Christopher takes slow and tired steps towards the room wherein he could get a glimpse of shadows. "They are there, I guess.", he wonders and keeps walking until he finds himself at the doorstep. He takes a quick and panicked look around when his eyes reach Rose sitting with back leaned on the wall, her eyes closed. 

"Don't worry. They're just sleeping.", she says in a low, tired tone, giving Chris an air of relief. "I thought they're... dead or something.", he says inwardly, looking at his friends lying like dead bodies because of the effect of overdosed sleeping pills.

Chris : "How come are you not...asleep like them?"

Rose : "Sleeping pills don't work on me. Forget it."

Chris' face gives off a puzzled expression but he rather does the more important thing at the moment. "And, where's Asher?", he asks.

She replies, "I don't know." when Chris looks to his right, afar in the hallway. "It must be Asher.", he says and takes quick steps towards him. As he keeps walking, the figure keeps moving afar.

Out of sudden, a forceful pull drags him in a big hall and a loud sound behind him startles his soul. He checks to see the big gates shutting. "What is this place?", he wonders in horror.

"Chris!", calls a familiar voice, in response to which Chris turns around and skips one more heartbeat, as Asher stands right on his face.

"What are you? A ghost?", Chris says, catching his breath.

Asher : "This is a secret place. Only the one who created it and the one who knows magic can see it."

Out of nowhere, Chris bows down saying, "Your Royal Highness, Prince Adrian."

Asher ceases his eyes at Chris for a moment, smiles and replies, "I'm Asher."

Chris : "No. I know everything, now. I know who you are."

Asher : "I'm Asher, your best friend, not Prince Adrian. And, no, you don't know anything."

Chris grabs his hair in the fist and frustratingly says, "Then, what is the truth? What is happening? And, why me?"

Asher caresses his best friend's shoulder and states, "Calm down. I'll tell you everything." He second thinks and adds, "Chris, you're in danger." Asher's words do no good to Christopher's anxiousness.

He shuts his eyes, wonders and continues, "Look, Chris..." Before Asher could speak ahead, Chris intervenes asking, "What? How am I in danger? 

"You're an idiot, Christopher.", says Rose from behind.

Chris looks behind and asks in shock, "How did you get in?"

Rose replies, "Asher taught me a spell."

Chris : "Wait! What is happening? She knows? She knows too?"

Before Asher could make the complicated story simple for Chris, Rose intrudes in, disrupting the situation even more.

"I know much more than you.", she states and then adds, "and you're an idiot. You know nothing about the famous Haynes kingdom. Don't you read? I wonder why you're proclaimed as the know-it-all."

Chris : "Just tell me, what's happening, Asher."

Asher replies in a calm and slow tone, "The Law of Haynes Kingdom. When a non-sorcerer or commoner is told or gets even a glimpse into the royal secrets then it is considered to be a punishable act."

Asher's slow paced words were making it all easier for Chris to understand, however a new feeling of terror occupied his heart. His panic adds up when Asher continues, "Since, you are told a lot, it adds up to the intensity or cruelty in the punishment."

In a quivering tone, Chris asks, "What -- will they do to me? What--punishment?"

Rose intervenes again, "Execution. Death."

Chris : "WHAT!!!"

Rose : "But, which execution method would they have in store for you?" Rose wonders for a while panicking Chris out. She says, "Crucifixion."

Chris cried, "WHAT!!"

Rose : "Wait! Crucifixion, if you pass on the information to more non-sorcerers."

Chris breathes relief until Rose brutally scares him saying, "Prince Arthur himself told you the royal secrets so in such case you'll get ....." She pauses for a second, ceasing Christopher's soul and says, "death by burning."

Chris kneels down crying.

Asher: "Shut up, Rose!"

Rose rolls her eyes in annoyance.

Asher kneels down in front of Chris and says in the same slow tone, "I'll protect you."

