A.N. YAY! New chapter! I hope you don't feel as if it took too long to come out. With school starting to build up, I'm going to fall to terrible consistency, but I will try to make sure I don't take toooooooo long. I shall try my utmost.
So, I actually really enjoyed writing this chapter, and feel that I achieved more with this one than the last. I also happen to like the storyline I'm beginning to develop in terms of Eugene's past, and I promise more will be explained very soon. Of course, you have no idea what I'm talking about right now.
Enough narcissism. Here's the next chapter.
Read ahead.
Chapter Eleven:
ONE HOUR EARLIER
Dinner had taken too long.
For almost two hours, Rapunzel had been forced to sit with your parents, listening as they discussed matters of the day, occasionally attempting to draw her in with questions. It was not that she didn't appreciate the opportunity to get to know the people who had given her life, but her mind was too heavy with thoughts of her own, her heart too eager to fulfill the plan she'd outlined to truly enjoy the conversation of the dinner table.
After finishing the cream pie the chef had baked, Rapunzel had politely excused herself claiming to be tired. Her mother and father had simply smiled as she'd laid kisses on their brow, whispering words of good tiding and love before walking out of the room.
Once she was out of their vision, she burst into a run, dashing up the stairs with wild anticipation, Pascal barely able to cling on to her dress as she crossed into her room. The door closed briskly behind, not quite slamming.
"This is it Pascal," she whispered quietly, as she laid him on the dresser beside her bed. "I'm going to find him. We're," she corrected herself, "going to find him."
Pascal watched her with confused eyes, a bad feeling growing in his stomach. He watched Rapunzel hurry around the room, seeking something out. Something was not quite right. A loud squeak erupted from his mouth, stopping her progress. She turned to stare at him, a smile growing on her lips.
"Don't worry, Pascal," she whispered gently. "I have a plan." Patting him reassuringly on the head, she crossed over to her closet, drawing it open. Her eyes roved the array of clothes arranged before her and with a loud a-ha, grabbed at the very thing she'd been looking for.
The black cloak hung in her hands, evoking a myriad of emotions. For one, it excited her to know that it would help her on her journey. For another, it saddened her. This cloak had once belonged to Gothel, had been a vestment Rapunzel had often associated with the woman she'd called 'Mother'. Holding it reminded her of her dream from the night before.
Seeing her hesitation, Pascal wondered for a second if she was reconsidering whatever plan of action she had decided on, but any hope vanished as she draped the cloak over her shoulders.
It reached to her toes, covering her entire body. The hood she pulled up, letting it fall across her face, concealing her entire form. Perfect, she thought elatedly.
Not perfect, Pascal thought, distraught. He squeaked again, this time loudly protesting the action he was slowly realizing she would undertake.
She ignored his pleas, taking him in the palm of her hand. "It's alright, Pascal," she whispered. "I know what I'm doing."
Still unconvinced, Pascal's mind leapt with a plethora of ideas on how to sabotage Rapunzel's intentions. The first was to run to the king and queen, hoping his frantic squeaks would be enough to garner their attention and their understanding. The second was to play dead. Sure to have a more instantaneous reaction, he chose to follow the second.
Faking choking noises, he grabbed at his throat, his body turning blue as he fell on his side, his tongue flopping out of his gaping mouth. Eat that up, Rapunzel, he thought with conniving.
He had sorely underestimated her. With eyes closed, he could only imagine the thoughts running through her head. When he found himself suddenly flying through the air, his eyes popped open. A loud squeak left his lips as he fell to her bed, landing with a soft thud.
She was standing where she had been, her hands resting on her hips as she watched him with accusatory eyes. "Really, Pascal? I think I know you well enough to know when you're faking dying. What's the matter with you?"
If he could speak, he would have told her his concerns, his fears, allowing his protective nature to take over. He was too small to be able to protect her properly out on the darkened streets. All he could do was hang his head in defeat. He would accompany her if he had to, and do his best should the case arrive.
Kneeling before him, her emerald eyes bore into his dark ones, trying to understand. "I know you're worried, but you have to trust me." She held out her hand.
