BLOODBOUND II

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After returning to her home, Amy was kidnapped by a mysterious stranger.

Now, she floats in murky darkness as her mind floods with strange visions.

A throne in an old, ancient, kingdom. A white tree, hidden, somewhere she can't quite work out, and a knife going into the white tree, blood protruding from the knife's wound.

Nicole: You suffer as I suffered. You did this to me. You. Did. This.

Rheya: Every step you take brings you closer to me, to reunification, to rebirth. Do not fight the blood. Embrace it.

She shoots awake suddenly, finding herself in a small yet decadent bedchamber.

Amy: Where... Where am I?

She looks around every corner of the room, feeling nauseous.

Amy: Phone's gone, weird creepy place, and my head feels like it's going to explode. Awesome, just perfect.

She takes a deep inhale, sighing and rubbing her temples.

Amy: How am I supposed to get out of here? Does anyone even know I'm gone?

Realizing she's all alone, the silence is disconcerting.

Amy: Right, okay, suck it up, Amy. You can figure this out.

She lifts herself off the bed and heads toward the window.

Amy: I can hardly see anything... Is it night? How long have I been out?

She yanks on the sash, but it doesn't budge.

Amy: Figures...

Looking around the room for something to use as a weapon, she notices a frame containing only a single fragment of a painting.

Amy: What's this?

Feeling drawn into the fragment, like it's singing to her, a personal serenade.

The voice is soft, delicate, familiar. A woman.

Amy: I... I don't...

Before she can ground herself, she finds herself reaching out to touch the fragment.

Suddenly, she's hurled through the past, thousands of years, into an opulent throne room.

The Prosperous City-State of Mydiea. 8th Century, BC.

King Kaelisus sits upon his throne, surrounded by his most trusted advisors, looking out at the crowded room. People shift on their feet, whispering.

King Kaelisus: Enough! Let the trial begin!

The crowd parts, and a woman is brought forth, flanked by guards who force her to stand before the throne. One guard pushes the woman to her knees.

King Kaelisus: Hmm. On your knees at last.

A guard plants his foot on the back of the tied-up woman, forcing her prostrate before the king.

King Kaelisus: Priestess Rheya. So kind of you to join us.

Rheya: Please, my King, I have done no wrong...

King Kaelisus: We'll see about that.

A court official stands beside the throne, addressing the room full of spectators.

Court Official: We assemble today for the trial of Rheya, priestess of the goddess Phampira, patron of blood and life. Upon a visit to the temple of Phampira, our beloved King Kaelisus saw the visage of this priestess and was smitten with her. He demanded she be his. But the priestess refused! When the King tried to persuade her, she attacked him.