Page 6 of Somber Prince

“Climb,” he ordered.

With a soft whimper, Elaine climbed the rope ladder hanging down the camel’s side.

“You too.” He slammed me against the animal’s side next.

“How?” I bent forward, thrusting my bound elbows toward him. “My arms are tied, you asshole.”

“And whose fault is that?” He shrugged, shoving his hand under my butt.

“Hey, get your hands off me!”

“Climb,” he snapped, giving me a push up the camel’s side.

“Come here, Dawn.” Elaine grabbed me under my arms and pulled, helping me into the narrow cage on the camel’s back. “We can’t fight them,” she added softly. “We need to find another way.”

Cursing and swearing, Melanie climbed into the cage from the other side. The camel then rose to its feet, tipping the cage. Elaine and I rolled backwards. And Melanie screamed, grabbing onto the bars.

General Oskura whistled loudly, summoning three more camels from the darkness. Instead of cages, they had double seats framed by curtains. The general and her men climbed into the seats.

Forming a line, all four animals headed into the night, taking us into the unknown.

Chapter Three

DAWN

“Where the fuck are you taking us, you shady assholes?” Melanie yelled.

She hadn’t shut up ever since they’d shoved us into this cage. Shedding whatever class she’d so carefully cultivated while building her career in the city, she swore and cursed like a drunk sailor, calling our captors all possible kinds of names. I couldn’t blame her. I’d do the same if my mind wasn’t weighed down by grief.

The image of Dad falling down the stairs played in my head on repeat. Despite his fragile mental health, Dad was a survivor. He must be alive. I refused to think otherwise.

But if he was, he’d be lying at the bottom of the stairs right now, drowning in his own blood.

There had been so much blood…

The sword slit his throat.

A sob tore from my throat. Soft crying echoed it, coming from the corner of the cage where Elaine curled up into herself, wrapped in her long fuzzy sweater.

Deep inside, I knew Dad was dead the moment it happened. The way his head bent when he hit the ground, the way the open wound gaped across his throat, the way his eyes remained open… My poor dad.

I cried openly. And from sorrow, anger rose.

They’d pay. Whoever was responsible for killing my dad would pay. I wouldn’t rest until I brought them to justice. We had laws for a reason. Murderers and kidnappers got arrested and prosecuted. These people would rot in jail. I’d make sure of that.

“They’re not getting away with this,” I muttered, my voice low but harsh.

“We’re not on Earth anymore, Dawn.” Elaine’s words yanked me out of my vengeful thoughts.

“What do you mean?” I wiped my wet cheeks with my shoulders the best I could since my arms remained tied.

Elaine crawled closer and yanked on the rope, trying to untie the intricate knot the shadow man had made.

“Look around us,” she said. “And look closely.”

I sniffed, blinking tears away. We must’ve travelled for some time now. My arms were going numb from being tied for so long. My mouth felt dry, and Melanie sounded like she was losing her voice from all her yelling. The air had cooled somewhat, sending chills down my arms and seeping through my short-sleeve t-shirt.

Pressing my face between the cage bars, I did what Elaine told me to do. I looked closely, studying our surroundings carefully. And the more I looked, the bigger the dread grew inside me.

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