11 THAT SINKING FEELING

I still couldn't believe my ears, I mean escape? I was just begging Ivan few days ago for his generosity which he granted to us but now Cruzita is bringing up the dangerous plan of us to escape? Like, there was a lot of things that could go wrong and I don't want to think about what will happen if Ivan finds out about it. Especially not after my first failed attempt.

"So what do you say?" Cruzita asked me, a expectant look on her face.

I shook my head at her. "No, I'm not so sure about this Cruzita."

Cruzita reached out to grab my hands. "Look, I know you are scared. It's okay, I am too. But, we have to escape."

"Okay, I need a minute." I told her pushing myself up from the chair and I began pacing around. "Like do you have any idea what you are asking us to do?"

"Of course I do child." Cruzita told me with a small smile on her face, "But this...this world isn't safe for us! It isn't safe for you!"

"Well nowhere is safe for us!" I pointed out, "We can't escape this place because every guard here is on high alert and let's say we manage to escape the woods, there are more ruthless monsters than the Midnight pack, believe me I know that!" I told her shuddering a little bit at the memory of the rogue werewolves I had encountered when I tried to escape.

Cruzita let out an exasperated sigh. "I understand your worries but I have a plan and I think it will work." She said with conviction.

"Okay, let's say your plan does work," I told her and she nodded my head at me to continue, "Where will we go? We can't go back to the town because that would be the first place Ivan would look and we have no home to go to anymore. Papa will probably sell me off to a merchant and you would also be sold alongside me for betraying him. We have nowhere to go Cruzita!" I pointed my eyes already welling up with tears.

"We could escape to the mountains." Cruzita told me and I frowned at that.

"The mountains?"

Cruzita nodded her head at me. "Yes child. The mountains, no one would think to look for us there. We could start afresh, me and you. We could rear chickens and you will be free to run into the woods as much as you want without you worrying of any beasts." Cruzita finished as she grabbed my arms.

I let out an resigned sigh. "Fine, but how will we get out of here? It's impossible to escape this place you know...."

"You leave that to me." Cruzita cut me off, "There's a secret passage way in the castle, it's not used by many."

I frowned at that. "Secret passage way? How do you know about that?"

"You never mind that child." Cruzita brushed me off, "You just go and meet the King and come back immediately to your chambers. Sometime around midnight, I'll come fetch you."

"But..."

"No but, it isn't safe for you here. Now go and remember midnight okay?" Cruzita told me sternly and I nodded my head at her.

"Okay, midnight." I told her and she smiled at me.

"Good, now go meet the king." Cruzita ordered and I smiled at that before I left my room and did as she asked.

***

That night, I had tossed and turned in my sleep. I couldn't get much sleep, not after what Cruzita and I spoke about! I had gone to the meeting with Ivan as planned. Thankfully it was just us both. He had busied himself with signing off some papers. He was so busy he didn't even spare much glance at me when I was in the room with him. He didn't look at me when I thanked him for releasing Cruzita and Blue, who by the way I still haven't seen.

I asked him about it but he just said he was in the care of a vet doctor. They were checking if Blue had any disease and if he was safe to be returned to me. I had thanked him for that too but Ivan still didn't look at me, which was fine by me. I had a lot going on my mind anyway.

That night I didn't change into my nightgown. I had pulled out a dark tunic which I had worn with a pair of dark leggings and dark boots. I waited anxiously on my bed, waiting for Cruzita to come. I was still waiting when I heard footsteps and muffled voices.

I looked down at the tiny space on my door. I could see the legs of people walking past my door. I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep, pulling the covers all the way to my chin. I squeezed my eyes tightly waiting for someone to come into my room at any moment. But no one came.

I opened my eyes and let out a relieved breath I didn't know I was holding. Where the hell is Cruzita? She should have been here by now! She said midnight! I muse as I looked at the door wondering when Cruzita would come. I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard loud murmurs and small shouts from outside.

I got up at that and sat still on my bed listening for more noise. It sounded as if people were running and the voices were getting louder. I saw a flash of light out my window which prompted me to get up from the bed. I got up and walked towards the window. Pulling the curtains, I looked outside only to see some guards outside they were each carrying torches and running towards the gate.

Something was wrong! I could feel it and I needed to find out what it is! With that thought in my head, I made a move to go out my room before I stopped. I looked down at myself and knew I couldn't get out of my room like this, not without raising any suspicions. I walked towards the wardrobe and yanked out my cloak which I wrapped around my shoulders. I pulled the hood to my head before I finally went out of my room.

On getting out of my room, I was surprised to see so many guards awake at this hour. They were all talking in hushed whispers as they moved about the corridors. No one seemed to notice me or if they did, they didn't pay me any attention. I immediately used that to my advantage as I marched through the hallways.

