53

As dawn finally set, Regan paced in her room, her steps heavy with her emotions. Maybe if she hadn't seen Viggo's affair, she'd have felt slightly better. But that would be a lie. She didn't know how to tell Artemis. But she knew she'd do it as soon as she would see her.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to collect herself. She walked out of the room, her face meeting with the cold breeze of the fortress. 

Her steps echoed around, everything was calmly chilling. She went to the living hall. It was cold, despite the big fireplace. Regan felt as if she'd go crazy from not telling immediately of what she had seen.

She sat on one of the white loveseats, her hands trembling, her heartbeats quickening.

"Calm down," she told herself.

From the other side of the hall, she heard movements. She saw a guy with white hair. But it wasn't Viggo, it was his brother. His younger brother. Regan stood quietly, raising an eyebrow. The boy seemed to notice her as well and he sat down, his hair covering his eyes, his movements dull and distant as he looked through a flat tablet-like device.

"Where's your brother?" Regan asked in a whisper, her heart still pounding. The younger boy, looked at her, his gaze cold, but not creepy as he seemed to just study her, "I don't know. I don't care." He calmly replied.

Regan sighed, "I saw something terrible," she said. She couldn't keep it any longer.

Natsu didn't dart his eyes from the tech device, "What?"

"I saw him with Liv.... kissing her." Regan said embarrassingly. Maybe it wasn't right to tell his about that. Maybe he didn't understand. Or maybe he did.

Natsu looked up, his expression unreadable for a moment, "The servant?"

"Yes."

The younger prince looked down again, frowning, "I see," he murmured, "well, that's hardly a surprise. It's not the first time he does that."

Regan felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice shaky.

"It's something common. So, it's useless to do something to stop it, when no one of them cares," Natsu said with a hint of bitterness, "It's better to just let them be. They'll eventually get tired of it," his voice was careless as he couldn't care less.

The words stabbed Regan's heart. She wanted to deny them, to refuse to accept them as truth, "That's terrible. This is shameful," she whispered, her voice shaking.

Natsu just looked up at her, "Is it? I mean, yes it is. But what can you do about it? If you tell everyone, it won't change anything. You'll get yourself in trouble. Believe me when I say that."

Regan shook her head, "I can't let Artemis like this. I can't!"

"She knows," the prince said blankly, "and she doesn't care."

"What do you mean she knows? What kind of marriage is that? How is she still married to him? I-I, I can't fathom it!"

Natsu sighed, "Look, it may be foreign to you or maybe you're just acting like it's foreign. But if you can't stand it, you can leave. It's better to just leave than get yourself in trouble that would cost you dearly. You seem smart, you can do better. Just leave."

Regan frowned, her mind racing but she decided to just walk away instead. Before leaving completely, she turned back, looking at the piece of paper that Iris had given her. Maybe Natsu knew the language.

She approached the young prince, holding out the paper, "Hey, prince, do you know what this says?" she asked, hoping he could understand the language.

Natsu took the paper, and glanced at it for a moment. "It's... Ancient southern. It says the name of a local bar in the City of Lights, 'Diamonds and Fangs'. Why do you ask?" he asked, handing the paper back to her.

"Oh, well, it's nothing really," Regan replied, taking the paper back, "Just something I found. Well, thanks for your time." Regan said and left on her heels. Despite what Natsu had said, she didn't believe his words. She was still resolute to confront Viggo. And then as if her wishes were granted, she saw the older prince walking alone down the hall.

He noticed her, straightly noticed her. His face crossed a vicious smirk as he walked over to her, his movements predatory, "Cornelia? I was looking forward to this moment."

Regan narrowed her eyes. She didn't know if Liv had told him. Maybe she was afraid to tell. Or maybe she had told and he was playing along.

"I know your affair. I know you cheat on Artemis with Liv," Regan said so straightforwardly that Viggo's smirk faltered for a moment, "It's disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"What is it to you, little rat?"Viggo growled, his pale face turning red with anger, his fangs bared sharply. "You get to meddle with my business?! You get to tell me what I can and can't do?!" 

Regan didn't flinch, her gaze was steady as she met his angry glare. "You're a disgrace to the crown. You're a disgrace to your family. And you're a disgrace to your wife," she said firmly. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Oh, and why are you so pressed? Why do you act like you care about your stupid friend?" Viggo sneered as he walked closer, trying to intimidate her.

"I'm going to tell Artemis. She's going to find out about that!"

