Troubles and Trials

Sharp pain shot up in Audra's head shaking her awake. She looked up blinking at the bright sunlight almost blinding her. She had fallen asleep on the roof still in the black dress she had worn yesterday. Ian stood beside her almost hanging over the wall looking down.

"What are you staring at?" she joined him clutching her head where she had hit the floor while sleeping.

"We need to go downstairs" without even looking at her he ran from the stairs going downstairs at maximum speed. Staring in confusion Audra looked down the wall. There was a huge gathering in the palace ground. But unlike yesterday it didn't seem like people standing there were enthusiastic for it. Audra bent down more and she saw the two figures in the middle of it all. Lucio bent on the ground and the King hovering above him. She didn't have to look further to know what was happening he had tried to hurt Audra someone else must have seen. Her dress clutched in her hand she too sprinted downstairs not evens topping by her room to fix herself.

She stopped when she reached the gate to the grounds. Workers stood there cluttered whispering among themselves. She fixed her hair with hands and then coughed slightly. The crowd separating from the door for her bowing at her slightly she acknowledged them shyly with a nod of head. Audra's eyes noticed Karl and Ian stood by the gate together- Ian's clothes changed standing in proper court clothes- Marcello a little ahead of them and they had the clear view of Lucio and grandfather.

Trying her best to not garner much attention she stood behind the two princes whispering. "Wat's happening?" The heads turned to look at her making space in between for her to stand.

"Like you don't know?" Ian commented without even looking at her.

"He is being punished for trying to abduct you" Karl's voice was hard no emotions.

"Didn't Ian do that too? He wasn't punished" she looked over to him who spared not even a single glance to her.

"Lucio helped the rebels and tried to harm the princess" his voice was spiteful as he spoke the last word. Their frankness with her had completely vanished into thin air.

"I was punished but not severely. My sword was taken away" He stills tared head his jaw set.

"That's it" Audra scoffed hearing his punishment he did hurt her though and just capturing his sword she felt this was a little unfair. "What are they doing to him?" The king was saying something to Lucio but they couldn't hear and Lucio gave no response to whatever his questions were. The king gave a single hand movement and a seat appeared for him he moved backwards to sit there and a man with his face covered in a black mask stepped forward holding some sort of rope in his hand.

"You'll see what it means to lose your weapon" Ian scolded her she didn't reply her eyes were set ahead.

"Do you agree to have taken part with your father in abducting the royal guest?" The man's voice boomed across the ground loud and clear. But Lucio said nothing his head bent down and he remained on his knees not a single word uttered.

"Royal guest?" Audra echoed.

"They are still hiding that you are a princess" Karl cleared her confusion. She said nothing more her eyes trained at Lucio she couldn't understand what went in his head. He could have easily fled yesterday why stay and go through this.

"Can we take your silence as your answer?" the man questioned again and Lucio's response remained same. She could almost hear her heart in her ear. The silence was too thick all stared at the scene not uttering a single word the only voice was of the man in the mask his voice echoing across the palace.

"Miss Audra" and for a second Audra forgot her name she wished she could swap it with someone else's. She saw the two men beside her stepping further away as the Mask man's attention shone upon her. "Do you confirm that Lucio committed the crime he is charged of?"

She willed every molecule in her to stop her from running away. "I am only a victim to his actions I have no idea of his intentions or his planning with his father if that is true" her legs had turned into jelly she could feel herself melting to the ground under the glaring stare of the mask man. She stole a glance to Ian why wasn't he questioned when he too was on the scene. He could have said something.

"Since the charges are deemed true we must begin the punishment now" the man announced pulling Lucio's hand. She could see the tremor in it as he kept it straight at arm's length in front of him.

