Into the Dark
16

Calypso had lost count of the hours that passed. She can think of nothing, feel nothing, besides an empty pit in which now makes up her entire being. She pays no attention to the guards who come and go with food and water. Most of them taunting her in a failing attempt to get a reaction.

This is exactly what she assumes will occur as she hears footsteps echoing down to her cell.

Though it is not a males voice in which she hears but instead a female who remarks,” Goodness. You smell horrible.”

Calypso’s head snaps up to see Ana standing unlocking the cell door with one hand while the other dramatically pinches her nose shut.

Ana immediately rushes to her side trying to haul her heavy body out of the cell ,” Get up Calypso we don’t have much time. The King will be here any minute to collect you.”

The queen’s eyebrows creased in the middle,” What are you doing? Why are you trying to free me?”

Her friend huffs in frustration,” Because Calypso, the King cannot kill you. You may think you deserve it but think about how it will affect him. No matter how angry he is, he needs you. We all need you.”

Allowing her friend to lead her deeper into the dark dungeon, the queen questions,” What do you mean you need me?”

Ana reaches a dead end and begins searching the bricks on the wall with her hands,” There are many things you don’t know yet Calypso. Things about your father but you will replace out soon.”

“My father?” the conversation sparks memories of whispered warning in Calypso’s mind,” How could I have been so blind? All those warnings. They weren’t warning about the King, they were about my father,” the realization hits her like a tidal wave,” my own father.”

Ana stops her fumbling long enough to glance back at her friend, concern etched in her soft features,” Calypso, your father raised you as a sacrificed. Did that not ever occur to you as strange?”

The queen quickly shakes her head,” You don’t understand. No one ever referred to it as a sacrifice. They said I was a gift to the kingdom. I was a saint who would free the human race. I knew nothing other than what they said was my duty. How could I have been so stupid?”

“It’s not over yet Calypso. You can still fix this but I need to you to get ahold of yourself, okay?”

Calypso nods, not trusting herself to speak, just as Ana pushes a brick into the wall revealing a hidden passage,” Good. Now follow me.”

Darkness encompasses the pair as they quietly travel beneath the frantic castle. Ana clenches Calypso’s hand as they press forward. Calypso’s escape was discovered moments ago and they can hear shouts ring out above them as guards attempt to replace the missing prisoner. Every few yards, Ana will pause and press a finger to her lips hearing someone approach whom Calypso can not due to her human hearing.

It was almost as if Ana can hear the turmoil in Calypso’s mind,” It’s not much further now, my queen.”

“Why are there tunnels leading to the dungeon?” Calypso gasps out the question needing to distract her mind.

She could feel Ana’s eyes on her before she answers,” The King’s father had them built during the early stages of his son’s childhood. The Vampire King was kidnapped nearly every night and brought to the dungeon through this very tunnel. His father would force him to torture the prisoners; many of whom died. Some were innocent, some weren’t. Regardless, it effected the King either way.”

Calypso did not think it possible for her heart to shattered beyond what it already had. She was wrong. Her husband had grown up with such violence and cruelty and yet he did not let it defeat him. He rules with grace and kindness and despite all the evidence supporting this claim, Calypso had refused to believe he was anything other the cold hearted monster her father had made her believe he was.

She will never forgive herself for the pain she caused him,” I was a fool.”

Ana lets out a humorless laugh,” Indeed, you were. Nevertheless, you will fix the messed you made. You will have time to dwell on this later; for now keep your head on straight and do not look back until it is safe.”

Bright light floods through the tunnel following Ana’s speech.

Calypso replaces herself being pulled through a bedroom composed of gold and black. A golden chandelier hangs in the highest point of the ceiling shinning brightly. The sheets occupying the neatly made bed were made of the finest silk she had ever seen. She could not resist running her hand along the soft fabric.

She is ripped out of her daze by Ana who snatches her hand away from where it rested on the pillow,” What are you thinking? He will smell you on that now,”

“Who?”

An exasperated sign slips out with her answer,” The King, Calypso. This is his room.”

“Well shit.”

“It’s okay but you need to get moving,” Ana pulls Calypso towards the now open window pointing at the forest a few yards away,” Head straight to the forest and, remember, don’t look back.”

The first appearance of dawn peaks through the trees,” Go now while there is still a bit of darkness.”

Ana helps guide Calypso through the opening stuffing her nuisance of a dress through when necessary. Once safely on the other side, Calypso turns back to her friend wishing to thank her for everything she has done yet not knowing how.

“Ana I-,”

“No. No goodbyes, my queen. You will come back. You will come back and explain everything but there are things you still don’t know. Things you need to replace out before you return.”

Calypso wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what Ana was referring to,” How will I know when the time to return is right?”

Her friend reaches through the window and lightly clasps the queen’s hand,” You will know. In your bones you will know it’s right. Now go.”

Calypso does not delay any further. Gathering her headache of a dress in her hands, she races towards the safety of the trees; never once looking back.

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Unedited

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