Chapter 20 -

Isabella woke. She was still sitting in the same position she had been the night before. The sunlight from outside flashed through a single hole in one of the bricks in the wall. The floor was now covered in the water that had been dripping from the roof. The hem of Isabella’s white dress was now a murky black.

She knew they would be coming for her soon. She could hear coughing coming from the other cells around her. None of the people in here were likely to leave here alive. She wiped one solitary tear from her eye and sat in thought. The time she waited felt like a lifetime. She began to welcome death. She was thinking about what would happen when she died. Thinking about Alexander. Then suddenly she became very aware of her surroundings, she could hear the harsh loud bangs of boots coming close to her cell. The steps coming towards her like the drumbeat of the grim reaper.

She held her breathe. Whoever had come to take her was standing right outside her cell now.
She closed her eyes.

“Isabella?” the voice came. It flew to her like an angel as crisp and as innocent as the first time he had said her name. It was Alexander.

She turned and flung herself towards him without thinking. She didn’t think about why he was here and even seemed to forget that the bars were there.

She looked at him with great passion. He stared back at her in disappointment.

“Alexander. I thought you were dead.” she said breathlessly trying desperately to grip his hand through the bars. He took a step back.
“I’m not here to start our relationship again, but I couldn’t let you die. I’ll get you to a safe place and then you are on your own do you understand.”

Alexander tried to keep strong. He didn’t want to talk to Isabella like this. He gripped his fist.
“How could see have done this to me.” he thought.

“Alexander… I..” Isabella began
“I don’t want to talk about it Isabella. You will only spin me your lies. You are a witch…after all.” Alexander said coldly

This pierced Isabella like a bullet wound. She nodded at his face slowly. Alexander told her to “move back”

He placed a dark red powder on the inside of the lock. The lock turned a bright glowing colour. There was the sound of crackling and the door swung open.

Isabella stepped out of the cell like a free bird.

“Can we help the others?” she said pointing to the other cells.

“I don’t have the time.” Alexander began “I’ll help them later.”

She looked around.

“Do you want to die?” Alexander snapped.
“No.” Isabella said softly.
“Then follow me.”

They slipped up the stone steps and through the wooden door. Luna had been standing guard outside in the corridor.

“I’ve checked down the hall Alexander. There’s no one around at all. Every hand is being  used in the great hall for Frederick’s  coronation. We should be able to sneak out with practically no problems.”

“Surely.. You should go get rid of Fredrick now. You are already in the palace.” Isabella said to Alex.
“He has made you his priority for now Isabella. Do not make him wish he hadn’t” Luna sighed.
Alexander would not look at Isabella. He found her a cloak and the three of them weaved through the crowds of people pouring through the hall, masquerading as fortune tellers.

Once outside of the castle the found an abandoned Barn 5 minutes down the road from the castle.
“What do we do now?” Isabella asked plotting herself down on an old 3 legged stool.
Luna ignored her and answered as if Alexander had asked.
“We wait Alex… until the corrination. I shouldn’t be long now. I heard a man in the palace saying it would be around 2pm.”
“I see.” Alexander said.
He looked at Isabella from the corner of his eye.

“Will she be safe here?” he whispered to Luna

“She’ll be fine.”