A Dangerous Game

He smiles at me and pulls me along with him. As we walk over to another area, I look around trying to get a better feel for the place but without my magic, I was extremely limited in what I could see. The table was filled with foods of all kinds, but it looked tasteless to me.

As I sit down, he sits right across from me and says, "I don't know what kind of food you like so I had them serve a little bit of everything. Let me know which ones you prefer, and I'll have them make those from now on."

I don't say anything as I pick up the chopsticks. He continues to place food in front of me as I think about stabbing him in the eye. Abell chuckles and says, [While I do agree with your style, you aren't strong enough. You won't be fast enough, and it will only cause more problems. Eat, we need strength.]

I slowly begin picking at the food as the servants begin lighting the candles in the room. Now that the sun was setting, it was growing dark. As I lift my hand to take another bite, I pause. I stretch my hand out further as a bad feeling sinks deep within my gut.

I lift my other hand, watching with fear. As if noticing, Weimin sighs and says, "This is the only way I can keep you safe from him. Now, eat your food before it grows cold." I slowly look up at him with horror as I ask, "What have you done?"

He looks unbothered as he says, "What I had to. Now eat. I don't want to tell you again." Abell gently pushes me, causing me to look down. I try to keep my hand from shaking as I take another bite. How does someone get rid of a shadow? How is that possible?

Does that mean Bolin's been looking for me but just can't find me? That means he has no idea where I am... That means he won't be able to save me. I swallow hard, not tasting the food as Weimin starts telling me about the procedures inside the palace.

I don't listen to a word or better yet, I can't hear anything over the ringing in my ears. I left one hell and landed myself in another. Vanir... can he even find me? No, I can't rely on anyone but myself now. Not even my magic.

I've had magic for as long as I can remember. It comes as easy as breathing but now... now I feel empty and alone. Abell softly speaks up and says, [Not alone. You still have me, little witch. We will get out of here, trust me.]

I continue to silently eat as Weimin continued to talk but I was busy trying to come up with ways to survive. I had a month. I was not going to marry this monster and sleep with him. Over my dead body!

Fine, I will lay low and find a way to break out the old-fashioned way. If I can get away long enough for the rune to heal, I can get my powers back.

___________

BOLIN

Haun remains kneeling as sweat pours off him. Bolin's dark voice nearly chokes him as he says, "Say that again?" Haun shivers as he says, "We've looked everywhere... We can't find her. Do you think she went back to her world?"

Bolin practically snarls as he says, "I know for a fact she hasn't! Something has clearly happened!" He remembers the look in her eyes, her smile, and the way she kissed him. No, she hadn't gone back but if she didn't go back, why couldn't his shadows find her?

Haun tried looking for her while he was gone but Haun can't control the shadows as he can. Haun could only search manually and wait for his to return. By the time Bolin came back and sent out the shadows, he couldn't find her at all.

It doesn't make sense...

Suddenly, a thought pops up in his mind. She would have probably gone to take care of the Artifacts. Something must have happened. When she passes out, she becomes vulnerable. Dade clearly wasn't an issue, but that woman named Aiya was still out and about.

When he tries to lock onto her shadow, something blocks him! He sits up straighter, his eyebrows shooting up as he discovers something interesting. That was an Array! Why would that woman be hiding behind an Array?

No, how would she even have access to an Array with that kind of power? Suddenly, his entire face darkens. He quickly tries to lock on Weimin's shadow and finds that it's completely gone as well! He slams his fist down on the desk, snapping it in half as he stands up with a curse.

Huan flinches, lowering his head until it was practically making a hole in the floor.

Bolin grits out, "Weimin that sneaky bastard! What has he done?" Haun frowns. Weimin? That idiot had something to do with the woman's disappearance? Bolin's anger sucks up all the air in the room before he quickly disappears.

Haun falls over, gasping for air. He stands on shaky legs and tries to follow but can only go so far.

_________

AIYA

Aiya slips in and out of it as she remains hanging from the wall. When she feels the stale air around her move, she struggles to lift her head and look. What she sees has her whimpering in fear. Bolin walks out of the darkness with red glowing eyes.

She must be officially losing it.

Bolin's deep smooth voice sounds heavenly on her ears as he says, "I'm only going to ask you once; where is Lyra?" Aiya, half delirious laughs and says, "He took her. He's insane, you know? He wants her all for himself."

Bolin's anger causes the air to freeze. He asks, "What has he done?" Aiya can no longer feel the temperature difference, but her breath can be seen as she lightly chuckles and says, "He stole her magic with my help. That bitch will have to suffer in pain as he carves the black rune into her skin over and over and over and over..." As a burst of hysterical laughter breaks free from her cracked lips.

The laughter abruptly ends with a gurgling sound. Bolin watches with cold hard eyes as she starts choking on her own blood. She starts convulsing and just when she thinks she's going to die, she can breathe again.

She gasps for air, the pain and fear clearing her mind as she looks into Bolin's red eyes with fear. His voice is just as deep and smooth as it was the first time but this time it sent a shiver of pure fear through her as he says, "You will suffer like this a thousand times before I will allow you to die. If I had more time, I would make it much, much worse but lucky for you... I have more important things to do."

Aiya cries out, "Wait! Don't do this! I've suffered enough! Why are you doing this to me!? What good is that bitch!?? Why does everyone want her? Huh!? Curse all of you! I curse her to live a horrible life and to suff...!!"

Her words are cut off as she suddenly starts choking on blood again. Bolin walks back into the darkness and disappears. He was going to find Weimin and skin him alive.