Well... that was embarrassing. I'm pretty sure I freaked everyone out or made them all cry, but my tears have all dried. Ten years I waited under the leaves o the willow tree. Ten years of my life wasting on fairytales. I run my hands through my hair. 

"Why...? Why did you leave and never could come back?" I grip the column. 

It's dark tonight, and honestly kind of cold. I grip my arms. Anubis and Seth growl at me. I pull out dried meat and I throw it to them. I bite my lip. Not a lot of people were out. They were sweeping and minding their own business. 

"Hector! Hector!" I hear.

Oh no... not this again. I hate this.

"What now do you want of me?" I ask Rapunzel. 

"I... we came to apologize. We should never have pushed you." Rapunzel says.

"Your dad seems pretty messed up." Horace asks.

"If you say the word dad, one more time, I swear I'll cut your tongue out Horace." I snap.

Horace draws back.

"I am still grateful that you saved my son's life." Quirin says. 

"Don't mention it." I turn.

"Hector... I-" Varian starts.

Please, just leave it. Let skeletons rest in the closet. I stop. The smell. The burning wood and chaorcaol smell. I take out my sword. Anubis and Seth growl. The wind stops and the air goes still.  I feel my breath tighten.

"Something's wrong." Quirin says.

I nod.

"We're being watched." I say.

"And why is it always us that's being watched?" Horace whines.

"Sh." I say.

More of those flaming monsters drop down. I jump back. Quirin grips his pitchfork. Not as capable as his sword, but he's better with a farm's tool than an actual sword. They glare at me. There was more than one. They crawl forward. There was at least a handful. One looks at me. It crawls forwards.

"Forest Prince, where is your father?" It asks me.