I woke up to the soft snoring of Thyllian beside me. I couldn't bring myself to talk to him after last night, I still couldn't believe that Prince Crucian could be so awful, actually, that's a lie, of course I could, he's a Prince.
I didn't have the heart to wake up Thyllian just yet, it was still day and I could hear animals outside my window, or at least I hoped it was an animal of some sort, I would give up anything to never have to bear the effects of the ever apple again. I can't believe Thyllian saved me from it, he was probably only doing it for the sex but there are better looking Bishka in this village and if I hated someone, I would watch them die, but he saved me. I decided it was best to just enjoy this comfort of being in someone's arms for now. Unfortunately, he started to stir.
"Bramble? Are you dead yet?" He asked, still half asleep. I sighed.
"Ok good, you're really snuggly..."
He kept talking nonsense so I just laid there and enjoyed the compliments, once he started to wake up more, I worried that he was actually developing some feelings for me so I turned around and pressed a finger to his lips.
"Please, just shush, we have a few more hours of sleep left."
He shook his head gently and kept talking, eventually I fell asleep to it.
A few hours later he gently shook me awake, I grumbled and tried to pull the covers over my head but he shuffled himself so I was on top of him.
"Bramble, get up, we have to go to school, also, you don't have to be my date to the dance anymore, I think you have been through enough, how about we keep this on the down low, for both our sakes, if the Highlanders find out we've been spreading rumours about them, we could get into serious trouble."
I sighed and agreed with him, I didn't want anyone to know I had sex with him anyways, I gave him one of my mothers homemade apple loafs as a thank you for saving my life.
"It's only fair that I give you something, you're literally a life saver."
He nodded and left to get ready. I walked up to my room, I heard someone's voice when I got closer so I peeked through a tiny crack, it was Prince Shilk, can I have a break? I saw him walk over to Helvar, placing a mouse right in front of him, luckily, I've trained him not to eat anything unless given by me.
"Well that's no fun, where is the girl, I would like to have some fun with her, what a pretty soul she is."
I held up my hands and vines spread all around him, he panicked and was about to make me powerless but I gagged him with a vine. Once he was trapped, I walked in and folded my arms over my chest.
"There is no way I am going through that again." I screamed as I saw the slice of plum in his hand, he thrashed against the vines and eventually got free, I was scared he would curse me but instead, I heard footsteps on the stairs. He panicked and dropped the slice of plum on the ground before jumping out of my window. When my parents came in and saw the plum, they gasped.
"Who tried to hurt you love?" My Dad said, clearly panicked, I couldn't tell them that Prince Shilk had invited himself into my bedroom, they wouldn't believe me.
"I don't know who they were, but they weren't a Bishka, they came last night, someone told them my address and they have been trying to hurt me." I said, giving them my best acting skills, scared wasn't quite in my dictionary but I have seen enough fear in my life to at least act it out. My Dad immediately shot downstairs, my mother following him quickly.
"Right, we are moving, you get ready for school, we will collect you and take you to our new house."
I was beyond surprised but I couldn't argue with it, that would make me way safer, only, I've lived in this house for all my life and it was going to be a bit hard to transition. I can't believe this is all because I let a Prince walk me home through the forest. I don't know what I did to disrespect him but it must have been enough for him to completely up-end my life.
The walk to school was full of fear, I looked around constantly to make sure Prince Shilk wasn't close and I've never been more grateful to have a silver blade hanging from my hip, every time I heard a rustle, I panicked, it got to the point where I decided to just hold my sword the whole way to school, at least then he couldn't really surprise me without getting one slash across his stupid, perfect face. It made me feel dizzy that I was finally afraid of something, that plum slice was horrible and it nearly killed me, I swear, I am going to make it my mission to kill at least one of the Highlanders before my time being alive is up, luckily, we live for hundreds of years and I'm only 17.
Once I got to school, I put the sword back in its holster. If Prince Shilk attacked me here, at least someone would see and I could call for help. As I got closer to everyone, I noticed Thyllian giving me small glances, at least something was working out, we were no longer in a ridiculous rivalry and I could live my life safely around him, but now I didn't have a date to the dance, oh well.
