Shadows Of Destiny

Chapter- VII

The Princess

I woke to the slow drip of water echoing off stone walls, the metallic taste of blood still on my lips. My body ached, the ropes around my wrists cutting deep into my skin, but it was nothing compared to the weight in my chest. Elana. I had to hold on, had to survive. She would come for me.

But would she make it in time?

The door creaked open, and I fought to lift my head. The woman from before entered, her presence as cold as the stone floor beneath me. She regarded me with a sneer, her gray eyes sharp with disdain. There was something about the way she moved—so deliberate, so calculating. She didn't just hate me. No, this was personal.

She hated Elana.

"Comfortable, Princess?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed.

I didn't respond. I refused to give her the satisfaction. Instead, I kept my gaze steady, my mind racing. Elana. I had to warn Elana. But how? The knot in my stomach twisted tighter at the thought of what these people planned to do to her. She would come for me—of that, I had no doubt—but they were expecting her. They wanted her.

Her smile disappeared, replaced by something darker. Her eyes glinted with malice as she straightened. "Your precious guard," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "You really think she'll come for you? You think she's strong enough to save you?"

I glared at her, my pulse quickening. "She will come for me. And when she does, you'll regret ever laying a hand on me."

The woman's face twisted into a sneer, and for a moment, I thought she might strike me. But instead, she laughed—a cold, bitter sound. "You really have no idea, do you? Elana may be brave, but she's reckless. She won't last."

The venom in her words surprised me. There was something personal about her hatred for Elana, something I couldn't quite grasp. But before I could say anything else, the man stepped forward, his shadow falling over me.

"You should listen to her," he said, his voice smooth but carrying a quiet threat. "Your guard can't save you from what's coming. No one can."

His presence sent a chill down my spine. Though I couldn't see his face, there was something disturbingly familiar about him—his posture, the way he spoke. But I couldn't place it. Not yet.

The woman shot him a look, her lips pressed into a thin line. "We've wasted enough time," she muttered. "The others are waiting."

The man gave a small nod and stepped back, allowing her to leave first. As she turned to go, her eyes flicked to mine for just a moment, and I saw something beneath the malice—something bitter and raw. But before I could figure it out, she was gone, the door slamming shut behind her.

I was alone with him now.

He didn't move right away, simply stood there, watching me in silence. I shifted uncomfortably, every instinct screaming at me to get away, but the ropes held me in place.

"You must be wondering why you're still alive," he said softly, breaking the silence.

I didn't answer. I didn't trust my voice.

"I'm not without mercy, Princess," he continued, his tone deceptively calm. "As long as you cooperate, you won't be harmed... any further."

My mind flashed to Elana again, and I forced myself to meet his gaze, or at least where I assumed his eyes were beneath the hood. "You're using me to get to her," I said, my voice flat. "But why? Why do you want her?"

The man chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "That's not for you to worry about. You'll find out soon enough."

I clenched my fists, frustration and fear warring within me. "You won't win," I said quietly, my voice laced with defiance. "Elana will come for me, and when she does—"

"When she does," he interrupted, his voice darkening, "we'll be ready. And she won't stand a chance."

I wanted to scream, to fight, but the restraints dug into my skin, a harsh reminder of my helplessness. The man leaned closer, his presence oppressive.

"You don't even know who I am, do you?" he whispered, his breath hot against my ear.

I turned my head away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. But his words clung to me, unsettling and cryptic. Who was he? Why did he hate Elana so much? And why was I at the center of this cruel game?

The man stood up, his cloak rustling as he moved away. "Get some rest, Princess," he said over his shoulder, his voice cold and distant. "You'll need your strength for what's to come."

As the door closed behind him, I exhaled a shaky breath, my body trembling. My mind was racing, trying to make sense of it all, but the one thing that kept me going was the thought of Elana.

She was out there. She would come for me.

And when she did, I would be ready.