A Circle Of Wolves

Blaire's Pov

Walking away from the dungeon with all its filth and stench should have made me feel relieved but what I was feeling would probably be fittingly described as the direct opposite. Leaving left me feeling more awful than I had been before going. Seeing the unhealthy conditions that Indrik had to put up with made me feel sick to my stomach.

Coming out from the underground cell, I was glad to find that my luck had held although I don't think I would have been scared if I had come out to find a circle of wolves. If they will, they could throw me in the dungeon as well. At least then, I would be able to be close to Indrik. Somewhere in the back of my mind though, a voice that wasn't clouded by my anger told me I would be more useful free than imprisoned. I shut the door silently and snuck out of the palace. For a moment, my eyes caught on the images from earlier and I blinked as the memories rushed in, fresh as when I first saw them. I blinked again as the images seemed to be glowing. By the time I blinked the third time, the wall was as normal as a white-painted wall should be. I shook my head as I hurried on.

Breaking out into the open and seeing the brilliant half-moon standing proud in the sky did nothing to help my mood neither did the wind which whistled through the trees as it doused me in a comforting cold which was a welcoming distraction from the stuffy air in the dungeon. I quietly shut the door behind me and started to make for my home. I hadn't taken more than a few steps when I ran into a problem. Well, I would have if I had been running but I very luckily had been walking or sneaking if you prefer that which allowed me enough time to spot the guard that was heading my way and duck out of sight. I held my breath as his whistling and heavy steps drew closer and practically froze when he walked past my hiding place. I silently prayed, my bravery from before dissolved in thin air and my eyes shut tightly as I willed that he not sniff me out. Luckily, he walked right past. It wasn't until I could not hear him anymore that I allowed myself to relax.

With him finally gone, I half ran, half sneaked and half walked to my home, my heart fixed on the safety of my room. Getting to my room though, I found that it wasn't exactly the safe haven my imagination had made it appear to be because right there, his huge body casting a dark shadow on my door was Jamil. He turned toward me and even though it was too dark to see his eyes, I could have sworn that he was boring through me with accusatory eyes.

I squared my shoulders as I moved toward him but my walk of glory almost nearly became a fall of shame as I stumbled and a iron bowl clattered noisily to the floor. I felt it must have been enough to wake the entire palace and I waited there, frozen in place. I could already see my head hanging on a stake. If not for sneaking into the dungeon, then for subjecting all the inhabitants of the palace to a rude awakening. Now, if you have never dropped an iron bowl in a very silent place then you probably wouldn't know that the combination is something that is fit to be a torture in hell. Infact, I have a feeling that it was created by Lucifer himself.

"Blaire! Are you going to remain standing there all day?" I took that as a signal that the palace was not coming for me and by extension, I was not going to die. I wasn't going to push my luck though as I quickly picked up the bowl and made for my room, meaning to sneak past Jamil but he obviously wasn't going to allow that as he clamped a hand on my shoulder and turned me around so I was looking at him or at the dark frame that the light afforded me to see.

I raised my jaw and made my eyes as cold as I could, forgetting that he could not see them. He could hear my voice though which was a good thing as my voice came out harsh and brave, nothing like the mushiness that fear had turned my insides into. "Let me go, will you?" I snapped.

I could hear him suck in his teeth in annoyance as he released my shoulder and let his arms drop to his sides. "Where have you been?" He asked in a tone that said he knew exactly where I had gone.

"I don't see how that should be any concern of yours." I replied as I shifted on my feet, my arms still trembling from all the stress they had been subjected to.

"Blaire!" Jamil groaned as he ran his arms through his hair. "Tell me you didn't do anything stupid."

I almost lashed out in annoyance but I bit my tongue. "I don't think I did anything as stupid as waiting before my door in the middle of the night. Don't tell me you have suddenly become a stalker overnight."

"Come on, Blaire! You really should know better than putting yourself at risk like that. You are going to get into trouble." Of course, I could not fool him. He had known me all my life.

"Excuse me! I need to get some sleep." I reached for my doorknob when he sighed.

"Just be careful, okay? And you really gotta tell me how he is doing once it is morning. For now, you should rest. You look like a nightmare." I could hear a smile in his voice as my heart warmed.

"In the morning." I grinned as I slipped into my room.