A Traveler's Curse

Chapter 37- Kidnapped

My consciousness slowly returns to me, as if emerging from a deep slumber. I blink against the darkness, finding myself confined in a cramped, grimy cell. Chains tightly bind my wrists, anchoring me to a massive wooden post at the center. Aches and pains throb through my body, making movement difficult. Gradually, my eyes adjust to the dimness, revealing the desolate emptiness that surrounds me. I am utterly alone.

Summoning my voice, I call out into the void, hoping to uncover the identity of my captor and the reason behind my abduction. The metallic clinks of my chains serve as a reminder of my powerless predicament.

A creaking door pierces the silence, as the soft glow of candlelight spills into the room, illuminating the figure standing outside the cage. A tall, stout man emerges, sporting a wild mane of curly red hair and a thick beard. He appears to be in his forties, dressed in armor and brandishing a sword. Two shadowy figures linger behind him, their features obscured from my view.

"Who are you?" I demand, my voice filled with both defiance and desperation. "Are you a Traveler?"

Laughter erupts from the man, sending shivers down my spine. "A Traveler? No, my dear. You are the only Traveler in this realm."

Confusion gnaws at my mind as I grapple with the revelation. "How did we end up here then? I felt it!" I insist, recalling the familiar sensation that accompanies my journeys through time.

The man's response is cryptic, revealing a truth that sends a chill down my spine. "I am a Teleporter," he explains, his voice laced with a hint of smugness. "I can traverse the world with ease."

My curiosity piques, and I press on, determined to uncover his identity. "Who are you?" I repeat, my voice laced with a mix of shock and disbelief.

A sly smile creeps across his face as he unsheathes his sword, examining it with a glint in his eyes. "Don't you know? I assumed you would, considering you initiated the war between the Frostbane twins and my family," he taunts.

A wave of realization washes over me, mingling with a surge of anger. I have been captured by none other than my own bloodline. My ancestor has orchestrated my abduction. The irony of the situation is not lost on me. "You are part of the Viena family?"

"Arthur Viena," he says proudly. "Now you ruin the element of surprise. I am supposed to storm the castle in secret, but I can't do that now, can I? You had to go and start the war a whole year earlier than planned!"

I yell at him, letting my anger get the best of me. "Maybe because you slaughter innocent people and Astralites! You're not fit to rule!"

He retorts, "And that boy is? You don't think he murders people? Children? Astralites? They call him The Blood King for a fucking reason. Don't be daft."

"He would never do that!" "I shout, defending Caspian. I know he has a bad reputation, but murdering innocent children? He wouldn't do that. I know he wouldn't.

"He yells back, enraged. "He killed my son, my eleven-year-old, in cold blood, out of anger!"

"You don't know your king as well as you think you do. You see my friend, Reynold?" He asks, pointing to the man on his left. "He is a Blood Bender. Do you know what that is, girl?"

Fear paralyzes me as I quietly reply, "Yes. They are used to torture people at the castle, to gain information."

"You are correct. And Tridon here is an Illusion Caster, do you know what that is?" He asks, glancing at the man to his right.

"It means he can make me see or feel anything he wants," I whisper, suddenly not feeling so tough. "You wouldn't torture your own family, would you? Your descendant?"

Arthur raises an eyebrow. "My descendant? Really? You betrayed your family, as far as I'm concerned, you're just a traitor. And you will tell us everything you know about our young king and his bitch of a sister."

"I refuse. I don't care what you subject me to, I will not comply," I firmly respond, my mind racing with thoughts of my dear friends and the innocent child of Celestia. I couldn't bear the thought of betraying them, exposing their vulnerabilities, or assisting in any surprise attack. They would have to kill me before I would even consider such actions.

To my surprise, Arthur's smile widens as if my response pleases him. "I was hoping for this," he remarks, beckoning a man named Reynold to approach. The man comes closer, standing just inches away from the confining cage.

Suddenly, an intense sensation seizes my head, as if my very blood is boiling and my body is engulfed in fire. The agony becomes excruciating, and I cannot help but emit a desperate scream, longing for the torment to cease. Eventually, it subsides momentarily, but in an instant, my surroundings shift drastically. No longer am I confined within the cage, bound to a post. Instead, I find myself within the familiar confines of my own chamber in Everbay Castle, cradling my precious newborn baby in my trembling arms.

Initially, a surge of joy floods my heart at the sight of my child. Yet, my euphoria is abruptly shattered when I glance upwards and witness Kieran ruthlessly stabbing Rowan, tearing his heart out, and tossing it onto the bed beside me. My desperate attempt to hold my baby tighter, shielding her from the impending horror, proves hopeless. I am rendered utterly powerless, unable to control my own body, forced to repeatedly relive the nightmarish memory. Kieran snatches Mavis from my grasp, surrendering her to a guard who ends her innocent cries with a single strike.

The nightmarish scene replays itself, each time with Mavis cradled in my arms and Kieran executing Rowan. And each time, my precious baby is handed over to the guard, only to be slain once more. The cycle repeats relentlessly, leaving me powerless to intervene. I am trapped within my own personal hell, subjected to a twisted and sadistic form of torture. What the fuck is wrong with these people?

Abruptly, I am violently yanked back to reality, finding myself once again bound to the unforgiving post within the cave. My entire body trembles uncontrollably as tears stream down my face, my cries of anguish echoing throughout the confined space, pleading desperately for the torment to cease.

Arthur's voice cuts through the air, offering a twisted proposition. "I can put an end to all of this. Just tell me the simplest route into the castle, the number of your allies, and any information you possess about Caspian. Trust me, he's far from being a noble individual. You don't need to endure torture to protect him."

My response is laced with defiance and determination, my words seething through clenched teeth. "Go fuck yourself," I retort, my contempt palpable as Arthur opens the cell door, slowly advancing toward me with his sword drawn.

He chuckles sadistically, taking a seat beside me as he firmly grasps one of my hands, still bound behind my back. With a cruel twist, he plunges the pointed tip of his blade deep into my palm. Agonizing screams escape my lips, the excruciating pain coursing through my entire being. Finally, he relents, ceasing the torment momentarily, and summons Reynold and Tridon to join him.

I close my eyes, bracing myself for the inevitable suffering, refusing to betray the people I hold dear. I am resolved to endure whatever pain they inflict upon me, for the safety and loyalty of those I care about surpasses any agony they can inflict upon my physical form. It's going to be a long fucking night.