Page 42 of The Princess and the Demon

I smile as I pop another piece of cheese past my lips. “I startled you for once?”

Amara chuckles and reaches out to snag a chunk of bread.

“Don’t get used to it.” She teases.

She pops the chunk of bread into her mouth, pulling herself up to sit on the table. “How’d you get in here? I would’ve brought you lunch…”

I wave her off dismissively as I begin tearing at a piece of dried meat.

“I was with Amon.”

Amara pauses, regarding me a moment before her eyebrows raise slightly.

“With Amon? What were you two doing?” I don’t miss the tone of her question and scoff.

“He was just working with me on bow practice.” I say, setting the meat down. “His brother… Allocer—came and got him to go take care of a horde.”

Amara nods, watching my reaction.

“Mhm.” She says. Leaning over she grabs a chunk of cheese. “Well, I’m sure they’ll be back in a few days. It never takes them long to dispatch a horde.”

14

ELORA

The castle was incredibly quiet save for a few bustling servants here and there. I never really caught sight of anyone, instead catching the glimpse of a tail or a set of wings as the other residents of the castle dip behind doors or around corners.

I wandered the castle today, bored out of my mind. Amon had been gone three days.

I was beginning to miss his company. I also cursed myself every time I realized I did.

Letting out a sigh, I round a corner, sconce in hand. The corridors seemed to get darker the further I went into the depths of the castle, and I contemplated turning around.

The sconces weren’t even lit this far back, and I shook off the chill that tried to creep up my spine.

The entire place feels like a dungeon.

In a way, maybe that’s what this place was supposed to feel like.

I was never able to tell whether it was day or night, and there weren’t a whole lot of windows either.

There was no way to tell exactly where this place stood in space and time. I also didn’t really try to figure it out. I just knew we weren’t on my plane anymore.

Overwhelming quiet impregnates the space around me, and my ears ring as I round another corner.

This corridor is even darker than the last one, and a slight musty scent wafts towards me.

I briefly contemplate turning back, and just as I’m about to, a whisper makes me stop.

“Elooora.”

A chill creeps up my spine, causing the hairs on the back of my neck and arms to stand on end.

I let out a shaky breath, peering into the impenetrable darkness.

“Eloooora.”

There it is again. The whisper is barely discernible, but I know I heard my name.

---