The morning came, but Alara hadn't slept a single moment the entire night and neither had Abrum. She knew that if she didn't escape today, her father would force her into marriage, and her life would turn into an endless prison.
Down in the cold, dark cell, Abrum's thoughts were no different. He couldn't stop worrying about Alara, his mind racing for a way to break free, not just for himself, but for her.
Alara was lying weakly on her bed, her body drained and her spirit even weaker. She wanted to escape, to run far away from everything, but she could barely even move. At the same time, the thought of Abrum being locked away because of her was tearing her apart. Guilt consumed her heart as she whispered to herself, "It's all my fault…"
Abrum had a plan, one that he was determined to set in motion after sundown. Tonight was the night of the grand masquerade ball at the castle, and amidst the music, masks, and chaos, he knew it would be his only chance to act.
While Alara lay weakly on her bed, she suddenly heard the sound of the door unlocking, the same door that had been sealed since last night. The hinges creaked softly as it opened, and a guard stepped inside, his armor faintly clinking in the silence. He bowed respectfully and said,
"My Lady, this is your outfit for tonight's event at the castle. His Majesty requests that you be prepared on time. I shall take my leave now."
He placed the gown neatly on her bed, a stunning royal dress paired with fine jewelry and elegant sandals. Without another word, he turned and left, locking the door behind him once more.
She wanted to throw that dress out of the window to reject everything it stood for but she knew it would only make her path harder. With trembling hands, she forced herself to stand and sat down before her dressing table.
Her reflection stared back at her, eyes swollen and rimmed with red, dark circles carved beneath them like sleepless shadows of her sorrow. She didn't see a princess anymore; the girl in the mirror looked like a stranger. It felt as if even her own reflection was denying her, refusing to believe that she was ever the princess Alara once thought she was.
The evening arrived.
Alara was asked to be ready within ten minutes to go downstairs and greet the guests, as the princess of the castle. She dressed up carefully, every movement feeling heavier than the last. Sitting before her dressing table, she looked flawless from the outside, yet the only name echoing in her thoughts was Abrum.
Moments later, the sentinels arrived to escort her. She rose from her seat, her hands trembling slightly. Every step toward the door felt like walking into fate's trap. Though her body moved forward, her heart screamed to turn back. She wasn't ready not for the guests, not for the ball, and certainly not for what awaited her beyond that door.
Abrum had been waiting for the perfect moment and it had finally come. He looked around carefully; not a single sentinel was in sight. Most of them had left to fulfill their duties for the grand event above. The silence around him was almost eerie. With a deep breath, Abrum took out his sharp claws, their metallic edges glinting faintly in the dim torchlight. In one swift move, he tore through the front metal gate of the cell. The sound echoed through the cold walls, but he didn't stop! Freedom was finally within his reach.
He stepped out of the basement's prison cells and moved quietly through the shadowed corridors of the castle. His only goal was to find Alara and escape, no matter what stood in his way.
As he entered the main halls, the sight before him was unlike anything he had ever seen. The castle was alive with music and laughter, filled with nobles dressed in glittering gowns and embroidered suits. He had never witnessed a royal gathering like this before. His own clothes plain and worn made him stand out in the sea of elegance.
Keeping his head low, Abrum scanned the hall until he spotted a table adorned with elegant masks for the masquerade guests. Without hesitation, he picked one and placed it over his face. The mask hid his identity completely, allowing him to blend into the dazzling chaos that surrounded him.
The king appeared before the guests, standing tall above them in the grand gallery that overlooked the glittering hall below. The crowd fell silent at once, all eyes turning toward him. The chandeliers shimmered overhead as his deep voice filled the ballroom.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the king began, his tone commanding yet proud. "Welcome to the Grand Masquerade Ball! I hope you all enjoy this evening and indulge yourselves in the finest royal feast. But before we begin, I ask for your attention for just a moment…" He paused, a faint smile crossing his face. "Tonight is a very special night for us, for I have the honor of presenting someone dear to my heart. Please welcome the princess!"
