Chapter Ten
THE NEXT DAY
The kids slept uncomfortably in the dungeon, it was not easy to get used to either. Suddenly the food cart was wheeled in and food was tossed into their cell which woke up Ray whom was sleeping right next to the slot so he got hit in the head with a few of the plates. "...Watch...it!" He growled sleepily. The cart man growled back but said nothing and walked back out of the dungeon.
Ray poked Mystel in the foot as it dangled from his sitting position in the little windowsill, which had bars on the outside to keep them in. "Pssst! Mystel! Wake up!" Ray hissed. Kai woke up from all the noise and growled making Ray look over at him and ignore Mystel, "Sorry Kai, I didn't mean to wake you."
Kai hmphed then stood up and stretched then walked over and sat down beside Ray without a word. He picked up a plate of food and ate in silence. Ray looked at Mystel who shrugged and jumped down then sat down on the other side of Ray and starting eating. Ray sighed then ate as well, Kai didn't talk much until Tala came, then he'd ask him everything about Keomae. Other than that he never said a word.
Kane and Sellema sat on the roof staring at the sky, "I wonder what will become of Princess Keomae. She hasn't been herself ever since you guys brought her back." Kane nodded, "I know, I feel bad. I wish we could've just left her out there but instead we had to bring her back here and make her like this." Suddenly a door closed behind them, they turned and saw Tyson standing beside the door, which was now closed. "Hey..." He said in a low tone voice.
Kane looked at Sellema who just blinked then he replied, "Hey Tyson." Tyson walked over and stared at the sky, "I know what you both are thinking. About Keomae right? Well I've given it some thought too, if it would make her happier then I want her to leave. I want her to get free again, or else she'll never smile again." Kane smiled, "That's strange coming from you. I thought you liked her?"
Tyson sighed, "I do but she doesn't feel the same way for me. There's someone else she feels that way for and that person isn't from this castle. That's why if she can get out of here she can be happy and not ever be depressed. That's all I want for her now." Sellema smiled brightly at him, "That's so thoughtful of you Tyson. I never would've thought you would say that about her. I'm glad you did though, it just proves you're willing to find someone else and give Keomae the space she deserves."
Kane nodded, "She's right. That is kind of you Tyson, if you had acted this way with her since the first time you two met I'll bet she would feel that way about you." Tyson nodded, "I know, I think the same way. Oh well, I guess I'll leave you two then. Don't stay out too long though, the king might need one of you for something later." They nodded then he turned and left the two who smiled at each other then talked about something else.
LATER THAT DAY AT 7:00 pm
Tyson and Tala walked side by side toward Keomae's room, Tyson, carrying a black robe at his side while Tala held something very special in his pocket. They both stopped outside Keomae's door, Tyson nodded to Tala then they both entered the room. Keomae sat on her bed and when the door opened she jumped up and walked over to them, "Are we actually gonna do this?" She asked.
Tyson nodded then held out a black cape to her, "Of course, now take this cape and put it on. It should make you look like a crook while we are the guards taking you down to the dungeon. Get it?" "And don't forget this!" Tala added handing her a very small object.
Keomae nodded then took the cape from Tyson, and the object from Tala then put it on and flipped the hood over her head then stuck the object in her pocket, "Let's do it." Tala and Tyson both smirked then Tala opened the door and bowed, "After you princess." Keomae scowled under her hood but Tala couldn't see then she walked through the door with the boys right after her.
Tala walked on one side of Keomae while Tyson walked on her other side. Both of them held one of Keomae's arms while her hands were in handcuffs. They hadn't encountered anyone yet but they were pretty sure no one would suspect them even if they did see them.
Suddenly Mariah walked around the corner with Sellema at her side, "I'm telling you its whites first then blacks (laundry)." Mariah explained. Sellema sighed, "I don't know, I still say blacks look better." "Who cares which one looks better! We're not talking about looks!" Mariah shouted.
Sellema stopped suddenly and looked at the three people who were now very near them. "Oh uh hey Tala, hey Tyson. Who's that with you?" Sellema asked. Tala cleared his throat then replied, "This crook was found in the treasury stuffing gold into his pockets. We're taking him to the dungeon right now." "Oh... okay. Have fun boys! Come on Sellema, let's go." Mairah said walking around them quickly with Sellema hot on her heels.
"That was easy." Tyson commented as soon as the girls weren't able to be seen anywhere. Tala nodded, "I agree." Keomae sighed, "Did you have to say I was a guy?" Tala chuckled, "Yes, not too much girls steal gold from a castle so I doubted Mariah would believe that." Keomae sighed again but said nothing as they continued walking toward the dungeon and with each step Keomae became more and more excited to finally seeing her Kai again after so long.
