The Last

The last Druherean princess woke to the sound of wind rushing by and the dull continuous rocking song of a train moving along the tracks. Her eyes remained closed as she listened, getting a feel for her surroundings. She could hear the shuffling of feet some distance away and felt a heavy chain wrapped around her ankle. Her wrists were tied tightly, the rope making her skin itch.

“Welcome back Princess,” she blinked open her eyes taking in the bright sunlight streaming through a window high above, the silhouette of the prince standing before her. She shifted slightly sitting up a bit more and tossing her head to get the loose strands of hair out of her face. Her annoyed expression was clearly enough of a response for this chatterbox of a male. He simply continued the conversation he seemed to be holding with himself.

“What?” He raised an eyebrow tilting his head slightly in the manner of a dog, pulling a wooden crate out from the wall and perching on it in front of Amira. “Oh yes all this” he waved his hands vaguely at the chain and rope. “My apologies you see it's been quite some time since any of my kind has dealt with any of yours and well,” he shrugged, “I’ve been learning to take fewer risks. Apparently, it’s best for my mother’s heart.”

Amira watched as he continued on, taking in the rest of the train car. It was relatively undecorated, just a plain boxcar with one foldable table and chairs scattered around it currently occupied by various soldiers, presumably her wardens and the Prince’s guards. Not that he needed them, he’d rendered her defenseless without breaking a sweat. The one window high in the wall was the only source of light as they rocked along.

“Oh my speaking of my mother where are my manners?” The Prince spoke hand flying to his chest in an apologetic manner, his eyes told a different story however, the sarcasm clear. “My name is Rue Ahmad, Prince of the Heliki peoples fourth in line for the throne, and you my dear are?” He asked his head tilting slightly once again falling silent this time it did not appear he would be answering himself.

“Amira” she said, voice rough and scratchy as if by ripping the air out of her lungs he’d torn up her throat as well. Raising her bound hands to her mouth she covered her cough that shook the entirety of her too thin body. She cleared her throat a few times before lifting her golden eyes to meet the dark brown ones staring right back at her and offered him a sick smile, “pleasure doing business with you,” she added sarcastically.

A long moment of silence took over the train car and even the guards had stopped their chatter to look over their shoulders to see what their Prince was up to. The silence was broken by a light chuckle that slowly grew into a full laugh. Rue leaned back on his makeshift chair laughing heartily. He shook his head calming down once more chuckling softly as he looked back to Amira, “you’re funny,” he said with an easy smile, “unfortunate business we have, but that is the way of the world is it not?” The male stood tossing the box back towards the side of the car. He moved around aimlessly as if staying still for too long bothered him.

Amira watched quietly once more allowing him to be the one to speak. She was already starting to get a handle on what kind of a person Rue was, but this nervous energy was slightly confusing to her. Why should he not be content? He successfully captured his prize did he not?

“You know, under different circumstances you and I could have been friends.” The prince pointed out. “You’re funny and attractive and even more importantly a royal. I would have been allowed to hang out with you instead of having to sneak around.”

Amira had never thought of it that way. Had never considered what the world would be like had the war never happened. She would have grown up in a palace, educated by the best in the nation, been protected rather than be the protector. She would have her family...the pain bit deep in her chest and she shoved the thought away. Would they have been friends? They would’ve grown up around the same time, as far as she could tell though he was still younger than her by at least a few years. She supposed they would never know.

Rue paused in his circling to stop and look down at her, “Is your kind typically this quiet?” he demanded. Interesting, Amira thought, it doesn’t seem the Prince was overly well educated on her species… strange they would send the uneducated boy to capture her. Unless… Unless he wasn’t sent to capture her.

“No, I just typically don’t have much to say to people who are bringing me to my death,” she retorted while her mind processed the possibility of the royal family not knowing of her existence. Had she done that good a job with her cover up? Had they truly not known her mothers last children had been twins? Amira did not know. So she kept her mouth shut. If Rue thought she was her older sister… What did that mean for her fate? Was Gweneth still alive?