Viggo laughed mockingly, "Oh, do you really think that would change anything? Artemis isn't the kind of woman who would make a scene. She's too good for that." He stepped closer, "And, she knows. She knows what I do and she doesn't have a problem."

Regan fists curled into balls, she could feel the flame cursing through her veins, "You're a bastard. Artemis deserves better," she hissed.

"What makes you think she does? Does she look all innocent and naive? She's not. She knows what I do and I know what she does behind my back as well. She's in love with someone else. She knows and doesn't care, so, why should you?"

And then he leaned in closer, his breath fanning her face, "Besides, if you tell anyone, I'll make sure you regret it," His hand snaked out, grabbing a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back painfully, "You little brat. You don't know what you're messing with."

"Let go!" Regan shouted, "You're a sore loser!" she spat, trying to wriggle free. Immediately, she released the flames through her hair, making them glow in vivid red, the heat transferring on Viggo's hand. He shoved her away within the second and stumbled back himself, clutching his burnt hand in pain.

"You little bitch," Viggo said through gritted teeth, "What the hell are you?"

Regan's heart was racing with a mix of fury and confidence, "I'm going to burn you if you ever get close to me again!" she retorted.

"You think you can just come in here and threaten me?!" Viggo growled, his anger making his fangs lengthen even more, "What the hell are you so pressed about? Or do you want to be part of the game? You want to be my little pet....my lover?"

Regan flinched mentally at his words. She gritted her teeth in fury and felt waves of repulsion wash over her, "I'd rather die than be anything of that," she shot back, her tone sharp.

Viggo was undeterred. He took a step closer, his eyes dark with hunger, "I see you're something else, Cornelia. Fate didn't bring you here without a purpose. I see the fire in you, I see the passion. You could be useful," his voice dropped lower, with sinister intentions, "you could be my little pet. My lover...my blood source...."

"Go to hell," Regan spat, "I'll never be any of that."

"Why not?" he taunted, his eyes boring into hers, "You are....you are his, aren't you?" He paused for a moment, as if thinking. "He sent you here. You're just a tool. A weapon. Something to be used against me."

Regan's eyebrows furrowed, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I see it now," Viggo smirked wickedly, "You are in love with him, aren't you?"

Regan took a step back, her eyes widening slightly in surprise at his words. Who was he talking about? "Who are you talking about?"

"Sirius sent you here, didn't he? You're a traitor! A spy!" Viggo snarled, his anger building up again. "You think you can just come in here and play innocent?"

His words stung and Regan was speechless for a moment. She couldn't believe how that sinister creature suggested she was in love with Sirius. But she'd rather die than admit such a thing.

"That's not true," she retorted, her voice dripping with venom. "I'm not a traitor and I'm not in love with anyone!"

Viggo ignored her denial, his eyes narrowing in anger and something darker, "You know what? I don't care who claimed you," he smirked, his gaze roaming over her body, "you're mine now. You're weak, easy to control. And I'll make sure you beg to be mine."

Regan's blood boiled at his words with fury, but also fear. But she refused to show fear. She wasn't anyone's toy or instrument to play in their tune.

"I'm not yours, you piece of filth! I'm not going to beg you for anything. You're the one who's going to beg for mercy!"

Viggo's smirk faltered, fury overtaking his expression, "You dare talk to me like that? I am the prince! I am royalty! You will bow before me. You're just a worthless peasant, a nobody!" he hissed, his voice dripping with malice.

"Guards!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the hall. Before Regan could react, two men clad in black burst into the room, their eyes wide with shock at the sight of her. "Take her," Viggo ordered, gesturing for them to approach.

The guards ran and seized her arms roughly, forcing her to her knees, "Get away from me!" Regan shouted, trying to kick them away.

"You little rat," Viggo spat, stalking forward, "Now, I know who you really are, and I know what you're here for. You're going to pay for this."

He reached down, grabbing a fistful of her hair again, pulling her head back painfully. "Sirius is going to regret the day he ever sent you here," he growled. Regan's hair was still burning, but he took caution of that.

"She's a witch," Viggo snarled, the guards eyes widening, "Sirius, that son of a bitch sent his little pet here and he thought I wasn't going to take advantage of her."

Regan's jaw clenched, fury boiling over her. In a swift and harsh move, her arm escaped from the guard's grasp and she rammed her elbow hard into Viggo's stomach, making him double over with a gasp. He stumbled back, and with a strength she didn't know where did she got from, she jerked the guards away and struck Viggo with fire. 

However, he was faster than she expected, dodging her blow and slapping her across the face with his free hand. The guards held her tighter, pinning her down as she struggled against them.

