Chapter 2
We had finally managed outrun the woman and were sitting in the palace garden catching our breaths
"Why did you tell me you were a prince? I asked
"You never asked." replied Alexander
I rolled my eyes and shook my head before looking away.
We sat in silence; I was waiting for him to speak and was sure he was thinking the same of me.
"What it like being a prince?" I asked
Alexander drew his knees up to his chest and hugged them
"I hate it," he replied "You have no freedom all study and no play and I have very little friends."
Before I could stop myself I said "You have me."
Alexander smiled "Yes I have you," he paused and changed the subject "Now what shall we play."
I thought "Have you ever played Dare?"
Alexander shook his head and I explained the rules of the game.
"Ok I want to go first." said Alexander
He thought and as he did a little smirk crossed his lips, he stood up
"Come on follow Me." he said
"Why?" I asked standing up
"Oh, you'll see."
We were stood a few inches away from Alexander's mother bed chamber
"Right this is what I want you to do," said Alexander putting his hands on his hips and facing me " you have to go in there and in take one of my mother's snakes out of the basket and bring it back out here to show me before putting it back again."
I flinched inside
"S-s-s-s nakes." I stammered looking at the door and swallowing knowing what was inside.
"Oh don't worry most of them are harmless." Alexander told me as he shoved me towards the door.
My hands shook as I reached out to open the door, I stopped and pulled back and turned back but Alexander was stood with his hands on his hips nodded a bit of encouragement to open the door.
The room was dimly lit and smelled of incense and spice; there was beautifully carved wooden furniture and rich coloured textiles.
As I moved forward I found myself stepping on something, I looked down and found it to be a snake I cried out in fright as I moved my foot and almost stood on another snake.
Snakes covered every flat surface this was going to be easier than I thought.
I was about to pick one up off the table next to me when suddenly the door opened.
Thinking I had been caught I spun around in surprise but was relieved to see Alexander smiling.
"I thought you would chicken out so I came to watch." he said moving forward
When he saw which snake I was about to pick up he laughed I frowned
"Why are you laughing?" I asked annoyed
Alexander stopped laughing "When I said one of my mother's snakes I meant from out of there."
He took hold of my hand and pulled me over to the basket, he let go off my hand and took hold of the handle and whisked off the lid.
I swallowed as I looked inside at the masses of reptilian bodies' slithing over each other some even came up and out of the basket causing us to step back.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked at Alexander
"Go on, I dared you remember." he remained me
I shakily reached into the basket, I could feel them wrapping the selves around my arm and some even flicked out their tongues against my skin.
"Alexander what is going on here?"
We both spun around and came face to face with Alexander's mother I quickly withdrew my hand and found that I had to pull one off.
She was the most beautiful person I had ever seen, she wore white and her dark curls hung lose and I could tell that from her face that she was not mad but surprised to find us there.
"We were playing mother." Alexander replied holding his head
"Now Alexander, you know that you are not allowed to play with my snakes," his mother said as she put her hands on her hip. "Why are you not at your studies?"
"I made a mistake in my work so Leonidas ripped it up and told me to do it again," Alexander replied not looking at his mother " so I ran off when he wasn't looking."
His mother shook her head and crouched down so that she was eye level and she cupped her son's chin
"How will you ever become king if do not complete your studies by doing everything that you teacher tells you."
"I'm sorry." Alexander said
"It is not me you should apologising to." his mother replied standing up and folding her arms and stepping back
Alexander took one look at me before he stared towards the door.
"But first you must introduced me to your new friend."