Bravery

“I’m sorry about your parent but you have to stop crying now” one of the girls in the cell said quietly and I was forced to sniff back more tears before turning to face her completely.

She has red ginger hair and beautiful green orbs for eyes as she continued to stare at me.

“I’m sorry too but didn’t you lose your family as well? Why are you not sad even“ I asked with confusion and the girl shook her head slightly at me. “Your parent and mine are not the same. Mine gave me up willingly and yours tried to save you at least”

I was quiet for a moment, not sure of what to say to reply her. My mind now occupied with the type of parent the girl might have had as compared to mine.

“I’m not upset with what they did though. They always made me realized that a day like this would come so I had no choice but to prepare myself for it”

I couldn’t help but admire the new girl's bravery. I wished i was that strong from the beginning because the best way to overcome fear is to face it and she was indeed brave enough to do it.

“won't you miss your parent? Siblings that you left behind?”

She seem quiet for a moment and I could tell she isn’t that strong after all but still her strength was something I could admire.

“I will always miss them for the rest of my life but I made sure to bring something with me that would make it a lot easier” She said and made to retrieve an old photo from her pocket and showed it to me

“This is my brother Mark, he is next to me and this one is Grace, next to her is Allison, she is our youngest”

I stared down at the picture of the girl and her sibling wishing i had taken something from my home as well. A picture of my parent would have meant everything to me since I don’t have siblings. My finger went to my neck and fingered the piece of jewelry for a bit before a sigh slipped through my mouth wryly.

The abrupt stop of the carriage had everyone gasping in fright before a guard walked back around to stand before us.

“We rest for the night. So go to sleep and stop yabbing” he ordered and we were all forced to clench our eyes shut.

“My name is Agnes by the way, what’s yours?” I heard a quiet whisper shortly afterward and then turned to face the girl.

“Iris. My name is Iris” I replied simply.

Another moment went by before i heard the girl’s voice once again.

“Good night Iris, try to get some rest. You are going to need it”

I went to sleep that night dreaming about my father’s garden. The only part of the mansion that has been my absolute favorite. I have made a lot of memories there with Logan as we used to play hide and seek all the time and under the shrubs late in the night before lying in the open field while dreaming about the numerous stars in the sky. We even had one name after me because according to him, it was pretty like me.

Deep in my subconscious, I wondered if i would meet him over there at the Drakkon palace. The last time we saw each other he had just turned eighteen and now he'd probably be a grown man. Three years has past since he was selected. I doubt he would recognized me if we saw each other because I have changed in these past years as well. 

The thought of seeing him once again brought fresh tears to my eyes and hope to my heart. It would certainly be a thing of joy. I was sure as i allowed myself get lured into another sleep once again.

**

After spending many hours on the road and leaving our village miles behind. We finally arrived at the werewolf tribe and it was exactly as i had heard it to be. It was bigger than our whole village combined. Large iron gate that was obviously made out of steel stood at the tall fence with more guards in their official regalia securing the entrance. Our carriage came to a slow stop at the guard station before it began to move again, this time just as swiftly without halting any further.

After serval distance that seem like we were starting to journey to another kingdom, the carriage came to a final stop before the cell was pulled open and everyone asked to step off. Still bounded by our robes, we got down before the carriage rolled away and leaving us in the open and directly under the scorching sun.

I stood with wide eyes and a slightly parted lips like the rest of the slaves as we all stared openly at the magnificent building before our eyes. To say the building before our gaze was big would be an understatement, it was the biggest I have ever seen with huge pillars on both angle not to mention the statues of creatures scattered around in their various positions. Several guards and servants were seen going about their daily activities and not paying attention to the ones staring in awe at their new surrounding. The sight was unnerving yet beautiful to the eyes.

Prince Otis walked forward in the company of five of his guards and stopped before us. He instructed them to cut the rope that bind me and five of the other slaves. For the first time since i was captured, i felt relieved yet curious. A thought crossed my mind, urging me to run for the hills but paid no mind to it. Common sense took over. There was no way I could escape without being caught, it was simply impossible.

"Your Highness, where should we put them?" One of the guards asked with a bow

"Put those group with the rest of the slaves in their cages while this one is going to stay with me. We still have scores to settle" Prince Otis said, his eyes narrowing back at me and I gulped down saliva with nothing but dread snaking down my spine.

"As you wish your Highness" the guard replied and did as he was told but before he took off, the Prince called at him once again, "mention this to no one, not even to my father the King, understood?"

"Yes, your highness" he said respectfully and began to tug the rest along, leaving me to stare after the people I had began to grow fond of in such little time.

The familiar low growl behind me had me turning around to face the Prince once again who has nothing but glint in his eyes as he look me up in the face.

"Why do you want me with you?" I blurted out before I could bite my tongue.

He arched a single brow at me, "You really had to ask didn’t you?"

Not waiting to get a reaction from me, he reached over and grabbed me by the hands and began to pull me towards the huge doors at the entrance. He led me in through the door and into the house. By passing the large stairways and servants who hurriedly bow as he passed by and heading down the hallway covered with red carpet, not to mention the weird artworks hanging off the walls.

Struggling to keep up, i continued to trail him from behind before he stopped abruptly in front of a large double doors after turning through several turns I’m likely not going to remember even if I tried and then pushed it open before shoving me inside.

I jumped in fright when he slammed the double doors shut before turning to walk towards the bed and then sat on it. Another minute past and I was left standing in the same position with my eyes darting around the large room covered with the finest of things. 

The bed post and chairs with most of the items in the room was golden as they shone brightly under the brilliant sun that streamed through the gap in the red curtains that hang across the large windows. The thoughtfulness put into most of the settings was nothing like I had seen before, proving how much riches they are truly fortunate to posses.

Snapping out of my scanning mood, I turned around to find the Prince butt naked in all his nine foot glory and causing me to gasp as both my hands flew to covered my embarrassed cheek. I was still trying to catch my breath when i felt him real close before his hand came and pulled my own away to peep into my reddened face.

“Never seen a man naked before?” he questioned and I answered with a nod.

“Well then, You just saw one so get used to it and get over it once you are done fantasying about it" He said and pulled another shirt and pant over his naked flesh before walking out of the room, slamming the door with so much force, it shook the pillars of the room.

I was left standing in that spot even after he was gone before i let out a breath i didn’t realized I was holding in.