Chris : "Why would Prince Arthur put me in danger?"

Asher stands up and says, "To threaten me." After a brief and serious moment of pause, he adds, "Chris, listen to me carefully. I'm not Prince Adrian. You don't know anything about me. Pretend. Act fool. Your best friend Asher is dead."

Chris : "But that way, the only suspect left in the eyes of Arthur, is Tristan."

Rose : "Yes. Tristan will be the next bait. I'm sure."

Asher says in midst with audacity, "The last bait. Tristan will be the last one, I promise. Enough is enough. I can't put my friends in danger anymore."

The next morning, captives open their eyes as Mike says, "I never had such a great sleep my whole life."

Julie replies, "Same here." 

Out of sudden, panic strikes her nerves as she realises Tristan's absence next to her. "He slept next to me, right?"

Jane : "Who?"

Julie : "Tristan. Who else?"

The most worried person,Elisa stood up in distress saying, "Where-- where is he?"

A voice from the doorstep answers, "Ben's men took him." 

"WHAT?!", says Elisa in shock and anxiousness.

Replies Chris, "Don't worry. Asher went with him. He'll protect Tristan."

Elisa kneels down face palming as Julie comes to her to comfort her. Out of the blue, Elisa looks up in panic again asking, "Where's Rose?" She looked at Chris in the hope of an answer while he looks down in silence.

Meanwhile, Tristan and Asher step in the big but shabby room as instructed by Ben/Arthur's men.

"Welcome Asher o' Prince Adrian.", says Arthur leaving Tristan all perplexed.

Asher spots him with his back facing him and replies, "Thank you, Prince Arthur but I'm not your brother. You're mistaken. I am Asher."

Arthur laughs and replies, "You think I don't know how my brother's appearance?"

Asher : "No. Not at all. You surely know how your brother looks like. However, you probably forgot that he's a sorcerer."

Arthur's big smile gets replaced with a confused expression as he turns around facing the two best friends.

He asks, "What do you mean?" Arthur tries to examine.

Asher : "Do you remember Adrian's close friend, Leo?"

Arthur's eyes widen in shock as a figure steps in the room, with his eyes glaring straight into his teary eyes. He stepped nearer and nearer as his face exposes to a clearer view. 

Arthur, looked at him and then at Asher standing behind with a smirky look in eyes. "What are you? Twins?"

The guy who just stepped in, looked entirely similar to Asher o' Prince Adrian, which shakes off the Earth under Arthur's feet. He notices the guy in front of him, snapping his fingers a few times with closed eyes when a magical effect trannsforms Asher into someone else.

Tristan's eyes tend to be having inadequate power to bear the light that just flashed next to him with magical transformation happening. As soon as the effect stops, he falls down, unconcious and stands there a different person in Asher's place.

"Leo?", says Arthur in awe,"So, Asher wasn't my brother. He was Leo, in real."

"Yes.", says Prince Adrian who stood right on his face. He continue, "I told you, Arthur, not to put anyone in danger."

Arthur : "I had no choice. Father wanted me to bring you back. I was following my duty."

Adrian sighs a smile and says with an intense look, "You are not here for me. I know you, Arthur."

Arthur blinks awkwardly, trying not to match his eyes with her brother. "You were here to find your love."

Leo stands clueless listening to the brothers' conversation. "Who do you love, Arthur?", he asks.

Arthur : "Shut up! He's just blabbering nonsense. I'm not into anyone."

Adrian raises a brow and says, "Oh! Then what about Rose?"

Leo breathe ceases for a second to hear Rose's name. It'll be, apparently, heart breaking for him if Arthur really loves Rose because that way they'll be in love with the same girl. A Prince versus a commoner, an unfair competition, isn't it?

Adrian continues, "Roseanne Ambrose. You love her, right?"

Arthur : "Yes, I do. So what?"

