3: CAPTURED

UNA gasped when she awoke in an unfamiliar room and quickly realized she was inside a dungeon. It was dark, and no window. Her hands were tied up with binding runes on both her wrists. But surprisingly, Una could see vividly in the darkness. But she had no time to be amazed because of her situation.

Una tried to free herself, but it was useless. With every movement she made, her body was electrified. She bit her lower lip, preventing herself from screaming. Who knows what kind of creature lurked around this place?

“Damn it!” she repeatedly cussed. This time, Una was careful not to trigger the binding runes. She needed her strength to stay alive.

There were lots of questions circulating in her mind. How was she captured? Did Hevian’s wolf army catch her after the skirmish she did at the Midnight Fortress?

Impossible!

The mere thought of Hevian imprisoning her after being resurrected made her blood boil. He must hate her to the core. It was not surprising since she died in his hands. The orb inside her was nearly activated, but it came to a halt when she felt a sudden surge of energy in front of her.

Una finally calmed down when a familiar face materialized before her without opening the cell.

“Drite!”

She was convinced that this fae was royalty since his presence did not alert the guards outside.

“Swasah, Una…” Drite greeted her in faerie language. “My apologies for taking such drastic measures to keep you at bay. I have witnessed how dangerous you are.”

“What have you done? Where am I?” She struggled with her magical ties. “Let me go! I have nothing against you, Drite. I just want to kill Hevian!”

Drite chortled. “I will let you go… if you tell me how you learn to cast the hellfire?”

“What are you talking about? What hellfire?” Una was perplexed.

“Hm.” Drite moved and studied her from head to toe. “Your scent is weird. A mix of a Lycan… and something I can’t name.” He came near and even sniffed her. “What are you, Una?”

“I came from the Nacht Territory and lived in the Wolfless Zone.”

The fae chuckled. “Really? Interesting.” He scanned her for the last time. “Be honest with me, or I can’t help you. You are in the deepest dungeon of the Palace of Night and Stars.”

Una was too stunned to reply. Drite brought him to the palace where the Lord of Gwiazda lived! She had just been resurrected, and now she’d face her demise again for the second time. She must be ill-fated that even in this lifetime, she’d die without avenging her death.

“I’m not an enemy, Drite. Please… send me back to the Wolf Nation.”

“That will depend on your answer. Who are you exactly?” His gaze fixed on her eyes.

Una silently swallowed. Weren’t there any complications once Una told him who she was? That she came back from the dead and became a demon? Either way, she’d end up dead anyway. Una gambled his last hope of survival.

“I am Una, a lowborn in the Nacht territory…” she paused before she added, “I was Hevian’s bride….”

Drite’s eyes widened. “No way!”

“I am telling the truth! Let’s make a deal. I can’t die again… I’ve just been resurrected!”

Drite’s expression suddenly hardened. He cupped her face, and his fingernails almost pierced her skin. “How did you come back to life?”

“I bargained with the Demon King. That’s all I can remember. Then I woke up in that forest where you found me.”

The fae’s hand tightened. “Try to remember because your life lies on my hand—”

They were interrupted when a guard barged in. Una immediately recognized the Gwiazdan crest on his black and silver uniform.

“Prince Ahldrite, your brother wants to see you.”

Drite distanced himself and whispered. “I’ll get back to you later, Succubus.”

“You are Prince Ahldrite?!” Una could not believe what she had just heard. She was doomed! Of all the creatures she could meet after her revival, the Prince of Gwiazda found her. He was next in line to the throne and could persuade his brother to make a royal edict to kill her instantly. Worse, Drite might do it before his brother found out. Una couldn’t blame them if they thought she was a threat.

Drite called her a succubus. A female demon who rose from Elduri.

Before Una could beg for her life, Drite vanished.

DRITE appeared inside the throne room, where his brother seemed to wait for him. He was looking out the window as if checking the twinkling stars.

“I heard you captured an Alsacheri female.” Lord Azhir turned to face him. “What could be her crime? We don’t want to have a tainted relationship with Alsache.” He pertained to the water domain, which was the home of the healers.

“Who told you she’s an Alsacheri?” Drite chuckled. “You’d be surprised to know her origin. She is dangerous, brother, and let me handle her.”

“Are you going to execute her?” The Lord of Gwiazda heaved a sigh. “I did not bat an eye regarding the extreme measures we imposed for the last twenty years as long as no one is oppressed in this territory. However, your obsession with the wolf nation is getting out of hand. Do you think I didn’t know you caused the skirmish in the Midnight District?”

Drite’s lips twitched up. “Obsession? I call it serving justice. They are oppressing their own kind!”

“Ahldrite, let go of the past. No magic can revive the dead. Remina will not return.”

Drite clenched his fist hard. “I have found a way to resurrect the dead.”

Lord Azhir’s eyes widened. “Are you going to stoop that low to practice a forbidden sorcery?”

“It’s not a forbidden sorcery, brother. Rest assured. It will not stir the order in Erganiv. I will be held responsible if I put this domain in danger. And as for the wolf nation, don’t you think this is the best time to reclaim it?”

Lord Azhir hardly shook his head. “They are autonomous for a reason. We don’t meddle with their affair unless the security of Gwiazda is at risk. It’s peaceful in their territory now. Leave them alone.”

“As you wish, brother. But the female in my possession will serve me. She is not an Alsacheri but a Lycan.”

“If she can replace your mate, do whatever you want.”

Drite scoffed. “Remina is irreplaceable.”

Drite’s jaw tightened. For the last twenty years, he had been roaming around the Faerie Realm to find a way to be with Remina again. His poor mate died in the hands of her kind. He was nearly giving up when he met Una. He’d surely find a way to bring Remina back!

BACK inside the dungeon, Una tried not to waste her energy struggling to be free. She patiently waited for Drite to come back. She’d not hesitate to make another pact with the prince, even if it meant serving him. Una vowed to stay alive until her revenge took place.

It was not long before Drite appeared inside her cell again. Una’s face lit up.

“You’re back! I will serve you, Prince. I am not your enemy. I just want to avenge my horrible death.”

Drite motioned his hand, and a small red magic circle appeared. He unlocked the binding rune, and Una was finally free.

“Tell me about your revenge plan,” Drite urged.

Una grinned. “I will kill Hevian and everyone involved in my death.”

“Sounds like suicide to me. You are strong but can’t harness your magic, so you’re useless.”

“You can train me, Prince. And I will serve you for eternity.” Una meant what she said. Bargaining everything in exchange for living.

Drite chuckled. “Tell me your story. That might convince me to help you with your revenge plan.”

Her face turned somber. “It started during the Equinox Hunt….” Una reiterated her tale, and Drite carefully listened…