Chapter 2: The Prisoners

They caught pirates. I couldn't put that thought aside. These western people caught pirates and, I knew it was dangerous and foolish but I wanted to see one. If I was at home, I would probably sneak out. It would be easy. But I was at a foreign place and getting past the guards outside my room and a servant assigned to me in itself was proving to be challenging.

Said servant was patiently combing my hair, seemingly uncaring about other interesting things happening outside these walls.

"So... what would they do with the pirates?" I asked the servant, finally snapping from being out of the loop of information. The servant given to me was tall and looked to be about my age. I guessed it would be fine to talk to her because she looked kind, too.

"The Lords would be the ones to decide on that matter, Lady Primrose," she answered with a smile.

I looked at her through the mirror. "Have you ever seen one?" I asked again.

"Well, Lord Threy—" She managed to stop just before saying what she meant and she looked scared. Even I didn't know what to say after hearing his name. It was silent for a few passing moments before I decided to speak again.

"You had served him when he's still here, then," I concluded. She simply looked at me and went back to combing my hair. It still wasn't clear to me how a person whom this city used to adore could suddenly be simply hated. Saying his name was a mortal sin in this place. How could they erase a person's entire existence this way, as if it was such a simple matter?

"Lord Threy must have treated you well because you still haven't forgotten his name." The servant looked at me with discomfort. And maybe, some fear, too.

"Please, my lady. There will be punishment for those who speaks of him. I must also be punished for saying his name in front of you," she pleaded.

I didn't realize how serious it was until I remembered that Lord Magnus had also stopped speaking about him.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized. In reality, I wanted to talk about him but the servant was afraid and I didn't think there was any way I could get her to break that one simple rule.

She continued combing my hair in silence. She left after helping me to settle down on the bed. But sleep seemed to be miles away because my mind kept me up with my own thoughts.

There are pirates outside. I had been wondering how they would look like. I had never seen one in my whole life. They were hated and feared with a subtle kind of awe at the same time. They were the villains who stand between the main land and the Outsiders who lived on the other part of the sea. Being an outsider was bad enough but living as a pirate was twisted. It was the most unlawful thing in the four cities.

But these pirates might have some idea about that person. They might have information about his whereabouts or if he was ever coming back. Despite knowing that coming back would be difficult, I still believed he will.

I hope he never finds that woman.

That was a mean thing to think of. I tried to stop my selfish thought. How could I think of such a thing? If he never found her, then everything he had done would just be for naught. But I wanted him back just like the way it was before. Not for the first time in recent years, I wished I could hate him the way I hated Chester Weston.

After a few hours, I got impatient because I couldn't be comfortable enough in the bed to sleep. The night was deep and the darkness foreboding. When the clock struck 1:00 AM, I gave up on sleep altogether and grabbed my feathery black coat. It was my favorite, perfect to use during nights just like this. I slowly opened my room's door and peeked discreetly out the hallway. No one was here except for a sleeping guard at the end of the hall. I frowned. How could he do that? How could he sleep like that why on his duty? I sneaked out of my room and carefully made my way to the entrance of the mansion. The whole place was definitely quiet except for the occasional discreet footsteps from other parts of the house.

I paused when I saw that there were guards stationed at the entrance. Of course, they wouldn't leave the West Castle unguarded. The guards were talking at the corner. I waited for a few beats and managed to run discreetly past them when they were not looking.

The cold air stung my face I ran towards the unguarded gate, huddling my coat closer to keep me warm. I had a guess as to where they were keeping the prisoners—a place that would talk me a fifteen minute-walk from here. If I run, I could make it in ten. I ran. I was good at running, even better than Tarnus. Speaking of Tarnus, where was he? I hadn't seen him since dinner.

I had started running when I heard someone from the inside approaching the gates. I pulled my hood up so no one can see my face as I passed them. There were fewer people on the road. Even from here, I could hear the sound of crashing waves. I reached the pathway near the sea and I couldn't help but look at the vastness. It was eerily dark tonight and I couldn't even find the horizon. Suddenly, I was a little afraid, thinking of the sea at this time of midnight. Were there really sea monsters like what legends say? I tried to push it out of my mind as I reached the place. I was right. It was the prison.

