The next incident occurs about a week later, a week of utter boredom as I spend time with a prince that doesn't seem to care even the tiniest bit about what I'm interested in. He drags me around do to whatever he does, but I don't think he does it on purpose. I've been convinced that he is simply extremely bad at reading the situation and how other people feel about things without them saying anything. He never notices my reluctance to go hunting or riding with him, but I digress.

The incident happens in the castle this time, a cook attacked by a shadowy creature. One of the servants watched from the doorway as it tore the man to shreads. The poor girl is jumping at everything now, and I can't blame her. Seeing something that horrifying is bound to bring even the toughest man to tears.

"I don't like this," Alfred says quietly as we walk down the hallway together. This is the first thing he's said to me all day. "This was way too close for comfort." His eyes never leave the glossy state they're in, and it makes me wonder if he's talking to himself or me.

"Maybe they're planning something," I suggest, but Alfred brushes it off with a scoff.

"Everyone knows that demons don't think. They just mindlessly murder until they are killed." He pauses for a moment before nodding, as if deciding something. "We'll just have to more guards posted more often, and everyone should travel with at least one other person at all times until it's decided that we're safe."

Ironically, he takes off down the hall without me right after saying that, to deliver the orders I assume. I sigh, but I'm not worried. I may not be a fighter, but I can handle myself. Spotting the empty garden from the window in the hall, I decide to head there. I may as well practice a few spells to prepare myself. I don't want to be rusty if I end up fighting a demon.

The garden is beautiful, practically sparkling in the light. It rained recently so the droplets on the leaves look like diamonds in the sunlight. I guess I can start with that. Walking over to a rather large leafed plant I gently hold the leaf in my hand, running the other one just over the surface of it. I glow a slight blue color, and when I pull my hand away, diamonds litter the leaf, not water. 

Smiling at my handiwork, I turn the diamonds back to water before walking further into the garden. I find a part of the wall surrounding the garden with a strange carving on it. Etched into the stone with great care is a dragon, a large beautiful one covered in flowers. It's blowing out clouds instead of fire, and the clouds produce rain upon a large gaping fire below. It's a strange picture, but I find myself intrigued nonetheless. 

I run my hand along the stone and gasp at the feel of it. The texture is perfectly normal, but there is magic radiating from it, powerful magic. How have I not felt this before? 

"Arthur, are you alright?" 

I jump and turn around at the sound of Prince Mathew's voice, meeting his concerned gaze with surprise. 

"Ah, yes," I say after a moment of stupidly blinking. "My mind simply wandered off," I tell him, chuckling awkwardly.

He smiles, sweet as ever as he starts to leisurely walk with me. "You and Alfred seem to be getting along rather well," he says, and I sigh. "Or not?" he adds afterwards, giving me a questioning look.

Swallowing thickly, I decide to put some trust in the younger prince. "I love Alfred," I state, causing his eyebrows to shoot up in surprise. "However," I say, giving him a pointed look. "He doesn't return  these feelings. The only reason we spend so much time together is because he wants to marry me so you can be with the one you love." Sighing after the small speech, I let my eyes fall to my feet, watching them move as I walk.

"You're just as dumb as Alfred is." 

My gaze snaps back up at the insult, and I find a chuckling Mathew looking at me with amusement gleaming in his violet eyes. "I beg your pardon?"

Mathew shakes his head, making the stray blonde curl of his bounce. "That's what he told you, right?"

I nod slowly, wondering what piece of information I'm missing.

"Well, you can't always listen to what he has to say. You have to read in between the lines with him. He may be oblivious himself, but he's rather subtle about things. He plays dumb."

"What exactly is he being subtle about?"

Mathew grins at me. "He obviously has feelings for you. I don't know the degree to which those feelings extend, but they are there."

With that, he leaves, strutting away so quietly that it is almost ghostly. Once he turns a corner, I find myself alone in the garden once again, frustratingly concerned. I have always thought that I'm good at reading people, but I guess I am not as talented as I thought I was.

I'm interrupted from further investigating the dragon carved into the wall when I hear several soldiers yelling and the sound of metal against metal. Panicked at the idea of someone getting hurt, I rush to where the ruckus is coming from, the Throne Room. Nearly sprinting the entire way there, I feel my stomach drop at the sight. Collapsed in front of the throne, lie Alfred and his father. His father has an arrow in his arm, and Alfred has three shallow claw marks across the front of his torso. Blood drips from their respective wounds.

On the other side of the room knights attack with fervor the black mass in front of them. It's in the shape of a large man, hunched over and grinning. A long piece of black hangs from its form, resembling a scarf as it slams into knight after knight, knocking some unconscious and killing others as they stab at it with their sharp swords. Knowing what the beast is, I know that weapons like those won't do much at all, and it's too big to restrain with my vines. I'm going to have to kill it.

"Arthur," I hear Alfred call, followed by wet coughs, causing my gaze to return to the idiot prince. "Arthur run." His eyes are pleading, as if he's already given up hope of winning.

Not knowing what to say, I shake my head, glaring heatedly at him. What on earth makes him think I'll just abandon him like that? 

My gaze returns to the monster just in time to avoid the body of a flying knight. His body hits the ground with a sickening sound behind me, and I force myself to ignore it.

Summoning my magic, I close my eyes and place my palms together. As I slowly pull them apart a golden weapon begins to appear between my hands. When my arms finally widen and pull apart, I clutch a golden scythe with practiced skill. It's one of my favorite weapons, and it's enchanted. So it should work against the demon.

The beast stops attacking the knights, and everyone in the room is now staring at me, including the wretched creature. It seems to smile, stretching its mouth-like structure in a way that's utterly terrifying.

And it lunges at me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heylo, my lovely little nuggets! I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to leave any comments or suggestions you might have. They always make my day :) Anyway, I'll see y'all nuggety readers in the next update! Until then, have an absolutely fantastic and fabulous day! Bai!!! >:3

-IggyScones