As the king's announcement echoed through the hall, Alara appeared at the top of the grand staircase, flanked by sentinels on either side. The entire room fell silent, she looked like a dream stepped out of a fairytale, her gown shimmering under the golden light. Guests whispered among themselves, captivated by her beauty; every man in the hall secretly wished to be her partner for the evening.
But Alara's eyes were searching restlessly through the masked crowd ,searching only for one face. And little did she know, the one she sought was already standing among them, lost in awe, completely spellbound by her presence. For Abrum, in that moment, the entire world had faded away, there was only her.
As Alara reached the bottom of the staircase, the king descended beside her, his expression proud and composed. The guests made way for them as he approached a young man standing nearby his friend's son.
"Alara, my dear, meet Lord Rylan," the king said warmly, introducing them before turning away to greet other guests. Alara was left standing beside the man, her hands fidgeting slightly as unease crept over her. She forced a polite smile, but inside, she felt nervous and out of place.
The music began to play, filling the grand hall with lively melodies. Laughter and chatter rose around her, yet Alara felt completely alone amid the glittering crowd, her thoughts trapped somewhere far away, with someone else.
Abrum's eyes were fixed only on Alara, every movement of hers pulling him deeper into a storm of emotions. But when he saw a man step close to her, the unease on her face was impossible to miss, something inside him tightened. His hands curled into fists beneath the table as anger and helplessness warred within him.
He wanted nothing more than to go to her, to pull her away from that crowd, from that man. But he couldn't. He knew one wrong move could destroy everything! not just his plan to escape, but her safety too. So he stayed still, forcing himself to breathe, even as every second felt like fire burning through his veins.
On the other hand, Alara's thoughts were far away, trapped in worry for Abrum. She could barely focus on Rylan's words, her heart heavy with guilt and fear. Trying to escape the situation, she finally said, "Umm… can you excuse me for a second? I need to use the restroom."
Rylan gave a polite smile, though his tone carried a hint of insistence. "Oh, of course! If you'd like, I can come with you," he offered, stepping a little too close for comfort.
Alara instinctively took a step back, forcing a small smile that barely hid her discomfort. "No, it's alright," she said softly. "I'll be fine on my own."
As Alara turned to leave, a sudden sharp pain struck her head. The room spun for a moment, and she nearly lost her balance but before she could fall, Rylan quickly reached out, steadying her with his hand.
"What happened? Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern as he looked into her pale face.
Alara forced a faint smile, trying to brush it off. "Oh… yeah, I'm fine. It's just a sudden headache," she said softly, though her voice trembled slightly.
Rylan shook his head firmly. "No, no I'll come with you," he insisted, stepping closer as if unwilling to take no for an answer.
Abrum stood frozen for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. But when he saw Rylan moving closer to Alara, something inside him snapped, he couldn't hold himself back any longer. He started toward her, every instinct screaming to protect her.
But then he caught sight of the king across the hall, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. Abrum stopped dead in his tracks, forcing himself to calm down. One reckless move could ruin everything for both of them.
As Alara and Rylan began walking toward the exit, Abrum quietly slipped into the shadows and followed them, keeping a careful distance, his eyes never leaving her.
While Abrum was quietly following them through the crowd, a group of guards suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way. He quickly stepped aside, pretending to be one of the guests, waiting for them to move.
But by the time the guards finally passed, Alara and Rylan were gone. He scanned the hall frantically, but they had vanished somewhere in the sea of masks and glittering gowns.
A knot of panic tightened in his chest. He tried to stay calm, but the worry on his face was impossible to hide. Every beat of his heart screamed her name, Alara.
Rylan stood outside the restroom, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby. A dangerous thought crossed his mind, and he stepped quietly inside. Alara was standing before the mirror, lost in her thoughts, unaware that someone had followed her in.
Rylan slipped on his mask and moved closer, his reflection slowly appearing behind her in the mirror. Alara's eyes widened, she hadn't expected anyone there.
"Rylan? What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
But instead of answering, he kept closing the distance between them, his presence cold and unsettling. Alara stepped back, alarm rising in her chest. "Stay away from me," she warned, her voice trembling.
Her words echoed in the empty room, but the music from the ballroom drowned them out. No one could hear her calling.
"Except for the one who was there… only for her"...