Page 12 of Down from the Tower

I didn't see the man again for almost a whole day. No one needs me so no one comes to knock on my door. It’s the suffocating silence I’m used to, although I know Arthur is still in port so this won’t last too long. Usually there’s a goodbye dinner, and I get the joy of sitting through conversations I don’t care about with people who ignore me.

I’ve read through my meager supply of books dozens and dozens of times, but even now as I skim the pages I can find almost nothing on Death.

Well, except the Boogeyman, but he’s more fear and despair than Death. Anything having to do with the afterlife seems to be banned from Tressa. I’ve never seen the topic mentioned anywhere, even in the library when I occasionally get to go look for new books if I’ve been particularly good and helpful. There’s nothing I can find, and it’s beyond frustrating.

I had almost come to believe I imagined him when I saw him again mid-afternoon.

Gasping, I find him sitting at the table in my room, on the opposite side from my bed. The murderous blade he carries is across his back this time, almost like a hatchet with too long of a handle.

He gives me a half smirk, gesturing vaguely to the wall beside him. “Princess.”

“Shadow man,” I breathe. “Do you have a name?”

“I do.” He raises a brow. “Though I haven’t decided if you deserve to know. Death doesn’t give out information freely, you know.”

“If you’re Death, why am I seeing you,” I snap, crossing my arms. His nosy shadows aren’t out to play, and I’m irritated when a spark of disappointment hits me in the chest. “As far as I know, I’m not on my deathbed.”

He cocks his head, watching me. “No. Usually if I’m hidden in the shadows, no one sees me except the spirits. I haven’t encountered a mortal who can see through the veil when I’m cloaked by the shadows.”

I narrow my eyes. “That’s a confusing answer.”

He shrugs. “Ask better questions. Like this map, for instance.”

Standing, he slaps the space on the wall. “This is the only map I’ve seen that displays the world this way. Midas put himself at the center, turning a kingdom into a deity of its own. Did you know people on the streets whisper about him, but no one can say much about him. I spent so much time just wandering the streets, trying to gauge what the people think of your King. Want to know what I’ve learned?”

“No,” I growl, looking away from him. I’ve never even meandered through the streets leisurely. Leaving the grounds of the castle is way too much of a risk for my parents to humor. I can’t even get out of the tower most days.

“I learned,” he says, continuing on like I want to listen, “that people hate Midas as much as they fear him. Not that uncommon for a ruler, but they hate on Queen Dorah just as much. Don’t you think, if the people within these walls are looking to rebel that Midas might be willing to bend his truths to keep you in line?”

I scowl. That’s manipulative, cruel and wrong…

Which makes it sound like something my father would do. It makes my skin crawl realizing how quickly this shadow man picked the answer apart. What else does he know?

There’s a harsh rap on the door, slicing through our conversation. My eyes widen, looking between the stranger and my bedroom doors. It’s not as traumatizing as yesterday, when the doors were thrown open, but it sets off alarm bells in my head.

Very few people knock.. “You must go!”

He cocks his head to one side.“I told you, Princess, no one can see me except you.”

I remember the parlor, where Dorah stepped through him and didn’t even notice. Maybe he’s just a figment of my imagination, someone I created for my loneliness. But seeing him this many times has to be real. Else I’ve completely lost my mind.

There’s clanging, and then the door opens before I can respond. I see Dorah standing there, her gown in pristine condition as usual.

“Aruthur is staying for dinner before he leaves this evening,” she snaps, and I know she’s being cordial because of the guards in the hall. If she wanted to dig in and find out what was wrong with me lately, she’d close the doors and be in my face. “Clean yourself up and join us. Or perhaps I need to send for Anastasia to assist you.”

“No,” I say quickly, looking between the Queen and the shadow man. She hasn’t even acknowledged him. I don’t know if he’s hiding behind shadows or if she truly can’t see him in any form. “I can handle it.”

Dining with Arthur is not something I look forward to, but it usually happens before a send off. He’s vying to return sooner and try my gift again. I heard Midas discussing it with one of his advisors earlier in the week. It happens each time. The few people that Midas allows to use my gift typically try to play nice during their visits, hoping for an invite back to the island sooner than later.

And Tressa is an island, no matter what the shadow man says.

Dorah looks over me, but for once she doesn’t give me signs of disapproval. “I assume you can hold yourself together better tonight than you did yesterday?”

I glance at the shadow man again. She really can’t see him?

“Rapunzel!”

I flinch before nodding, forcing myself to stop looking at him. He’s not helping my cause as is. My cat saunters in, and I see Dorah offer another eyeroll before turning to the door.

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