He stared at it warily and then tentatively crawled up her arm, taking his place on her shoulder.
"Thank you," she whispered, a tender moment flowing between them for a second before she ripped at the sheets on her bed.
Tying them up with deft hands, a practice she had only perfected thanks to the length of her hair, she threw them over the edge of her window, watching as they curled down to the street below.
"Perfect," she whispered. With any luck, no one would notice her absence. Ensuring that it was securely fastened to the edge of her bed, she prepared to clamber down.
On her shoulder, Pascal held fast to her shoulder, fearful of the great distance they had to go.
Taking a deep breath, Rapunzel hauled herself onto the still and gripped at the sheets with tight fingers. Closing her eyes for a second, she summoned all her strength and then let herself fall down the edge.
The material of the sheets were silky enough that they let her slide down without much problem. The feeling that blossomed in her stomach reminded her of that first moment when she'd been freed from her prison and allowed to venture into the world for the first time. It was an uplifting feeling.
As she approached the bottom, she closed her hold on the sheets, to slow her descent, allowing it so that her feet only brushed against the ground without a sound, a tiny pile of dust rising up as she did.
"That wasn't so bad." She glanced at Pascal. He was clinging to her, his eyes wide with fear. "Oh, Pascal," she chided, taking him in her hand and dropping him into her pocket. "Let's go."
The hood fell over her face, covering her from sight as she moved forward. The street was deserted, but she kept on her guise, for fear that someone might come into the square and see her. As she stood there, staring out at the streets before her, a new fear began to rise in her chest, a fear that in this big town, she would have no real hope of finding Eugene.
"Don't Rapunzel," she whispered to herself. "This is going to work. He might be heading this way right now."
As it turned out, he was, but at the moment the truth of her statement escaped her.
Walking forward, she chose to first go to the street immediately to her right. There was no real reason for it, just a feeling, a feeling that didn't really mean anything.
This street too was deserted, but the silence of its area was far more deathly than that of the square. Here, the shadows seemed to reach out for her with pining fingers, wanting her to be theirs, wanting to whisk her away.
She stayed to the middle of the street, careful to not cross their path, wanting to stay away from the darkness and keep to the light as much as possible.
From her pocket, Pascal peered out at the darkness with troubled eyes, worried that at any second someone would break through the shadows and attack them. The further they went from the castle, the more his heart became burdened with panic.
Rapunzel's heart too was drumming within her chest, fear causing her to stumble slightly as every sound provoked new uncertainty within her mind. She did not want to be wrong, did not want to alert Pascal to her sudden misgivings. This plan had seemed too perfect in her mind, like so many others she had conceived within the shelter of the tower. In reality, it was proving to be far more problematic.
The noise of sudden footsteps echoing behind her made her come to a halt. Her head swivelled quickly to look behind. There was no one there.
Her throat was dry, her eyes wide. She glanced down at Pascal. "Don't be scared, Pascal," she whispered to the chameleon, trying to coax herself through the words she said.
Turning back to face forward, she continued on with renewed speed, suddenly wishing the streets would fill with people. Above her, the moon was clouded by gathering dark clouds. Rain would only impede her further.
"Excuse me."
The voice that spoke from behind her made her jump suddenly in fright. Whipping around in fear, he stared at a dark figure lingering in the street behind her, his face covered by the darkness of the night.
She stared at him, for it was a he, and Gothel's words began to ring in her ears, words of stranger and mysterious men with pointy teeth. They made her tremble in the night air.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled quickly and then, turning on her heels, fled the street.
Close to running, she hurried in the darkness, wanting nothing more than for Eugene to appear and take her home and hold her close and safe. She wished she could be stronger, but the cold night was not forgiving as it clung to her as she ran.
As she went, she glanced back, wondering if he was following her. In her sudden distraction, her foot bashed against an upturned brick of road, sending her sprawling to the ground below.
Her hands went up to protect her, scraping against the ground below. She ignored the stinging pain of scratched skin as her thoughts jumped to Pascal. Her hand shot into her pocket, hoping she had not hurt him. When she could not find him, panic rose in her chest.