And it was well-guarded.

There were a number of soldiers outside, standing guard. As a prison, it was made to keep people in and not let them out. No one could easily escape its tight security. But coming in from the outside was easy.

I found a horse dragging a load behind. An old man was riding the horse. He was trotting to the direction of the prison and I dared guess that he was on his way inside to deliver something. I ran towards the load and squeezed myself in.

Oh, these are bread! Probably food for the prisoners. I covered myself with the thick cloth used to cover the bread. Tempted by the delicious smell, I decided to take one for me. The old man and his horse passed the guards safely. They seemed to be familiar with them, probably the same person who does this errand every day because they didn't even check his load. I took a peek as we entered the prison. This place was horrible. It was making me feel suffocated and claustrophobic.

I jumped from the load quietly when it turned around a corner. I hid quickly as the man on the horse looked behind him. He might have felt something dropping from his load. I held my breath for a few seconds, waiting if he will turn around. He decided to move when he saw nothing.

My black coat did a good job of concealing me in the darkness. I carefully made my way around. I passed through prison cells. Some of them are asleep. Some were awakened from my quiet steps. Some noticed and were viciously staring at me like with hollow, sleepless eyes. They looked like predators waiting for a prey to come in their dungeon. And despite the bars that cage them, I still felt that they think I was their prey.

I walked straight to the well-secured cell on the innermost part of the place. I recognized it as the cell where they keep the pirates because of the sign saying 'Keep distant and alert.' No one threatens confident security as well as pirates.

I could feel my heart beating hard against my chest as I approached the prison. Even from the darkness of their cells, I could see three unmoving shadows. Two of them were sitting and one of them was languidly standing by the corner.

It was strange to see that kind of stillness that I wondered if they were even breathing at all. I stared at the shadows for the whole minute until I got impatient and stepped a little bit closer to the bars. I was trying to see make out the features of their faces but to no success. The silence and immobility began to scare me and I decided it would be best for me to leave and be satisfied on at least getting a glimpse. Just as I was about to step back, the one standing on the corner moved. The movement had been so sudden that I didn't anticipate it. In a matter of seconds, his hand reached out from across the bar and grabbed my arm.

"Let go of me!" I demanded, horrified. That was when I got a glimpse of him. His face was withered, scarred and dangerous. I had never seen a living creature as scary as him. The other two behind him started to stand up. They moved closer, enough for me to see their faces. The fear froze my bone as I just stood there staring at them open-mouthed. So sea monsters really do exist.

"Did you come for us to taste your beautiful flesh?" The pirate holding my hand asked.

I was too scared to talk at first but I managed to get some words out. "No, I—I was just looking for a person."

They looked puzzled from my question. "And who would it be that is more deserving than us to taste your flesh?" He asked. His voice was the stuff of nightmares.

I couldn't speak again. Fear had completely paralyzed me.

"You should speak when you are asked, young lady," he added as I felt his grip tightened. I think he could cut my arm with his bare hand. Tears welled up in my eyes as I answered

"I was looking for Lord Threy Weston!" I blurted out quickly.

"I don't know that bastard but Weston is a name I shall vanish from this city," he said. He was about to pull me closer when one of the pirates behind him spoke.

"She's taking about The Skull." He said. The name seemed to silence them.

I could suddenly hear footsteps approaching us. I was relieved. I would be saved.

"Lady Primrose!" I recognized Tarnus as he ran to my direction. Worry crossed his face when he saw that one of the pirates was grabbing my arm.

"I could cut this pretty little arm of yours. But I would never risk facing the wrath of The Skull," the pirate seriously and brashly let my arm go.

I almost fainted as Tarnus grabbed me to his chest and wrapped one of his arms protectively around me. He held out his other hand where he was holding a dagger.

"You're safe now," he whispered gently as the other soldiers approached us.