deep breath, her tense body relaxing against Declan. His arms. were still around her, his chin brushing her blond hair that was almost completely out of the bun she had in it earlier. This felt a little too intimate he thought letting go of her, and gripping her tiny waist pushed her away from him. Layana, realising that she had shamelessly just sat against him quickly moved away crawling out from under the table. Declan stood up picking up the book and holding it out to her not looking her in the eye. 

“What you heard here, you should keep it to yourself, the woman said three of your fathers closest are involved, that could be anyone from your family, so share it with no one,” he said quietly. Layana took the book her heart racing ‘death, betrayal and hope…‘ the fear of losing a loved one suffocating her. ‘War was coming, was this why her father had pushed Terania’s wedding? Was her father assuming he would die?‘ 

She simply nodded to Declan too consumed by her own thoughts as she stood. there, knowing he had not found what he was looking for, but he did not seem to be looking anymore. 

“Let’s go, it’s late,” he said quietly, she simply nodded as they began searching for the lever to the secret passageway. Layana looked at the man before her, having spent a little time with him, she realised he was not just an arrogant annoying jerk… she looked away before he caught her staring once again..