A few squeaks, brought relief as her eyes caught sight of the chameleon before her, looking relatively unharmed. And then his squeaks became ever more urgent.
A hand closed on her shoulder and she gasped.
"Are you okay?"
It was the man from before. As she looked to him, she could now see his face. At first glance, he reminded her painfully of Eugene. His hair darker, it was longer than Eugene's, but his eyes were that same shade of hazel, if not a little darker. Beyond that, the chiselled figure of his face and the goatee upon his chin was enough to bring to mind her saviour.
At this proximity, the man did not seem so intimidating. In fact, there was a kindness in his eyes as he leaned over her, his hand outstretched in a generous manner.
"Thank you," she whispered, allowing him to lift her up. As he did, her hood fell down, revealing her face.
His eyes opened wide in surprise. "Your highness?" He bowed low with respect. "My apologies. I did not mean to startle you."
"It's fine," she assured him, trying hard not to smile. She was still not quite accustomed to such acts of reverence—she probably never would be.
He stood tall once more and it struck her that he was even taller than Eugene, though not as tall as her father—though he was not off by much. "What are you doing out alone at night, by yourself?"
She glanced about anxiously. Heads were peering out of windows at the two of them, drawn to the outside by the commotion below. "I was on a mission. But no one's supposed to know."
"Of course." The smile that crept upon his features was a charming one that she had ever known from Eugene. Her head was growing dizzy as she stared at him. The similarities were striking. "I would, however, feel terrible to abandon you at this moment. The night can be a dangerous time for one to wander on their own. Might I humbly offer my assistance on this secret mission? My lips are sealed, that I promise you. I would feel terrible, though, to let you continue on, should any evil befall you."
His words, so eloquent, gave Rapunzel sudden reason to trust the man. There was a genuine honesty in his offer, and she would appreciate the company, the protection he could bring. "I can hardly say no to that," she replied gratefully. "I don't want to inconvenience…"
"Nonsense," he chided, his smile broadening. "Now, what is this venture you're on?"
Her gaze fell uneasily again upon the faces peering through closed shades. Most had retreated, seemingly at peace with the blow situation. She looked again to the man, wondering then if he was among the many who had known Eugene as the thief, Flynn Rider and, worse still, if he had been dealt some injustice by him.
Catching her hesitation, the man's smile faded. "Princess?"
She said nothing, watching him carefully. The look of trust he'd worn before was not nearly as strong as before. There was something unsettling about the intensity in his gaze as he stared at her, a look she knew to be hunger. Clearing her throat, she tried to remain calm. She was just overreacting, imagining the worst of people again. That was it, wasn't it? Her imagination was running off with her. Here was a man, willing to help her, to protect her. She should not be so eager to turn him away.
"I'm looking for a friend of mine," she said finally. "Eugene Fitzherbert."
"Eugene Fitzherbert," he repeated, his eyes suddenly glowing in recognition. The smile flitting across his features was now one of excitement and again that feeling of worry shot through her.
"You know him?"
"I knew Flynn Rider," the man replied, his voice teeming with an emotion Rapunzel could not place. "But that was a long time ago." He paused for a second in contemplation. "I think I might know where to find him. There's a place he used to go…"
"Really?" Rapunzel was incapable of keeping the hopefulness out of her voice. "Would you show me?"
"Of course, your highness." He bowed again before offering her his arm, his expression once more one of generosity.
She took it, excitement clouding her judgement. If not for the joy of possibility, she might have noticed the way his smile did not quite meet his eyes, and how the black of his orbs were burning with malicious intent. "Thank you. And please, call me Rapunzel."
"As you wish, Rapunzel." Taking her hand, he steered her down the street, away from the watchful eyes, into a more secluded area of the town.
She walked with eagerness in her step, her heart light, hardly attentive of the world around her. And then he was guiding her into a dark alley, one with a wall blocking its path.
"Have you…"
Her words were violently cut off as a rag was shoved into her face. It smelled weird, and as she breathed in, her head began to spin in, dizziness spreading through her.
