54

Suddenly, loud movements echoed around the dark dungeon. As if a heavy metal door was being banged roughly. Moments later, Regan heard a sound of heavy chains clattering and dragging across the cold ground. After a while, it stopped and footsteps echoed around the creepy dungeon. It was Viggo.

"You piece of filth!" Regan hissed, her voice shaking with anger, "what do you want now?"

Viggo's smirk faltered, replaced by a cold, angry frown, "Shut up, you foolish rat. I came to see you. To help you," his voice was laced with wickedness and evil. Something she had become an expert to sense.

"I'm not going to be anyone's plaything" she yelled, "You have no right to lock me here!"

Viggo's hands gripped the bars strongly, "Oh, so who has it? Who has the right? Sirius?"

"You're insane! I'm not working with Sirius nor with anyone else!"

"Yeah, yeah," he chuckled evilly, "and by the way, I told your master about this. He seemed furious. He's going to come and see how I'll tear his little pet apart." His words stung, but she wouldn't let him see it.

"Go to hell," Regan spat, "I don't need Sirius and anyone else. He's not my fucking master and you're going to regret this, you asshole."

Viggo's laugh was cold and cruel, but his eyes were filled with something darker, "Oh, Cornelia. I regret nothing. I regret nothing at all. You, on the other hand, might have a way out. If you be my....lover, my mistress, my pet, and if you want obey me, I'll let you live." He looked her up and down, making Regan's skin crawl with disgust, "If not, you'll die. It's not like I really care. And, it's not everyday I give second chances. So, what do you say?"

"You're disgusting!" she hissed venomously, "I would rather die than be your anything!"

The prince's expression twisted into a mask of rage. "Fine!" he snarled, "Then you'll die! But you'll have a torturous death and Sirius will see it. I'll make sure of it!" With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, leaving her alone in the darkness once more.

Alone with her thoughts, Regan felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Viggo's words echoed in her ears. She tried to convince herself that she was strong, that she was brave, but the truth was, she was scared. Very scared.

Time dragged on, and the silence in the dungeon became deafening. She curled up into a ball, trying to find some semblance of comfort amidst the hard, cold stones.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she heard footsteps approaching. Her heart leaped into her throat as she waited, bracing herself for whatever was to come. It was Artemis.

"Artemis," Regan whispered.

Artemis's face was cold and blank, but she could see the hesitation in her eyes. Like she was brought by reluctance.

"Cornelia, why are you here? How many times I told you to stay away from trouble? How many times I told you to mind your own business and not meddle with Viggo or anyone else?" Artemis said, her gaze turning reproachful.

"What do you mean by minding my own business? You're my business as well! Did you know he was cheating on you? Did you know and did nothing about it?" Regan asked, her voice desperate and hoarse from the dungeon air and lack of water intake.

Artemis didn't speak. She didn't move, she didn't flinch.

"I can't believe it," Regan shook her head, "How can you stay married to someone that treats you like that? Like you're nothing but a toy? Like you're just another one of his many conquests? You deserve better than that."

Artemis's expression twisted into a wry smile, "And what would you know about that? You've never been in love. You don't know what it's like to care for someone so much that you can't see their faults. You don't know what it's like to be so consumed by them that you'll ignore everything else just to be near them."

Regan felt a flicker of anger, "You think that's love?" she said with an incredulous look, "Oh my God, Artemis, you're all so stupid! Love isn't about consuming and owning. He just uses you for his own needs. You should see the truth. You're not even living, you're just surviving."

Artemis took a step closer, her eyes narrowing, "You're just a little girl, Regan. You don't know anything about life, about the world. You're naive. And now you're here, in dungeon, accusing me of things I didn't do. Do you know what's going to happen to you? Viggo's going to execute you. He thinks you're Sirius's lover. And that's treachery. A serious treachery. He's going to kill you."

The tears welled up in Regan's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "Well, I'd rather die than end up as someone's plaything. And I don't care what you all think. If you were smarter, you would've found a better way."

Artemis laughed, a bitter, humorless sound. "And where am I supposed to find that? In this kingdom? I'm trapped, just like you. Just like everyone else." She turned away, her shoulders slumping, "I don't have the key to get you out of here, sister. I'll talk to Viggo again and try to convince him to forgive you, but..." Her voice trailed off, her gaze drifting on the ground.

"Fine then," Regan snapped, "I have honor at least. I'm not going to be someone's pet just to get out of here. I'd rather die."

"You're foolish," Artemis muttered and left.

Time passed slowly after she left. Regan sat down on the floor, trying to ignore the pain in her body, the cold air that seeped into her cloak. At least, she was grateful for the thick cloak she was wearing. Otherwise, she would have frozen times ago.

She fell into a slumber, but it was a light one, almost half-sleeping.

Later on, other sounds of footsteps woke her up. She flinched when she saw a guard approaching the metalic door of her cell.

"Get up," the guard spat, "you're free." 

Regan rubbed her eyes, questioning whether it was true or she was hallucinating. The words were so foreign that she found it hard to imagine them as true.

"Didn't you hear, witch? You're free," the guard repeated.

"Why?" Regan managed to ask, her legs shaking as she walked near the bars.

"Orders from above," the guard replied curtly, "Hurry. Prince Natsu waits outside."

Regan's eyebrows furrowed as she stepped out of her cell, silently grateful from being freed. However, she couldn't help but be skeptical as well for what was happening.

The guard slammed the iron door shut and motioned for Regan to follow. She followed and soon after saw the young prince from morning. He looked calm, his face cold.

"Your highness," the guard bowed, "what should we so now?"

"Leave." Natsu ordered, not even bothering to look at the guard as he dismissed him. Once they were gone, he turned his gaze on Regan, "Look, you're lucky for this. Now, you should leave and never turn back here."

"But why? Why am I being freed?" Regan asked, still confused.

Natsu sighed, "Let's just say it doesn't matter. Or let's just say it won't do you any good to know. Orders are from above."

"Artemis?"

"Not Artemis. Artemis didn't save you. She has no power here," Natsu coldly answered. "Someone's waiting for you. We have to hurry."

Regan's heart sank at someone waiting for her. Who was waiting for her? What if it was a trap? What if she was going to be executed? Or worse, what if she was going to the playroom?

"Who's waiting?" Regan replied, her voice trembling slightly.

"Someone you know very well," Natsu answered cryptically.

Regan's heart sank even more. She was walking straight into a trap. She thought Natsu wasn't following his brother's orders. She thought he was different. But they were bringing her to hell, to her worst nightmares.

She couldn't do anything about it. Even if she ran back, she had nowhere to go. So she followed, her mind swirling with the worst scenarios. If she was meant to kill to protect herself, she'd do it. She'd never let herself into the hands of the others. 

As they walked in a dreadful and chilling silence, a set of icy doors appeared at the end of the corridor. Regan's heart raced as she feared the worst possible outcomes. She wasn't even armed.

"Listen," Natsu interrupted her thoughts, "there's no justice or remorse in this place. You'll only find death. That's why you should leave."

His words were obscure with dread and they only served to raise Regan's anxiety even more.

The doors of the end of the corridor were laced with intricate patterns of ice and when they approached, they opened themselves, revealing a figure standing on another dark corridor. Regan felt a strange spark course through her veins, a familiar sense. But it was too good to be true.

Still, she followed, her steps hesitant and wary. The figure had a black cloak on, that was all she could see. Maybe it wasn't Viggo. She felt a glimmer of hope at that.

"Here she is," Natsu said, his expression unreadable. The figure turned swiftly and Regan breath caught on her throat. It wasn't Viggo or anyone she had expected.

It was Sirius.