Heavy red tapestries lined the walls, hanging on gold rods embellished with carvings of dragons, their ruby eyes glinting in the candlelight. A lone candle sat on the dark wooden table beside the four-poster bed, its flame casting jagged shadows across the dark stone walls. The balcony doors, gold frames supporting thick glass, stood ajar, hot summer air creeping into the chambers. As the wind blew in, the doors squeaked. 

A boy sat in the middle of the bed, naked body trembling despite the summer heat. Skinny arms wrapped around a pale torso, the body still immature. Milky teeth nibbled on a red lip fearfully, as the candle flared, its shadow dancing eerily on the walls. 

A door opened as a shadow walked in, dark cloak drifting around the form like smoke. The boy's breathing faltered, as large, round eyes peered up as the shadow reared above him. The shadow had a head and body, the shape changing and morphing as wispy black tendrils solidified into voluptuous curves and sharpened talons. The shadow took the form of a beautiful woman, full lips painted in a rich ebony. Dark brown hair flowed past sharp cheekbones in thick waves, the curled ends falling past the woman's slope of the woman's behind. Though her body was sharp, her face was an abyss of  darkness, the only feature being a pair of gleaming red eyes that licked up and down the boy's form. If there had been lips, they would have been twisted up into a devilishly painted smile.

The boy shook as he scuttled back on the bed as the shadows licked at his toes. 

"Please don't hurt me," the boy pleaded, tears streaming as he hugged his body tight. The shadow laughed, black tendrils wrapping themselves around the boy's porcelain ankles, spiralling up his leg. The shadows were cold, his skin prickling as they climbed up to his knees, pulling at the shaking limbs. "Please, I'm scared," the boy cried again, the shadow-woman's form climbing onto the bed, which stained black as her hands dripped with thick ooze. 

"Shhh, boy," a velvety voice soothed, the woman's taloned hand gripping the boy's chin, lifting up his head. Ruby lips quivered as tears slipped between the parted buds. Sharp nails scraped along the boy's lower lip, drawing blood. 

"P-please," the boy choked again, as the shadows pulled at his legs, crawling further and further up his body. The shadows pressed and tore at his white skin, wrapping around his torso before snaking around his wrists like manacles. With sudden force, the shadows pushed the boy down into the bed, his wrists pinned down at his sides as the shadows raked over him. The woman's face morphed again, the shadow turning into a face of dripping black ooze which flowed to form a sharp nose and full lips, which parted as they neared the boy's face. The boy's terrified cry was muffled as the black lips smothered his, the taste bitter as poison filled his mouth and nipped at his tongue. 

Body paralysed by both fear and shadow, the boy's eyes clenched shut as a shadowed hand pressed against his stomach, the boy gasping in pain as sharp nails dug into his flesh, drawing crimson blood which blossomed against his whiteness. Her poisoned tongue licked at the blood he spilled, putrid heat blossoming in his lower abdomen as the shadow seemed to swallow him whole.

"Please stop," the boy moaned weakly, fear spilling from his lips as the woman pulled back, red eyes gazing down at him like a hunter. The boy choked out a cry as the woman smiled, her nails digging deeper and deeper into him. "I'm scared! Please stop! N-No! Please!" 

"Mine," the shadow hissed, as the boy screamed, blackness filling his soul. 

Keir's wet eyes flew open as his mouth parted in a choked gasp, his body trembling has his hands fisted the sheets, muscles taut. The fabric beneath him was damp with sweat, his chest heaving as his eyes tried to see in the pitch black of the dark. A slit of light slithered in from under the doors to his chambers, illuminating a small patch of the wall where his washbasin sat, freshly folded linen lying neatly upon a silver tray. Keir panted as he tried to still his breath, struggling to inhale as his chest spasmed in panic. His mouth tasted of iron, where had had bitted the inside of his cheek in his unconsciousness. 

Body was hot as his blood pulsed, but his core trembling as gooseflesh prickled from his skin, Keir covered his mouth to stifle a strangled sob. Though he did not thrash around the bed throughout the nightmare, his body locked in a paralysed state stricken with fear, the tensions in his muscles had caused his wound to burn. Keir wasn't sure if the wetness there was from his sweat or blood.

