Amulet of Fate

Chapter 3

Haelia

The dungeon cell was small and dusty, with walls made of stone, and a floor made of rough concrete. Haelia's wrists ached from the tight metal crushing her veins and the cold surface brushing against her skin. Every inch of the metal was tightly sealed, without even a little bit of space to let her skin loosen. She could taste a metallic tang from her lips, and her head felt light and dizzy. It had been a miracle that she breathed normally at all, a wicked memory of the wind mage entered her thoughts for a moment. The feeling of oxygen leaving her body, crushing her lungs, and collapsing to the ground, was frightening. She didn't know how long it had been since the Prince had demanded answers out of her, or since Laurent attacked her when she didn't give the right responses.

Rather, she had no idea how much time passed at all. There were no windows, which meant no daylight, and therefore no indication of time.

What's going to happen to me now?

She recalled the Prince stating that no harm would come to her, and that she would be free to go once he got his oh-so-important ring. The problem was, she didn't know if Kebbler had sold it already. She hoped that he still had it.

She peaked at the necklace that the Prince commented on. It was a rare shade of green, pastel-like in a way, the orb was contained in a metallic design of some sort. It appeared to be made of real silver, and reminded her of the branches of a tree. It was beautiful and mysterious, but why did the prince's hand burn when he touched it? Was there something dangerous about the necklace? How did it come on her neck in the first place?

It was so confusing, she had never seen a piece of jewelry do anything like that before.

A familiar face walked up to the cell, and made his way in.

Laurent walked over to her.

"Did you find it?" Haelia asked.

He smacked her face hard with his hand, she cried out as the force slammed the back of her head against the wall. Haelia groaned loudly, confused and surprised. As if she hadn't been dizzy enough already.

"I did, as a matter of fact. It took me around 4 hours to find it, not too bad." Laurent smiled.

"Then what the hell was that for?!" She gritted.

"Stealing it in the first place." He spat. "You're lucky the prince is merciful upon someone of your kind."

For as long as she could remember, the elf-kind were hated in Solandis. There was an ancient feud that began, for reasons long forgotten. The disgust in his eyes was enough to make her blood boil with anger.

"Yeah, yeah..whatever. Now let me go, the prince said I was free when you found it!"

He chuckled in amusement and twirled a lock of her hair, holding her chin tightly. "Actually, when I give it to him...then you'll be free. Until then, you're stuck here."

Haelia scowled at him with disgust. "What kind of knight are you? That's not right at all!"

"Who are you to judge me? You're nothing but a peasant and a lowly elf." Laurent stood up and proceeded to walk, Haelia lunged at him, angrily grunting at the chains that held her back. She kept trying to get closer to him, but with every step she took, the chains pulled her back with a greater force. She wanted to punch that jaw of his and wipe that cursed grin off of his face for good.

"Take these chains off, and this peasant elf will teach you a lesson or two." She gritted.

"Oh dear, I hope you're not threatening a Castle Guard." Laurent mocked. "That pretty neck of yours wouldn't look too nice when it's hanging."