Escape Impossible

Faelyn searches everywhere for Amiral, and after a long while, she finally finds her outside the castle.

Amiral stands gracefully beneath a pink blossom tree, her beautiful silken robes flowing gently in the breeze. Pale petals drift down around her like snow, but her lovely face bears a sudden hardness that seems out of place with her ethereal beauty.

Faelyn approaches her, relief flooding through her eyes.

"I've been looking for you. I even went to your room, but…" She stops, not wanting to talk about her horrible experience with Juta.

"We're ready to leave. All we need now is the money."

"You won't need it anymore."

"What? Why?"

The sudden coldness she senses from Amiral makes anxiety grip Faelyn's throat like a death trap. Is she going back on her promise?

Amiral's eyes glisten with hidden contempt as she cups Faelyn's chin softly, leaning closer to whisper.

"I have to tell you something terrible, Faelyn. Your mother and your friend were caught by the guards. They didn't make it out of the gates."

The blood drains from Faelyn's face. "N_no," she croaks, horror swirling in her head.

Her disbelieving gaze snaps to Amiral's. "How? You told me the old passage was safe! You promised they would make it!" Panic makes Faelyn's voice rise, and Amiral's eyes narrow in displeasure. She's spoiled this half-blood too much - that was her first mistake. Now this wretched girl thinks she can raise her voice at a real princess, a full-blooded one.

She quickly hides her anger. This is going to be fun for her. Revenge is meant to be sweet, after all.

"I opened the passage as promised, but they didn't even make it there. Your mother and your friend have been taken to the dungeon. The King will decide their fate later."

Faelyn's weak knees threaten to give out, her body flushing cold with horror. Her mother… Daela. They can't be in that cold dungeon. Her mother won't survive it.

How did their plan fail? All their hopes crumbling to nothing.

"No!" Faelyn grabs Amiral's arm, tears of desperation burning in her eyes.

"Please, save them! You have to help me! My mother will die if you don't do anything! I'm begging you!"

Amiral's expression softens, and she reaches out to gently stroke Faelyn's hair. "Of course, dear sister," she coos. "I'll do everything in my power to help you. But you have to trust me and do exactly as I say."

'Poor girl, don't cry yet. I still have lots of surprises for you,' Amiral laughs internally when Faelyn nods desperately. She almost feels sorry when she sees the tears of relief streaming down Faelyn's face.

'Don't blame me, dear sister. You betrayed me first and trampled on my kindness.' She pats Faelyn's face, gently wiping away her tears.

Faelyn jumps when several guards march toward them with bright torches, scanning the area until they find who they're looking for.

Faelyn is yanked away from Amiral by strong hands.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" Faelyn screams, struggling against the powerful warriors who bow briefly before the Princess.

"It's the King's orders to bring her!"

Faelyn's desperate gaze turns to Amiral, who wears a soft, reassuring smile. She leans in to whisper to her.

"Go with them. I've already figured out a way to save you. Like I said, you just need to trust me. I'll be right behind you."

Faelyn is dragged into the castle and the King's private chamber. The massive doors slam shut behind her with a sound like thunder. She's forced roughly to her knees before the King, the cold marble floor biting into her skin.

The chamber feels suffocating. Towering pillars stretch up into shadows, and the air itself seems heavy with power and menace. Anxiety makes Faelyn's stomach twist with nausea when she looks around the vast room to see her half-brothers present, their eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation.

She bows her head carefully, her heart beating so wildly she's afraid it will burst. The silence stretches endlessly. This is the closest Faelyn has ever been to the King, and she can feel his overwhelming presence pressing down on her like a crushing weight. Every breath feels difficult. She's painfully aware of being the center of attention in this magnificent room, like a mouse surrounded by hungry cats.

King Jaelan's voice cuts through the silence like a blade. "You look exactly like her."

Who? Her mother? Why does the King sound so full of disgust and rage?

Faelyn's head remains bowed, her entire body trembling. "Your Majesty, please spare my mother. As you know, she's very sick. Don't let her die in the dungeon!" Her voice comes out smaller than a whisper. Faelyn's desperate pleas earn cold snickers from her brothers. They scoff in disgust, unable to believe this pathetic mongrel shares their father's blood.

It's a stain on their royal honor that should be washed clean.

Relief floods through Faelyn when Amiral walks inside and stands next to the King. She's here to support her… right?

