From the Depths

Kirea placed the quill down, the King had long since returned to sit on his bed. All the while he watched her, his eyes never leaving her body. Thankfully she had enough research in front of her to distract her from his burning gaze.

In her study she’d learnt quite a lot, the Siren had been captured off the coast only a few miles from here. The reports claimed that he was lying on the sands of a bank, covered in claw marks, as though he had been in some form of altercation or the victim of an attack. He had shown no signs of resisting the fisherman as they captured him to be presented to the King as a gift.

She could gander a guess at what the King had done to the witnesses, the pages were stained with droplets of what she could only assume were blood, resulting in some of the ink being barely legible. She reminded herself that she needed to remain useful or it could be her own fluids coated the reports she was to make for the King. She would need to build up the enclosure in such a way that it wasn’t completely self-sustaining, making herself an asset required to continue the siren’s care into the future. However long that may be.

“Are you done?” His voice still made her stomach twist into countless knots.

“Yes, My Lord. I have completed the list and written down a few suggestions for the enclosure as requested.” She replied.

“Then you may leave.” He ordered.

Her heart soared, finally! She bowed low, bid him a good night while thanking him and quietly left the room. She was careful not to make a hasty exit, she needed to be respectful. Her limbs screamed at her to lunge for the door and slam it shut behind her, but she took it one step at a time and gracefully retreated into the halls.

Outside the room with a heavy sigh, she finally let the air out she had been holding. The tears she had been pushing back ran down her cheeks as her legs gave out beneath her. She slid to the ground, looking down at her shaking hands, she’d survived... for now.

She felt someone kneel beside her. She gasped as she was elevated from the floor and cradled like a child in strong arms. Before she knew it, he was carrying her back to her small room on the other side of the castle.

“Aren’t I heavy?” She mumbled, clenching her arms to her chest.

It was odd to her that such a cruel and veil man could carry her so tenderly. She couldn’t help but accept his aid as her body refused to obey her.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” His tone was deadpan, and he didn’t look at her, didn’t smile. His actions, attitude and character appeared to be different when not in the King’s presence, or was it just that he was different? She’d noticed it when she was thrown from the horse early today as well. The sad look he had given her. The suggestion of the Knights being her punishment... It had been an attempt to avoid being alone with the King. Sir Henry was the commander of the Knights, it all fell into place.

“Henry...” She looked up at him as things began to make some sense. “You don’t want to be here, do you?”

The Knight half smiled as he looked to the darkness of the dimly lit halls before them. The atmosphere was heavy as the night air left her with a slight chill.

He remained silent for a time before he finally spoke. “I’m sorry about your mother.”

Her eyes opened wide, she flailed about until he put her down.

“Whoo, whoo, Princess, calm down!” He exclaimed as he attempted to stop her from hurting herself or him.

Finally, on her feet again she slapped him, the sound echoed through the halls, his head had turned to the side as his sorrow-filled expression filled her with anger. “Sorry! You’re sorry! Bullshit!” She yelled.

As she was about to hit him again, not that it would really hurt, he grabbed her wrist, stopping the swing in midair.

“I do not regret it, but I am sorry.” He hissed at her. His furrowed brow had her stuttering for words, his gaze was so intense. “If I don’t act the part. If he’s not happy with me... I’ll be the one to lose my tongue next time. Everything is reported! I was already scolded for taking so slow on that trip.”

He released her, her hand falling to her side with a sigh. “So, you're saying it’s all an act?” She questioned infuriated. "That's not an excuse."

“No, I will not claim to put on an act." His eyes glazed over, his features turning hard and rigid. “It’s a survival instinct.”

That she could understand. She was beginning to do the same thing. Saying and doing what the King wanted, even at the expense of others. But this man, he was a Knight. Not just any Knight either, he was the highest ranked. If he held so much power surely these men would be able to rid the world of terrible people with the King.

Thoughts racing through her mind she began to speak without thinking it through. “Why has no one ki-”

He cut her off, clamping a hand around her mouth and slamming her hard against the cold brick wall. The wind left her and she very nearly bit his hand until he whispered. “Play along.”

Footsteps, pondering the hard concrete surface could be heard in the distance. Soon followed by a stray knight rounding the corner. By the gods if they were caught talking about such things...

Henry slipped his leg between her thighs pushing her legs apart, his body pressed heavily against hers. His hands released her mouth, only to unbutton her blouse and hike up her skirts.

She hated the feeling of his body so close to hers, but he had just saved her life. If anyone had heard what she was about to say, she could very well have lost her head.

“-Kissed me.” She continued, changing her statement entirety. Her own hands clung to Henry’s loose shirt, she tilted her head up her lips slightly parted as he dipped his head to her neck.

The young knight caught them in the rather intermit position and watched on with a smirk. Henry had to look up from the nape of her neck and glare at the Knight. Indicating his distaste for being watched like a show on display. The man gave Henry a nod of approval before continuing hastily on his way. The moment the bystander was gone and the footsteps faded they both forcibly pushed each other away, creating some much-needed space between them.

“Let’s never do that again.” She concluded with a disguised face.

“Happy to oblige, my Lady. Perhaps, if you could keep that mouth of yours shut next time.” He eyed her knowingly.

She nodded. The rest of the way back to her room was filled with an awkward silence. He bid her good night, informed her of what time to be up for breakfast and left.

She had a small itch, a want to talk to him more about the King. What was the tyrant of a ruler holding over their heads, how did he stay in power? The Knights were meant to be protectors of the people but it appeared even they have been corrupted somehow.

She flung herself onto the bed, it creaked and moaned under her weight. She doubted she would get any sleep tonight, her mind far too alive with all that she had gone through and learned. Burying her head into the soft pillow she let out a frustrated scream, the feather-encased rectangle muffling her cry. The release helped but not for long.

Focus on something else! Anything!

Turning onto her back she looked to the ceiling as her mind turned to the siren. She felt sorry for the creature, it should be free, and it deserved to be free. Instead, it was caged in a tank surrounded by idiots who didn’t know how to look after it. The King had called it his pet like it was a dog he could train. Her heart ached for the creature, to her it looked like he had given up on life before she had started to introduce fresh water and fish to it. If he didn’t want to escape maybe, just maybe, she could make his life a little better, more comfortable at least. But if he wanted freedom... what would she do then?

The list she had left with the king wasn’t a simple one. She listed plant life, live fish, building materials and essential tools for herself as well. The King already told her that he would prepare a cavern for her to work with the creature. Something she could turn into an enclosure for the siren. But to do that, mages would need to be called.

She shivered at the thought. Powerful beings that she wasn’t sure were even human, most likely not. Given that her world had just opened up to the existence of sirens, anything was possible. She’d heard tales of supernatural beings being used in wars, the very same that had taken her father from her. But she had never seen them in person, never wanted to, the thought of them terrified her. If she had to choose between facing her fear of the unknown, or the King’s punishments, she knew what she would choose.

She had been lucky that night. She raised her blistered hand to the ceiling, the light sting remained. She had gotten off light compared to... an image of Tyson flashed to mind, his limp body lying in a pool of his own blood. Yeah, she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight, but... had she found an unlikely ally in all this, surprisingly with Henry?

The Knight was an anomaly, something she hadn't expected. Were all the Knights the same, did they all put on this act, a front, just to survive? If anything she could learn from them.