Chapter 2
The Dark Prince
~300 years later~
"The cost is 1 Florin. Take the price or get out of my face." A twenty something girl snapped, placing her hands down hard on an oak table. The man standing across the table scoffed at her attempt to be intimidating and shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his purple suede jacket.
"Miss-" He paused, gesturing to her to share her name.
"Chappe, Lyra Chappe." She growled through tight teeth. The man smirked slightly, placing his large fist back into the depths of his pocket, "Miss Chappe I hardly find this," He held up an item that had been hanging from a long metal pole with several short branches, if you will, sticking out of it. On each branch hung a different colored necklace, some with large emeralds and ruby's gawking the small thin silver and gold chains they hung by. Others embroiled with small gems and diamonds along a thicker, more durable chain.
The man continued his comment, "to be worth 1 Florin."
The woman narrowed her thin brow, her cerulean blue eyes piecing into his gaze. The man looked away awkwardly and continued speaking,
"What does it even do?" He asked, now afraid to anger the adequately frustrated market girl.
Lyra pulled her hands off the table and stepped back, a smile now creeping onto her once stern expression. "It brings good luck," She removed the necklace from its holding place and held it up, "Is that something you're interested in?" The girl flashed a somewhat cheeky smile when the man silently nodded his head.
"The diamond was fished out of the deepest of seas when the lost city of Atlantis was discovered, it is said the ruler of the city lost this the day before the entire city was emerged underwater." The man once more shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket, however this time he pulled out a shiny golden Florin and set it on the table.
"I'll take it!" He spoke enthusiastically. Lyra smiled and handed him the necklace, "Good luck" She said as the man walked back into the sea of people at the market place. She was frowning now, realizing that was probably going to be the only sale of the day. Lyra dropped her body back onto a wooden chair. She leaned backwards, her long, flowing milk white dress nearly getting caught underneath one of its legs. She sighed and let a puff of air escape her mouth causing a strand of her curly red hair to rise into the air for only a moment.
Meanwhile only a little down the markets street entered a man on a black stallion. People walking near him were wary and had certain look of fear in their eyes as the moved swiftly past.
"The runes led me here; I'll never find the damned stone amongst this!" He held out a long arm, gesturing to the large crowd swarming the street. The man glared through the horde of people and leaned over slightly letting his medium-length black hair fall over his face.
"I had been so close to the stoneā¦" He spoke inside his head, staring down at the runes in his hand.
"Prince Septimus-" He looked up, wiping the look of despair from his face. A man was standing beneath him, "We just got word a women, here in the market place, seems to have your stone."
A dark smile twisted onto the prince's face, "Well bring her to me!" He dropped down off his horse his black boots making a thud when hitting the dirt ground. Actually this man was completely dressed in the gloomy color of black, causing him to stand out amongst the crowd of people dressed in bright, fun colors. He had broad shoulders and muscular torso which was possibly due to the years of training and sword fighting. Not much more can be told about the man's body due to the layers of clothing that covered him, this was odd, due to the fact it was nearly the end of August and the air still had the lingering warm air from summer. He stood by his horse and waited for his men to bring the stone stealing girl to him.
"This be the girl." Septimus glanced up and his face nearly gave away the intense feeling that had just jolted him.
"Will you let me go?" The girl snapped, flipping her bright red hair from her face. Septimus studied her for a moment; her heart shaped face, rosy red cheeks against her pale flesh tone, her small but full lips, even the small scar that was so faded underneath her right eye. Her eyes were what caught his attention though, those intense sharp blue eyes, why'd he'd recognize those anywhere. Realizing the others were staring at him, waiting for a reaction, he quickly grabbed her arm and squeezed it tight,
"Did you sell my stone to some low life moron that walks the streets of this market place?" The women was taken back by his word usage and shot him a disgusted look of surprise.
"I have never seen this bloody stone you're going on about! Now please release me!" She pulled her arm but his grip only grew tighter.
Passersby stopped and stared at the scene in fear, but no one said anything, no one would even make eye contact for a long period of time. It seems this girl was not the only person Prince Septimus struck fear into.
"Tell me who you sold the stone too!" He was practically yelling now, the sound of his deep voice raising made the girl jump.
"I told you I don't know what you're talking about!" She cried. Septimus released her, looking past her at his men, "She's coming with us till I find the whereabouts of the stone." He jumped back on his horse and looked down at the girl. She seemed afraid but wouldn't let it show on her stern expression.
"I'm not going anywhere with you." She scoffed, crossing her arms. Septimus raised an eyebrow as the corner of her mouth twisted up into a small smile, "Get on the blasted horse, or die." His smile disappeared and his face was now expressionless. The girl swallowed hard, "Well is someone going to help me up? I am in a dress you know." She looked down to her feet, her white, thin strapped dress catching a slight breeze revealing the fact she was wearing thin material shoes. Septimus couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Climb on." He held out his arm, she grabbed on with her small hands and he pulled her up on the horse behind him.
"So what, am I a prisoner now?" She asked as the group took off on their horses through the market. Septimus didn't answer her, he stared forward trying to ignore the heavy feeling in his gut.
"She doesn't remember me." He spoke inside his head, "And hopefully she never will."
