SERA
I trudged behind the man, looking around. The entire place was silent. Aside from our footsteps, no other sounds could be heard. I'd always prided myself because of how not easily spooked I was, but at that moment, it seemed like my heart was about to leap out of my chest. I'd never been as scared as I was at the moment, peering around the further we walked away from the village, towards the castle, looming overhead.
Fogs covered all parts of the castle, giving it a gloomy look. I couldn't make out the structure. Puffing out a breath, I worked to keep myself warm before I froze out here. I knew I was walking to my death, but it didn't hurt to be safe at the moment.
The man turned when he reached the bridge, waiting for me to catch up with him. "Be careful with your steps. Don't step on the golden tiles," he said as he gestured down.
It was then that I noticed what he was talking about. The bridge had tiles. Aside from the golden ones, the others were as gloomy as the Castle and seemed to have a mist swirling around them. I wanted to ask why he asked me not to march on the golden ones, which looked like the best bet compared to the others, but I didn't. I just nodded, letting him know I had no intention of stepping on the golden tiles.
It wasn't time for me to die. I still haven't met the demon or whatever that was waiting for me in the castle.
The man turned and continued up the bridge, avoiding the golden tiles. I followed his steps, only to pause when I noticed something odd. The tiles kept changing. Most times, the golden ones changed into the gloomy ones, likewise the gloomy tiles.
I paused in my steps, trying to understand what was going on because it made little sense to me.
"Hurry!" the man called out, sounding impatient.
Nodding, I did as he asked. I hurried after him, careful with my steps. I kept my gaze on the tiles until I reached the last line, jumping past when I noticed there were no dark tiles, just golden ones.
I looked back at the tiles, wondering what was going on, but I dwelt little on that as I followed the man down the path, knowing I had far more important things to do.
"Just keep walking forward. There's nothing in your path. We will get to the door this way," his voice drifted towards me.
In the fog, it was surprisingly warm. You wouldn't know it was snowing out there. It didn't come as a shock. The bridge itself was a mystery. Though it was snowing out there, none of it touched the tiles.
I knew deep down that something wasn't right with this place, starting from the fog that led to the palace, to the empty village and mysterious tiles.
Just like the old man promised, I got to the door without knowing how I made it. He reached forward and opened the door, which groaned as if it hadn't been opened in ages.
The place was pitch black, but the man stepped in, not looking scared. I looked back before I took a step forward. I knew what I was signing up for when I offered myself in exchange for the leader's daughter. The moment the door banged shut behind us, the entire place became awash with light.
A scream tore from my throat when I came face to face with a beast, with its mouth wide open. I fell on my butt, my throat dry as I tried to crawl away from the beast, screaming my heart out, my heart in my throat.
"That's not real," the old man said, turning to glance at me with a bored expression on his face.
At his words, I turned to look at the beast. Sure enough, it wasn't real. It was a sculpture. Puffing out a breath of relief, I got to my feet, gulping as I peered around. On all sides of the hallway that led up the stairs were carved beasts. They looked real, but I could tell it wasn't so. However, the gazes in the eyes seemed genuine. It didn't look like something a person could get. Their gazes were different.
Telling myself that it wasn't real and that I was only imagining things, I continued down the hallway with the man. I followed him as he climbed the stairs, my gaze going around. I was scared out of my wits, but I dared not show it as I hurried after him.
We walked for a very long time, through endless corridors filled with paintings of different beasts. Whoever the demon living in this place was, he seemed like a lover of dark things. I couldn't understand how someone would have things like this in his house.
When I thought we would keep walking until I died of exhaustion, the man stopped in front of a large door.
He knocked on it and motioned for me to step close before he opened it. "My king is waiting for you," he said, bowing as he gestured for me to stride in.
I looked at the empty corridor, inhaling sharply before I stepped in, and he closed the door behind me, leaving me alone. I gulped, my gaze wandering around the room. It was empty aside from —
"Hi!"
I screamed, my soul almost jumping out of my body when I heard the whisper. I turned, my heart hammering in my chest, to know who it was.
"I'm sorry I scared you," the man apologised, smiling.
I blinked, giving him a look as I wondered where the handsome man had stepped out from. My gaze wandered from his long, gorgeous, golden hair, which he had up in a neat bun, to his beautiful blue eyes. I had seen my fair share of handsome men, but none of them held a candle to the one standing in front of me, who looked like he wasn't made for this world.
I took in the royal apparel he was putting on, the golden belt around his waist was more than enough to point that out.
"Who are you?" I whispered, finding my voice, which I seemed to have lost when he sneaked up on me.
"Forgive me, my lady. I'm King Athanasios Vasileios, and you?"
"King?" I gaped at him, wondering if I was making things up.