I'm a nightmare
CAGED TO THE MOON KING
CHAPTER 2
Heaven.
The journey had been grueling. Hours of walking, fending off wild creatures and hostile wolves, had brought us to the edge of a different pack's territory. Nestled in a quaint town adorned with valleys of flowers and sparse trees, the locals bowed in deep respect upon noticing the prince, clearing a path for our procession. Sensing my exhaustion, the prince commanded a respite.
We approached a large hut, its walls adorned with intricate French designs, flanked by pots of fire at the entrance.
"Is this where you live?" I asked, my voice dripping with disdain as I surveyed the surroundings and followed them inside.
"Are you captivated already?" he retorted.
The Athens Pack's grandeur dwarfed this modest dwelling. "Your home is nothing but a shabby shadow compared to Athens," I scoffed.
"Yet in Athens, you were treated as nothing more than refuse, an abomination, if I'm not mistaken," he countered sharply, his words slicing through my defenses.
I bit back a sharp retort, the truth in his statement silencing me.
"You're insufferable," I muttered under my breath.
"The feeling is mutual, princess."
As I stewed in my contempt, his deep voice filled the room. "Get her something to eat. She's the frailest among us and unlikely to last three days without nourishment on the way to The Moon Pack."
He didn't break his gaze from the wall as his men bowed and departed.
"Moon Pack? Is that what you call your territory?" Curiosity piqued, I had heard whispers of such a place.
"Would you be silent for just a moment? You might conserve some strength," he snapped.
"Is it named after the celestial moon, or is it some sort of metaphor? Because you certainly don't seem to belong in such a place."
"Wait!" His command brought everything to a standstill. "Seal her lips and shackle her. I require peace," he ordered, and my eyes widened in shock.
"What kind of prince shackles his princess? Where are we headed after this, and what on earth is the Moon Pa—"
"My patience is wearing thin. I have a particular distaste for bloodshed, so do not provoke me."
Before I could protest further, my mouth was sealed with duct tape, my muffled objections going unheard as the men left to fetch food.
Returning with the meal, they found me silent, presumably asleep.
"Leave her. She'll eat when she wakes," he instructed, but then he noticed my struggle against the restraints, my breaths stifled and desperate.
"That impudent girl—untie her."
Freed, I inhaled deeply and devoured the food.
"One should never bind a lady. It's disrespectful and barbaric, and you dare claim the title of prince!" I chastised him between mouthfuls, glaring at the men who returned my gaze with equal intensity.
Nothing seemed to rile these people. I was desperate for freedom.
"A lady ought to possess grace and manners. Clearly, such virtues elude you, as does any semblance of usefulness," he spat with venom, his patience with me finally splintering.
In a fit of fury, I lashed out, sending the food flying across the room. It splattered across his face and robes, and he swore vehemently.
"Damn you, you blind prince!" I screamed, my voice echoing with defiance.
The men could no longer remain passive bystanders. A harsh slap struck my cheek, igniting a firestorm of pain as I cried out.
"I swear, I'll kill you before we leave this place! Who do you think you are?" His voice thundered, his composure shattered by my insolence.
I had finally provoked him, a twisted satisfaction curling within me.
In the charged silence that followed, I studied him. What sort of prince was he? He seemed lost in a world of his own, his spirit distant, though his body was present.
His beauty was undeniable, with godlike features marred by blindness. His wavy golden hair partially obscured his eyes, but beneath the locks, they sparkled like crystal. His nose was sculpted perfection, and those lips—sinfully inviting—drew the eye, irritating me with their distracting allure.
"I am the nightmare you never want to encounter again. Release me, and leave me be," I hissed, my gaze unwavering.
"Get me water," he commanded his men, who hastily unshackled me and scurried away.
Though his attire was stained and his face smeared, my heart remained untouched by pity.
"You should count your blessings, princess. Firstly, for my blindness. Secondly, because I need you," he said, his voice cold.
"Who needs a weak mate? What prince would?" I scoffed, my voice laced with scorn.
"You'd be astonished at what I'm capable of. Had I the sight and the cruel streak you attribute to me, I'd have already judged your worth, plucked out your eyes, and silenced your sharp tongue permanently," he threatened, his words slicing through the air like a blade.
Tears threatened to betray my resolve, but I fought them back.
His men returned, and he cleansed his face with a dignity that belied the chaos of moments before.
"Bring her more food. She must stay alive for reasons that are mine alone," he ordered.
"My appetite has vanished. Keep your food," I retorted, my voice a whisper of defiance.
"Go!" he dismissed them, and once again, I was ensnared by the shackles.
As calm settled over the hut, I took in my surroundings. The small space was meticulously kept. A neatly made bed rested by the window, a Persian rug adding warmth to the wooden floor. Flower vases adorned the corners, and a large green candle cast a soothing glow from the wall.
Exhaustion draped over me like a heavy cloak, and as sleep tugged at my consciousness, I caught a final glimpse of the stone-like king. He sat on the floor with an eerie grace, his gaze fixed on the wall, as immovable and enigmatic as ever.
The wolf's snarl echoed in the stillness, its sharp teeth bared in a grotesque grin as its bright eyes seemed to feast upon me. I was paralyzed with fear, my voice muffled by the tape over my mouth, my limbs shackled.
As the beast inched closer, my heart pounded with a single, desperate plea for freedom. Miraculously, as though the universe itself had heeded my silent call, the shackles snapped open, and the tape ripped from my lips, the pain sharp and sudden.
Instinct took over. I surged to my feet, my only thought to escape the looming predator. But the wolf, as if disinterested in the chase, veered away, moving with a purposeful gait towards an unseen destination.
Jolted awake, I realized it had been a nightmare, a terror conjured by my subconscious. The darkness enveloped me, the silence of the hut palpable, and the prince—still as a statue—maintained his vigil by the wall.
My breath caught as I looked down. The shackles lay open, the tape discarded beside me on the floor. Reality and dreams blurred.
What sorcery was this?
A surge of adrenaline coursed through me. Was this a mere coincidence, or had my dream been a premonition? Was it a sign that I should seize this chance and flee?
Questions swirled in my head like a maelstrom, but the urgency of escape left no room for hesitation. I slipped off the shackles with trembling hands, wary of the possibility that the prince's blindness was a ruse.
His men snored in oblivious slumber. This was my moment.
With a deep breath, I tiptoed past them, my heart racing as I stole into the night. The land was unfamiliar, treacherous, but the will to be free propelled me forward, driving me to run as far and as fast as my legs would carry me.