The betrayal's price- the story of Zara and Lyra's friendship

Chapter Three: The Chains of Friendship

Zara awoke in the cold embrace of the Witch's Wood, her mind still clouded by the aftermath of her first victory. The sky above was a bruised purple, as if the very heavens mourned the path she had chosen. She lay still for a moment, her breath steady, but a deep, gnawing discomfort gnawed at her thoughts.

The rebellion had been quick—brutal, even. Zara had never imagined herself capable of such cruelty. But Lyra's magic had unlocked a part of her that had always remained dormant. She had tasted the rush of power, and now it was as if nothing could satisfy her hunger for more. Yet, beneath the fire that burned in her veins, there lingered a strange emptiness.

But before she could process the feeling, a soft voice broke through her thoughts, laced with an edge of command.

"Get up, Zara."

Zara blinked, sitting up quickly to find Lyra standing over her, her eyes glowing with an almost unnatural intensity. The witch's presence was as overwhelming as always—her black cloak billowing in the wind, her pale face shadowed by the trees that whispered secrets of their own.

"I've given you everything you wanted," Lyra continued, her voice low and smooth. "Power, freedom, the kingdom you long for. And you've begun to take what's yours. But that's only the beginning."

Zara rose to her feet, her pulse quickening. Lyra's gaze was penetrating, as though she could see every part of Zara, her every doubt and fear. It unsettled her, but there was something else, too. A need to please, to show Lyra that she was worthy of everything the witch had promised.

Lyra stepped closer, her fingers brushing lightly against Zara's arm. "But there is something I must ask of you, Zara. Something you have yet to fully give."

Zara raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

Lyra's smile was predatory. "Your loyalty. Your heart. And your friendship."

Zara's stomach tightened at the word. "Friendship?" She scoffed, stepping back. "I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to rule."

Lyra's expression hardened. She took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. "You misunderstand, my dear. I've given you more than power. I've given you a purpose, a reason to exist. And in return, you will be mine. Fully mine."

Zara felt an uncomfortable chill crawl up her spine. She opened her mouth to speak, but Lyra raised her hand, cutting her off.

"You're mine not just in body, but in soul," the witch continued. "When you chose me, you chose to stand beside me. That means you will never stand alone again. You will be my companion, my best friend, my equal. I will not be betrayed, Zara."

The words struck Zara like a whip. Her mind reeled as she tried to process the weight of them. She was no longer just Lyra's apprentice or a tool to be used for her own gain. No, this was something deeper, darker. She could feel it. The bond Lyra sought to weave around her would tie her in ways far beyond mere loyalty. This was a claim—an ownership of her heart, her mind, her very being.

"I don't need a friend," Zara said through gritted teeth, the defiance in her voice betraying her unease. She had never needed anyone, never relied on anyone except herself. She had always believed that power was a solitary pursuit. That being a leader meant standing apart from others, free of any emotional entanglements.

Lyra's smile turned into something darker, colder. "Oh, but you do, Zara. You'll learn that soon enough. Without me, you are nothing. I've shaped you, made you into what you are now. And I won't allow you to forget that."

Zara opened her mouth to argue, but Lyra held up a finger.

"You will be my friend. You will be the one who shares my secrets, who revels in my power, who stands beside me in every moment. You will not leave me behind, not now, not ever."

Zara tried to look away, but Lyra's gaze held her fast, as if some unseen force was pulling her into the depths of those glowing eyes. There was no escape. Zara could feel the weight of Lyra's command settling deep within her chest, pressing down on her like a stone.

She tried to shake it off, but the more she resisted, the stronger the pull became.

Lyra's voice softened, though the power behind it remained. "The bond between us is unbreakable. You wanted power, didn't you? Well, this is part of the price you must pay. The price for everything. You will be mine in every way, Zara, because no one can touch the kind of power I wield without paying the cost."

Zara swallowed hard. This was not what she had imagined when she had first come to Lyra. She had imagined a partnership of equals, two powerful forces working together to take what was theirs. But this—this felt different. It felt like a trap, one she could not escape, no matter how much she wanted to.

But Lyra's eyes, those glowing eyes, held her with such force that Zara felt powerless in the face of them. She had made her choice, and now she was bound to it. She had chosen Lyra for the promise of power. She had chosen her for a future of control, of destiny.

And now, Lyra was making her pay for it.

Days passed in a haze. Zara continued to grow stronger, her magic more potent with each passing day. But Lyra's influence over her deepened as well. The bond between them tightened, until it felt as though Zara's very soul was tethered to the witch's. She had been made Lyra's companion, her confidante, her best friend.

The word echoed in her mind, over and over again. Best friend.

The more Zara tried to push it away, the more it seemed to cling to her like a shadow. It was not the kind of friendship she had known. It was not the warm, comforting bond that she had shared with Ellie. It was not the quiet understanding she had once felt in her father's presence. This was something else entirely—something twisted, something that consumed her from within.

But no matter how she tried to fight it, she knew the truth. There was no turning back. Lyra had made sure of that.

Zara was no longer a princess of Oryn. She was a witch's companion. And she would be forever by Lyra's side.