Jackie Salvatore

Meanwhile Jackie was still being held captive by this meeting. The women in front of him, a princess of a distant kingdom, sat with a kind smile. She was beautiful, Jackie won’t deny that, but that didn’t stop him from wishing he was somewhere else right now.

Now they were making him ask questions.

“Always happy to help.. And remember,” Rowan opens the door to let Danny out. “It stays between us.”

He let out a small laugh, a little condescending. “No offense, but I don’t need anything from you. You have nothing I want or need.” Rowan snaps his fingers in front of Danny’s eyes.

Rowan backs off. “Go take a look.” He pointed at a mirror that definitely wasn’t there before.

“I will fix your scars.” Rowan gets up, walking over to Danny. “I do this and you go about whatever you want. Perhaps find your prince after his meeting.” He touches the side of Danny’s head, sliding his hand over the mask.

“Do not tell him of this no matter what. We aren’t on the best of terms”

“Ah yes..freedom from the pain they brought you. Freedom to be you. Can go out and talk to everyone again. Don’t need to be the boy who was scarred beyond recognition.” Rowan sits across from Danny.

“The prince is supposed to find his future wife today. I reckon it’ll be rather interesting.”

“Ah yes the prince and his constant fight for good. Don’t worry, he wasn’t going to turn you away regardless. That’s set in stone.” Rowan looks through the pages of his book before scoffing and tossing it.

“So you want to rid of your scars. Then what? What do you want to get from that?”

Rowan grins. “Oh we’re going this route.” He walks around Danny and takes a book from his shelf. “There are times where you did wish for your mother. Resurrection is taxing on the soul.”

“But to heal what’s been broken..” He opens his book. “You believe you can’t walk freely now?”

“I have a series of ideas.” Rowan blows the smoke into the direction of the starry ceiling. A few stars shine brighter than others. “But I always like hearing from the person themselves. See how they try to make a valid argument for their wants to be met.”

“So tell me Danny. What do you want?”

Rowan fills a cup, and passes it over to Danny. He pulls his hood back, plucking a strand of hair. He tosses it into one of the many candles and watches sparks go out. The smoke circles around.

“I have visions of everyone that holds some significances to our kingdom. You were bound to come here.”

“Oh hush, you have time to talk. Your prince is busy anyways.” Rowan flicks his hand. A gentle force brings over a chair and pushes Danny to sit. “Tea?” He asks, walking over to his desk with a little tea tray.

Layered clothing of sorts. His hair golden blond, eyes a piercing blue, skin fare and litters with freckles. He holds himself up with confidence and emits this aura of wisdom. “We’ve been waiting. In fact I was starting to question my visions if you were ever going to show up in the first place.”

The door shuts behind him with a jingle. “Danny Johnson, so nice of you to finally join us.” A composed yet enthusiastic voice is heard from behind.

There stood the witch, Rowan. Hung around his arms was this blue violet mesh with stars that seemed to move around it you looked hard enough.

A strong force seems to push to walk faster. Once he reaches the top, a door would open into a room. Inside it was just about as witchy and magical it gets. Herbs, plants, books, bottles with stuff inside, and up on the ceiling looked like the night sky.

Is this place even real?

The further Danny goes the quieter it gets. It’s like a part of the castle is frozen in time. No one is around other than himself. A torch on the wall suddenly lights up with a flicker of fire. Then another and so forth until it reached the end of the hall.

A set of stairs now revealed.

“Good luck then!~” The maid waves with a final giggle. She pulls her friend along, whispering to her. This definitely made their day.

“Some say in the far towers, others think near the dungeons. You can start your search at the towers though. Closer to the stars and moon. Try not to get cursed, would be a shame to lose a handsome man.”

The maid looks to the other. “I personally don’t know any secrets of the prince, but..” She lowers her voice to a whisper, “I hear there is a witch in these parts. Tucked away in the castle. No one really sees him, but others claim they’re real.”

“Already catching his eye are you? Not even the prince can resist a good looking man. Perhaps that’s why he kept you secret! Keeping you to himself!” She grins, mainly joking somewhat.

“Goodness I wish!“ She sighs dreamily. “I’d love to get out of this role and be taken care of. I once dropped a whole tray of food in front of him. I thought I would be beheaded right then and there! Oh..but he got down and cleaned up the mess for me, saying it was okay. He looks out for us.”

The maid covers her face, flattered. “How lucky of us then. It’s not like him to let his secrets get out much. He’s a quiet, lonely ruler, avoiding most advances. Why he hasn’t found a queen yet.” She sighs, “Such a shame. Charming fellow too.”

One of the other maids was watching from behind the corner. She giggles and runs up to her friend, linking arms. “Look at him. Much taller too! Where did the prince manage to find you? You must be special if he tried to hide you. Usually we’re told about new guards.”

Apparently word travels quick throughout the castle, especially amongst the servants and maids. Whispers would go about this new guard. Some suspicious, others curious for different reasons.

Who doesn’t love a secret masked man who appears out of nowhere and is now a personal guard to the prince?

Jackie sighs. He looks at a bench near the forest just for a second before turning away and entering the castle.

Some stressed out servant finds Jackie and rushes over. “There you are! You’re late, we need to get you to the meeting hall now!”

“Yeah yeah I’m going..” He lets himself be led away.

Jackie turns his head to look back at Danny. “Of course I’m sure. You have to learn your way around the castle and the grounds. I can’t hold your hand everywhere.” A little harsh on the tone, but he was stressed as always.

Jackie sighs, “It’ll just be until my meeting is over.”

The crunching of snow beneath his boots, the chilled wind, and creaking branches, it brings a sense of ease to his mind.

Jackie rose early in the morning to take a walk around the garden. To think and escape expectations for just a second. He takes a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs.

“Mhm.. Rest well.” Jackie gets into bed. He doesn’t bother turning the lamp off. He liked having some form of light on…it’s comforting.

Jackie tilts his head. He looks back to his bed and grabs one of the many pillows and blankets. He dumps it all on top of Danny.

Jackie turns to look at Danny with his tired eyes. “Do you need anything before I lay down?”

Jackie nods, accepting Danny’s answer. He enters the bedroom and begins to rid of his layers of clothes until he’s just in a shirt and pants. “Whoever decided layered outfits were the way to go should perish.”

Jackie shuts the curtains . The lamp at his bedside casting a faint glow.

“You will not be sleeping while standing up. I have a perfectly fine couch that you got blood on earlier. If you don’t like it you can just sleep in my bed and I’ll take the couch.” He walks out of the library.