I saw Giloh and Gale walking up to me with bright smiles on their faces, they could give me some happiness today.
"You are not going to believe what happened to the two of us Bramble!" Gale exclaimed whilst hooking an arm around Giloh, I was glad to see them getting along.
"We both have dates to the ceremony, Giloh is going with Lucide and I'm going with Krais, two of the hottest Bishka, Giloh snagged herself a Bishka! I told you you were a cutie Giloh!"
I smiled, an honest smile, I was glad they have dates to the dance, Gale has had a crush on Krais for as long as I've been friends with her and Giloh seems like a perfect match for Lucide, only, they were Thyllian's friends but hey! I'm not really on his bad side anymore.
"That's incredible Gale, Giloh, I'm so happy for you, look at you! You've only been here a day and you've gained a good looking Bishka. And I know you've had a pretty big crush on Krais for a while, Gale."
They both giggled excitedly and it was contagious, they pulled me towards Thyllian and his friends, they were sitting high in the trees so Gale helped Giloh up. I sat on one of the higher branches, I didn't really want to start a conversation, wayyy too many things on my mind and I'm scared I'll accidentally let a secret out.
To my slight annoyance, Thyllian came and sat next to me. He handed me a small box and inside was a small pouch. He had given me sight dust.
"I wanted to give it to you before school but I saw a sign outside your house saying that you moved. I'm glad you came up with a solution to your Prince Shilk situation. I wanted to give you this so even if he finds your address again, you can see where he is and what his next plan will be. I'll send you more but I need to know your address."
I didn't completely trust Thyllian enough to give him my address but I appreciate that he gave me something to keep me safe. I didn't know where my new house was anyways so I wouldn't be able to tell him.
"Thanks Thyllian, honestly, I don't know where my house is yet, my father is going to take me there after school but I will send you a letter when I find out where it is, first, I need you to swear on your life that you won't give my address away to anyone unless I give you permission to."
He nodded and gave me his oath, I smiled and was about to say something when he held up an envelope.
"This was left at your window as well, I saw Prince Shilk much further away so I'm assuming he went to see you much before this was sent, I think a Highlander did send you this."
I took the envelope and ran my hand over the wax seal, it was definitely a letter from the Highlander. I looked at Thyllian with slight fear in my eyes and he rubbed my arm.
"I don't think you should open this at home, we still have an hour before our lectures so you could go into the clearing, that way, if it's a trap to seek out your location, they will be met with that clearing."
I nodded my head and headed towards the clearing, Thyllian whispered a soft 'be careful' in my ear before I left, followed by a surprising kiss on the cheek.
When I got to the clearing, I braced myself, I tore the top off the envelope and when nothing happened, I took out the letter.
My dearest owlette, I apologise for a lot of things, unfortunately, I cannot lie, I had the full intention to cause harm to you, my brother had more strength to do so, I could not bring myself to hurt your soft, perfect being, but, alas, I give you a warning of what's to come, no matter how far you run or how much you toy with your Thyllian, you belong to me, you just don't know it yet.
Sincerely,
Prince Crucian
Once I finished the note, I started to panic, he couldn't possibly own me, and for what purpose could he want me, he could have any girl he wanted, or boy if that's what he fancies, but I was just a poor Bishka who was running from someone.
When I looked up, the blood drained from my face, Prince Crucian was standing at the edge of the forest, he held out his hand, offering for me to take it. Fuck that! I turned and ran back to the edge of the clearing but he was faster than me, he caught my wrist and pulled me into his chest, clamping a hand over my mouth.
"Hello my little owlette, don't worry dear, I'm the real Crucian, and, I curse you to be my date for this so-called dance, I have been invited many times before but this time, I'm actually going. Oh how much fun it will be."
He let go of my wrist and I stumbled forward. When I turned around, he was grinning, why did he have to look so goddamn perfect? He took a small step towards me and I instantly froze. He gently grabbed my chin and kissed me, I knew he put some spell on me because I felt all tingly and weird afterwards.
"I swear that my brothers will leave you alone my owlette, however, I hear you have moved, I will see you at the dance, goodbye my love."
You have got to be kidding me.