Kai sat in the back with his eyes closed, the others were talking while Daichi and Kenny played rock, paper, scissors. "Ha! I win again!" Kenny cheered. Daichi growled then said, "Okay best 16 out of 17." Kenny chuckled and said, "Your on." Suddenly everyone stopped and listened as voices were heard in the other room. "Let us through, we're here by order of the king."
Kai growled, he knew that voice, it was Tyson's. The door opened slowly then the fat guy said, "Alright but only because you're here because the king sent you." Three guys walked in, one in handcuffs. "What's going on?" Hilary demanded. Kai put an arm in front of her, "Stop, its Tala." Hilary looked at them more closely then gasped, "You're right, one of them is Tala." "And the other is Tyson." Kai added under his breath.
Tala uncuffed the hooded figure then the person ran to the cage and dropped to its knees, "Kai!" Kai's eyes widened, "Keomae!" He ran to her and dropped to his knees and looked at her closely, it really was Keomae. "Keomae...I thought I'd never see you again!" Keomae nodded with tears in her eyes, "I know, I felt the same way. I missed you." She said sadly. "Is that... is that really her?" Daichi asked Ray.
Keomae pulled the hood down letting her blonde hair flow down her shoulders like normal. "Keomae... how did you... how'd you get passed the guard?" Kai asked. Tala shrugged, "Easy, she just had to act like a criminal then we brought her down here."
"I guess you really did get to come down here then..." Kai commented. Keomae nodded, "Thanks to these two." Tala nodded then grabbed Tyson's shirt and dragged him to the door, "Hey where are we going?" Tyson asked. "In the other room, we'll come back in awhile." Tala replied. Keomae nodded then Tala dragged Tyson out of the room and shut the door behind them.
"I thought they'd never leave." Mystel commented. Daichi nodded, "That's true, Tyson sends shivers up my spine." "But Tala isn't that bad." Ray added. Kenny and Hilary just sat and watched as the three talked about Tala and Tyson. Keomae smiled and said, "I'm glad you're all alright."
Kai gently grabbed one of Keomae's hands in his and held on to it tightly, "Don't worry, we're fine. They aren't gonna get rid of us anytime soon." Keomae nodded then the others began to gather around. "So what are they planning to do with us? Tala wouldn't tell us." Hilary asked.
Keomae shook her head, "That's because he didn't know and neither do I. My father doesn't tell anyone what he's planning until the night before." Keomae smiled then added, "I wouldn't worry though, nothing will happen to any of you if you play your cards right." "What?" Daichi and Kenny asked at the same time.
Kai ignored them and asked, "So how come you didn't come down here sooner?" "Tala didn't tell me about this plan until last night. I guess Tyson had a say in it too or else he wouldn't be helping out." Keomae said thoughtfully. "Why is Tyson down here?" Ray asked. "I think its because he wants to help, you know, make up for the past. But that's just my thought." Keomae replied.
Keomae looked at them all and they all looked back at her, dirty, torn clothes, starving faces. Keyda felt tears well up in her eyes, she hung her head low and muttered, "I am so sorry." Kai blinked then asked, "For what?"
"For getting you guys into this, you wouldn't be here if it weren't for me." She replied softly. Kai sighed, "Keomae listen, it's not like you asked us for help, we did it out of choice. We're in here because we made that choice and that's not your fault...its our's. We're the ones to blame here Keomae, not you."
Keomae sighed, she knew he was trying to make her feel better but she also knew it was still her fault even though he wouldn't admit it. "But now what?" Hilary asked suddenly. Mystel shrugged then replied, "Beats me." Ray didn't even comment while Kenny and Daichi muttered to themselves. Keomae smiled and looked up, "I know what comes next." "What?" Kai asked.
Keomae stood up and said, "Its time you all get out of here." "What!" Everyone gasped in surprise and jumped up. "What do you mean?" Kai asked grabbing the bars tightly. "I mean you've been in here long enough and it time you guys get to go free." Keomae replied slowly.
Hilary walked up beside Kai and asked, "But how? We have no way to escape so..." She trailed off. Keomae closed her eyes and laughed a little, "You guys don't get it. I'm the princess right? So I have a lot of connections, to guard towers, to the kitchens, to the patrols, and even to the prison cells."
Kai cocked his head in confusion then Mystel asked, "So what does that mean? What good will connections do for us?" Keomae snapped her fingers, "Easy, I can get whatever I want because people around here want me to become queen and get rid of my father's awful reputation. So almost everyone in this castle is willing to help in any way and in any form. So if I want you guys out of here...?"
"Then everyone will do their best to get us out of here." Kai finished. Keomae nodded, "Exactly! Tala went through a lot of trouble to get this, I'll never be able to repay him but I hope it'll prove its purpose."
