Thanks for sticking with me for five chapters of this series!
Blood warning. Potentially depressing topics.
Sit.
That's all I do now.
Father won't elaborate in how under the forsaken moons I use "wishes", whatever they are.
I gazed at the colorful ceiling, thinking of possible ways to get out. The most obvious choice, back out the door, was out of the question. It was locked, and only led to another locked door. I need to escape another way. Father hadn't shackled me, at least. I thought back- if the closet leads about twenty paces to here- this room should be-
right under the Menagerie.
My father appreciated animals, but only the Arctic ones. And then, only the ones that "served a purpose". So just a bunch of seals and walruses. I think he had a couple pairs of minks, too. The Menagerie was a fancy word for "Fenced off lake and small copse of trees". It was guarded all day, every day, even during festivals and holidays.
For the first time, I thought that was odd. Why have a little patch of land protected like it was made of solid gold? It was hiding something, that's why. This room.
I scrambled around, trying to find a soft rock, like shale. This cavernous chamber was made of pure marble, but perhaps there would be a scrap of stone to break the lock on the door.
Ugh, what am I saying? That lock has to be one of the strongest in Pyrrhia, based off the rest of this place. How could I break it with a small piece of rock? Besides, the cell has nothing in it. Nothing I can do.
I circled about. I tried to think on other things. But the thought of escape kept coming back to me, like my mind had honed in on the idea. I kept looking back towards the taunting lock.
I need to get out of here.
The lock on the door made a strange, groaning sound, and my sight was enveloped in a bright flash. I didn't squint at it. It was unlike the harsh white light of the sun on ice, no, this was- warm and inviting. It cleared, and when I blinked, the door was wide open.
I barely even thought. I rushed out of the door like a wild animal, grabbed a hunk of charcoal from the burnt out fireplace, and hurled it at the stained glass as hard as I could.
When the dusty bit of coal hit the window, I realized how bad of an idea that was.
I heard one big CRACK! and I was almost afraid to look up. The jagged seam in the glass had started in the heart of the golden dragon, and was working its way toward the ten tribes below it. I had to act fast. Where do I hide?
I looked around wildly. A rain of broke glass wasn't my top priority right now. In the fireplace? I scrambled over and peered up. Solid stone. How did it even burn? The rest of the room was perfectly circular and smooth, no overhangs or anything. Nowhere to hide- my cell! I felt the first clink of glass hitting the floor, and I ran. Trying to close the broken door behind me, I hit the wall and flattened myself against it.
Have you ever heard a churned-up ocean hit a glacier? It sounded like that, but deafening and for what felt like hours. I was about to claw my ears out. I don't know how loud Father or the guards or even the animals could hear it.
When the crashing stopped, I slowly opened my eyes. Shattered glass covered the ground like pastel snow, yet a whole lot more painful. I thought for a second. How long until Sword comes back? Perhaps my father?
Steeling myself, I walked out onto the glass. It scraped and cut my feet. Wincing, I stretched my wings, bent down, and took flight, barreling up into the Menagerie.
As my eyes adjusted to sunlight, I was greeted by a large squadron of guards. They hovered in the air around me, holding gleaming spears. I risked a look down- nothing. Just a blanket of pure white snow. Like the chamber didn't even exist.
"H-halt!" one of the smaller guards squeaked. Moons, she was barely my age! Why did Father hire her? She's probably sixth or seventh circle, I noted, She needs this job.
"Lord Vigilance- why are you out here?" A deeper, more experienced voice spoke this time. I whipped around, a small cyan spray flicking around my feet. "Oh, are you hurt? Please, let me go get a medi-"
"No, I'm quite alright. My only wish is to go back to the house." I slipped on my placid, formal mask, but still felt exposed and weak.
"Of course, sir. Let me escort yo-"
"I am quite alright, sir. Thank you," I repeated firmly. He seemed uneasy with the idea, but thankfully the Menagerie was behind the mansion, so I could just hide around the front. Hopefully.
I turned tail, and flew more or less right back were I started. But this time, I'll get away.
This time, I'll escape my father's mad grasp.
This time, I will survive.
