Page 32 of Down from the Tower

“What?” Modred asks and I know I'm doing a pathetic job guiding him. But my focus snaps back to Rapunzel as her father approaches from one side, Arthur shaking his head clear and rushing the other. The sword I noticed him sliding into the hidden sheethe earlier flashes as he moves, and I can’t help wondering if that blade was meant for the princess or King.

Midas, for all his false composure, lifts his golden hand to her. “I told you to never lose control.”

My brow twitches, but Rapunzel does nothing to protect herself. I'm not sure if she expects this or if she's just too shocked to do anything.

“That bitch deserves it,” Modred snarls, his insult missed by all but Rapunzel and me. I wave a hand, letting some of the shadows push the annoying dead man back from us. He's not going anywhere anytime soon and he’s the least of my concerns.

Midas doesn't hold back, putting his full force behind the swing, and Rapunzel cowers beneath his rage. My brow twitches, watching in slow motion, and the King has no idea I’m only standing a step or two from them.

When he brings his palm down to strike her dead with the golden hand, I can't stop myself.

Twisting my fingers, I send spirals of inky blackness into his chest and force him back. He grunts and stumbles, that strike missing by inches as the princess continues to stare in stunned silence.

I grab her shoulder, giving her a rough shake. “Snap out of it.”

Her eyes slowly lift to mine, her response taking much too long as Midas catches himself. With the guards looking on he sneers, probably trying to brush off what looks to be a stumble.

He’s feral, more so than any other time I’ve seen him since arriving. My mind drifts to the figures in the parlor and filling the halls, the tortured prisoners trapped half dead and half alive. This isn’t a forgiving King.

“What have you done,” he growls again, and I look around the room once more. Arthur and his guards are approaching from the opposite side, swords drawn, and I’m certain they mean to attack Rapunzel. My gaze snags on the fated blade in Arthur’s hand, the long sword gleaming in the lighting of the room.

Midas’ own men create a semi circle to the other side of the room, Dorah plastered against the far wall with wide eyes.There’s no running out of here, and even when a third of the guards rush forward to aid their King, it’s clear that Midas and Rapunzel are the only two to be truly feared in this room.

And me, but only Rapunzel knows that.

In the distance, Dorah is absolutely useless. Fear and revulsion paint her features, and she’s flattened her hands to the wall as she scoots further down, trying to discreetly escape.

“I - I don’t know,” Rapunzel mutters, snagging my attention again. “I didn’t mean to.”

Midas growls, and I drag a hand across my brow. Hiding here while holding onto Modred’s soul is tiring. I can’t use this much magic, shield myself from prying eyes, and protect the princess from being struck. Not with a wayward spirit sapping my energy as we stand here.

I don’t call on the shadows this often. I haven’t had to in a long time. Doing so now is more exertion than I intended. Revealing myself was never part of the plan, but the princess wasn’t supposed to be kind and innocent either.

She was supposed to be a monster. One I could end.

Using this much shadow energy behind the wall is more draining than expected. It’s not that I’m having my energy repressed per se, but it’s as though whatever keeps death at bay in these lands pushes at my shadow magic too.

“Lies,” Midas hisses, his voice dropping so only the three of us can hear. He doesn’t want an audience, and despite the anger I can see radiating off of Arthur he stands back, probably afraid of the Golden King’s rage. Even Excalibur could fall prey to the King’s golden touch. “You have powers you’ve never shared. You will not make a fool of me in court!”

He lifts his hand, liquid gold flying from his fingertips. Rapunzel lets go of her hair, throwing up her arms to cover herself, and I make a split second decision when he sends the gold flying at her.

A stupid decision, but a decision all the same.

Spreading my hands, the shadows shoot up from the floor. But it’s not enough to combat the strength of Midas’ golden rage, so I reach out to snatch the princess out of the way with the shadows, wrapping an inky black arm around her body and tugging her towards me.

The strain of magic is too much. When I feel my shield slipping, I reach for the sickle behind me and snap it out to block the gold. It all happens in a matter of seconds, and I know it’s the end of my magical reserves. This is what I get for stretching my energy too thin.

When I flicker into existence, Midas’ eyes widen with horror. The gold hits and sinks into the sickle but doesn’t turn it. His jaw falls open at the sight.

Rapunzel takes a shaky breath, grasping my arm. Her hands are hot to the touch, and I do my best to not flinch at the contact. When I’m more bone than shadow, I can feel pain too. “They can see you.”

“It would appear so, Princess.”

Midas hisses, straightening up. “How dare you enter the Golden Kingdom without an invitation? We invite a select few to dock in our port. State your name, boy.”

I snort, and Rapunzel stiffens beside me. Her hand is shaking, and I keep in mind that Midas did something to hurt her. “Boy is a little insulting, Midas. I’m much older than that.”

He straightens, taking the last few steps towards us. His eyes glare into the sickle that remains its same black and silver, the blade and handle never changing. “I am King Midas, ruler of Tressa. What witchery is this? Nothing can withstand my golden touch.”

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