I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

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The Tenth Time

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"Prince Michael."

Did I say that out loud? I was only trying to think of how I would answer Theb-sarr's question of who I am, and that had popped in my head before I answered.

King Theb-sarr doesn't even blink at my answer, though he does take longer to look away from me that the last time I was in this situation. Prince Mudeenu, on the other hand...

"Prince?" He noisily blows air out from between pressed lips. "You don't dress like a prince."

Well, I'm probably dead. Still, I'm going to try to recover this one. "Do you dress like a prince every waking moment of every day?"

Mudeenu bares his teeth, but doesn't say anything.

King Theb-sarr leans forward on his throne and presses his fingers together. "Can you elaborate for me, please? Prince of which kingdom?"

Gah, this is almost exactly like last time I was at Underworld City. I hope my impromptu story-telling doesn't make things worse this time.

"It's not like it matters anymore," I say while biting my lower lip. "I'm fairly certain I'm never seeing it again."

Theb-sarr raises his eye ridges. "Never?"

Ah, I know! "Well, that's what the curse's incantation implied." I furrow my brow as if trying to remember something. "I think the verse went something like, The sun and moon will both draw near, and half all fields will wilt and burn, then tenth of men will disappear, and none those souls will e'er return. Something like that." I wish I could say I made that up on the spot, but it's actually an old rhyme I made up when I was really into theatrical poetry.

Theb-sarr blinks. "Well..."

Mudeenu scoffs, "So you can rhyme, very impressive. I still don't-"

Theb-sarr raises a hand, and Mudeenu closes his mouth. "I'll figure this out without your contributions, Mudeenu." He turns back to me. "When were you to take the throne?"

I resist the urge to take a deep breath. "I'm not the... wasn't the crown prince. My eldest brother was next in line. Actually, he may even be king now, today was his coronation. I do hope he's all right..."

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I've lasted three weeks. I don't remember how I did it. My mind is all abuzz with the various lies and cover-ups I've used. I have to spend about an hour by myself each day to get my own story straight and catch any contradictions I might make.

Everyone in the palace has doubts, I'm sure. I can't possibly have fooled everyone into thinking I'm really some prince from another world. I think the only reason I haven't been confronted yet is because nobody wants to be the one to do it. I know I don't want to accidentally anger royalty.

I'm paranoid, always checking over my shoulders. I feel that any moment all of this is going to come crashing down. One slip of the tongue and I can go from guest in the palace to guts on the floor.

Today is especially bad. Normally I can hear the footsteps of the invisible servants as I walk through the halls. Now it's silent, except for my own.

I discover that I'm fiddling with the edges of my robe sleeves. I force myself to stop.

It's a nice robe, a kind-of gift from King Theb-sarr. It's made of violet cloth covered with intricate geometric patterns stitched with gold-colored thread. I don't know what material the robe is made of, but it's a thin yet strong cloth. I can wear it without anything underneath and still feel comfortable. It's a little long, though, so my hands disappear into the sleeves when I put my arms down, and the bottom hem is always dragging on the ground.

I pass by the door to the throne room. The guards by the door give me a quick glance before standing at attention again. I can only see two, but with the Mipedians, you can be sure that there are a few more standing guard, watching invisibly.

I'm about to continue on my way when I hear a shout from the throne room. It sounds like Mudeenu's voice. "You can't be serious, father!"

"Don't raise your voice at me, Mudeenu!" Whoa, Theb-sarr's never shouted before that I can remember. Wait, isn't Theb-sarr Mudeenu's uncle, not his father?

"Can you blame me?" Mudeenu's voice roars. "You're planning on marrying off my sister to that creature! Don't deny it! You have it written down right there, the only way they could be more married is if they were sleeping together!"

Wait, what?

Whatever Theb-sarr says, I can't hear it. I don't want to face the wrath of Prince Mudeenu when he comes out of there, so I hurry back to the room I've been staying in.

As I begin to climb the stairs to my room two steps at a time, I wonder to myself about what I heard. It couldn't mean me, right? But who else could Mudeenu have meant? All he said was "that creature." That could be me, but then it could be another creature. There aren't any other non-Mipedians here, though, right? And what did he mean with that last sentence? Was the marriage already legal on paper or something?

While I'm thinking these things, fate decides to give me the middle finger.

Near the top of the stairs, I step on part of the bottom of my robes. I don't notice until I try to climb that step, and when I do, I'm already stumbling. I throw my arms out to grab a handrail and miss. My shins hit the edge of a step, and I curl up a little in pain, throwing my center of balance backwards. I feel my stomach lurch as I start to fall.

Seriously? Three weeks of lying about my identity, long nights spent sleepless in anxiety, and this happens?

I grab for the handrail, but my sweaty hands prevent me from keeping my grip. I begin to straighten my legs so I can step back, but it only serves to throw off my balance more.

No no no, I'm not dying like this! You don't do what I've done and then get killed by the freaking stairs!

I'm falling now. My arms flail around for something to catch, to break my fall. My head is already below my feet elevation.

At least Chaor killed me last time because he didn't want me to reveal that he wasn't a god! At least my death in Kiru City last time came after an attempt at heroism! At least I died on my own terms last time at Mount Pillar! Don't do this to m-!

The first blow to the head knocks me unconscious. The remainder of the tumble down the stairs inflicts significant damage. I pass away before anyone can discover me.

...What a load of bullcrap, Perim.

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Up next: The Aftermath

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Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.

Not every death can be dramatic or full of meaning. Sometimes fate just drops a bridge on you.

NOTE: There's a reason why Prince Mudeenu called King Theb-sarr "father" when "uncle" is more accurate, so no belly-aching. :D

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