“What a pleasant surprise, Your Highness.” The words glided off her tongue like a rehearsed melody as she slipped from my embrace and off to the far side of the chessboard, her lingering lavender perfume following close behind her.
“Am I no longer welcome?”
She twisted her fingers in front of her and glanced at Kalmin, then Harding, then back down again, refusing to meet my questioning gaze.
“Of course, you’re welcome. It’s your kingdom after all.” Kalmin smiled, but the edges of his mouth twitched as he forced it. “It’s just…”
The hum of the bustling market amplified as Kalmin searched for words on the tops of his shoes.
“Everyone’s afraid of you.” Harding scoffed and shifted in his seat.
“Afraid of me?” I laughed, but no one laughed with me. “You can’t be serious?”
All three of them stared off in different directions, none anywhere near me.
“Is this because of the story in the paper this morning? About a beast in the castle?”
The collective groaned in agreement.
I crossed my arms and pulled my cloak tighter around me, trying to hide my family’s shame like it was tattooed across my chest. “Do I look like a beast to you? That newspaper story is a bunch of lies. You should’ve just come to me and asked for the truth.”
“I wanted to.” Kalmin’s lips tightened along with his shoulders. "But there were all those reporters outside the castle after the story came out. I didn't want to be in the way."
“You know the guards would’ve let you in. They always do.”
“Right,” Kalmin nodded. “Next time. For sure.”
Sophia’s hands twisted faster, as she dared to glance over at me. "But what if that thing came after one of us? That would be awful."
So it was. The real truth. “Except none of you cared if it came after me?”
No one responded as their silence punched into my gut and stole my breath.
I flung my arms in the air. “That’s real nice. What if I was hurt or maybe even dead? I would’ve helped you if you needed it.”
“Would you though?” Kalmin finally stepped forward, his hands curled into fists and anger settled into his clenched jaw. “You’re Prince Fallon. You always help yourself first.”
Every cutting word flew straight from his mouth and pierced my skin like tiny razor-sharp arrows.
“Wow. Okay.” I shook my head as my body seethed in pain from the attack. “I didn’t realize I’d been such a burden.”
I turned sharp and started to walk away.
“You’re not a burden. You just never seem like you really need any of us. It’s always about you.” Kalmin called over my shoulder, the edge smoothing off his tone. “Falls, wait.”
In the distance, thunder rolled. I quickened my pace, but no footsteps followed behind. I slowed again, hoping to feel Kalmin’s hand clasp down on my shoulder, but it never did. They all just let me go.
Head down, I hurried through the city streets. Gossip and chatter about the ferocious castle beast blew past my ears on the gusting wind. I always helped myself first. What did that even mean? Had I not given them everything they had ever asked for? A thin sheet of light rain started to fall, misting the miserable world around me. Maybe I should let my father loose on the city and see what happens. I’d bet they’d be begging for my help then.
I approached the bridge as the drizzle began to seep into my bones, and I ached to close myself up in the castle and forget about everyone in the world outside. Ahead, the throng of reporters still lurked outside the castle gate. Scavengers. I glanced back toward town and my ribs contracted tight around my lungs, my breath hard and labored. Stuck between two places I clearly didn't quite belong. I leaned against the bridge's railing and dropped my hood letting the mist wash over my face.
"It's the prince," someone shouted. "Prince Fallon, what is that thing in the castle?"
Not again. I flipped the hood back up, ignored the voices, and ran the opposite way toward the towering cluster of trees up the hill on the far end of town. People shouted as I ran against the foot traffic and nearly knocked over a half dozen citizens. Shame fueled my run, and wouldn’t let me stop. I didn’t want to see another person for the rest of the day if I could help it. If they didn’t find a solution for the curse soon, I might never leave the castle again. No one wanted a monster on the throne. I didn’t want a monster for a father. But I guess none of us would be getting our way, so why couldn’t they all just leave me alone.
Just outside the edge of the forest, I buckled over and grabbed my knees. My gasping breaths echoed in the air. Looking back over my shoulder, my body relaxed as no one had bothered to follow me. The crazy prince from the haunted castle running through the streets like a mad man. I'm sure that would make for fantastic gossip to humor the Aborians. I crept down the hill to the right of the main pathway and stood outside the familiar small abandoned cave. Moss grew over the rocks and provided camouflage to the one unknown access point to the castle. The end of the passageway. A safe way home. Except, the thought of going back didn't provide the calm I'd hoped for. The tightness in my chest squeezed harder. Not yet. I wasn't ready. I stared up into the sky, waiting for something, an answer, a calmness, anything to make this hopelessness go away. A weak beam of sun cut through the black clouds and led deeper into the forest. I sighed. Not what I'd expected, but maybe getting lost for a little while might help me find my way.
Spring
