Lorelei POV

Flames clung to my clothes. In pain and shock, I had frantically swiped my body, in an attempt to extinguish the flames. The Prince had left me behind, choosing to save himself. Even though he owed me nothing, I felt betrayed.

A darkness covers my face, followed by a feeling of fabric being pulled over my body and hands shaking me around. I gulp for air, the smell of smoke and burnt fat filling my senses. "How the fuck did this happen?!?" Came from a furious Dolion. He was the one who smothered the fire. I moan in pain as he lets go of my body.

I don't know how long I lay here. Rustling sounds I hear in the background, but I do not care what is being done. My skin still feels as though it is in flames, my body twitches and my hands shake. A scream of pain left my mouth as two hands pulled me up. Dolion has lifted me into his arms.

Upstairs, he places me on the empty kitchen floor. "Damm it, this is bad." I can't stop sniffling and I can't stop the tears falling down my cheeks. My body is red, swollen and covered in blisters. In some areas the skin Is torn, the top layer fried pale, and underneath is a raw mess. Blood is oozing from the open wound."Damm it," Dolion repeats.

Dolion lifts his hands and mumbles a spell. A bright blue light starts to engulf my body and the scent of fresh water lingers in the air. My body becomes numb, the skin cools down and the open wounds begin to close.

Then, even though the wounds are still prominent, he stops. "That is the best I can do." Sweat is on his face, and he breathes deeply. My skin feels stiff but not painfull. "Thank you," I say. For a second, I consider covering up. But I have nothing and besides he has already seen everything.

"You're lucky in regards to the burns, they did not reach your face." I open my mouth to yell at him. How can he consider me lucky when my body is covered in burn marks? But as I look into his scarred face, I shut my mouth. I'm not aware of how severe his burns are, but it's obvious why he tries to hide his face.

"How did this even happen?" Dolion ask. I quickly recount what happened between me and the Prince, but without mentioning his proposition. "He is a brave boy, that Prince," Dolion says, standing up."More like flat-out stupid." I responded, leaning back and closing my eyes. "I am impressed he got out of the restraints. Did you give him the potion?" I shake my head as a reply. "Damm it. How did everything go so wrong?"

The feeling of something getting tossed on top of me, makes me rush to a sitting position. "Good thing I brought this," Dolion says. Clothes, Dolion brought me clothes. "Why?" I ask. "I figured you preferred something less inappropriate," he says while adding wood to the fireplace. It is hot in here, thus it could not be for heating.

The clothes he got me is a red linnen dress with no sleeves, the skirt only reaches my knees. I haven't worn a skirt this short since well before I got my monthly. However, there is a brown underdress with sleeves. Under normal circumstances, this would not be appropriate. But this is not normal circumstances. My body aches as I stand. Looking down at my bare feet, the heel is black from the dirt. And there are no socks or shoes to cover them.

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While I get dressed, I examine my injured body, the skin is red with uneven bumps that ache to the touch. Layers of skin are peeling away. How could I let this happen? Why did I even speak with him? Why did I go near him? I am so stupid.

Dolion is stirring in a pot. The smell of hot oats comes from it. "Won't people notice the smoke?" I ask. He shrugs, indicating that he does not care. When it is ready he pours the porridge into a bowl and hands it to me. I hesitate to take it. "Do not tell me you think I poisoned it?" I keep quiet because I do not know what to say. He saved my life, but he is a fae.

With no hesitation, he takes the spoon and scopes some up. After having swallowed the porridge he says "Eat." While putting the spoon back in. "It is not poison I am worried about.-" He glances at me with a confused glare. "I have been trained in how to protect oneself from fae folk. Accepting food is a no-go." As he begins to giggle, I feel my cheeks becoming flushed. "You are worried about my influence now? You are not even wearing a protection charm. If I wanted to use magic influence on you, I would have done so already."

In all the haste, I had forgotten how unprotected I am. My weapons, my magic charms. Everything I own I lost due to the interference of the guards, and God knows where my things are now. Dolion being done with the conversation, pours himself a bowl of porridge.

We eat in silence, but after some time, I collect the courage to ask "Which side?" He looks up a puzzled look on his face. "Your horns gave it away. So who is the human, your father or mother." Something I learned on the road, only the half-elf, half-human have bent horns. Full-blooded elves have straight horns.

"My mother is human." He speaks while touching his horn."Is your home here, or there?" His eyes change, it's as if though they become dark. He must have caught the implication in my question. Was she a stolen human or not? "I was born here." Being born somewhere does not make it your home.

I'm quiet, waiting for him to continue. But instead, he changes the subject "There was no ribbon." Dolion scoffed. "What?" That can not be, the King would not abandon his son. "Maybe he has not gotten the letter yet."

"Or maybe we should send the King a finger to show him you are serious," Dolion remarked. I make a disgusted face. He sighed "Do you think the King would abandon his son?"

"He would not do that. Valor is his only son. A couple of low lives like us, are not worth the Crown Prince's life." I relay. Dolion stands up. "Guess we will have to wait and see. I am going to give the Prince his potion." He says this on his way out of the room.

Sitting alone in an unfamiliar house is unsettling. The risk of a guard bursting in at any moment is looming. All of this was a horrible idea, to come here, to seek out our files. The Twins are imprisoned because of me. I wish I could cast some spell to help them, but I barely know any. Why have these dumb magic abilities when I can't use them for anything? Even the stupid hunting spell, took forever to learn and demanded so many items to work.

Why did we entertain Dolion's proposition? Why did we trust him? Can I even trust him now? I mean nothing to him. He could just kill me with the Prince and then flee the city, risk-free. He's taking too long. What's he doing with the Prince?

What is the Prince doing? Begging? Praying? He must be scared out of his mind. The proposal he made. If it comes to it, do I have to rely on it? Can I trust him? Would he be able to keep such a promise? King Alfonso wouldn't approve of it. I would loathe every second of working for him. But what if it could save the twins? I guess I do it.

A door squeaks, and I hear footsteps down the hall. In my attempt to stand, I start to shake, my body aches from the movement. Dolion enters the kitchen, wearing a hood so I cannot see his face. "If the ribbon is not there tonight I will deliver the Prince to his father in pieces." What happened downstairs?

He turns his head towards me and says "Now to another matter. Lorelei, what can you tell me about the guards' routines? Especially in regard to the royal church. "