Leo's worst nightmare comes true. The guy who spreaded love and saved friends loses his girl to the Prince. But, silence has to be the only response apt at the moment when Prince Adrian and Prince Arthur, the brothers, are face to face after a very long time. Leo keeps silence, hiding the pain of his first ever heartbreak. He looks down, shuts his wet eyes and reminisces the day when  Prince Adrian, his best friend knocked the door in the ask of help.

A flashback runs through his mind as he sees himself, fourteen years of age, reading a book in his room when his mother steps in saying, "A boy just came by, says he's your friend." 

A sense of realisation strikes his facial expressions however he denies saying, "I don't have any friends. Tell him to leave."

The mother smiles gracefully and walks to her son. She says, "Darling, I know as a friend you must be mad at him for his misdeed. But, he needs you. In the world of unknown faces, save your friend before he gets lost. Offer him your hand."

Leo's eyes fill with tears but he kept silent. The mother stood up saying, "Son, he must've had his reasons. Forgive him before it's too late. Because, regrets don't bring back the lost friend." She leaves, without shutting the door to imply the advice to her son that the righteous act would be to step out.

Leo chooses to obey his mother and steps out of his room. He goes downstairs, to the living room, wherein he sees his friend, Adrian o' Prince Adrian sitting, with a mask on his face and a black veil to hide his face. 

Says the mother, "Leo, I'm going out. Take good care of your friend." She smiles at Adrian and leaves. 

Leo : "What do you want?"

Adrian : "I'm sorry Leo. I broke the promise."

Leo looks into his friend's teary eyes and traces the truth in his voice. He says, "Why did you run away? You were the only one who could save the Ambrose family. The daughter is left alone now. She has no one. The baby died."

Adrian says looking down, in a crying tone, "I know everything, Leo. It all keeps repeating over and over inside my head."

Leo : "It will keep repeating till the very end of your life. It's a sin, Adrian. A sin."

Adrian : "But it was necessary so that noone in the future gets to face such brutal acts by the King of Haynes."

Leo: "You address your father like that now?"

Adrian : "I hate that man, Leo. I hate my father. I hate him so much that I want to put an end to the whole Haynes kingdom."

Leo : "WHAT? Are you out of your mind? Prince Arthur will take your place. Do you think King Haynes would let go of his kingdom just like that?"

Adrian: "NO! Hear me out!"

Adrian explains his plan, "Father sweared on Lord and pledged that I, his younger son, will be the King of Haynes Kingdom. So, Arthur can never take over the throne. Now, by the time Father dies, I'll help the enemy kings to take over the Haynes Kingdom. The End."

Leo : "And where will you hide and for how long?"

Adrian says after a brief pause, "That's why I'm here. I need your help."

Leo nods agreeing to help his friend. Adrian says, "I want your identity." With a confused expression Leo looks at his friend.

Adrian continues, "Your identity, your face, your home, everything."

Leo: "What do you mean?"

Adrian swings his wand around his head and then subsequently over Leo's head when with an eye blinding flash of light strikes and as it goes away, they look at themselves transformed into each other. 

"Now , go away for your friend, ", says Adrian who now has Leo's appearance, he continues, "and live a life like a fictional character."

Leo, with the appearance of the good looking Prince asks, "But, what if Arthur comes searching for you and lands in front of me. How will I face him?"

Adrian : "For your protection, I have transferred to you my magical powers as well. You'll know the spells on your own whenever you'll need them. About Arthur, you don't have to worry."

Leo : "You're telling me not to be scared of Arthur, the most powerful wizard out of all the sorcerers."

Adrian:  "His powers are worthless until he sees me dead."

Leo : "Dead?"

Adrian : "Arthur is cursed to be face blind. He can't recognise me. The curse will come to an end after my death which is destined to happen in front of his eyes."

*Leo comes to reality/present*

He looks up at Adrian and Arthur facing each other while Arthur struggles to take a clearer view at his brother's face. 

