The Witch He Loved

Chapter 57

I wake to a dull thumping sensation in my skull and remember what had happened. I try to open my eyes but there is a piece of fabric pressed across them so all I can see is darkness. 

I take note of my body, I'm sat in a wooden chair, given how uncomfortable it feels my ankles are tied to the legs. My arms are cuffed behind me and it feels like there is a chain keeping my back against the chest. 

Why is it always a chair? 

I reach for my power, more than ready to be done with whatever this is but my blood runs cold. I can't feel it, not even a drop of it below the surface. I shake my head to try and clear the headache but it doesn't help. I try to reach out with my mind, to use my third eye, to shift, anything. Nothing happens, not even a glimmer of my power. 

"Oh look, our princess is awake!" An excited female voice says. 

"What have you done to me?" I demand, my wrists tugging at the cuffs behind me. 

She cackles as a set of steps come closer to me. 

"The little princess can't do anything without her magic! How delightful." 

The blindfold is tugged roughly from my head and I hiss as light hits my eyes. 

"Calm yourself daughter." A male voice says from in front of me, I blink my eyes trying to clear the spots. I squint up as his shadow covers me, his grin is wide and his eyes look wild. 

"Ivar?" I breath out. "No, this can't be right..." 

He steps away from me and I flick my eyes around the room. It's almost like a basement, the room is made from stone, there is a single hanging torch on each wall but it's just enough in this small space. There isn't much in the way of furniture, just a table, which has Liv sat atop it and my chair from what I can see.

"Oh I'm sorry dear, we're you worried about me?" He chuckles.

"We've been trying to find you. Both of you."

"Oh I'm well aware. You see, you're not the only one with little spies."

He had know Huginn had been watching him? How? The ravens may have made a lot of noise sometimes but they were silent when they needed to be. 

"The attack, that was you? Why would you do that after helping them?" I try to shift my body to get more comfortable but I only move an inch.

The only way I'm getting out of this is if they move me or if someone finds me, I still wore Loki's bracelet all I need to do is press it and call for him. I try to wiggle my fingers between one of the cuffs as we talk but it's tight against my skin, I keep trying anyway. 

"Of course it was me. They helped bring a panic into those dull meetings and it aided in you all thinking I was taken. Foolish really." 

"They were people! How can you not care about how many lives you took?" I shout at him, I can't believe this is who he really was. He grips my chin tightly and leans his face close to mine, I stop moving my fingers. 

"They were nothing!" He shoves my face and straightens so he's towering above me. "Just as you are nothing now." 

"What have you done to me?" I ask again, looking up at him. 

"Oh you mean your magic?" He taunts like I'm a child who's had their toy taken away. "The cuffs you are wearing were made just for you. I hope you like them, Liv worked hard on spelling them." 

I frown in confusion but he continues. 

"I thought you were smart?" He laughs as he walks over to her, putting a hand on her cheek lovingly. "My wonderful daughter has had the best upbringing money can afford, she was to be married to your Prince, even learned magic to try and catch his eye."