When I stepped out of the room, the air changed. The hallway stretched endlessly, lined with black marble and silver candles that never seemed to burn out. Portraits hung along the walls, all of the same woman—Elaine. Each one older than the last, and in each, her eyes looked colder.
At the bottom of the stairs, I found her—sitting casually in front of a dinner table, meals spread out and sipping something from a silver goblet like she owned the world. Which, apparently, she might.
"You're late," she said, not even looking up.
"I didn't realize I was on a schedule," I shot back.
"You are now." She gestured lazily to the empty chair at the end of the table. "Sit."
I considered refusing—just to test how far this "bond" thing went—but something in her tone told me it wasn't a request. I sat, glaring at her across the meals.
I stared hard at the dining table. Now that my little display was over, the reality of everything came crashing hard on me.
The dark structures of this gloomy place certainly had an eerie vibe, adding to the already terrifying castle.
There were human servants around, keeping their heads low. I sighed, thinking of how I would soon be part of them.
I stared at my plate, looking at the supposedly delicious meal in front of me. I couldn't help but picture worms and all kinds of crawling things on it, causing me to lose appetite immediately. Not that I had any to begin with. My gaze drifted to the person I'd already begun to loathe on the other end of the table.
The evil sorceress—Elaine, ate with grace, seemingly not paying attention to my state. Each motion was precise, deliberate. Her calm made me uneasy. I watched her movements curiously. Not out of interest, but to make sure I'm not caught off guard when she eventually decides to exterminate me.
"You should eat," she said casually, not looking at me.
"Why? Is it poisoned?" I asked sarcastically and immediately regretted it. This sharp tongue of mine is what would definitely get me closer to death.
She chuckled slightly, but there was nothing amusing in it, "Trust me, there are far more interesting ways to kill someone than poison."
I shut my mouth and stared back at the food. Then I whispered, "It doesn't matter anyway. I don't think zombies eat food."
She paused mid-motion, then set aside her utensils with unnerving calm. She leaned back slightly, explaining, "Zombies," she began, her tone patient like a teacher correcting a child, "are half-dead creatures without intellect. You, on the other hand, still have both reasoning and clearly an irritating sense of sarcasm. So no—you're not half-dead."
"So what exactly I'm I?"
She said, after contemplating for a minute, "You're fully alive, just a little tethered to the other side, which isn't a problem. So eat, unless you prefer starvation."
After staring at her for a couple of minutes, I said to her, "I don't believe you."
"Suit yourself," she said absentmindedly, reaching for her fork.
"I don't believe you brought me back, because of my skills," I rephrased. I've been around a lot of liars to know when they aren't telling the truth.
She sat still, her fingers hovering over the fork for a moment before she picked it. A movement that might go easily unnoticed, but not under keen eyes.
"Believe it or not, I needed a spy. Teleporting from one region to another just to gather information is tedious, and I'm far too recognizable. I needed someone skilled, someone without the veins of magic. Easier to control." She said smoothly, almost as if practiced.
I bit my lip and didn't say anything else. She's clearly hiding something. I just have to find out what it is. My thoughts wondered back to what the chief said. He was right. She indeed appears to be beautiful, but heartless within.
"I want to go home," I suddenly said. I know, stupid right? Telling your capturer you wanted to leave.
Her laugh was sharp, humorless. "You mean your village? Do you honestly think they'd welcome you now that you're bound to me?"
I clutched the fork tightly, thinking of Isha, "Not everyone is as cold-hearted as you."
She looked at me, anger flashing through her eyes, with a hint of something else, "Fine, you want to go back? Suit yourself."
She stood up abruptly and turned, leaving the hall. The maids, seeing their mistress gone, quickly followed.
I sat there for a long moment, stunned. I hadn't actually expected that. I couldn't help but think I had just hit a nerve.
When it was clear she wasn't coming back, I took my chance. I ran.
I darted through corridors, ducking behind pillars and statues whenever I saw one of her grotesque gargoyle-like guards. Which was surprisingly easy? Either way, after what felt like an eternity of twists and hallways, I finally burst through the castle gates.
The air outside was warm and clean. I gulped it down, feeling my chest ache with relief. Maybe she'd meant it. Maybe she really didn't care.
So I ran.
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Eight hours later, I collapsed against a tree at the edge of Al'mera. My legs trembled, my lungs burned, but I couldn't stop smiling.
I was home.
Isha.
She was all I could think about. How she'd look when she saw me again—Sad? Maybe angry. Or perhaps. . .happy? She had to be. We'd been best friends for eleven years. Surely that meant something. The more I thought of this, the more excited I became.
Of course she would be happy.
I pulled a hooded cloak over my head before stepping into the village. If people thought I was dead, I didn't want to send anyone into a panic.
With this new found hope, I stood up and walked out of the forest. But in order not to scare the villagers, I stole a cloak and draped it around me, covering my face. I don't really know if the news of my death has already spread, but I don't want to take any chances and scare someone into a panic. My steps carried me to the chief's residence—the biggest gate in the village.
Seeing the huge gate, I was somewhat relieved and terrified at the same time. There were two soldiers guarding it. Luckily, I knew who they were. I took a deep breath and walked towards them, wanting to reveal myself. But then the gate suddenly opened, accompanied by footsteps. I quickly hid behind the pillar.
". . .You don't even know the first thing about combat, you're not ready," I heard Chief Lucas say.
"I'll learn with the mages. She must pay for what she's done," came Isha's voice. Her tone was colder than I remembered.
He sighed heavily and turned to her, holding her shoulders, "I understand you're still hurting, but I can't lose you."
"This isn't about Kira, dad. Her death only made me realize how important my duty is. I need to protect the village, and destroy the evil sorceress for good," she spoke, her expression dark.
"She's not the only one," he reminded, "there are rumors that she has powerful servants aiding her."
"Then I will make sure all of them die in the most brutal way possible," she said, her voice low. For a moment I couldn't recognize her.
Lucas only smiled in satisfaction with a trace of sadness, "Alright, I was a little worried your grief would've made you weaker, but you proved me wrong. You've spoken like a true Dyani."
"Does this mean I get to train?" She asked in excitement.
"Yes," he said and she grinned. I watched them chatter and walked away.
I slid down the wall, the rough stone biting into my back as a dull ache spread through my chest. The kind that isn't physical—but still hurts like hell. She hates everything tied to the evil sorceress… which means including me.
Isha—my Isha—used to be the light in this miserable world. She wouldn't hurt a fly, always kind, always smiling. But now… I could see it in her eyes. That light was fading, replaced by anger, by grief. And it was all my fault.
Even if I stood before her now and told her I was alive, she wouldn't believe me. She'd think I was one of Elaine's tricks—some soulless copy sent to deceive her. No… if I go back, I'll only make things worse. I'll only put her in danger.
The thought cut deeper than any blade.
My gaze lingered on the spot where she had stood with her father, laughing—like nothing had changed. Like I'd never even existed.
Then, with a heavy heart and trembling hands, I turned away.
And for the first time since I woke up in that cursed castle… I finally understood what it meant to be truly alone.