Carsein awoke in the dead of night, blinking disoriented. The sound of the princess’ scream had torn through his own nightmare and sweat dripped from his forehead as he got up to shake off the feeling.

He heard the floorboards above him creak and figured she’d be taking another of her nightly strolls. She had a habit of doing that whenever she woke up like this and Carsein always found himself waiting restless on his bed until he heard her return. He hoped she wouldn’t be long, because he could use the sleep.

So he waited a while and finally the creaks told him she’d come back and he figured he could go back to sleep. But the sound didn’t seem quite like the usual and suddenly he heard voices. Had Arwin snuck into her room?

Carsein didn’t quite understand, but for some reason that thought made him frown. He knew there was a chance Arwin wouldn’t wait to claim her until they’d gotten married, but now that it was happening, he didn’t like it.

He turned on the bed, trying to cover his ears with a pillow. He’d just have to smother such feelings. They were strange and unnecessary.

Then he heard it, her scream. Almost as loud and intense as when she had her night terrors and filled with the same horror. The sound made him shudder. Without thinking he sprung from the bed, surprised at his body’s automatic response. What was he doing?

Then he heard it again and before he knew it, he was running out the door. He didn’t understand the urgency that carried his footsteps but every muscle in his body screamed at him to hurry. To stop whatever made her utter that terrible sound. He flew up the steps that would carry him toward her room, but halfway up the steps he stopped dead in his tracks.

At the top of the stairs he saw her. Moonlight shone down from a skylight and bathed her in its soft glow, illuminating her face and figure. Her nightgown was torn open exposing her supple breasts, her red hair cascaded over her bare shoulders like a sea of flames on a moonlit dessert. He hitched at the sight.

But what made him feel like the air had been punched out of his lungs, was her face. Her expression was utter terror, her eyes wide with tears streaming down her rosy cheeks and lips trembling.

Hadn’t he always wanted to see her make this expression? Hadn’t he wished for her to be killed or broken, miserable? He thought he had but now that he saw it, all those desires had vanished and instead all he felt was pain. And rage. A rage towards the man responsible, the man whose footsteps he could hear approaching behind her.

He jumped up the last steps and barely noticed her gasp at his sudden movements, his gaze fastened on him. The snake. He was clearly intoxicated, and he couldn’t mask his expression. It was pure madness, something Carsein had glanced before, masked, hidden. Never had he seen it in its raw form. Not like this.

“Oh Carsein, sorry if we woke you up. Could you help me get the little lady back into her room, so we can continue?” he smiled, his honey dipped voice not matching his maniacal expression.

Every part of him made Carsein’s blood boil. He took a step forward, barely sensing how the princess jolted at his approach. She turned around and Carsein heard her stifle a sob, while Arwin’s expression turned into a sadistic smirk. Tucking the last straw of his sanity.

With an inaudible growl he lunged for him, everything red. The blonde man toppled backwards completely unprepared for the attack and buckling under his height and weight. Carsein’s hands wrapped around his neck, and unable to fight back against the raw power he held in his intoxicated state, Arwin started writhing and gurgling beneath him. The moment felt like a split second, yet an eternity at the same time. Then it was over. Arwin’s body lay still on the floor red marks across his neck and an empty stare in his eyes.

Finally Carsein came to his senses. Gasping he looked down to watch his handywork and felt slight jab horror at his own actions, though no remorse. He had killed before and likely would again. It was his own ferocity that scared him, his lack of control.

But he needed to regain it, for they were in trouble now. He turned around to look for the princess, thinking she’d ran away but was surprised to find her squatting a couple of meters behind him. She was just sitting there her arms wrapped around her knees, staring wide eyed at him.

She must not have any survival instincts, to not grab the opportunity to flee during the struggle, but that was all the same to him. Spared him the time to look for her.

The vision of her pitiful state and her terrified expression sent a painful jab through his chest, though he shrugged it off. They had to get out of here, to run, lest people came after him for the crime of killing a noble man and the king’s right hand. And for her. Now that Arwin was dead, there was no one to lay claim on her which meant she was as good as dead too. Unless they ran.

The princess jolted as he sprung to his feet and grabbed her by her wrists to pull her up. The empty expression in her eyes flared up as panic gripped at her again and she started struggling. She was afraid… of him. A month ago that thought would have made him smile. Not anymore. He grimaced and leaned in over her as he pulled her close so he could whisper in her ear.

“You’d best be quiet, if you wish to live” he realized his words sounded like a threat, but there was no time to correct them. Dragging her behind him he dashed for her room and quickly glanced over the interior. She would need clothes and shoes, as well as something to keep her warm at night, like a coat or blanket.

Like a storm he whirled around the room collecting anything useful he could find and gathered them a sheet he pulled off the bed. He also emptied her jewelry box and tough the contents were sparse they could still fetch some money. When he was done, he wrapped it all in a bundle, that was somewhat carriable.

Thereafter he turned his attention to the princess. She was just standing there in the middle of the room, her arms wrapped around herself to hide her exposed bosom. She trembled as he approached, a dress in hand that he’d put aside for her to wear.

“Lift your arms” she jolted at his voice but didn’t dare lift her gaze and she hesitated. “Now!” he barked and too frightened to do anything else, she obeyed. He had to swallow a little at the renewed sight of her bare figure, but otherwise he ignored any male instincts and ripped the remainder of her tattered clothes off of her before dressing her in the new garments. She jolted and shivered during the process, her fear unmistakable, but she didn’t run or complain.

Finally he barked at her to put on her shoes and then he grabbed her by a wrist once again, dragging her behind him. They scurried to his room. Having been in countless situations that required fast relocation, his bags were almost always packed and ready to go. He even slept mostly dressed, so all he needed was to grab his pack and fasten his sword to his belt; Then they were ready to disappear into the night.