Chapter 5

Mara couldn't see anything. She heard Adrian draw his sword. "Stay behind me." A shadow moved across the wall. Then a man stepped from the darkness. He wore a completely white mask. Unlike Adrian's golden mask, this one had no eyes. No mouth. Nothing. "Who are you?" Mara asked. The stranger laughed. "The person who knows what your brother did." Adrian attacked. Steel struck steel. Mara watched helplessly as the masked man fought the prince. Then the stranger suddenly turned toward her. "You want the truth?" Mara couldn't move. "Seven years ago, it wasn't the king and queen who were betrayed." He pointed at Adrian. "It was you." Adrian shouted, "Don't listen to him!" The stranger vanished into the darkness. Mara turned toward Adrian. "Is it true?" Adrian lowered his sword. "I never betrayed you." "Then why does everyone keep telling me that I should fear you?" Adrian looked at her sadly. "Because I made a promise to our mother." "What promise?" "To protect you..." He paused. "...even if you came to hate me."