Darkness clung to the room like a second skin. Rey lay on a cold stone bed, his limbs restrained by thick, rune-inscribed chains. His head throbbed with a dull ache as blurred memories rushed back—Fianna's cold words, Vladis's twisted smile, and the chilling realization of betrayal.
His eyes opened slowly. Across the room stood the bat-like woman, her wings folded neatly, her eyes glinting with interest. She watched him like a predator observing prey. Rey's heart pounded—not from fear, but from the dissonance between what he believed and what he now knew.
Before he could speak, the door creaked open.
Vladis Mortis entered with deliberate steps, his crimson eyes alight with twisted satisfaction. "Good morning, my treasure," he said smoothly, surveying Rey's restrained form. "Sleep well?"
Rey struggled against the chains. "Where is Fianna?"
"Ah, the question of the day." Vladis chuckled. "That girl… she played her role well, didn't she? A perfect performance of innocence and affection. But don't blame her. Slaves follow orders."
Rey's jaw clenched. The weight of those words crushed whatever hope he had been holding onto.
Vladis stepped closer. "I told you, didn't I? You're no mere wanderer. You're a key… no, you're a bridge to something greater. Your blood—human blood—is a legacy thought lost. But here you are… proof of legends."
Rey's voice came out hoarse but steady. "You're a monster."
Vladis smiled wider. "Yes. And monsters don't pretend to be anything else."
Rey turned his gaze away, but his heart burned. Not with fear—but with something sharper. Betrayal had planted a seed of wrath in him. He didn't cry. He didn't beg. Inside, he made a silent vow.
He would survive.
He would escape.
And he would make them all pay.
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