“Right, right of course,” Rue huffed, seeming annoyed and bored more than anything. The light she could see seemed to be from the late day sun, which meant they had been traveling for some time now. He likely woke her just for the entertainment of it. She watched as he turned and walked back towards the rest of the men in the car then back towards her.

She smirked, she could almost taste the nerves of the soldiers. Clearly they were not used to dealing with the prince and her earlier assumption was wrong. They didn’t exactly fear him, but they certainly were not comfortable.

As Rue continued his pacing he stopped by one of the men abruptly, “How much longer until we get there?” he demanded, the tone of voice he used with the soldier far more harsh than the one he used with herself. Interesting.

“No more than an hour sir,” The male answered having stood up upon being addressed by his Prince, eyes fixed to the wall straight ahead standing at perfect attention.

“Very well, carry on,” Rue huffed, turning back to the Princess walking over to sit. Once more dragging over his box and sitting heavily on the makeshift furniture. Amira decided it was her turn to ask a question, she had after all answered all of his.

“They don’t know you’re bringing me do they?” She asked, causing the Prince to perk up raising his head slightly in surprise.

“And add intelligence to the list of reasons why we would have made good friends,” Rue said adding a low whistle as he smiled softly realizing he’d been exposed. “You’re correct, I didn’t expect to find you. I don’t think anyone did, you were hidden well.” Amira nodded slightly in acceptance. Just because they didn’t know she would be coming did not mean her fate was any different.

“And our agreement?” She asked looking up to meet the Prince’s gaze as he studied her.

“Will be upheld. I swear it,” he promised and for some reason Amira believed him. A soft sigh left her lips and she nodded slightly. She looked up to the window once more and the sunlight that streamed through it. Likely one of the last good glimpses she would get of it.

“I promised I would come peacefully.” She said gaze not leaving the window. “I have and will uphold my end of the bargain, will you please untie my hands?” She asked slowly looking back to the Prince in front of her who for a moment she thought she saw sadness in his eyes. It was gone in a moment, replaced with a cold laugh.

“Not a chance sweetheart, good try though,” he said with a lazy grin rocking back on his box. He seemed disinterested in her once more and Amira shifted her body so she was leaning up against the furnace behind her with a bit more comfort. Her hands she left resting in her lap. The chain around her ankle was the only thing that really would have stopped her. Rope broke easily, the chain did not, and would restrict her from shifting. Not that she would escape anyways. The safety of her family and friends hinged on the event of her death. It simply would just feel nice not to be chained again.

The following hour passed in silence, the only noise outside of the train being the quiet shuffling of cards and the guards who spoke softly playing their game on the other end of the car. The prince took to leaning against the side of the car and seemed to be resting, eyes closed and his body perfectly still. Amira was left to entertain herself. She was similar to the Prince in the regard that she hated being idle. Being chained down as she was on the way to her death she had nothing better to do than think about all the events in her life that led up to exactly where she was now. There were only a few things she would change, but for the most part she was content with her choices and the life she had been able to lead.

The brakes squealed and the train lurched. Amira fell forward, chain yanking back hard, barely able to keep her in place. The guards had braced themselves and Rue didn’t move, supernaturally rooted to the ground as if the very air around him held him to the floor. When the car finally stopped one of the guards immediately opened the huge sliding door and the Prince was the first one off the train. He disappeared from her line of sight and Amira was alone with these soldiers who did not look too favorably in her direction. She had killed a number of their comrades she realized, and their blood still coated her leathers. She offered them an awkward smile and a small wave before orders were barked into the car in a language Amira did not recognize and the men filed out, leaving her truly alone.

The sun was starting to set. It had easily been half an hour and Amira was still alone. She was getting extremely bored and even started playing some music on the radiator behind her. Stupid little noises she could make by hitting the chain against different pieces of the metal. She wondered if Rue had forgotten her. How annoying it would be to die here of hunger or thirst. Amira did not fear death, in fact the Princess welcomed it. The opportunity to be reunited with her family again was far too promising. Just when she was contemplating figuring out how to get herself out of here and march her ass up to the castle and demand a proper execution a figure leapt into the train car.