His scream tore the sky it was louder than the mask man's commanding voice who seemed to be enjoying just that. A sword began appearing above his hand hovering in the midair covered in red and black smoke. Unlike Ian who had easily summoned his sword Lucio was clearly in pain. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and he clutched his eyes shut. The moment sword was complete the mask man pulled it towards him the sword arrived in his hands swiftly floating through air and Lucio slumped down again in his position. His energy all gone he was weaker than before. But that wasn't even the end of his torture.

The man unfurled his rope and that's when Audra knew this wasn't a normal rope. Her suspicions were confirmed when The man came and stood behind Lucio the whip coming in contact with Lucio's back and he was pushed forward and he didn't even utter a single expression of pain. Audra gasped audibly her hands coming to cover her mouth her heart shattering to a million pieces.

Once

Twice

Thrice

She couldn't count it further. The few moments when Lucio had helped her in her short time here replayed in her mind and she knew despite what he had done she would have never wished THIS upon him.

Audra's view had begun to blur and when the first tear rolled down her eyes her view was completely blocked. Ian and Karl had come in front of her not letting her see any of it.

"Audra" a voice called her and she turned around the voice of whip hitting still echoing in her ears. It was Marcello standing in front of her she hadn't noticed him moving from his position before. She wanted to ask him what he wanted but she couldn't utter, her eyes doing the task for her.

"You don't have to see any of this" his words were lower than a whisper. She didn't have to be told she wanted to leave this place she wanted the ground to swallow her or find a way to send herself back to her world. She nodded at Marcello and stepped ahead. He followed behind her his hand on the small of her back he was afraid she would faint right here. And for some reason she was glad he had followed her.

"It's not your fault" he tried to assure her when they reached her room.

"But it is isn't it?" she didn't have the strength to look up at him she opened the door and entering she closed it in his face sliding by the door letting the tears fall. She wanted her mother. Her hands found its way to the phone placed on the table by the door.

"Her mother's face appeared on the screen and the sobs became louder. "Mamma" and so she cried falling back to sleep tired from crying ready to get rid of the scenes in her head.

She had remained locked in her room until it was around midnight. Changed in her clothes her hair set unruly falling to her face she couldn't care less how she looked she stepped out of her room finding her way to Lucio's room. She knocked slightly and when hearing a grumbled response, she slowly opened the door.

Lucio sat by the bed's backboard. She noticed his back didn't really touch it just his shoulders he seemed extremely uncomfortable. So weak and so young. According to what she had learned he was almost the same age as her, she didn't think she could go through such a thing and that too with silence. He didn't say anything as she entered he waited for her to speak first.

"Why did you do it?" She found herself choosing the vaguest question out of millions in her head some for him and some for others.

"Trying to kidnap you or go through all this?" she was surprised at his ability to sound a little calmer. She had expected him to say something against her.

"Both" she tried her best to maintain a poker face not wanting to show she felt sorry for him.

"why do you care?" he questioned her.

"I hate feeling guilty for something that wasn't my fault. I was the victim here" she wanted answers and confirmation.

"I did it for my father." He chuckled but there was no happiness in his voice. "But when he knew I got caught he left me he didn't want to associate with such a disappointment of a son" there were tears in his eyes and Audra had to force her entire being from allowing the tears to escape her eyes. "I didn't really have anywhere else to go so I endured through this. I didn't really have a choice you know" he quickly wiped his eyes before the tears could fall "why do you care?"

"You should apologize" red lines had appeared on her palm where she pressed her nails.

"I have gotten the punishment for my actions" he scoffed clearly not expecting to hear this.

"No. You don't think you received this punishment for hurting me. This was the only way to keep your position here in this kingdom. It's better to have something than nothing. Isn't that what you did? You should still apologize to me. You hurt me. Tried to kidnap me. Played with my emotions. Tried to manipulate me by showing me my mother by one of your dirty tricks. You never apologized me for any of that" with that said she moved to the door.

"I am sorry" she heard him whisper, at least he realized it.

"We don't choose our parents but we can choose our actions" with that said she left the door closed behind her not waiting for his response.