In the shadows

Zane opened his door to go out and see the kingdom a little bit. He saw Scarlett being escorted, by a handsome guy, downstairs.

Zane thought he saw something in the corridor. When he turned around, it was gone. He grew suspicious but he didn't trust himself for he was tired. He had not rested the whole night and thought he was probably hallucinating.

But then he saw a door open in the far end of the corridor but as soon as he tried to focus inside, the door closed. The only thing he got to see was a pair of big rainbow eyes staring at him, and then the door closed.

Scary? I know.

Zane didn't believe in ghosts, but then again, why would any of his friends be trying to scare him?

"Who's there?", shouted Zane

No reply.

"Answer me! Who's there?!"

Nobody answered

"Look if you are trying to scare me or-"

"No! I am not trying to scare you!", shrieked a girl

Zane looked behind and saw a girl standing with a sketchbook in her hand. She had the same rainbow eyes that he had seen before behind the closing door.

"Who are you?",asked Zane

"Hi! I - I am Iris....",said the girl with the rainbow eyes. She had a striking resemblance to Kendra .

"Hi...I am Zane...were you spying on me?",he asked

"No no no! I was...I was sketching you!",said Iris

"Oh..what now?"

"Yeah",said Iris, opening her sketchbook and while doing so, dropping some pencils.

Zane bent down and picked it up while Iris hurriedly flipped the pages.

Zane stood up and saw Iris holding a sketch of him.

It looked remarkably like him. She was indeed a good artist.

"Nice drawing",said Zane smiling at her,"But the next time you decide to sketch me, do it out of the shadows."

"Staying in the shadows is all I have been taught",blurted out Iris

"What was that?"

"Nothing, sorry...I shouldn't have said that",said Iris

"No it's fine! But, you're a really good artist....what were you doing around here?"

"I well....I just like your facial features and physique and I wanted to sketch them"

"Oh". Zane's cheeks went red.

"Yeah and I just wander in this palace and try to draw new things because I have already drawn everything present here. You all were new....."

"Yes but why not go outside the palace and draw the beautiful scenery that's out there. I am sure you will do a remarkable job."

"I can't go out there", said Iris smally

"Why?"

Iris didn't meet Zane's gaze. She became unfocused and started blabbering words that made no sense.

"Iris? Are you with me?"

"Yes yes",said Iris coming into focus and finally meeting Zane's gaze.

"Are you trapped in this place or something?"

"No....no I am Queen Kendra's daughter"

"Oh, you are like the princess?!"

"I think....",said Iris confusingly.

"Have you ever seen anything outside of this palace?"

"No"

"And what's your age?"

"Fifteen, yours?"

"I am sixteen, I think so....in human years....",said Zane. "But that's not the point....you have been inside this palace for fifteen years?!"

"Yes....is it wrong?"

Zane frowned and said,"Yes Iris....that's very wrong....Do you wanna go outside or meet some new people?"

"I would love to but I can't"

"Why?"

"Because I can't!",she insisted

"Yeah but why?! Come on!"

"My mother said so! The priest said so! I can't leave!"

"Okay. I get it",said Zane, although he did not.

Iris didn't wait around for anything more. She smiled at him and ran away

"See you ", she shouted .

"Yeah...",said Zane,"See you.."

Zane turned around and walked into Laurel's room.

She was startled.

"GOD ! DON'T YOU EVER KNOCK?!"

"Uh sorry, I wanted to ask you something",said Zane

She sighed. "Zane what is it with you and questions?"

"Look....I and Natalie we lied to the Queen but...why did you-"

"Because I wanted to",said Laurel getting up. "Plus, I want to use it to my advantage. Also.... Something is up with the queen and I wanna know what. If I am gonna do that then I need to keep the advantage in my side"

"Oh",said Zane. "Cool and I...I just met her daughter by the way"

"What?! She has a daughter?!"

"Yeah, apparently...and....it seems she wants to keep her hidden"

"I wonder why"

"You must be enjoying it ,huh?"

Laurel raised her eyebrows and questioned,"Enjoying what?"

"Livin' in a palace. Like a princess. Having powers...you must be enjoying it"

"Firstly never call me princess. That word is overrated, it sounds like a damsel in distress and I am definitely not that"

"I definitely agree",said Zane

"Secondly, if you think I enjoy having my powers. You don't know me at all Zane Rex Alaric"

Zane gasped and shouted,"HOW DO YOU-"

"Know your name?", completed Laurel. "You talk an awful lot in your sleep"

"Yeah and you seem like an awfully intruding, good listener", spat Zane

"Yeah ....I don't really sleep much at night",said Laurel. "And this one night, I was awake looking outta the window , I heard you whisper in a hoarse voice ' I don't want to hurt you Zane ' and then in your normal voice you said ' Then why are you here? '. And then again in your hoarse voice you said ' I want your power Zane Rex Alaric' and then in your normal voice you fearfully whispered ' No No! Please....don't do it. I beg you' . And then you started sweating and then you shut up"

Zane stared at Laurel and remained quiet for a minute. "You could have woken me up Laurel...why didn't you?"

"Oh I didn't wanna disturb your show also, it was really funny watching you that way",said Laurel , laughing and sitting on the bed.

"Laurel you are unbelievable!",said Zane angrily

"Hey don't be angry at me now! You were the one talking in your sleep! I merely listened!"

Zane walked out of the door and banged it shut.

He heard Laurel mutter "Boys" behind him, as he left.