The Shadow in the Night

 

Taren sighed as he lay in bed. It had already been three days since he took off out of the castle to go with his brother. He had gotten one hellish punishment he got laid over his fathers lap and spanked 10 times he couldn’t sit down after it. It was mean and made him cry so what if he was already 60 it was not like he could take something like that his dad was strong he might have even bruised from it not to mention he had no one to comfort him after being hurt like that. 

After that he was told he was grounded to his room for two weeks with a guard in his room at all times. Taren hated this more then anything he had no alone time and he was not aloud to see his big brother Alexander since as his mother had said “He is a bad influence teaching you to run away and sneak around behind our backs.” Taren didn't care what he was other then fun like really what harm could come to him this was the safest planet ever. He did not even know if his brother had gotten in trouble because of him and it hurt to think that Alexander could of gotten yelled at when he had sent him home like his mother would of wanted. Taren hated everyone other then Alexander at this point he did not see the harm in being out with Alexander there was no one who could hurt him as long as his big brother was there not that anyone hurt anyone on this planet.

Taren was startled out of his thinking when his bedroom door was opened. It was not time to get a new guard so he watched what was going on thinking maybe something was happening that needed his attention. His guard looked out of the room then back at Taren before he stepped out of the room but he left the door opened number one mistake for that guard. This was perfect Taren thought as he looked to the door and saw the guard flirting with a maid his back to the bedroom door. No one was paying attention to the room to make sure that Taren was being good probably because Taren had been being good since he had gotten hit by his father. This was the best thing ever it was perfect, now to get out of this hell hole and go have some fun and it would be all the guards fault for not paying attention. Taren hated getting others in trouble but he hated being caged up like he was he needed to get out and do something and this was the perfect time.

Taren got to his window and opened it carful not to make a sound then he climbed out the window and used the golden vines to get to the ground. He looked both way to make sure he was alone before he took off to the castle walls. He looked up at the tall walls then he jumped and his Gray and dark Purple wings fluttered open letting himfly over the wall. This was hard for the boy since he was not a good flyer his wings never fully grew so only once in a while would his wings work well enough to fly a little bit. He was not sure why his wings never fully grew no one ever explained that to him but he liked to try to use them in hopes one day they would work properly. Once on the ground on the other side of the wall he looked around before he ran away from the castle to go have some fun.

Taren soon got to the market and he looked around entranced by all the beauty he was never aloud to go around. He did not see what was so wrong about being out of the castle nothing could go wrong here. Everyone seemed so kind and loving there was no fights and everyone was being friendly with everyone. He stopped in front of a stand that had many necklaces they were so beautiful but he had no money with him and he wanted one. He had not thought about grabbing his stash of money before leaving so now he was not sure what to do.

A deep smooth voice broke Taren’s stare and he looked up to see a tall fox man standing there his red fox ears poking up out if short messy black hair. The mans thin brown eyes watched Taren closely as his light brown and blue wings folded up behind his back. He smiled down at the young prince from his 5 foot 9 inch thin but strong build. He seemed so kind Taren could not help but smile back at him.

The man said in his deep smooth voice “Can I help you Prince Taren.” He then bowed to the prince in front of him. Not seeming like he was going to get him into trouble for being out. Most people new the prince was not aloud out and about but a lot of people ignored it if they saw Taren since they all liked there young helpful prince.

“ummm no thank you I was just looking.” Taren said not liking being bowed to plus he never really talked to anyone before unless it was at the castle or with his brother. “This is amazing craftsmanship.” Taren added in a soft voice and the man smiled. He liked that he was not being told to go home but he was a little scared being out all alone he was use to being with his big brother.

“Im happy the prince likes my handy work. If there is one you like please take it. Its free for you my lord.” he said his smile being very comforting. He wanted his prince to relax and feel comfortable since he did not see the crowned prince around he guessed he was alone and that never happened.

This was unsettling for Taren he felt so uncomfortable under the mans brown eyes and then the thought of taking something with out paying made him uncomfortable but he was always told to be considerate and if something was offered to you take it. He did not want to see rude and tell the man no after he had just said he liked them. He looked over all of them again then looked back up at the Fox. 