The shadowy beast was exactly as they had been described. Made of pure shadows nothing could harm the hellhound when in this form, the only corporeal part of it being its eyes of fire and ivory fangs and claws. It paced towards her and growled softly. Amira straightened a bit and met its gaze head on, and growled back. The noise resonated from deep in her chest, she pulled her lips back slightly as she did so exposing the razor sharp fangs that graced her own mouth. Her eyes burned violet irises shifting to reptilian slits as her heart pounded in her chest; she wouldn’t face her death a coward. Their quiet war of wills was interrupted however by Rue pulling himself back up into the car.

“Zara,” the boy snapped, “I didn’t ask you to kill her for me,” he said shoving the hellhound back from where she had come nose to nose with Amira. “And you knock it off,” he said pointing an accusatory finger towards Amira as well, “you made a promise.” The princess huffed and conceded nodding slightly eyes and facial expression shifting back to its more human one. “Gods, females” the Prince huffed moving towards the radiator. He snapped the chain off from where it was attached and kept hold of one end.

“Can you get up?” He asked, Amira answered by standing. The girl was just about as tall as Rue himself was, another warning growl came from the hellhound, its eyes this time looking to Rue. “I didn’t ask you to come to tell me things I already know,” He snapped at the hound. Zara, the only Princess, Amira’s eyes fixed on the hellhound and the beast pulled back its lips to snarl at her. Amira understood the warning plenty. She was here to protect her brother. Amira didn’t blame her.

“Go on,” he said, gesturing to Zara to lead the way. The Heliki Princess jumped out of the car and nearly disappeared completely into the growing night. Amira was next, she hit the ground roughly and nearly fell on her face but a blast of wind kept her upright. She glanced back over her shoulder at the Prince. Why was he being so nice to her? He refused to meet her gaze as he jumped down as well and slid the door shut behind him.

“Follow her,” Rue instructed and Amira didn’t argue. The burning fire that replaced the hellhound’s eyes were bright enough to see in the night along with the gleaming ivory of her claws and fangs. They moved as quietly as they could, the only noise arising from the slight clinking of the chains around her ankles. Amira blinked, allowing her eyes to shift bleeding into their bright violet, becoming more slitted and angled like a reptile and her vision increased tenfold. She tried to look around and gather as much information about the outside of the castle as they could, but they were moving far too quickly and before she could really see much they had reached the outer wall.

The gates were lifted on a silent command and shut swiftly after they entered. They moved through a small and ornate courtyard before reaching the edge of the castle. Amira had the distinct feeling that the royal siblings were definitely sneaking around.

So they had not informed everyone of the enemy in their midst. Interesting. She was ushered into a dark passageway and from there they went down. She was grateful for her enhanced vision or otherwise she would have been completely blinded. Even now she stumbled slightly in the dark. Rue was right there behind her though to catch her if she faltered and hurry her along.

At last they reached what seemed to be the dungeons and Zara padded into the light of a torch. The pair seemed to have relaxed by now and Rue moved forwards to open one of the unoccupied cells. Silently, Amira took the hint and entered.

“Give me your hands,” he instructed, and the Princess obeyed. He flicked his hand and those sharp talons appeared from thin air protruding from his knuckles. A swift motion and the ropes fell away. He took a step back and closed the door on her leaving her trapped in the cell. Yet her hands were free now, and he’d dropped the chain, leaving it untied to anything solid.

“The cell is warded, so please for your sake don’t try to escape,” Rue warned her and she nodded slightly looking around her new space, likely her last. “I ah, also wouldn’t recommend talking to them,” he added, jerking a thumb towards the rest of the cells filled with damned creatures.

“Thank you,” Amira said looking to Rue and even offered him a soft smile. She hadn’t thought her worst enemy could be so kind. She was reminded they weren’t by a rough growl from the Princess. Rue looked like he wanted to say more but the Prince only offered her a slight nod before he left, following after Zara and taking the only torch with him.

The cells were plunged into darkness and the other poor souls locked up down here began to howl and wail. Some begged for release, some begged for death. As Amira laid down on her cot and attempted to get some rest she smiled softly at the irony, for her they were one and the same.