“Son,” he says stiffly. “Who have you brought us?”
“Father, this is Alison Wescot. She’s new to our area. I need to speak with you about her. Alone.” The last word is edged in steel. The two men next to the king look to their leader, who nods and they stand to leave. But as they go, they give Lucas nasty glares. In turn, I see his face harden and know he saw them. There is hatred between these men. That much is evident.
“Come,” the king says. “Have a seat and bring your friend with you.”
Lucas walks to the chair beside his father. He squeezes my hand and offers me a small smile before pulling out a chair for me. We both sit. There are no other people in the room. Only the three of us, no guards.
“What is so important that you had to kick Evan and Levi out?”
“I need you to promise me two things before I tell you. One, you cannot speak or react until I’m finished. Two, you agree to sit here and discuss everything with an open mind.”
“Lucas,” the king warns.
“Father, please. Hear me out.”
He sighs. “Fine.” He waves his hand toward Lucas, motioning him to speak.
“I found Alison by the woods. She walked through the door of the old cottage into our kingdom, but she’s not from here. She’s from a whole other place that I never knew existed until I met her today.”
The king’s eyes widen then narrow quickly. He leans forward on the table and directs his next words to me. “Where are you from?”
I shift nervously in my seat and fold my hands in my lap. “A small town in middle of Colorado. In the United States.”
“Near the Rocky Mountains?” Um, what? How does he know what and where the Rocky Mountains are?
“I’m sorry?” I ask timidly.
“You heard me.”
“Yes, sir.” Sir? Where did that come from? Was that the right way to address him? Hell if I know.
“Father, you’ve heard of the area she’s from?” Lucas asks surprisingly.
“Yes.”
“What? How? And why haven’t I been told?”
“You don’t need to know everything. Not right now at least. There are some things better kept quiet. I highly suggest you keep this information between the three of us.”
“Of course.”
“Now, what else do you have to tell me, my son? Because I know this isn’t all of it. There has to be more.” The king watches me like a hawk. He’s taking in every part of my face, waiting for me to say something. The question is what? I have nothing to offer him.
“Yes, there is. I’m going to give you a letter to read, but you must know that Ali only read it yesterday. She knew nothing before that. You must remember that.” The king nods and extends his hand for the letter. Lucas looks to me and I fumble with the bag still on my back. Have I really been sitting in this chair with this thing behind me and not realized it? Must be my nerves.
I quickly reach behind me and unzip my bag. I withdraw the pewter box and sit it on the table. An audible gasp comes from the king. I look up and see his mouth is open; he’s fixated on the box.
“Where did you get that?” he asks shakily.
“My mother. She left it for me.”
“Give me the letter and whatever else is in the box.” His words are hard and make me afraid to hand it over, but I know I must.
“There’s nothing else inside.” I’m not telling him I still have the key. Obviously this box is significant to him somehow. I wonder why, though. He’ll know I had the key once he reads it, but he won’t know I still do.
I place the letter in Lucas’ hand who gives it to the king. The king’s lips go into a thin line as he reads it. His hand tightens causing the paper to crinkle. Then he slams his fist down on the table and throws daggers at me with his eyes. “Guards!” he calls. The two men that are stationed outside of the door come rushing in. “Seize her,” he commands. “Take that bag off of her and put her in the dungeon.”
“No!” I cry. “Please. You promised. You didn’t hear us out.”
“You’re right. And I won’t hear you out. I will hear my son. Without you in the room. Take her away!”
My eyes fly to Lucas, silently pleading for him to do something. He stands, ready to fight, but his father speaks. “If you want her to live, you will sit down, Son.”
Lucas’ hands fist by his sides and know it’s with great effort that he complies. His body is rigid, but he manages to mouth, “It’s okay,” and watches me being escorted from the room.
I don’t go easy. I’m trying to free my arms, using all of my strength, even though it’s of no use. I keep trying to plant my feet on the stone floor, but I’m overpowered and now being dragged through the building.
I’m not paying any attention to where they’re taking me. I’m too busy squirming, trying to get free, not wanting to give up without a fight. I’m taken down a long, spiral set of stairs into a basement. There is a long hallway with cells on either side. A man with a set of keys is walking in front of us. I only see one other person locked up, and that is right next to the open door I’m being shoved through.
I continue to yell. I know it serves no purpose. Lucas is up there right now, pleading my case. Telling the king I’m not a bad person hopefully, and that I didn’t even know who my father was until a day ago. I hope he believes him and I don’t have to stay down here for too long.
After the guards walk away, I look around my cell. There are bars in front of me and stone walls on three sides. It smells of dampness and mildew. There is a dark green cot on one side with a grungy looking pillow atop it. There’s also a toilet and a sink that I don’t even want to think about using right now. It’s a good thing I haven’t drank anything in hours. I doubt there’s enough toilet paper in the world to cover that seat. Hovering wouldn’t even be good enough.
I stand in the center of room not wanting to touch a thing. I don’t move, but then I see something scurry in front of me and scream, while jumping into the air. Great, filth and rodents, as if the dank smell didn’t complete the ambiance on its own.
“Are you okay?” asks a concerned male voice. I’m assuming it’s the man who is being kept beside me.
“Peachy!” I shout back. What did he think I was going to say? Oh yeah, I’m fantastic. This is a dream come true!
“You don’t look like you belong down here.”
“How would you know how I look? You saw me for all of three seconds.” I’m snapping at him and don’t care. I don’t want to make idle chitchat. I want to get the hell out of here.
“I saw you long enough to know you’re not from here.” No shit.
“What tipped you off?” Yup, I’m in full on bitch mode now. Being locked in a dungeon will do that to me.
He chuckles. “Easy, beautiful one. I mean no harm.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Harm or not, I’m in no mood to talk to you about how I look.”
“Do you want to talk about how I know who you are?” My eyes go wide and my lips part. How does he know me? I just got here.