The Captain

A tall, brown-haired man walked into the room and the cell seemed to shrink by half.

Ariana looked up. Turquoise eyes, as cold and calculating as an oncoming winter storm, swept over her bruises, and the stool beneath the high window. Navy uniform, black cape draped over one shoulder, gloved hand on a broadsword. The door slammed behind him. "I am Captain Kaleb Orion of the Imperial Guards. I have questions."

Ariana scrambled to her feet, her chapped lips tight against the sound of a pained moan escaping her. Not even like this, Ariana would not let a mere guard bully her!

"And by whose authority do you have to do that?" Her defiant nature flared in her every word.

The long pause that followed her question was, Ariana had to admit, terrifying; only one person ever caused her to feel this...small.

"Ah. It does seem as if what they say is true. You really are mad."

Ariana was glad of the sudden rush of anger heating her cheeks, "You're the mad one! In fact, your whole family is mad! What do you think you are to--"

A metallic ringing filled the air.

Within the blink of an eye, a blade's tip kissed her throat. Ariana went still, her face paling. The steel bit into her neck, drawing a tiny thread of blood.

"Watch your tongue with talk of my family, girl," Kaleb hissed, his voice turning eerily quiet. "They have no part in this matter. Either you watch it, or I'll learn you how to!" Her body went numb, as if all life had been sucked from her. Cold sweat soaked into her skin. The steel against her throat shattered what remained of her pride. Her body, so betraying, let loose a warm moisture that splattered onto the floor.

Kaleb curled his lip, "Pathetic."

The blade retracted, and the door was flung open, "Guards!"

Two soldiers appeared, "Get her clean and in a new cell. She reeks."

Ariana's heart burned, she bit her lip until it broke loose a glob of blood, as a servant scrubbed her, bandaged her welts, and dressed her in clean, simple attire.

She was marched down colder corridors and shoved into a new cell. Clean, but dry nevertheless.

Captain Kaleb was already there, sitting in a straight backed chair, arms crossed, his unreadable expression fixed on her. A small, crude stool, set to discomfort sat a good distance away.

'Sit.' He ordered. She did so, stiffly, her eyes lowered, finding her fingers fascinating. In her mind, she was raging-mad.

You just wait. When whatever it is that is happening clears up, I'll make you--

"What's your name?"

Ariana jolted back, her eyes wide, "Pardon?"

"What is your name?" Captain Kaleb asked as if she was a dense child.

"Queen Ariana Ophelia." She said, not giving a second thought to her answer. The man's visage told her it was the wrong thing to say.

He leant forward, his lips curled maniacally, "Say that again and I'll see what I'll do to you. Now, what is your name?"

But that is my name, Ariana desperately pleaded in her mind. Why won't anyone believe me?

Because you don't look the person you've claimed to be an insidious voice countered. Her stomach twisted into hard knots. The look in the Captain's eyes told her why repeating her name would not be the wisest idea.

She fumbled for the other name she could remember beside the one she was trying to convey, the one the maid had used when she first stepped outside that unfamiliar room.

"Um...E-Elena?"

"Elena what?"

Ariana brain short-circuited, “I—I can’t recall.”

Kaleb's eyes narrowed, "You don't recall? Hence why you go about stupidly claiming to be Her Imperial Highness Princess Ariana?"

Ariana flared, her pride stung, "That is tr-"

"Why you acted against the crown by openly declaring the death of the ruling, and very much alive, monarch?“Wait, it’s not—”And staging the diversion that resulted in having the kingdoms seal right under everyone's noses?"

Ariana was up instantly, "What? I didn't steal the seals!"

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Of course! I mean, why'd I want to steal something that already belongs to me?"

Ariana clamped her hands over her mouth, realizing the fatal mistake of her words. Kaleb's orbs glistened like a predator who caught the scent of prey.

'Belong to you?' He stood fully and stalked over to her in two strides. "Why is that?"

Ariana backpedaled until her spine thudded against the wall. Kaleb followed, his knife-like gaze causing her to whimper.

"Answer me."

She flinched, said nothing. His gloved hand, shot out, clamped down on her throat, punishing the wound on her neck. She coughed, beating at the appendage. It wouldn't budge.

"I would advise you to let slip anything you may have that would lighten your punishment," he whispered, “because if you don’t, you’d be—”

There came a loud bang on the door, "Captain!"

Kaleb's jaw worked, for a heartbeat he was still. Then he growled, "What is it? Enter."

A youthful looking man with bright, twinkling eyes came in, slightly out of breath, "Captain Kaleb, there is something you really need to see."

"Is it important?"

"Very, sir. You absolutely need to see this."

With a sneer, Kaleb released her throat. She swayed, choking. He left the cell, his cape trailing behind him. The door shut and the lock clicked.

Ariana slid down until she sat on the cold floor, her arms hugging her drawn-up knees. She was shaking, her tears sniffling, but would not let them fall.

A strange coldness crept over her, making her feel, for the first time, a deep unexplainable terror.

It was no longer a dream she could wake from.