Out of sudden, in the speed of light, flies a dagger and hits Adrian's back. Arthur watches his brother falling down. He instantly kneels down to hold him and takes the dagger out of his bleeding back when Adrian feels exploding pain. He and Leo look around to see who the attacker was, however they find noone.

"I guess... the curse is about to end, brother.", says Adrian lying on his older brother's arm. Arthur starts panicking and tries to remember the curing magic spells when he realises that his powers won't work until he gets his vision back.

Adrian says, "Don't panic, Arthur. I have to go."

Arthur keeps crying aloud as if he shared his brother's pain. Meanwhile, the most helpless person, Leo, steps nearer to his best friend who was bleeding immensely.

Leo kneels down next to Adrian to ask, "Why didn't you to tell me this part of your plan? Why didn't you tell me that today is the day when you'd leave ..me." Leo breaks down in tears.

Adrian moves his hand covered in blood all the way up to Leo's head to caress and comfort him. Leo, as soon as, feels Adrian's warm hand's touch, he holds it tight when with a light smile, says Adrian, "Don't get too attached, my friend. The warmness won't last long." 

Leo looks into Adrian's eyes as he just implied with his words that his death is near.

Adrian shuts his eyes for a moment and opens them at Arthur, "Arthur, one last promise. Please don't break this one."

Arthur, while crying, replies, "I won't break any promises, brother. But, don't leave me."

Adrian : "Promise me. You will confess your feelings to Roseanne."

Arthur nods while shedding tears until Adrian continues, "even if she turns out to be the killer of your brother. "

Arthur's eyes widen in shock. Anger glared through his eyes. 

Adrian : "Arthur, she lost everything because of me. Now, be kind to her, for me. Give her all the love that she longed for."

Arthur:  "That girl killed my brother. You ask me to love her?!"

Adrian : "Please Arthur. I deserved this after all the misdeeds. Arthur, even after I die, I promise you'll find my presence around. My soul will be a shield to you and Rose. Promise me, you'll stay with her."

It's, as if ,Arthur's denying face that builds on the chronic pain in Adrian's back. Adrian screams aloud in pain and cries, "Arthur, it's my last wish. I've done so wrong with Roseanne. Your love will maybe lighten her pain caused by my wrongful acts. Promise, Arthur."

The melancholic moment ceases for a second with an intrusive but familiar voice. "Disgusting.", says Rose standing at the doorstep leaning her shoulder against the door edge. 

The three boys, with wet eyes, look up startled and angered while Tristan opens his heavy eyes slowly, putting his arm strength to get up. "Did I faint?", he asks catching Rose's eyes.

Rose takes no time to rush towards her best friend's brother. She asks him with concern, "Are you okay?" 

Tristan replies, "Yes. Don't worry. I am fine." Rose helps him stand up when out of anger speaks Leo, "I'd throw this dagger right at her, if I could."

Rose rolls her eyes and turns around to face the three boys. Glaring into Leo's wet eyes, she replies, "It's not a cup of tea dear, to kill me." She continues after a sigh, "I hope you remember that with Adrian's appearance have you lost his sorcerer powers as well. Put an end to the method acting you've been doing all this while." She walks to him, kneels down to speak right at his face, "Also there's a secret that no one knows except me and Goddess Atlas. So, keep your ignorant-little-self shut." 

She looks at Arthur whose eyes have no anger but sadness, "You really enjoy games on secrets, don't you? Well, this secret is no less than a shock for you. Stand by for a while." 

As soon as Rose's eyes move to Adrian, Arthur unconsciously looks at his brother too when he finds out with a skipped breath, that his brother is fearfully stock-stiff with his eyes closed. He keeps checking if Adrians's breathing.

Arthur's panicking movements draw Leo's eyes which widen with the sad shock. They start sweating with heavy breathes and start crying realising that Adrian's heart has stopped beating. The Prince is dead.

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Word count : 2860

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