51

"This is the city of lights," Artemis said, gazing at the tall buildings, though there was a hint of unease in her voice, "it's the most popular city in the North."

"Yeah, it's a beautiful place," Regan replied, her eyes scanning the surroundings. The northern aliens seemed to have all the same figure; pale, white hair, and tall frame. She tightened the coat around herself tightly. The city didn't look much of a welcoming one, but it was better than staying in that frosty fortress.

They decided to enter an imposing building made of invisible glass, with a strange, hourglass structure at the sides. It was a shopping center, with a buzzing atmosphere, though with a scent in the air that was almost clinical. There were many stores and open elevators, and Artemis led them to one. Regan had never liked elevators, but this one brought a horrible sensation in her abdomen and she prayed that she wouldn't throw up and humiliate Artemis.

They entered a clothes store, all neatly organised with strange winter clothing. It must always be freezing cold here, Regan thought. The air's temperature was much warmer than it had been outside, and her palms were sweating uncomfortably.

The alien's attention gratefully wasn't on her at all, their white eyes focused on their business. Artemis led her to a specific section, where there were some weird, electronic gadgets. Regan reached to touch one that looked like a flip phone, but Artemis shot her a look to not do it.

Regan cursed under her breath and crossed her arms. Her eyes scanned the place, noticing a peculiar alien girl checking the gadgets. Her face was a face she hadn't seen here until now. A figure that seemed out of place, with dark hair, tanned skin, and olive eyes. She didn't look like someone from here.

The girl caught Regan's gaze and gave her a cheeky smile, a gesture that seemed almost unbelievable amidst the detached environment. "You don't seem northern," she said, eyeing her up and down. "What brought you into this dead land?" she asked with a slight accent.

Artemis turned to the girl with a frown, obviously not pleased by the question. "We're here on a... business trip," she said carefully, not sure how to respond to the stranger's question.

Regan, instead, wanted to talk to the girl, and as soon as Artemis switched to another section, she turned, "Yeah, I'm not from here. I'm from another realm. What about you?"

The brunette smiled, "I'm Iris, I'm from the South, but my land got destroyed. I've moved here temporarily with my family. It's a dried and freezing place, except for the City of Lights. Even here, it's expensive to put your foot in."

Artemis looked back, glancing at the two of them suspiciously. Regan ignored her, instead turned to the girl, "Oh, I'm Cornelia. What's it like in the South? Do you miss it?"

The girl's expression turned somber for a moment, "Yes, I miss it. It was beautiful, warm... and full of life. But he, that sick tyrant colonized it. And no one dared to fight back."

Regan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Oh," she said, "Who was that tyrant?"

Iris sighed, her face tightening with something that looked like revenge, "They call him Sirius The Ruthless," she leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper, "You've heard about him, right? A powerful, breathtakingly beautiful demon who has many wives?"

The words were like a sharp slap, stinging deeper than they should. She hadn't expected hearing about Sirius here, and certainly hadn't expected these creatures talking about his personal life in such manner. She couldn't help but feel a pang of something undecipherable.

But she just nodded, glancing at Artemis, who was looking at some goods with crossed arms, "Yes, he lives in a place called Silvertide," she muttered, "I've seen him."

Iris gasped, her eyes widening with surprise, "Oh my God, really?" she exclaimed but then lowered her voice, "You've seen him in person? What was he like? I'm asking because I've never have. They say that once you lay eyes on him, you either die, or fall in love."

Regan felt a knot form in her stomach, not quite liking the way the brunette spoke about him. Beautiful. Of course, he was beautiful, though in a rugged way, with that perfectly defined face, those raven bangs hanging over his icy eyes, that can easily go crimson when he gets angry. His long black eyelashes that make even her jealous, and his deep, husky voice.... And the way he dresses, so elegantly and gracefully for his tall, muscular frame. There's no one else like him.

Regan slapped herself mentally. But she'd have berated it much more had she not been here, in the middle of these aliens. How could she be thinking that way about her enemy? And let aside enmity, how could she be thinking that way about a kind like him?

But Iris was looking with an expectant gaze, her eyes flicking with confusion. Regan took a deep breath, realizing that she had been paying too much attention to his features. He was aesthetically pleasing, and she hated herself for acknowledging it.

"That's not true," she finally managed, glancing back at Artemis, who was chatting with a merchant, "I mean, he's not as beautiful as they say," she lied, "Just ruthless and cruel and arrogant."

"So you've lived in Silvertide?" Iris asked with keen interest, leaning against the clothes rack.

"Kind of," Regan answered unsurely, not wanting to let out a lot, "He's a criminal. He destroyed my homeland too," she said bitterly.

Iris looked even more intrigued, "Where was your homeland?"

"A....far away land that I don't remember now, because I....I was raised in the wild," Regan said, retelling the tale that Artemis had first fabricated. "But I've been travelling to a lot of realms, and I know about his tyranny," she added, not wanting to look like someone who didn't know a thing about the world she had been thrown in.

Artemis, who had finished with the merchant, and now was observing the conversation silently, decided to interrupt. "Well, we should get going. It was nice meeting you," she said with a frown, gesturing for Regan to follow her.

"Wait!" Iris called out before Regan could leave. She searched for something in her pocket, revealing a piece of paper, in unknown language.