"You're a fucking creep!" Regan spat, struggling against the guards' grip. Blood dripped from her split lip as she glared at Viggo. He let out a wicked chuckle, stepping closer to her.

"Oh, how brave," he sneered. "So, you're not afraid to hit a man, are you? You're just another piece of trash, sent here to do Sirius's shitwork. You're a wretched witch, but we'll have fun together." His eyes raked over her body, his eyes dark. "I'll make you beg for mercy before I'm done."

"You're not going to do anything to me!" Regan snapped back, trying to keep her voice as steady as she could.

Viggo's smirk was sinister, "You're going to beg for it."

Regan gritted her teeth and tried to free herself but one of the guards grabbed her hair, pulling her head back even more painfully, as the other pinned her arms behind her back. "Now, you're going to tell us everything you know," Viggo began to pace around, his voice dripping with malice. "You're going to tell everything that demon has planned against us."

"Never!" Regan spat, "You're a pathetic excuse for a leader. And even if I knew what he has planned, I wouldn't going to tell you anything!"

Viggo's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that," he growled. "You're going to tell us everything, one way or another. And for your own information," he leaned closer and she recoiled in disgust, "interrogation comes with some....special tools. But you're familiar with that, I suppose," he smirked, "You've been in his playrooms before, haven't you?"

The mention of a playroom sent a cold shiver of dread through Regan. Well, this time she was in too deep. This was real punishment, and while she had escaped from Mathias's matter, unharmed, she wasn't sure how she'd fare with Viggo. But no, she wasn't going to be a plaything.

"I've never been in Sirius's playroom," she said through gritted teeth, "And I never will." Her voice was defiant, despite the fear that was building inside her.

Viggo chuckled, a sound that made her skin crawl, "Oh, don't worry. You'll be in mine soon enough," he said darkly and Regan swore she was going rip his eyes out if she had the chance. "Guards, take her inside the filthiest, most disgusting dungeon you can find. Make sure she gets no rest, no food, and no water."

The guards dragged her out of the room, down the hall, and into a dimly lit dungeon. They threw her roughly onto the cold, hard ground, her limbs aching from the harsh landing. One of them hit her across the face, making her head snap to the side with a sharp sting. "You'll regret crossing his highness," he spat, his voice filled with malice.

Regan's head throbbed with pain, but her defiance remained strong. She glared up at the guards, her eyes burning with determination. She aimed to fire at them, to hit them, but it didn't work. They laughed and one of them said mockingly, "Nice try, witch. Your powers won't work down here."

Regan's anger boiled and she lunged forward, slapping the guard with all her strength, "Get away from me, you asshole!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the dungeon. The guard stumbled back, surprised by her slap's force. But before he could retaliate, the other guard grabbed her by the hair, yanking her back and slamming her against the wall.

"Foolish girl," he hissed, his face contorted with rage, "You'll pay for that." Another man came, this one holding a set of iron chains. They bound her wrists tightly, the cold metal digging into her skin, "Try doing any of your tricks, witch," the first guard sneered, "and you'll regret it."

As they left and slammed the heavy iron door shut, Regan tried to work her way free of the handcuffs but it was no use. Her powers indeed couldn't work here, she couldn't melt the chains.

The cell was damp and cold, the floor dirty with old food and waste. The air was the smell of rot and death and the only source of light was from the dimly lit corridor. There was a wooden chair, but it looked sturdy and not like it would help her escape. She noticed a small hole in the wall, but it was so tiny to serve for anything. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She couldn't let herself panic; she had to find a way out.

"I'm so pathetic," she said to herself, her eyes welling up. She could move around the cell, but her hands couldn't.

She had made a terrible mistake again. The fear was a living thing and she prayed for a miracle. She wished nothing of that would've had happened. But it had, and now she had to deal with it.

She looked around the dungeon once more, her eyes darting from one corner to another, searching for anything that could help her escape. Eventually, she leaned against the wall and slid down on the ground. She put her head on her knees, "I'm stuck. Again," she murmured, "What am I supposed to do now?"

Times passed as she stood that way, ignoring the terrible pain in her scalp and wrists. There was nothing going on. No one passed by her cell, no one tried to help her. The seconds felt heavy. The air was thick with oppression and fear. She felt like she was suffocating and fainting from her panic.

Her heart was pounding, her breath coming out in ragged gasps. She was trapped, alone, and helpless. "I can't stay like this," she whispered, tears escaping her eyes, "I can't just sit here."