She struggled to break free, trying to pull away as his hand grabbed at her arm. As he did, the rag stumbled from his grasp, freeing mouth and in that chance she let out a blood-curdling scream.
D E S T I N I E S E N T W I N E D
Eugene ran with great speed through the streets of Corona. Her scream had echoed out into oblivion long ago, but he could still hear it, echoing in his head, pervading his senses with a raw urgency to save. He used his fury to guide him through, hoping it would be enough to find her.
There was no second scream to follow the first, and as he ran, a second fear sprouted within him, a fear that he would not be able to find her, that she was already beyond his saving. But he could not think that, could not allow himself to believe that she was lost to him.
He hated himself more than before in this instant. Why had he abandoned her? She had needed him and he had left her and now she was in danger.
Through the relative silence of the night, the sudden sound of scuffling reached his ears, a new sign, a new guiding light. He claimed it, turning his attention to the right as he dashed away at a breakneck speed, his instincts leading him to a dead end alley where one figure bending over another that lay prone on the floor.
"Rapunzel!"
The kneeling figure's head twisted to stare at him, as he slowly came to stand. In the darkness, the face was unrecognizable, but Eugene could be absolutely certain that it was a man.
His eyes fell then to the body lying on the floor. It was Rapunzel. He knew it, though he could not see her properly. It was his heart, aching in concern that made him know it to be her.
"What have you done to her?" His voice was a growl as he took a step towards the two. He wished for a sword, or a frying pan, anything to strike at this unknown stranger, to bring him harm as he was certain to have brought to Rapunzel.
"No lasting damage."
The voice, deep and rumbling, was one he found to be painfully familiar. He knew this person, but his mind was not allowing him to draw any positive conclusions to mind.
"Leave now and I won't have to kill you," Eugene spoke threateningly, feeling indeed capable of killing the man at this moment for daring to even touch her. "Do you hear me?"
The man laughed in raucous fervour, throwing his head back. "I would love to see you try, Flynn Rider."
That voice; that voice…Eugene's head was a sudden blur of faces rising to mind. Among them he was sure to find this person, but why couldn't he…
And then, there it was. A face that held too many painful memories, a one that made him burn with sudden rage, blinding his reason. With a strangled cry, he rushed forward, launching himself at the figure, a man from his past, a man who had taken everything from him.
The man embraced him as he came, allowing Eugene to knock him to the ground. They rolled on the gravel, the rocks underneath scraping at Eugene's flesh. He ignored it as he struggled to get a hold of the man's neck, prepared to strangle the life from him.
But as they came to a halt in the gathering dust, it was the other man who had the upper, holding Eugene down with his hands and legs.
"Hello, Flynn. Long time no see."
"Hunter," Eugene hissed, using all his strength to knock the man off him.
Freed, he jumped forth again, but Hunter was faster than he, using his leg to kick Eugene away.
Landing in his gut, Eugene fell to the floor, gasping for air as pain radiated in his middle. Taking a few deep breaths to slow the pain, he went for him again, but Hunter was already standing, and with another well aimed kick to the chest, sent Eugene back again.
Eugene's vision was blurred as pain radiated through him, the breath taken from him as he knelt gasping on the floor. Before he could even move, Hunter's foot came again. Though gentler than the other two, the move sent him falling onto his back, leaving him winded and dazed as he gazed up at the clouded sky overhead. It was going to rain.
The thought flitted through his blurred mind as Hunter's face appeared before him. He looked older. Almost four years had gone by since he'd last seen this man, four blissful years free from his tyranny.
"I hear you're going by Eugene Fitzherbert again. Interesting," Hunter mused tauntingly as he knelt over Eugene. "It makes you weak, though you were always a weak one, weren't you, Flynn?"
"You…were…gone," Eugene sputtered, fighting to regain his breath. He could already feel the bruises beginning to blossom.
Hunter shrugged. "I had to leave. They were hot on my tail…no thanks you." His eyes flashed in ire and bitterness. "I gave you so much and how did you repay me? You turned me in."
