Chapter 18

Elena had faced quite a number of hardships while living in the palace as a step daughter, with no ounce of nobility in her blood. She had endured taunts, schemes and direct physical attacks thrown at her, which was one of the main reasons why she found comfort in her tower.

But, none of those compared to the impossible task set before her by the ruthless demon king. Elena could tell that if she really didn't produce any results then her life might be in actual danger.

"My original plan was to ride on his patience for as long as possible, while gathering enough information about the barrier he set up." She mused to herself, pacing about the room with heavy chains slowing her movements.

"As long as he believed I was the witch he sought after, my life wouldn't be treated like this. But now..." Elena placed a lid on her thoughts and stared at the plant in a flower pot.

She glanced at both her palms then took a deep breath to rethink her next move. "A witch? Is that even possible?" The princess didn't know when exactly she had started to consider the idea.

But ever since her abductor had told her who she was, or rather, who he believed she was. She had subconsciously been considering the possiblity that perhaps...

"I won't know for certain myself until I give it one try." She concluded at last, taking a stance in front of the plant, her chains sprawled across the table.

Elena reached out to the plant and gently brushed it's dried up petals with her fingertips, unsure of what she was hoping to achieve. It wasn't as though there was any one around to teach her anything.

Or was there? She thought, pulling her lips back into a grin.

************

Elena scrunched her nose at the strong scent of herbs being mashed together and brewed underneath a blue flame. Her insides curled at the sight of fresh animal intestines still dripping with blood.

She had never tried to explore the fortress before, but when faced with this huge dilemma, Elena knew not to sit and pout but to take action.

"You needn't come mistress, we could have had Remmy sent to your chamber." Jareth calmly explained, standing on Elena's right hand side, holding her chains in his arms.

"Nonsense! It's only right that the mistress establishes dominance! That wench won't know what hit her." His twin sharply interjected into the conversation, smirking at the thought.

At this point, Elena was faced with one option, which was to solicit for guidance from the only person she believed was knowledgeable enough.

"Still... mistress you should rest more and leave the rest to us." Jareth tried to explain, his lips curled down in a worried frown.

Despite how freely these old men conversed with her, Elena knew all too well that their loyalty laid with their king. A fact she confirmed, when the butlers arrived at her room with only a change of clothes, not even a cup of tea was served.

Jairo went first into the main chamber where all the healers worked together, while Elena and Jairo sat outside, waiting for them.

"Cheer up, just imagine how happy the master will be once you can use your abilities." Jareth spoke, trying to make small talk.

"If anything, that's the one thing I wouldn't want." She mumbled under her breath, loud enough to be heard by the butler. His expression dampened at her words, but he was swift enough to force his usual cheerful smile unto his lips.

"The master isn't the kind of person you think he is...at least not on the surface." Jareth's voice softened at the latter end of the sentence, earning a slight gasp from Elena.

Just as she parted her lips to ask what Jareth could possibly mean, Remmy arrived at their table with her hands folded across her chest.

"I hope you're not here to assert dominance over me? Princess."

Elena felt her face freeze at the woman's bitter tone, there was only so much she could endure on a foreign land.

"I have a favor to ask of you, if it isn't too much trouble." Elena replied, forcing each word out of her mouth with a polite smile.

Remmy's face lit up with excitement over the sudden change of events, she pulled herself a chair and sat on it, eagerness drawn all across her face.

"I am a busy woman, but I can spare some seconds to lend an ear to a damsel in distress." She said in a mocking tone, staring directly at the collar wrapped around her neck.

Jareth and his twin exchanged glances with each other, contemplating whether or not to interfere with the conversation. They feared Elena whose neck was wrapped around a collar would lose face in the presence of the king's bedwarmer.

"I see, I won't waste much of both our time." The princess replied, showing off how used she was to relating with crude guests with loose tongues.

"Do you know of any way to revive a dead plant? Any form of information would be useful." She wasted to time to say, laying her cards on the table.

Remmy raised a brow at her, then quietly stood up to take her leave, without giving a proper response to Elena.

A reaction Elena predicted might happen.

"I do not wish to be here any more than you do, I promise that if you lend me a hand, I'll escape this country and return home. You will never have to lay eyes on me again." The princess announced in a loud voice, catching everyone present, off their guard.

Both butlers who were of the impression that Elena had long given up on trying to escape where left speechless at just how persistent she was.

Remmy stopped in her tracks, then flung her head over her shoulders, her hands resting on the brown ankle length skirt that started from her waist.

"It's not a lie that I dislike you princess, more than anyone I would love to run you out of Reeves myself." Remmy informed her, assuring Elena that she was indeed an enemy.

"However, there are some things that are impossible to do..." She took a pause and turned around, her piercing gaze locked on the perplexed princess.

"You can't bring the dead back to life." Remmy unequivocally spoke, her tone was nearly inaudible to Elena's ears.

After sinking her point in, she sharply turned around and headed back to the main healer chamber, without looking back at Elena, whose world had come crashing down once again.

*Two days after

The princess was no where close to reviving the dead plant, no to mention that word of Elena's clash with Remmy reached Alixandre's ears. In a fit of rage, he gave the order to prohibit his slave from leaving the tower without his consent.

She was also to have no visitors see her, the butlers and maids who worked at the bathhouse included. Which meant that for the past two days, Elena was left dirty, hungry and alone in the tallest tower.

Not even Alixandre himself had stepped foot into the tower to taunt, which was really saying something. The young princess grew paler and was horribly on the brink of giving in to death.

"At this rate...I really will die." Elena mumbled with what little strength she had left.

For the past two days, she had stared at that dead plant, and tried her hardest without taking breaks to revive it. But the longer she spent hungry, the thinner her patience became.

At this point, only a miracle would save her from death who was vigorously knocking on her door, demanding to be let it.

*Knock*

Elena jolted from her lying position at the sound of a soft knock at the tower door. It was the first knock in two days, a huge development for Elena, whether or not her company came baring good or bad news.

"Come in." She weakly said, struggling to sit up straight, her legs felt weaker which was why she resolved not to leave the bed.

The door parted open and in came a familiar pair of green eyes that Elena was certain she had seen before. However her attention wasn't focused solely on the august visitor, but also on what he had in his hands.

"Forgive me for delaying princess, it was hard to infiltrate this tower, but rest assured you are not alone." The rich masculine voice belonging to a well built man assured her, brandishing the loaves of bread he had in his possession.

He passed them on to Elena and flashed a gentle smile at her, "I heard of how cruelly you were being treated and could no longer hide in the shadows. Eat up and gain your energy." He told her, breaking the bread in half.

Elena's nose caught a whiff of the warm bread and her mouth watered after it, her stomach growled as her fingers grazed it's soft exterior.

But, before the princess could sink her teeth into it, she took a closer glance at the man and recognized him from some days back. She traced his face to the same man who had brought the maid's uniform for her to change into, her interest piqued.

"Who are you?" Elena questioned, now more than ever interested in his identity.

"I'm a knight from Valencia, sent under the order of the Queen, with one sole purpose. To save princess Elena and bring her home." He answered firmly with his hand to his heart, taking a bow before her.