Light City

"She was here."

Slow and calm steps from outside resounded in the dense darkness of the cave. Helena was nervous and scared but tried to calm her anxiousness and slow her heartbeat. She didn't want the man to suspect her.

"Say it, was she here?!"

"…" She had never responded to any of his questions, and she will never answer, even if he made her suffer every time she kept quiet. Her fragile legs helped her stand in her corner within the shadows, not minding the stench and cold.

"Answer!" The dreadful voice of the man sent a powerful pressure to the room making her tremble but she didn't say a word, but her fingers caressed the cold metal around her wrists. Suddenly, the chain lit up with a beautiful warm white light, and the room was illuminated for a few seconds.

The cave was isolated, with no chairs or a bed, nothing, not even food traces, just Helena, tied from her ankles and wrists making the scorching light from the chains burn her leaving painful scars on her pale skin.

Her face looked tired and marked with terrible injuries and bruises, her eyes were a bit unfocused and with signs of tears. Her long black hair was messy and some parts were now white. She was in terrible condition and the light drowned her life force every second.

However, the light from the chain was the one protecting her from the man too. It created an extensive line of light that reached the ankle of the man. He was also tied to the chain making him vulnerable and weak.

The shadows surrounding him were making horrifying crying sounds. The chain was burning them.

The man stood still even with terrible pain.

"You are not going to talk?"

She looked straight into his red eyes and kept silent.

"After all these years, you are so stubborn."

He chuckled and touched the chain with his long white fingers. Helena widened her eyes not believing it.

"Your power is fading and mine is growing. How much do you think you will last? She will be mine, in the end, Helena."

"Never!"

"Ha, you will see."

He turned around and went through the door, then the darkness came black. Only the low breathing of Helena could be heard. For many years she has resisted the power of that man, for so many years she has been quietly waiting for her death, without feeling any fear, but now, it was different, now she was feeling panic for the first time.

"I must warm Lucia. How can I help her? Dion, how can I help her? Please tell me."

The chain lightened again with the white pure light. She felt warmth filling her heart. Her eyes dropped some tears but now they were not from sadness or pain but relief.

"Dion"

The chains moved alone as if they had soul, the light was so much stronger than before. The shadows left inside cried loudly and died instantly.

Then the door opened again and the man came inside to find Helena disappear before his eyes.

"Helena!" He turned around and walked to her corner, "Find her now!"

Only a rustle of something moving fast echoed in the cave.

"I will find you and her too. She is mine!"

** **

Three days of sleeping were a toll on my desire. Goodness, I was starving. I had to drink blood, or something very bad would happen inside the castle.

"I am hungry." Even my voice was hoarse, I need to drink.

"Miss, this is the last potion. Drink it fast." My dear Irina, my savior, she always knows when to feed me.

However, it was too little to make up for three entire days. "I need more."

"Miss Lucia, you can't right now. You are to be bedridden until you recover and we don't have that much."

"But…"

"This time it was the half of your soul Miss. It is the second time, and you can't even walk properly."

"I know Irina but…"

"No buts, you even wake up after three days, three whole days. You know how worried I was?"

Irina has been complaining since I woke up. She liked to remind me every day that I have to rest in bed without any disturbance. The Duke was also staying with me but the inquisitive look from Irina clearly disturbed him. She didn't let him stay for too long. I guess she knew that I missed teasing him, but that would drain my energy too, sighs… how much I missed him. However, my clever husband opted to visit me in hiding with lots of excuses. What a thrill, my secret lover from the balcony.

Irina finally gave up when she found out that the Duke was climbing the window to my bed every night to sleep beside me.

Sighs…

However, I hadn't told them about my dream. I didn't know how to begin to explain, it felt so surreal. A few days ago, Irina told me about the book and the curse, but I felt that a secret was hidden deeper. The shadows I had been feeling are so full of bad intentions, even my shadows are a bit scared. "Irina, can you lend me the book?"

"Miss…"

"Please Irina, I wish to know."

"I… I understand."

The famous book finally landed in my hands.

"The Light City" I murmured in a slow voice. The engraved name in golden letters was beautiful. Why didn't I notice before? It looked like handwritten letters. But they were fading as the cover was so worn out. What a pity.