I was still walking when I noticed Kiran standing at the corner. With him was his sister Aurora who was dressed in a night gown. I could also see some guards were present too. Based on the way they were huddled together they seemed to be talking about something serious. I decided to go and meet them.

"Hey, Kiran, Aurora." I called as soon as I neared them and I watched Aurora's eyes widen in surprise but she quickly masked it, "What's going on?"

"Fuck." Kiran cursed silently as he looked away from me, "What are you doing here?" He asked me.

Aurora quickly stepped forward a warm smile on her face. "Arianne dear, you were supposed to be asleep."

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep." I said eyeing them with a wary look. They were hiding something! I was just about to ask what it was when a guard suddenly ran towards us.

"Your majesties." The guard bowed to Aurora and Kiran, "His highness is back with the body!" The guard informed and my ears perked up at that.

"Fuck." Kiran cursed again and I frowned at that.

Body? What body? "What is he talking about? Whose body is it?" I asked no one in particular.

"Okay that's it, Aurora take her and lock her in her room! The rest of you guards are coming with me!" Kiran ordered and the guards nodded their heads while I just stood there staring at them with a confused look on my face.

Just what the hell is going on?

Before I could ponder on my thoughts, Aurora reached for me and wrapped her arms with mine. "Come on Arianne, let's go to bed."

"No!" I jerked my arm away from Aurora's. "I want to know what's going on!"

"I'm sure the boys have it covered, now come on let's go." Aurora coerced but I was having none of it.

"I don't want to go to my room! I want to know whose body it is they found!" I told her firmly.

Aurora winced at that. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Well, I guess I'll just have to find out myself then!" I told Aurora with determination and she looked at me with something akin to pity.

"Are you sure you want to do this? You could wait till tomorrow and..."

"No!" I cut her off. "I want to do it now!" I said and even as I said it I could feel a sinking feeling in my gut.

Aurora let out a resigned sigh at that. "Alright then, come with me and stick close to me!" She ordered and I nodded my head at her.

Together Aurora and I walked down the hallway. We walked past the dining room floors and down the stairs. We took twist and turns and descended more stairs, taking parts that led us further down in the castle. Finally, we got to the doors that led outside. Aurora pushed it open and I shivered at the cold. Even in my cloak and tunic the cold was still too much. I turned to look at Aurora who was dressed in just her nightgown and she wasn't shivering. Guess she can't feel cold, she is part wolf after all.

I looked away from Aurora only to notice the guards in front of us, they were all staring at something. No, not something, someone. I corrected as I trailed their look of focus and I could see the head of Ivan. His hair was covered in snow, he made no move to brush it off. His hair was also in disarray, he didn't tie it this time. It was let loose , all the way to his shoulders and wasp of hair flew to his face because of the gentle breeze that was blowing.

I left Aurora's side and pushed my way forward. I pushed against the guards till I finally found myself standing in the front. Ivan's gaze whipped to look at mine and I saw a flash of surprise in his eyes before it was set into a hard glare.

"What the fuck is she doing here? Why the sn't she in her room?" Ivan growled at the guards who immediately bowed their heads.

I immediately came to their rescue. "It wasn't their fault, I asked to come."

"You shouldn't be here!" Ivan growled menacingly at me and I felt my heart thrum in fear.

I licked my now dry lips as I answered. "I know, but I heard a body was found." I said and looked down only to see Ivan's hands were coated with blood. Behind him I could see a body laying down in the snow. I couldn't see who it was because Ivan's big frame was covering it.

"Who is that?" I asked looking up at Ivan who looked away from me. That sinking feeling in my gut was back again but I pushed it away as I stared at Ivan.

"Whose body is that?" I repeated, my voice already shaky.

Ivan looked up at me a solemn look on his face. "I never wanted you to find out like this." He said before he moved away, the body finally coming into view.

The first thing I noticed was the spilled bloody gut on the snow and I almost puked at the sight. Whoever it was, the stomach was cut open and the guts were spilling out onto the snow. I manager to tear my eyes away from the gory sight and I raised it up to see who the owner of the body was.

My knees crumpled to the snow when I finally saw who it was. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I tried to speak again but it felt like my vocal cords suddenly stopped working. I closed my eyes and opened them again but the body was still there.

Her mass of dark and grey curly hair lay on the ground covered in snow and blood. Her eyes were wide open, a hint of surprise in them. Her lips were slightly parted and I noticed how blue they were from the cold. I crawled towards the body and reached for her outstretched hand but it was already frozen. I couldn't feel any warmth coming from it anymore. I looked up at the body again and the dark hollow eyes of Cruzita stared back at me!

~~~

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