"You…"
"I what?" Hunter spat. "Tell me, Flynn. What did I do?"
Eugene closed his eyes for a second, trying to hold back the creeping memory. He took a deep breath, but it only led to a sudden fit of coughing as it proved too much for his lungs.
He needed to bide time, needed to regain a bit of strength before he could consider fighting Hunter. The man, only three years his senior, had always been tough and strong. He would need to be more careful when next he struck. "You were planning to kill…"
"I was just talking to talk, Flynn," Hunter interjected sharply, pulling a knife suddenly from his pocket. "Royalty's hard to destroy. It's much easier to control them when they're still alive. Hence…" He gestured to Rapunzel. "I imagine they would do anything to get her back if they lost her now."
"You…bastard…"
"Language, Flynn. Language."
The blade fell across his cheek, sliding across his flesh, cutting in.
He gasped, but did not try to move. It was becoming easier to breathe. A few more minutes. Just a few more…
"Is that why you came back?" he asked quietly.
Hunter shrugged. "I've been back for a few weeks now. I heard news that you were getting big. I wanted to see it for myself. When I learned you were working for the Stabbington Brothers…well, it seemed too hard to resist. They were our enemies once. "
"They were just a means to an end," Eugene told him, wishing his strength would just return.
"You stole the princess's crown. But then you gave it back. Why?" It was a rhetorical question, and Eugene would not waste his breath trying to reply to it. "She's a pretty one. I can understand your attachment," he continued, pulling the blade up. "And while I do have to admit that you have a certain charm about you, I can't help but wonder why on earth she would want to be with a killer like you?"
His strength was not fully returned, but with this new attack, he could no longer stay still.
Kicking out with his foot, he took Hunter by surprise, sending the man falling to the floor. Leaping up, Eugene reached for the dagger holding it tightly in his hand while Hunter stood quickly, watching Eugene with suddenly wary eyes.
"Good, Flynn," he commented silkily. "I underestimated you."
Eugene grinned despite himself. "I'm not who you think I am."
"Certainly not," Hunter agreed. "I won't forget next time."
"There won't be a next time," Eugene promised. Before he could act on his words, a sudden groaning noise diverted his attention. Rapunzel was beginning to stir on the floor.
Distracted, Eugene began to move towards her, temporarily forgetting about Hunter. Awakened to the error of his way as the sound of running feet began to echo, he turned to see Hunter dashing towards the brick wall before him,
In frustration, Eugene hurled the dagger at his fleeting form, missing him entirely. "Hunter!" he roared, beginning to pursue. But he had hardly reached the bottom of the wall, when Hunter sat straddling the top, a look of mild victory on his face.
"I'll see you again, Rider," he swore before jumping over the edge.
Angered over this sudden loss, Eugene fought to restrain his frustration as his mind moved back to Rapunzel.
He hurried to her side. She was trying to sit up, looking dazed and confused. Pascal was standing on her chest, his eyes big with concern.
"Hey. It's okay," he whispered, as he helped her to sit up slowly, ignoring his own aches as she rested his weight on him.
Looking over her quickly, he could see that she was not badly injured. His eyes fell on the white cloth lying near her. Hunter had tried to drug her then, to render her unconscious. If that was it…but he could not be certain.
Holding her head on his chest, he ran a hand through her hair, doing his best to ignore the new strands of white beginning to form. "I'm so sorry," he told her, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'm so, so sorry."
She was still fleeting between consciousness and unconsciousness, and she said nothing, only clung to him with fierce need.
With tender care, he lifted her up, holding her as the fragile gift she was. His body protested, still reeling from the injuries caused him, but he ignored the urge to fall as he pressed forward, swallowing the gasps as he led her through the streets, back to the palace as raindrops began to fall from the sky.
A.N. Not so much a cliffhanger as before. Thank goodness for that, right? So, thoughts, opinions, suggestions, questions. You know I love the feedback, it helps me to know what people think and whether or not the path I'm heading down is a good idea. Group effort, remember? Creative geniuses of groups always makes for better stories.
Love you all,
Faith xo