The first page was some kind of warning for the readers. I didn't understand it very well. It talked about an ancient culture that venerated the light and the sun. But too much of something could bring harm to the mind and greed for more. And they wanted more, and for that, they were punished.

Then the shadows were created and the cold cohabited with them, more like they like it. The author describes them as if they have some kind of soul.

The people from the clans feared them as the shadows liked to step into the dreams to create nightmares. Totally relatable. Damn shadows, they gave me a fright.

I was admiring the cute drawings of the people and the city. They were magnificent but… wait…. How could that be?

Is that the rose? The drawing of the black rose?

I was about to touch the page when Irina came inside the room, making a powerful barrier enchantment on the door.

"Miss Lucia, we should go now." She looked agitated and anxious. I could see some drops of sweat on her cute face.

"What is going on Irina?"

"Master Kilian returned with the council. They want the Queen to judge you."

"What? Why?" That damn old man is acting outrageous, we hadn't even met and he wanted to kill me? Dream on, old man.

"He… he is telling everyone that you are a monster… the Queen is trying to stop him, but the ministers are acting differently too. We must go now."

"The Duke, where is him?"

"I don't know, Miss."

Right on time, from the window came a loud roar.

"Blaze!"

"Lucia come up quickly!"

The Duke was on the back of the little dragon child. How funny… cough. This is no time for that.

"Come, Irina, help me stand up."

"Yes, Miss."

We moved quickly to the window when several knocks tried to open the door. I hear some screams from the knights ordering the servants to break down the door, but they couldn't thanks again to my cute and smart Irina.

"Darling, what's going on?"

"Miriam couldn't stop the council, they demanded your imprisonment until a jury of wizards determine your situation."

"I don't understand. What did I do?"

"Nothing. But the old man is very persuasive and made them believe that you were some kind of clan leader and a bloodthirsty monster."

"…"

The book was no far behind that. Was I about to become an invincible clan leader? How cool. I wonder how we will call ourselves. The Lucias, no, the shadows, cool, I like that one. The Great Predators. Marvelous.

"Lucia!"

"Miss Lucia, please focus."

"I get it. What are we going to do?"

"We will go to Crotia, we need to find more about the curse."

"Crotia?"

"Yes."

"They will follow us there."

"I know but we must go for now. We have to go undercover."

"…" We are going on top of a dragon. Is that low key?

"What about the Queen?"

"She will be fine with Maurice beside her and the knights from the Wizard Council protecting them. The nobles from the council are under a charm, and Maurice and the other magicians are the best to break the enchantment for now."

"Alright. Are we going to Crotia Royal Palace to meet the King?"

"Miss Lucia, we better go home first. I believe the Count may know something."

"Father?"

"… yes…"

Irina didn't look me in the eye. I repeat, she didn't dare to look at me in the eye. What is going on? Is she hiding something from me? All these years?

"Irina?"

"Yes, Miss?

"What's the matter?"

"Miss… I… I can't tell. Please wait for when we arrive at the Count castle. Please miss."

This is strange. She was always honest with me, and always shared everything. I felt a little disappointed, but I can't force this. I believe in Irina, she has always done things for a reason, for good reasons, and my wellbeing.

"Alright. I trust you, Irina."

"Thank you, Miss Lucia."

We were moving extremely fast on the little dragon's back, but Irina had created a magic barrier to keep us steady without letting the air disturb us. I always wanted to know where she learned all this stuff. I've never seen her read that many enchantments books or practice magic inside my room. Although we were always together, she had lots of knowledge. I never dare to question her again since we were little.

Once, I asked her where she learned her magic, or the mix to the blood potion and she was about to answer when a huge pain came to her. I was so worried that time that I chose to never ask again. I knew that she might have some enchantment in her, but I was afraid of her leaving me if she recovered her memories. I know I was selfish but she was the only one by my side. The only light in my life full of shadows.

"Lucia, are you alright?"

"Yes"

"Do you need some blood?"

"Yes"

"Take mine."

"Yes."

I was so lost in my thoughts when my shameless man presented his wrist to my mouth. I was about to bite when I felt the angry stare from the little cute smart maid beside me.

"Iri... Irina… coughs… please pass me my potion."