Keomae dug into her pocket and pulled out something that made them all gasp, "Is that!" Hilary asked. Keomae nodded, "Its your ticket out of here." Kai couldn't believe it, he thought that once he was captured he'd be tortured to death and he'd never get to see Keomae ever again and now here she was before him holding their ticket to freedom. Keomae held the small black key in her hand tightly in fear that if she dropped it she may never find it again.
"I don't believe it! You actually found us a way to get free! That's amazing!" Ray commented. Kai nodded then looked Keomae in the eyes, "I think its time you guys had some fresh air." Keomae said with a smirk and a wink to Kai. She walked over to the lock and stuck the key into it. She turned it and it clicked unlocked.
Keomae slowly pulled the huge barred door open and held an arm out. Kenny, Max, and Daichi raced out of there in a flash while Mystel and Ray were more cautious. Hilary followed close behind them while Kai took the rear.
He stopped in the doorway and Keomae looked up at him. He smiled, making her smile then run over to him and throw her arms around his neck and hug him warmly. He wrapped his arms around her waist, never wanting to let go. He thought he would never see her again let alone touch her, this feeling was too great for even the mighty Kai, he couldn't let this feeling go...not yet.
Keomae pulled back first then looked at him closely. "I've missed this feeling Keomae. I missed being with you, holding you. I don't want to loose this feeling again." Kai said softly so only she could hear not that anyone else was paying any attention; they were just roaming the huge prison and picking on the other prisoners.
Keomae sighed and laid her head against his chest while he gently wrapped his arms around her and embraced her. Keomae loved Kai, more then anything. She wished they could be like that forever but she knew it was all going to end. "Kai..." She began softly.
Keomae pulled out of his warm embrace and looked at him directly, "I'm sorry Kai but you should take this chance while you can and get as far away from here as you possibly can." Kai sighed and nodded slowly, "You're probably right but I don't want to leave you...not again."
Keomae sighed then grabbed his hand and led him to the back of the prison hold. Keomae led him to a dead-end and knelt down letting go of Kai's hand. He watched as she ran her hand over the stone floor until her hand found a rock that wasn't in the floor, more like it was on top of it. She flipped it over and under it was a little black button.
She pressed it and the dead-end wall slowly shook and bean to rise. Kai watched in awe as the wall rose into the ceiling and light flooded into the prison hold. "This is your way out. This is your chance to freedom. Take it Kai... please. I don't want to see you here any longer, my heart can't take it." Keomae whispered. Kai looked at her then suddenly the rest of the guys walked towards them.
"Wow! A secret exit! Sweet!" Daichi commented. Kenny, Max, and Mystel nodded slowly while Ray smiled and asked, "Well what're we waiting for? Its time we got out of here. Thank you Keomae, for freeing us." Keomae nodded to him, making him nod back then walk out of the prison hold into the light and freedom.
Hilary nodded to Keomae as well and said, "You know, you turned out to be pretty okay...you know, for a princess anyways. I'll see you around." Keomae grinned as she too walked outside. Mystel and Max only nodded and left while Daichi, and Kenny didn't do anything except run after the others calling, "Wait up!"
"...Keomae..." Kai said softly. Keomae turned to face him but almost had to turn away because the thought of him leaving was too much for her to bear. Kai pulled her against him once again and let her rest her head on his chest. Keomae felt tears in her eyes but try as she will she couldn't stop them from showing themselves. Kai looked down at the crying girl in his arms. He shushed her and while rubbing her back, he said, "Shhhh, don't cry. It'll be okay, we'll be together...someday."
Keomae sniffed then muttered, "I know but, my heart broke when we were separated before and now it'll break again... I don't know if I can take it!" Kai sighed and said, "Don't worry, have faith. Just think positively and remember, I won't let you suffer, I'll come back for you...I promise."
He kissed the top of her head and gently took her chin in his hand and made her look at him, "This isn't good-bye Keomae. I won't do that; I won't say good-bye to the one I love. I'm not willing to throw love away that easily." Keomae smiled, "Oh Kai." She muttered.
He smirked then slowly leaned down and met his lips with her's. Keomae kissed him back longingly for she had wanted him to kiss her for the longest time now. Kai could hardly believe it, after all the times he had tried to kiss her, he finally was able too and it had to be in a prison hold... nice. Kai broke the kiss and looked down at her, "I've wanted to do that for a long time now." Keomae nodded, "I feel the same way."
Kai hugged her against his chest and whispered, "I love you Keomae." Keomae hugged him back and muttered, "I love you too Kai. Please, come back. I don't want this to be the last time I see you."
Kai let her go and shook his head, "Of course not. I wouldn't do that to you. How could I? I promise Keomae, I'll come back and I'll get you out of here." Keomae nodded then watched as he backed away into the light and whispered, "Until next time." Keomae nodded as a single tear rolled down her cheek as Kai faded away into the light and the outside world.
THE END?