Despite the pain in his side and the tightness in his lungs as he tried to breath, Keir managed to roll himself out of bed, his hands supporting gripping the wooden post of his bed, his fingers shaking. Keir first lit the candle on his bedside table, the flame of the match fizzling out the first time as he shook. The gentle flicker of the flame calmed him slightly, his feet stumbling to the candles lining the east of the room. Lighting all the candles he could see, Keir's eyes blurred with tears as he limped back to the bed, pulling himself beneath the covers, praying for day to break soon. 

Keir could not fall asleep again that night, for every time he closed his eyes, he could feel shadowed nails digging into his neck. 

~~~

When Lucas visited Keir the next morning, he was surprised to see the other prince already awake, dark circles dulling the usually bright skin beneath Keir's eyes. Lucas noticed that all the candles in the room had melted into blobs at the base of the candelabras, the curtains pulled open as far as they could go.

"Good morning, Lucas," Keir croaked, his voice hoarse as he managed to shoot the prince a small, withered smile. Lucas frowned deeply as he knelt by Keir's side, gently taking his chin between his thumb and forefinger to tilt his head to either side. "Last time I checked, I got hurt on my stomach, not my face." Keir's amused voice was overshadowed by his sheer exhaustion, Lucas growing increasingly worried about his friend. 

"Did you not sleep at all last night?" Lucas asked, Keir shaking his head.

"No, no, I slept plenty," Keir lied, groaning as Lucas helped him sit up. 

"You don't look like you did," Lucas huffed, pulling back the blanket to look at Keir's wound. He tried not to look too long at the glistening expanse of Keir's chiseled chest, focusing on the bandages that wrapped around his waist instead. "Well, the wound doesn't look like it's reopened. How is the pain? Was that what was keeping you up last night?"

"It sometimes aches and itches a little, but that's within expectations," Keir admitted, Lucas nodding.

"Well, if you need anything to help with the pain, let one of the servants know and they can deliver some to you," Lucas said, pulling the covers back over Keir's body. "And you must rest. You've been through much these past few days, the least you can do is let your body recover."

"I'll be up and walking in no time, don't worry," Keir laughed, stretching his arms. "Being bedridden is terribly monotonous."

"You won't be able to go hunting any time soon, even if you're walking around tomorrow," Lucas said, smiling lightly. 

"I know I'm strong, but even I don't think I'm that strong," Keir grinned, gazing out into the garden. "I just want to walk around the gardens, get some fresh air. Maybe feed the horses."

'As long as that stablehand isn't there,' Lucas grumbled to himself, as Keir sighed heavily.

"I wonder how Persephone is getting on," Keir mused, Lucas laughing.

"She's been quite distraught without her human lover around," Lucas teased, Keir nodding in satisfaction. "She'll probably be quite mad when you return."

"You don't think I'll be slapped, do you?" Keir asked, feigning concern as he pointed to his naturally flushed cheeks.

"Kicked more like it," Lucas replied, Keir faking a sob as he clutched his chest theatrically.

"I'll have to feed her some carrots to appease her," Keir told himself, before turning back to Lucas with a tender gaze. Lucas gulped. "How is your shoulder?" Keir asked, gently brushing Lucas's injured arm.

"Just some bruising," Lucas said quickly, taking a step back hastily. Keir's lips smiled sadly, the curve disappearing as he relaxed his face, his outstretched hand dropping to his side. 

"I'm glad then," Keir said, a false smile on his face. "Can't have my sister marrying a corpse." Lucas faltered at Keir's comment, the words cutting more deeply than they should. 

"O-Of course not," Lucas laughed, swinging his injured arm around in a show of good health. Keir nodded again, his head growing heavy and his eyes tired. 

"I'm sorry, Lucas," Keir yawned, tugging on his blanket as a chill washed over him. "I'm a bit tired." Lucas could hear the silent 'leave me alone' in his words, murmuring a soft "rest well" before closing the curtains and stepping out of the room. As he stepped away from Keir's chambers, his body grew colder, as if it couldn't bare to part with the prince. 

His touch is always so warm, I could melt in it.