Catching Fireflies

Chapter Three

Ariadna had enough sense to know that panicking killed kidnapped victims. Refusing to accept that as her fate, she swallowed her cries and forced herself to calm down. If the men stayed on the island, then she'd have the upper hand. At a young age, Ariadna had made it her mission to know every inch of Almoena. She knew where the densest forests were to where the sandiest beaches met water.

It seemed like hours before the van slowed to a stop and the men got out, leaving her momentarily alone. She couldn't see where they were yet, but she could hear men shouting, the pounding of footsteps as the neared the van, the creaking of the back door as it was yanked open. The cool wind bit at her exposed flesh, and it took everything in her to keep from crying again.

"Out you go," a new voice ordered. She felt a rough hand clasp her wrist tightly before she was yanked out of the van. Stumbling over her bare feet, Ariadna's face met what she assumed to be another man's chest.

"Wait until she's inside to take the blindfold off," someone ordered.

"I know that, idiot."

It took some effort on her part to keep up with there man whose long strides doubled her own. Without vision, walking became increasingly difficult. A few seconds later, her feel left soft grass as it was replaced by a cold, damp stone floor. She heard the echo of more footsteps leading her farther into what she assumed to be a cave. The temperature dropped drastically. When the blindfold was suddenly ripped from her eyes, it took her a moment before she could see the five men surrounding her and the barren cavern she now stood in. Another wave of fear set in.

"Welcome home, Princess," a new voice said from behind her. Ariadna turned around, coming face to face with a man she'd only ever seen in pictures. A smirk stretched across his lips as she stared at him with wide eyes.

"You...you're..."

His grin widened. "You aren't scared are you?"

"But how?" Ariadna whispered.

Emanuel Donafrio was standing before her in a crisp black suit. His dark hair and deep blue eyes reminded her so much of her mother. She never saw their resemblance in the pictures she'd seen back home, but in person she did.

Taking a step closer to her, he said, "Your stupid father let me go. Yes, I let your family believe that I was gone, but here I am. Surprised?" Ariadna tried to turn away from his intense gaze but he quickly pulled her against his chest in a hug. "You are more beautiful than my own Daniella."

Ariadna felt like she was going to be sick. "Get off of me!" She cried, silent tears falling down her cheeks.

Emanuel held her at arms length. "Don't you want to greet your grandfather?" Ariadna shuddered at the thought of being related to him. "No, I don't fancy being called that either, especially since you will soon be my wife."

Ariadna froze. "What?"

"You see, little one, your father took everything I ever loved away from me. My kingdom, my power, my daughter—"

She became furious. "You never loved my mother."

Emanuel grinned. "No, not as a daughter. She was far too lovely for that. At first when your father banished me from Almoena, I wanted to come back and slaughter those who had turned against me. Then a little bird told me that he was to marry my daughter, and I started thinking long term."

Emanuel let go of Ariadna and began to pace around the cave. "I've been building up quite an empire on Ruman. I have my power back and quite a large following. All that's left is for me to acquire a wife, and who better than my own blood?" He turned his malicious gaze to her and grinned. "Tomorrow morning we will leave for Ruman and in a few days time you will become my wife, and together we will conquer every island in the Almoena chain."