Through the portal

XLIX

HOPE

Suddenly, the door slides open, revealing our hostage. Chained from hand and foot, the guards dragged him in like any other captive. Despite his regal attire, befitting a prince of Rune, he's a pitiful sight. Blood trickles down from his forehead and from the corner of his lip, staining his majestic garments.

He collapses to the ground, too battered to maintain his balance. The guards yanked him up roughly, forcing him into a chair. His head hung low, hands bound behind him. There is nothing to obscure his identity; he is utterly exposed and vulnerable before us. As the guards exit, he lifts his head and shake it, brushing his hair away from his face. He matched the file's description perfectly, just as I had seen him earlier in Zaffre.

With his face now fully uncovered, his indescribable beauty shines through, almost otherworldly in its allure. Yet, there is something about him that stirred a deep sense of familiarity within me. It's not that I know him; I had never seen him before, but his features bore a striking resemblance to someone else.

"Well, let's start this interrogation that can turn into a very stressful one or a very friendly one. I don't want to be too offensive, your majesty, so please cooperate with me, we may be able to get into an agreement." I say and Tarak just looks at him blankly, he seems like he has no interest in what we're doing. "What's your name?" I ask.

"Didn't you read the file?" He ask just as I excited, with an annoyed and bored tone.

"I told you I wanted to be friendly. Let's get to know each other." I say looking at him into his eyes.

I know my rest face is not friendly and my tone of voice either, but trust me I'm trying my best.

"Let's be friendly then." He said and smiles falsely. "My name is Crown Prince Tarak Hylite Opal, and you are?" He says and looks at me askance.

"Lieutenant Hope Teal, and I'm Lieutenant Tracy Green." Tracy says.

"I know you. I'll call you Trista." He says looking at Tracy.

Tracy tensed up and suddenly Prince Tarak started laughing like crazy out of nowhere.

"You are very expressive you know." He says looking at Tracy.

Tracy gets serious and slams his hand on the table.

"I thought you wanted to have a friendly chat." Prince Tarak says looking at me.

"Hope."Tracy says trying to take my arm but I move my chair closer to the table.

"We have a deal for you." I start saying.

"I'm listening." He says looking at me relaxed.

"If you answer all our questions and confess without lying and beating around the bush we might get our hands a little dirty and you'll get out of this hell a little faster. It's up to you." I say.

"Can I think about it?" He asks and I nod.

"You have 5 nano seconds." I say putting the hourglass on the table.

"Are you serious?" He asks with eyes wide open.

"You have 3 nanoseconds left." I say and his expression changes to a more relaxed one.

"I have no choice anyway. Deal." He says and Tracy turn on his panel.

I smirk and the prince smirks at me, as I take the hourglass hologram in my hand; and it is stored in the circle on my hand.

"Let's start then." Tracy says. "So... are you the heir to the throne?" Tracy asks.

Tracy let me do the job.