“But I like them all sir.” Taren said softly so the man smiled and took one of the necklaces that looked really different it was a snake around a wilted white rose. The white rose still had all its peddles but they had a blood splatter over them. The snake was a deep green color so it stood out quite a bit around the bluish brown color of the rose stem. 

The man reached across the stand then put the necklace on to the prince and said “there you go I hope you like it and cherish it my Prince.” He seemed so happy to give the boy something as if it was made just for him and that made Taren happy though he was not sure why it made him so happy.

Taren looked down at it then smiled. “Its very pretty does it mean anything?” He asked wanting to know if it had a meaning or if it was just something the man thought looked cool so he made it. He liked to know meanings of things and more so if it was things that he was finding in a market since he never got to go to the market.  

The man shook his head and said “It means nothing that people can remember.” This confused Taren but he did not question it. He deiced that it was something that the man did not wish to talk about but he liked how the pendent looked so it was all ok to make.

A noise was soon heard like guards in a panic and that’s when Taren new he was in a lot of trouble they had noticed he was gone and he was going to be in major trouble now. He looked around in a panic then looked at the fox man. He needed to know one things before he left.

“What’s your name mister?” Taren asked hoping to get it before he had to run. He had to know it was the first person who he met with out his brother around and he did not want to forget the man who was in front of him.

The man looked towards the noise and then to the prince and said “The name I go by is Shen Terinta.” The man then said “If you need me just fallow your heart my prince.” He then took a bow and backed away as he saw the guards coming.  The man did not want his face seen and thankfully it was not going to be seen since the young prince took a run for it and the guards fallowed running past the stand after the young prince.

Taren would have gotten away if it wasn’t for one of the guards flying up and landing in front of him catching him in his arms and picking him up off the ground then flying to the castle with the rest of the guards. Taren kicked and screamed the whole way hating that he was being forced home and he new he was in for a new punishment since he ditched his last one and did the one thing he was not aloud to do. At lease they did not know he had talked to someone.

They got to the castle and Taren was carried to his father’s room and when at the room the guard knocked on the door. Then looked down at the boy with a sigh. The guard hated that he had to do this all the guards hated getting Taren in trouble since they wished he could go out as well but they had to fallow orders.

“Who is it?” The king’s voice was heard and movement was heard from inside the room like someone getting off of a bed.

“He was found sir.” The guard said as he tried his best to keep hold of the struggling biting prince in his arms. 

“Come in.” The guard did as instructed and opened the door then stepped in and closed the door behind him. He then set the little cat boy down then stood at the door so Taren could not get away.Taren new he could not get away but that did not stop him from trying as he quickly turned around and ran for the door only to he stopped and brought back to his father and set down.

His father sighed and walked over to Taren he raised his hand across his chest up to his shoulder the in a quick motion swung it down the back of his hand meeting Taren’s face with a loud smack. The hit made Taren stumble and fall to the red carpet floor. Taren had not expected getting hit across the face that had never happened before and that was how Taren new he was in a lot of trouble.

Tears filled Taren’s eyes as he sat on the floor being yelled at by his furious father. By now he had been hit a few times and Taren could say nothing to defend himself. He could not understand why what he did was so wrong he was the only one not aloud to leave it was un fair he was not that young his other brother will had been leaving the castle for years since he was younger then 60 though he was now 76  but that was not the point. Taren was forbidden to leave and the only reason was it was to dangerous. Why was it so dangerous for him and not everyone else? Why could they go have fun and talk to people but Taren had to stay here locked away like some pet? Why was he so different? 

When the king stopped yelling at him after he noticed that Taren was not listening through his tears as his red cheeks were starting to swell some. The king sent for a guard to take the boy away to a room with no window as a punishment for running away again. The room was small and had a small bed and not much more. This room was the only thing that would stop him from leaving since there was one way to leave and there were two guards outside that door. This punishment would last quite a while since he had actually talked to someone. As Taren laid on the bed he looked at the necklace he had gotten from Shen. “Shen I wanna see you again.” He said softly as he looked at the detail in the work. Soon he got bored and fell asleep on the small bed.