Chapter 5:

Miyo’s eyes flew open and she sat straight up in the bed, her heart racing. Her eyes had to adjust to the dim light of the single candle in the room as she struggled to take everything in. She wiped the sweat from her face and looked down to see a heavy blanket covering her body. She unwrapped the blanket from her and stood up to walk over to the candle.
The instant her feet touched the floor she wished she had stayed wrapped in the blanket for the room was very cold. She saw her breath come in puffs in front of her face as she reached for the candle and brought it out before her. She tried looking around the room once more but could not see anything more than she had before.
Miyo walked back to the bed and put a hand against the wall, flinching at the intense cold running through her skin. Biting her lip she followed the wall until her hand brushed against some sort of soft material. Miyo moved it aside and blinked back at the bright sunlight, almost dropping the candle trying to shield her eyes. She dropped the material back in place, walked the candle back to the table, and returned to take the material down from what seemed like a window.
Looking out across the land she sighed and said quietly to herself, “So it wasn’t a dream after all.”
Miyo saw a guard walking sluggishly up a path, his head dropping every few seconds. A cold wind blew Miyo’s hair away from her face and she shrank away from the window. She hastily walked to the bed and wrapped the blanket around her. With the sunlight Miyo could now see the entire room. The blanket and the material that was hanging over the window were pure black, as well as the candle, which she noticed was about half way burned. The room itself was made of dark gray stones, much like the rest of the castle. The single door was very old and worn with a dull silver handle. Miyo walked over to the door and tried the handle only to find that it was locked.
She knocked twice and when no answer came she called, “Hello, is anyone there?” She waited for several minutes with no answer and knocked on the door again, “Hello!” she called.
Miyo sighed, her breath coming in a large burst in front of her. She walked back to the window and looked out, trying the see the guard again or someone else that might be able to help her but saw no one. She slumped on the bed wondering what she should do for she was scared that if she stayed in the room she would freeze to death. The morning sun was warming the room a little but not enough to really make a difference.
Her thoughts turned to the previous day when she could not control her body. Miyo brought her hand up to her face and stared at it, it did not look different but it felt different. She could not explain it but she felt some sort of energy flowing through her body. Her expression hardened as she concentrated on that energy and suddenly a black mass formed in her palm.
Miyo’s eyes grew wide as she stared at the mass in her hand and stated to herself, “What is this?”
She looked around the room and saw an inside wall that separated part of the room, rose from the bed, and threw the now black ball with all her strength. It flew across the room and slammed into the stones, creating a deep gash in the stones much like one in the courtyard.
Her hands covered her mouth; Miyo could not believe what she had just done. Her eyes moved to the door as a faint shimmer of anger rose within her. Miyo formed another ball in her hand and shot it at the door. It shattered into millions of pieces as the silver handle hit the stone floor with a clang.
As Miyo left the room with a slight smile on her face she felt a dull pain in both of her wrists. She stopped and looked at them noticing that they were both wrapped in a light gray piece of cloth and both had a light line of red across the middle. She touched the left one lightly and it immediately began to flair with pain. Miyo gasped and took her hand away as she remembered the cuffs that where put on her the previous day. She looked down at her knee and then her arm but saw no trace of those wounds.
Miyo shook her head confused and made her way carefully down the stairs. The air was growing warmer as she walked down and entered the main floor. She looked around but did not see anyone, but then again she did not want to see anyone. Miyo wanted to get as far away from the castle as possible. She began walking and soon found herself in front of another set of stairs. She walked past them but came back and ran up as two guards walked around the corner.
Miyo got to the second floor but it was littered with guards so she climbed up to the third floor. She found it strange that no one was around, but against her better judgment she stared walking down the hallway. Miyo passed a set of large wooden doors and stopped dead as she heard two guards talking further down the hall, growing closer with each passing second.
Without thinking she opened the large doors, entered, and carefully closed the doors behind her. She took several steps away from the door and held her breath. In two minutes the footsteps of the guards faded away. Miyo let her breath out as she turned away from the door. Her mouth dropped open as she gazed at the enormous library she was in.
There were eight large tables standing before Miyo, each piled high with books. Other than the books and tables the library seemed empty save for a rather large window that brightened the room in brilliant morning light. She walked to the window and looked out to see the courtyard. Four guards were walking though and a man, Alister, was sitting on one of the many stone benches.
Suddenly the door flew open and Abel stormed in and asked hastily, “What do you think you’re doing out and about?”
Miyo flinched as she replied, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
His expression softened a little as he questioned, “Who let you out?”
“What?” Miyo asked in confusion.
Abel sighed and asked again, “Who let you out of the room?”
Blushing Miyo replied, “Oh, I um…I’m sorry. I kind of broke the door and let myself out…and just…”
This time it was Abel who was confused, “What? But that’s…” Both where silent for some time before Abel took Miyo’s hand and began to lead her out of the library, “Well, come on then, I’ll take you back.”
Panicked Miyo stammered, “Wait, I don’t want to go back there.”
Abel looked back at her and sighed, “Alright, you must be hungry. I will take you to get something to eat while I talk to Prince Blake.”
At the mention of the prince’s name Miyo’s face grew hot as they walked to the door, Abel still holding on to her hand.
“Oh,” Miyo started, “how did you know where I was?”
Abel smiled and said, “Alister spotted you in the window.”
Just before they walked out of the door Miyo stated, “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked.
“For coming to get me and for being so kind.” she replied with a smile.
Abel blushed slightly as he closed the doors behind him. As they walked away a faint laughter filled the library.