Regan's eyebrows furrowed and she asked, "What's that?"

"It's where I hang out. So, we can meet each other again. You know, I'm more than willing to make him pay for ruining my home," she whispered in her ear.

"Really?" Regan whispered back, her eyes widening slightly, "You really are?" It was the first person ever she had heard about speaking of defying Sirius, of not being afraid of his order, "I'll find some way to meet you again," Regan said hopefully, her mind already racing for a plan.

Artemis raised an eyebrow, glancing back and forth between the two, "What are you two whispering about?" she said, her tone neutral.

Iris didn't reply, "I think we could be a great team, won't we, Cornelia?"

"Absolutely," Regan agreed, her eyes flashing with determination, "Together, we can make a difference." She felt a newfound sense of purpose and camaraderie with Iris. Despite their different backgrounds, they shared a common goal.

But Artemis was having enough, "Come on, Cornelia," she said, pulling Regan out of the marketplace, "You have to keep quiet!" she hissed, "You can't talk about him like that in open!"

"But I wasn't even talking about him," Regan said, feeling a flicker of frustration.

"Look, Yloria. This isn't his dominion. Just don't mention him again, okay? And you can't be for real about what you said to that girl," she said, glancing back over her shoulder.

"Why not," Regan insisted, her voice stronger, "We both have reasons to hate him, and we both want to see him brought to justice."

Artemis's jaw clenched. "We're on thin ice here. One wrong move and you're going to get yourself in trouble."

Regan opened her mouth to retort but then closed it again. She didn't say anything because she knew Artemis was right, despite the rebellious spirit burning within her. "But he has to pay," she murmured to herself.

They were out of the building now, and instead of walking through the crowded streets, Artemis took the urban travel, a strange, hovering bus, filled with humanoid aliens, though each seat maintained a respectful distance that made Regan feel slightly better. The packed-up buses on Earth were something she had alway loathed.

The travel was quick, and soon they were near the portal they had used. Despite Artemis's grumpiness, Regan was excited that she had met someone brave and optimistic. She had had enough of pessimism, gloominess, obedience and submission.

Artemis led her to the portal and they teleported back to the fortress. The sky had seemed to darken, maybe an optical illusion or something real. As soon as they entered, they saw Viggo standing in the middle of the grand hall, his narrowed eyes roaming around Regan's figure.

"Well, well, well, what a great surprise of you both," he sneered, a wicked glint in his eyes. Regan didn't bother to frown in disdain.

"Cornelia wanted to see the city," Artemis explained, her gaze falling on the floor.

"The city, huh?" Viggo drawled, taking a step closer, "You're enjoying yourself I suppose, aren't you, Cornelia?"

"I've seen better," Regan venomously retorted, the air suddenly growing thick with tension.

Viggo's smirk faltered a fraction, "Like what?" he sharply retorted, "The dens of the wolves? Or the rotten dungeons of that demon?"

Artemis looked like she was about to say something, but Regan beat her to it, "Neither," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant, "I think you're the one who's pretty obsessed with him."

Why did Sirius have to be brought everywhere, in everything? She saw Viggo's face darken, his white eyes narrowing dangerously, and for a moment Regan thought she'd gone too far. 

But then he smirked again, a cruel one that didn't reach his eyes. "We'll see about that. We'll see who you'll bow down to," he threatened ominously, the words echoing around the empty hall.

Regan didn't allow herself any fear, "I won't bow to anyone," she said, her chin held high despite the implication of his words, "I've never had and never will."

Artemis watched the exchange, constantly on the edge. She knew that Regan was stubborn, but she was really crossing the lines. Had she been acting that way with Sirius as well? If so, how did he spare her? How did he let her live?

Viggo just laughed, a sinister, hollow sound that made her skin crawl, "So you're one of those who know how to play coy," he said, taking another step forward, "But fear not, little firecracker. You'll learn to obey or suffer the consequences." He turned to Artemis, his eyes filled with malice. "Take her to her room. And make sure she's under close watch tonight."

Artemis hesitated for a moment, meeting Regan's defiant gaze. "Come on, Cornelia. I don't want any trouble. You don't know what you're doing," she caught her arm, leading her upstairs. Viggo's lecherous gaze never left Regan.

As soon as they entered, Artemis reprimanded, "Yloria, why do you want to get in trouble? Have you been acting that way all along, even as Sirius's prisoner? How are you even alive? I can't fathom it!"

"I don't know....I'm just alive and tired of all this," Regan said, gesturing at the walls. "I'm tired of being scared, tired of people looking at me like I'm an object, tired of living in fear. I want to fight back, and I want Sirius to pay for what he's done. And your husband, do you even realize what kind of person you've married? I'm not just talking about his arrogance and cruelty. He's totally depraved! He looks at me like I'm some sort of....of...." She trailed off, not wanting to finish. "I do have self-respect, Artemis!"

But Artemis just sighed heavily, "Yloria, look. I don't know with what kind of spirit you've been nurtured, but this kind doesn't work here. It leads to misery and much more worse things. If you want to get out of here, you'll have to stay quiet and unseen until I manage another place for you."

She walked to the door, turning to look at her sister once more befor

e twisting the knob, "I'll be outside if you need me." With that, she left the room, closing the door behind her.