CHAPTER 3

Never in my life, had I thought I would be in such a situation. I was right here in this very moment looking at this vulnerable man, in a state that was more than devastating. He had no control over this situation that he was in and the kind of pain that he was going through, What did he do to deserve this kind of treatment? Did he steal something like I was about to!!! Maybe It's a sign that you should get away as fast as possible from this situation!! 

you want me to leave him here, tied like this... What if I was in this situation hmm??? You would leave me here??

You're being too emotional, you know.... You aren't like this, you always mind your own business... I don't know why I am feeling this way but I am going to help him, I don't want to leave him here to rot in these chains...

"How do you get out?" I asked now trying to keep calm. This was not a place for the faint-hearted. I had heard it but at this moment he needed my help more than anything and now I felt guilty, he was all bruised coz of me.

"I can't but you can." he whispered removing his hand slowly.

"We are going to get out together" I stood up determined to find a way out. "Tell me things that I need to be aware of, we don't have much time, we have been in here for too long" I continued as I started moving with the chain to see where was the lock. I had so many questions but like usual there was no answer. 

"I told you, I can't... it's a spell and only the whisperer can break it." He replied sitting back on the chair. How was he so relaxed while sitting in a death trap, it was beyond me.

"Look uh ... I don't- "

"Aehannik... That's my name." He cut me off, understanding my question.

" What??? WHAT??? YOU are THE Prince..... Why are you chained he--? I stopped abruptly. This wasn't the right time... I needed my book and had to help him so focus!!

I took a deep breath and continued again...

"OK, for now, I just have one question for you, Do you want to leave or not?" I looked him straight in the eye, I didn't know his reasons as to why he was letting himself be tortured like this...

He was just staring at me without any expression on his face as if trying to read me, trying to know if I was actually on his side... After what felt like an eternity, he finally opened his mouth....you want him to say yes don't you.... I can't talk with you right now. He'll think I'm mad... 

"Yes, help me. .. . .. p... lea.. se... " I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding. I saw a smile gracing the corners of his mouth and my face unconsciously mirrored his.....

"Ah-uh... OK then, let's get going....". I said awkwardly. I noticed the stone that slipped through my hand was back in its place. That was weird... There were no locks the chain was just around the prince keeping him in place. There was no end or no beginning... Where do we start??

"Soo.... Whisperer?? How do I get it? what does it look like? I asked him trying to figure out a way.

"It's not an object, whisperers are the most powerful creatures in this world. No magic can break their spells, they can foresee the future or alter it according to their own will. One whisper and everyone's bound to follow..." He explained slowly, giving me time to absorb all the information..... I knew nothing about this world, I was living in oblivion... 

"You see that painting on your right.." he nodded his head towards the painting" Twist it around, there is a small teapot in there, bring that to me..." He completed and looked at me expectantly...

"That's not the right place to put a teapot," I thought out loud as I made my way towards the painting. I heard his chuckle behind me. Why was he laughing at me, I was right though... It probably has a purpose you know, that's why it's hidden... Welcome back, dumbo... 

Why do you even talk to me, I asked rhetorically...

coz I have been stuck with you forever, I am new to this as well you know... now I felt sad for some reason...

"Your hair is glowing again" He spoke trying to get my attention. By now, I had long forgotten about my hat and my hair was now cascading down my back freely, huh... I didn't even notice... This was the first time this had ever happened, I was never allowed to leave my hair down or exposed for that matter. I just smiled at him, I couldn't explain it to him when I didn't even know the answer myself...

 Focusing on the task at hand, I twisted the painting of some freak who was vomiting blood. It could make anyone sick by how detailed it was, pure and sheer violence. Just like he had explained, I found the teapot behind in a box. It was a crystal teapot with transparent liquid floating inside but there was something else in the water moving very slowly barely visible. I could feel its movement up close when I brought it to my eye level. 

"Don't get too close" The prince warned as I made my way back towards him. 

"Do you have a knife?"He asked, looking me in the eye and expecting me to have it.

"What do you need a knife for? I asked as I gave him a skeptical look but handed him the pocket knife that I had in my bag, I mean I was here to steal so... Of course, I had it.

He was about to slice it through the palm of his hand but I held his hand in a reflex...

"What the hell are you doing?" I almost shouted at him. He looked surprised as if he didn't think I would care..

But of course, I would...right!?!

"That... " he bobbed his head towards the pot and continued "needs my blood to open that compartment to get what we need to break the spell." He finished waiting for me to remove his hand.

I doubtedly released his hand and turned around. Of course, I couldn't see it, I was too young for violence...

You're being dramatic, it's just a cut... I don't know... I am just nervous about anything and everything that's happening around me.

"I am done. You can turn around now..." I could feel his smile through his words. I turned around slowly and he held his hand on the pot and his blood dropped in the pot like small beads that settled at the bottom of the pot. In a minute, the beads floated up and there was a storm in that tiny cup, the water was swirling at full speed and then with a few hushed voices, it was silent again. We could hear some locks opening and moving and then it was silence again. The liquid was so stable as if it didn't do anything a minute before. I couldn't comprehend what was happening anymore. I was just going with the flow now.

" Go put it back, there is a compartment down there, it has some important books and a few parchments... Get them"

He completed his instructions and I followed suit... There were 3 books in total stacked over one another. Some parchment with old scribbling and a yellow envelope that had some ancient symbols.

I took them all out and went straight to him. They were quite heavy, to be honest...

"What are we looking for?" I asked him as he started to go through the first book that was on top.

"Anything related to cascade conjurium spell". He spoke distractedly.

He was skimming through pages as fast as possible... how was he this handsome.. even in this rugged state he looked so charming... There was something about him...Stop staring, that's embarrassing... I looked down..... It was indeed embarrassing!! I opened the second book, it had pictures of animals, different kinds, creatures that I had never seen before, along with the pictures were some lines explaining what the creature was about.

It didn't have any spells... But one creature did catch my eyes, THE WHISPERER, there was just basic information that they looked like any other human but had powers far beyond. There was only one whisperer who had ever transformed in history and his bloodline was able to do so but they have gone extinct... Extinct.... That's a lie....

Yes, the spell was indeed done by the same creature, the prince isn't lying, is he??

Maybe he is... You can't really trust him... Can you? But I saw him go through all that pain ..... That can't be a lie....

Look you are a kind-hearted person I know it... We don't know for sure, let's just get this done and over with and leave...

For once, I agreed with her, whoever she was... I was just here to find out about my parents and now I was entangled in all of this mess. The more I stayed here, the more trouble I was getting myself into. 

"Did you find anything?" I heard the prince asking. I replied with a not yet as I went through my search.

I moved the 2nd book away to look at the third one. The third book looked more older than the others. The leather had become rusty. I dusted the cover to get a good look. It only had a symbol on it, something I didn't recognize. It was a symbol as if someone was blowing air out of their mouth. I flipped the book open only to see what I was looking for this whole time. 

This is what I was here for...

....

Right here in my hand, was the book that had my last name on it...

PSITHURIST FAERELORE