Bound by blood & Ink

Beneath the moonlit sky

Alex drifted into a deep sleep, her mind pulling her into a dream unlike any she'd ever had before. At first, she felt as though she was soaring, her body weightless, the world rushing past her. When she looked down, she saw the glimmer of ancient Roman temples and pristine stone buildings, glowing faintly under the moonlight. It was breathtakingly vivid, as though the city had just been built. Torches flickered across courtyards, casting long shadows that stretched across the flawless architecture.

Her perspective shifted, and she realized she was no longer herself—she was a bird, flying over the city. The sensation was exhilarating, her sharp eyes catching every detail of the bustling streets below. But then, the bird landed atop a fountain in a grand courtyard. The moment her claws gripped the edge of the stone, unease crept into her chest.

From her perch, she noticed figures darting silently through one of the buildings. A chill ran through her, the kind she felt when something was about to go wrong—like the moments before her father would erupt in anger. Suddenly, a man's scream tore through the night, filled with pain and terror.

Alex's perspective shifted again. She was no longer a bird but a spider clinging to the corner of a dimly lit wall. From this new angle, she spotted a young woman in the room below. It was the girl from the story—Alex was sure of it. The girl's face was obscured, but her presence felt familiar.

"Father?" the girl called out, her voice trembling.

There was a clatter outside, followed by distant shouts. The girl rose from her bed, her concern evident as she called out again, louder this time. "Father?"

Before she could move further, Alex saw two dark figures scaling the balcony outside the girl's open door. Panic gripped her as she watched the intruders slip silently into the room. Alex wanted to scream, to warn the girl, but her voice refused to come. She tried to move, but her body was frozen, powerless to intervene.

The two figures pounced, grabbing the girl from behind. One clamped a cloth over her mouth while the other pulled a bag over her head. Alex's vision blacked out at the same moment the girl's did.

But Alex could still feel. She felt herself being hoisted over someone's shoulder. She felt the night air, cool against her skin. She heard muffled cries, the clang of metal, and the shouts of alarm fading as she was carried farther and farther away. Then everything fell silent, and Alex's senses dissolved into nothingness.

A moment later, she was flying again. The familiar rush of wind surrounded her as she soared above the city, her sharp eyes scanning the streets below. It took her a moment to understand what she was seeing. A group of cloaked figures on horseback galloped through the city, weaving through the torch-lit streets. One of the horses carried the girl, bound and slumped across its back.

Behind them, a group of knights pursued. At their head was a striking woman with short blond hair and silver armor. She shouted commands, but Alex couldn't make out the words. In her hand, the woman held a golden spear. She hurled it with precision, striking one of the fleeing horses and sending it crashing to the ground.

The chase continued, spilling out of the city and into open fields of corn and tall grass. The kidnappers split up, taking different routes through the countryside. The knights followed, but the man carrying the girl veered into a dense, forest. Alex followed him, her bird's eye view catching glimpses of vibrant flowers and trees with glowing blossoms.

The man rode to a crumbling temple hidden within the forest. He dismounted, carrying the girl's limp body into the ruins. Alex landed in a tree nearby, her sharp vision allowing her to see and hear everything.

Inside the temple, the man laid the girl on the cold stone floor. Moments later, two others arrived, their faces tense and panicked.

"We need to do it now before they catch us," one of them urged.

"Quiet!" the man snapped. "We wait for the boss. You know that."

A dark shadow emerged from beneath the trees, sending a shiver through Alex's feathers. The three men drew their swords, clearly startled, but they relaxed when they recognized the figure.

The "boss" stepped forward, cloaked in fur that gleamed in the moonlight. Their face was hidden, their presence commanding. Without speaking, they waved a hand, silencing the others. The boss moved toward the girl, examining her briefly before turning to the altar at the center of the temple.

The boss placed offerings on the altar—coins, trinkets, and what looked like a vial of blood. They whispered words Alex couldn't understand. Then the boss drew a magnificent scimitar, its blade gleaming in the dim light.

Alex's heart pounded as she watched the figure smear a dark substance on the blade. When they raised the weapon high above the girl, Alex realized too late what was about to happen. The scimitar came down in one swift motion.

She heard the blade strike.

Alex screamed, but once again, no sound came. Her vision blurred, the scene fading into whiteness.

For a brief moment, she felt at peace. She floated in the stillness, weightless, as if cradled by a cloud. But then, sounds began to filter in—voices, footsteps, and the clatter of metal.

"Over here!" a voice called out, closer now. "I found her!"

Alex felt hands on her neck, checking for a pulse.

"She's alive!"

Alex's senses slowly returned, her body still heavy and her mind fogged by the remnants of the vision. She struggled to open her eyes, the brightness blinding at first, making her squint against the harsh sunlight streaming down.

The blurry shapes above her began to sharpen as her vision adjusted. A young man's face came into focus, his features etched with concern. "Ma'am, can you hear me?" he asked softly, his voice calm but urgent.

Alex blinked, trying to make sense of his presence, but before she could respond, another figure stepped into view—the familiar face of the woman knight from her dream. Her silver armor glinted in the sunlight as she leaned down, inspecting Alex with a mix of relief and authority.

"Quickly," the knight said, her voice firm but kind. "Let's get her back. The court needs to hear this."