I roll my eyes but say nothing. If only I had the courage to take a sword to myself. The image of me throwing my bloody feet off the balcony curls my lips in a sardonic smile.
“Are all the deliveries made?” I ask, breaking from my grisly thoughts. “Zacharia will want a full account of our stores before the Elf delegation arrives tomorrow.”
Meina nods. “Flowers arranged and smelling beautiful. So many peonies. Plenty of candles. Food and wine in the cellar and some new dresses for you to try, your highness. As well as jewelry, perfumes, salves and lotions…Zacharia has spared nothing.”
The thought of dressing up in fine fabrics and pretending my heart isn’t breaking every moment the elves are here only makes me feel helpless. The thought of marrying the elf king, makes me feel…nothing.
Because that will be the only way for me to survive it. Feel. Nothing.
I pull my foot away from Meina’s hand and stand, not bothering with slippers on the cold stone floor.
“I’m going to inspect the food and deliveries myself,” I tell her, my need to be away from here more than I can bare, and she smiles.
“Good idea. Take your mind off…everything. I’ll fetch some maids to accompany you to the cellar with candles.”
I shake my head. “No. I’m going alone. I’ll take a candelabra; I’ll be perfectly fine.”
“Your highness, if the candles—”
“I’ve decided, Meina. And I am the princess. I want some moments alone before I’m no longer in charge of my own destiny, I’m sure you can give me that. Living in a golden castle, as fortunate as that may sound to others, is just a prison and I am welcoming a new warden into my life. My spirits are not in a place to argue. I will do as I wish, my choices limited as they are.”
She hesitates for a moment, and I think she might deny me. If she did, would I insist? Would she dare?
But she lowers her head and nods. “As you wish, your highness. Please at least let me send you with more candles and matches, just in case.”
“Of course. Thank you, Meina.”
After the long, gilded staircase spirals down into the bowels of the castle, I take the left-hand turn into a gently sloping passage, the walls still lined with gold and torches. My footsteps are slightly hesitant. While this is a part of the castle, and so I’m sure the curse’s words can’t stop me from entering, the passage leads beyond the walls I’ve been restricted to for so long and my heart is heavy, knowing in a moment, the darkness and cold could take me.
Steeling myself, I follow the flickering shadows cast by the candlelight, reflecting on the golden walls and grow more confident with each step. Once I’m certain I must be beyond the castle’s outer walls, albeit underground, I even start to smile. In a way, this is as much freedom as I can possibly hope for.
The candles burn strong as I push open the door to the cellar itself. It’s a wide, deep space. As tall as the grand ballroom with a single gold-leafed beam down the center. Low torches burn on the walls. Just enough to cast light but not enough to heat the gigantic room. The room is piled high with casks and crates, all labeled with their contents. Apples from the west, wine from the east, bread from the south, vegetables from the north. Meat from nearby butchers is hung on hooks.
The rush of silence in my ears makes me pause, as I take note that I am not chilled at all. I examine the surroundings, glad to be truly alone for the first time in a long time. Even so, I’m careful not to let the candles sputter or die, knowing the darkness would be my doom.
Finally, satisfied, I take a seat on a low crate and take an apple from a barrel nearby. Placing the candelabra on a wooden box, I take a bite from the fruit and enjoy its sweet flavor.
How long I sit there, I don’t know. The candles begin to burn low, but instead of heading back, I replace them with some of the many spares Meina forced me to bring. But eventually, my ears prick up with the sound of a strange noise coming from over my left shoulder.
Crunch. Boom. Crunch. Clang.
Clang. Boom. Boom. Crunch.
Rising from my place on the crate, I pick up the candelabra and head for the wall of the room. Clang, tap, crunch. The sound is definitely on the other side of this wall. It’s nothing but rock, hewn from the earth itself. What could possibly be making that noise?
I place my hand on the wall, then draw back.
I can feel vibrations from the other side. Something is there.
Something is…coming.