Moments before Princess Evelyn escaped the castle.
Jacob Sanctis.
“Madam, he looks just like you.” said a middle aged maid with black hair and brown eyes.
“Who is this?” Jacob thought as he stared at the strange woman peering at him.
“And why can’t I move?” Jacob thought as he tried to move his hands and toes.
Frustrated that he wasn’t making any progress, Jacob was just about to yell when a beautiful woman with long shiny black hair and radiant red eyes stepped into view and Jacob stilled instantly.
“Mother.” Jacob thought as he stared at her beautiful eyes.
“I am so happy you are born.” Jacob’s mom, Lucyndria, said happily as she cuddled him and Jacob felt his heart warm as he held on to her clothing.
“Your father will be so proud.” Lucyndria whispered and just like that Jacob felt his heart grow cold as he jolted awake.
Panting heavily from the vivid dream, Jacob recalled his late mother’s words and began to heave violently.
Flashback “You useless boy!” The High Priest Alucarn yelled as he slapped Jacob across the face.
“Why can’t you do anything right?!” High Priest Alucarn yelled in Jacob’s face.
“Your mother had the strongest of holy powers, a rare genius that half of the capital vied for!” Alucarn yelled as Jacob began to shiver.
“How could you not have even a shred of that power?!” Alucarn yelled as he pointed to the crystal ball that Jacob couldn’t light up, no matter how much he tried.
Flashback end.
“Breathe.” Jacob thought as he slapped his chest.
“Breathe.” Jacob thought urgenty as his eyes began to tear up.
Clutching his chest in pain, Jacob stumbled out of his bed to get to his dresser but just before he could lift the jar of water on his dresser something moved in his peripheral vision.
“What?” Jacob thought as his kind suddenly became alert.
“Is it another attack?” Jacob asked as he forgot his panic attack but one minute something was there and the next second it was gone.
“How?” Jacob asked in confusion as he felt the presence again a few meters away from him.
“Who could this be?” Jacob muttered as he jumped from his terrace and began his pursuit.
Present “The first princess is frail and plagued by a terrible illness” Jacob thought as he remembered the words of a lowly priest in the holy temple.
“Who ever can to that conclusion must have made a mistake somewhere.” Jacob thought as he stared at Princess Evelyn from the corner of his eye.
“She is strong, decisive, fast and knows how to play the victim card.” Jacob thought as he took his gaze off Princess Evelyn.
“She even knows more about me than I know myself.” Jacob thought as he stared at his hand that Princess Evelyn stabbed weeks prior.
“Who exactly is she?” Jacob muttered and Genevieve pretended not to hear as she watched the scene before her.
“You little thief.” a huge man said as he threw Clark Elson to the floor.
“I- I didn’t steal anything.” Clark said shakily as he scooted backwards.
“I don’t even know how much was in the register!” Clark tried to defend himself but the huge man paid him no mind as he rained down punches on Clark’s skinny body.
“Liar!” The huge man yelled as he gave Clark a black eye.
“How could the money suddenly disappear if you didn’t touch it?” the huge man yelled as he broke Clark’s nose.
“This will teach you not to a lay a hand on other people’s stuff.” the huge man said as he picked up a wooden barrel and Genevieve knocked the huge man out with a swift chop to the neck.
“Finally!” Jacob exclaimed with a cheer as he stepped into view.
“Who are you two?” Clark said as he scooted backwards in fear.
“I don’t have any money!” Clark said pleadingly, as he raised his hands up in surrender and Genevieve and Jacob stared at each other.
“Go on.” Jacob whispered loudly, aware that Clark could hear him.
“This is the chance to sweep him off his feet.” Jacob whisper yelled as he gave Genevieve a little nudge and Genevieve wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
“Don’t mind him.” Genevieve said with an extremely red face as she turned to face Clark.
“He talks nonsense.” Genevieve said as she waved in embarrassment.
“You are loosing your chance.” Jacob whisper yelled and Genevieve ground her left foot on Jacob’s right foot.
“If you don’t mind, will you mind me tending to your wounds.” Genevieve said softly.
“That’s it.” Jacob whispered loudly and Genevieve nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.
Moments later “Is he always like that?” Genevieve asked tentatively as she rubbed a salve made for wounds on Clark’s injuries.
“He just-” Clark said before pausing slightly.
“He just has some bad days sometimes.” Clark said softly and Jacob scoffed in annoyance.
“If by “sometimes” you mean eight out of ten times, then your guardian is simply a terrible adult.” Jacob said in anger, forgetting that him and Princess Evelyn had terrible guardians also.
Feeling ashamed and not wanting to defend himself to people he did not know, Clark quickly said “This was a mistake” as he moved to stand up.
“Wait!” Jacob said quickly realizing that he had said something wrong.
“I shouldn’t have followed you here.” Clark said as he stood up to leave but Genevieve blocked him instantly.
“Fine.” Genevieve said as she raised her hands in surrender.
“We are sorry for speaking out of turn but please just hold on to this.” Genevieve said as she slipped Clark a communication tool that she stole from the Queen.
“If it ever gets too much, speak into this and I will come find you.” Genevieve said as she offered Clark a genuine smile.
Wondering if he should take it but deciding that it would be best if he did, Clark took the communication device hesitantly before running back to his misery with his own two legs.
“You wouldn’t let him leave like this, would you?” Jacob asked Princess Evelyn guiltily.
“Not a chance.” Genevieve said with a subtle grin.