What happened. I stroke trough my hair trying to remember what was going on before I went to take an unplanned nap. I feel like shit.

I remember wanting to confront Alice after being so frustrated and drunk. I wish the room would stop spinning. I don't remember falling asleep or talking. I get up and ponder on leaving when I see one of the girls wrists. It's blue.

I sigh, that must've been me.

I take a step towards the door almost grabbing the door handle before turning and going over to her. As I thought she was sleeping. She's lost weight. Also my fault. I bend my knees to look at her closely. The floor is too cold she needs to sleep in her own bed. I put my arm behind her back, and slip another underneath her legs, wanting to lift her up.

Her eyes shoot open and she gasps, while trying to shield herself with her hands. "Relax." She doesn't relax but I lift her swiftly and she doesn't try to fight me. She stiffens as I carry her over to her bed. I sit her down on the bed and she scoots back on the mattress as soon as I let her go. Her breathing is heavy and her facial features show fear.

Father wouldn't be proud of me if he saw how scared she was. I sigh and leave the room. Once I close the door I check my pocket for the key but put it away again as fast as I've found it. She has nowhere to run anyways and I'm pretty sure she knows that.

My head is aching. I take a seat at the desk and write, trying to forget my churning stomach.

Writing had always helped me. I write letters to mother and father, never hoping to receive an answer but always hoping to be understood.

After a while I heard the door to the small room crack open quietly. I don't turn around being mid sentence.

"Your highness?" A frail voice whisper shouts in my direction.

"Yes, come." I wave her over still trying to finish my sentence. She waited a fair distance away from me to finish what I was doing. This is the first time she's approached me, I wonder what she could want.

She's staring at her feet. "Look at me, if you want to talk."

She keeps her head low but looks up at me.

"What can I do for you?" She seems surprised by my calm voice but answers quickly. "I- I um." She pauses.

"I need the bathroom."

I couldn't help but laugh. I had thought she would want to say something important. And the fact that she was asking me in such an uncomfortable matter made it even funnier.

————————————————————

*Alice's POV*

Him laughing surprised me. I feel ashamed, but I have to go. Badly.

I look back down at my feet. Will he embarrass me for this?

„Guards!" startled I look at him.

His lips still hold a subtle smirk but I cant tell his motive. As quickly as he called, they came in through the door almost hectically.

He gestures towards me and tells them to bring me to the bathroom. I should have known. I'm being too paranoid. We start to the door, it having been a while since I've been escorted by the guards and not physically dragged. „Oh, and Alice. Don't ask just go next time."

I glance over my shoulder but King Theodore has resumed his writing.

I was brought back by the guards, and make my way through the the Kings chamber when I stop in my tracks.

The king is still sitting at his desk, not even looking over to me once. He seems to be in a good mood, even though he should be hungover right now. I need to speak with him about letting me go home. He has no need for me and I appear to be just a burden and nothing more.

"You're highness", I try to sound confident.

He sets down his quirl and faces me.

I gather all the courage in the world and begin.

"I wish to go home."

He doesn't say anything, so I try to explain, "I think the bond is wrong and I really miss my home and my family. I appear to be a burden here so, I wanted to as-"

"No."

He gets up from his chair, and once again I see that his eyes are no longer calm, they've turned murky.

This is my only chance. "But, I just want to go home and I'm clearly not welcome her-"

"I said no! You're not going anywhere! I don't give a shit about who you miss. How dare you try to argue!"

He yells and finally stands right in front of me. His huge figure towering over mine once again.

"I'm not trying to upset or disrespect you! I just don't understand why I have to stay here! I'm trying my best to do as you say but no matter what I do you hate me!"

"Well you are disrespecting me and I don't tolerate it! You won't be going home because I fucking said so! That's why." He clenches his jaw.

All the fear I usually feel in front of this King turns into rage right at this very moment. "I hate you," I say under my breath.

"What?" He says calm but his heavy breathing tells me otherwise. "Speak up, you impudent child!"

That's when all my threads rip. „I said, I hate you!" I yell at him, but my voice breaking mid sentence. I'm on the verge of tears. I pant as my vision has become blurry close to letting all the tears spill out. Not here, not now, not in front of him.

Just then he grabs my arm so forcefully that I squeal. He starts dragging me towards the entrance door. I try to balance myself as he drags my down the halls, going deeper and deeper into the castle.

I claw at his hands trying to get him to loosen his grip, but he doesn't budge. "You're hurting me!" Is all I can say as he continues to walk. He doesn't change the pressure that he's putting on my upper arm and I feel like my bones will be crushed any second if he doesn't stop.

He leads me down a dark set of steps, and behind a huge door which is guarded by four men. None of them look our way, but they open the doors.

The smell of iron and mold strikes my nose. The air is thick and after taking a few more steps downwards I'm shoved to the floor.

My hands and knees burn from the fall but what's worst is my arm.

"You see this?! This is where you and your filthy kind belong! This is the treatment men, woman and children alike get! So don't you dare going around trying to make decisions around here! If this is what you prefer, than be my guest, and if it's not, then you better start doing as I fucking say."

It's dimly lit here but slowly I can make out the horrors around me. I'm in a huge corridor with small cells locked up with bars to be found on each side.

Another stench creeps up my nose making me nauseous: blood.

All the anger that gave me the courage earlier now being nothing of it left. Fear grips me, tightens my airways and leaves me gasping for oxygen. I feel cold sweat forming on my forehead and a chill run down my spine.

At first sight I thought these cells where empty but now I see them. Cowering in the corners trying not to make a sound, were people. Not just any people. Lyrians.

The remains of their clothes, showing me parts of my fathers flag. Most of them were bloodied and hurt, making it nearly impossible to figure out their original facial structures. There fearful eyes either clutched closed or staring at me in horror.

I try to breath, better yet I try not to vomit. I leap up trying to ignore my pained arm, hurry into a corner and empty my stomach disgustingly.

This can't be real. All these people. All these poor people. My head is spinning and the foul taste in my mouth seems to be choking me. I gasp for air miserably, but the dungeon won't stop turning. My limbs feel horribly heavy as my vision goes blurry and soon I'm indulged in darkness, which probably couldn't have come sooner.