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Prince Marco shifted uncomfortably, his movements made barely a whisper. He knew that she couldn't see him but still, it felt like her eyes pierced through the darkness. Prince Marco started to melt into the shadow's becoming almost fully a shadow.

"Ruined by magic, more like," Prince Marco hissed.

He could see the loneliness in her and Prince Marco knew that feeling all to well. He had been alone since he had been cursed. The Prince could only live in the shadows, unable to bear even a tiny ray of light. Every one fear the dark and so the Prince had been alone for centuries. But it surprised him that he would feel close to this stranger. In their loneliness, the Prince felt closer to her but he was still on guard. She would run from him if he saw how ugly he had become.

Prince Marco stepped out of the shadows, slowly. His steps forward were unsure and timid. If she were to reject him, he would slip away light the shadow he had become and no one would believe her, believe that she saw him. The Prince had become nothing more than a scary story to keep children inside at night and safe in their beds.

Prince Marco did not believe her words. He heard the truth of them but still could not bring himself to believe them. Sneering, he grumbled, "There must be something wrong with your eyes."

Prince Marco stayed half in the shadows, refusing to advance any further. He had thought he had forgotten how to feel things like fear but he was afraid. Prince Marco was afraid to feel her rejection, something he was sure she was going to do. There was no way that this girl would view him as anything more as a monster. It wasn't possible. Everyone had run from him.

The memories of the early years of the curse haunted his thoughts. He had tried so hard to contact his father, his mother, even his tutor that he had been so close with and had laughed and joked with. They had all turned from him in horror and fear.

When her warm, soft hands touched his face, Prince Marco flinched slightly. It had been years upon years since the last time he had human contact. It brought back memories, happy memories, that had turned painful. The memory of hugging his mother had become a cold, steal knife in his heart. The memory of his father patting him on the back after a hunting trip twisted his guts. But her hands did more than bring up painful memories but Prince Marco was not ready to face the humanity he had left. He was not ready, not trusting enough, to let any warmth heal his ugly scars.

"We are not a like," he strained to say through gritted teeth.

A knock on her chamber doors startled him and he completely withdrew into the shadows.



Mikari had not been the only one roaming the hallways of the castle at night. The wizard disguised as royalty had been roaming them as well. He was currently known as Prince Jacques, a princeling of nineteen and on the verge of taking over the kingdom from his sickly father. Prince Jacques had come upon Mikari in the dark hallway but had kept himself, and his presence, hidden. He had followed her to her room and had been about to leave when he heard voices. The wizard recognized the low, tenor voice of a prince he had once cursed. A wicked smile played across his handsome face.

So, Jacques thought with sinister glee, Prince Marco is still skulking about. What's he doing with my bride?

Jacques knocked on the door and called out to Mikari, ever playing the innocent. "Are you alright, my dear? I heard a man's voice." Jacques had become quite the actor over the years and he sounded genuinely concerned for his prospective's bride well-being.

Jacques was not convinced by her act but did not alert her of that fact. Instead, he bowed slightly, wearing an apologetic smile.Of course he had to maintain his image in front of her. There was no one in the world that would ever know his true self again. Except for Prince Marco but it was doubtful that he would ever convince and entire kingdom of the wizard's guilt.

"I'm sorry, truly. I thought I had heard you speaking to someone. I must have been mistaken. Forgive me if I woke you."

For just a second, Jacques scanned what he could see of her room behind her. He didn't see Marco but he knew very well how Marco could utilize shadows. After all, he was the one who had cursed the prince.



Silently, Prince Marco seethed in anger and hatred. He knew that voice. He knew it all too well. It had sent him into maddened frenzies upon hearing it but just this time, Marco held himself back. Regardless of trust, Marco would not be responsible if this girl were to be put in harms way. If the wizard suspected her even a little of fraternizing with Prince Marco, the wizard would surely find a way to dispose of her. So he kept silent and to the shadows.

Even still, the honey-dipped tone of the wizard sickened and disgusted Marco to no end.

Prince Marco had no way of getting out of the room but dawn would soon be approaching. He quivered slightly in distress, unsure of how he was going to escape. If the wizard were to see him, there would be trouble. Marco wasn't sure if it would be trouble because the wizard would do anything to him or because Marco would do something to the wizard. The shadow prince decided to play it safe, slipping into the dark corners of the girls walk-in closet. He would stay there, safely away from the light.


Prince Jacques smirked, knowing no one could see the twisted emotion on his face in this dark. The girl had not been responsive to him and it ignited his interest. He knew very well that the true prince of the kingdom was hidden in the room but decided to play ignorant.

"Good night," Jacques called in a honeyed tone. As he wandered away, he made sure that his footsteps were loud enough to alert the two that he was indeed leaving.

Prince Marco had never been able to sleep since the curse. Even after centuries, Marco remained restlessly awake during daylight hours. He stayed hidden among the clothes, not willing to move until darkness fell once more.

First thing in the morning, the dark wizard headed towards his bride's chambers. Since her arrival, he had wooed her. Jacques had given her gifts of flowers and jewels and recited almost sickeningly romantic poetry. His attempts had been futile. In truth he hadn't cared if they failed or succeeded. It was all an act and it made him look good. His servants and loyal subject looked on him favorable, thinking him nothing more than a man struck by love. The fact that this woman snubbed him made those around her less likely to trust her. In their eyes, who could not love this prince?

But Jacques' interest had been peaked. It didn't matter to him if she was interested but he did care as to why Marco was interested. It was the first time in hundreds of years since Marco had reached out to anyone. So why did he deem this girl worthy to talk to? Jacques was suspicious and intrigued.

Today's ploy was not gifts or pretty words. No, they would tour his kingdom. He would introduce her to his people.

Jacques entered her chambers, a friendly smile fixed on his face. "Good morning," he greeted Mikari.

From a quick look at her, he could tell she hadn't been getting enough sleep. He had noticed before today but had ignored it. He was going to again choose to ignore it. Jacques knew she really had no place to go back to and he could offer her a kingdom.

"You've been couped up here in this castle for a while. I thought it might please you to venture out into the world. I've been meaning to give you a tour of the kingdom." Jacques bowed slightly and held out a hand to Mikari, all his hidden intentions buried deep to stay unknown.