"Has the prisoner revealed any information yet?" the King asks Prince Mordered, but his sharp, predatory eyes never leave the trembling half-blood kneeling before him.

"He's stubborn and still hasn't spoken a word. We've tortured him for days - still nothing."

King Jaelan sighs, massaging his temples. The sound echoes in the oppressive silence.

"I knew it wouldn't be easy to break him, but I can't help feeling suspicious that his whole kingdom has been keeping quiet about his capture too. We need to get him to talk to find out what they're planning."

Faelyn shudders as she feels the King's hooded gaze fix on her again. His attention feels like ice water in her veins.

"Come closer, girl." The King's voice is soft but deadly. When she gets close enough on trembling knees, he tilts her head upward with the tip of his boot. His golden eyes bore into her green ones like molten metal.

"I heard quite an interesting rumor that my prisoner was captivated by you?"

"W_what?" Faelyn's enormous eyes dominate her small face. Terror makes her voice barely audible.

"N_no, Your Majesty." She makes a strangled sound. Her fear is so thick the entire room can taste it. Where did such rumors come from?

"That's true. Several people who attended the public celebration confirmed it," Amiral supplies the answer the King is waiting for. Faelyn's wide, frantic eyes snap in her direction, betrayal cutting through her like a knife.

What's happening? This can't be real.

"T_that's not true!" she cries desperately. "That dragon doesn't know me! How can he b_be…" Faelyn can't say the words. It's unthinkable to be linked with that beast who is their enemy.

She meets Amiral's gaze briefly and sees something terrible flash in her eyes - cold satisfaction. The princess isn't here to help her. She never was.

"You're so disappointing, just like the whore who gave birth to you." The King's words hit Faelyn like physical blows. "I have a task for you. If you succeed, I will pardon her along with that slave girl who helped her escape."

Hope and terror war in Faelyn's chest when Prince Mordered and Prince Orden hand the King three separate vials - two filled with green liquid, one empty.

"You will add these potions to the prisoner's meal and give it to him. You have to make sure he takes it."

"Is it p_poison?" Faelyn stammers, staring at the sickly green liquids.

Why does it have to be her to kill the prisoner?

Her knees move back a step unwillingly, her hands trembling as she tries to distance herself from the King's terrifying presence.

"N-no, Your Majesty," Faelyn stutters, her voice cracking. "I-I don't want to kill anyone."

King Jaelan's expression turns deadly, his power filling the room like a storm about to break. "You dare refuse me? Are you forgetting that your mother's life is in your hands?" His voice drops to a whisper that's more terrifying than any shout.

Faelyn's face goes white as snow. She knows she has to obey. She can't lose her family.

"I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Faelyn whispers, tears streaming down her face. "I'll do it."

The King's smile is sharp as a blade. "This isn't poison. It's a newly developed medicine that will turn our powerful Dragon King into a weak, powerless creature like you! But there's one more ingredient needed…"

Faelyn gasps silently. "B_but, why me?"

"We don't know exactly how the drug will work, but this medicine will definitely make the dragon go into a mad heat. Do you even know what that means?" Prince Orden asks, his voice dripping with cruel amusement.

"I doubt she knows that. Did you forget our girl is an innocent virgin?" Prince Mordered's laugh turns evil when shame burns across Faelyn's face.

"I mean that our prisoner will want to mate ceaselessly. Our fae females are too precious to serve him, so you'll be there to satisfy him. We finally found something you might be good at, after all." Prince Orden's explanation makes horror flood through Faelyn's body like poison.

"No, please, don't do this to me!" Her desperate cries echo off the stone walls, but no one cares.

Prince Mordered adds with sick pleasure, "Dragons don't mind mating with anyone they choose. I'm curious to see how it happens."

"But first," the King's voice cuts through her sobs like ice, "we need the final ingredient. Half-breed blood is known to weaken dragons, to strip away their power. Your tainted blood will be the key to breaking him completely."

Before Faelyn can react, strong hands grab her arms. A sharp blade slices across her wrist, and her blood flows into the empty vial. She cries out in pain and terror as they force her life essence from her body.

"There," the King says with satisfaction as he holds up the vial of her blood, dark red in the torchlight. "Now you will serve this portion of your blood along with the potions to our prisoner. Your mongrel heritage will finally serve a purpose - destroying our greatest enemy from within."