Author's note: Do not skim this one! This chapter has some hints that you all efficiently missed since the start of the book.

WARNING FOR VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND SELF-HARM!

(But not too much!)

***

I was hungry, tired and broken.

Una had not believed me. No one would.

I wanted to sleep again and never wake up. I was going to die here anyways, why were they bothering to even feed me? My head was dizzy. The feeling of dread giving way to loneliness. I did not realize when the ground whispered to me, the words of caution getting lost on my pathetic state.

But when I rolled back to my other side and faced the metallic bars of the prison that I was in, I let out a loud gasp.

"Good morning, Princess."

I glared at the dark silhouette; the voice familiar like a second skin.

"I must say, I am very disappointed seeing you here. You just made things difficult for me."

He walked closer to the iron gates, his face became clearer and goosebumps arose on my body. His white doublet crisp, hair combed neatly, a smile, that might entice many, but crippled me with fear.

I glared at him. He was indeed going to kill Ralph that day. And I would rather stay in a dungeon than live in a world where my father's son - where my brother didn't exist. I'd rather be alone, than let Prince Nova get his way.

"How many days has it been?" I asked and found my throat completely dry.

"Bored, are you?" Prince Nova chuckled.

I kept glaring at him.

"Though I must say, that magic was amazing. Unnecessary, yes, but amazing."

"You made me do it." I hissed.

"Me?" He raised a brow, "Well, I didn't know you were so attached to your new-found family."

I clenched my fists. I was powerless here. The wards were too strong and my hands were literally tied.

"You must be wondering why I am here?" He walked a little to one side, his golden curl dangling on his forehead, "Well, it's time for a refill." He added.

My eyebrows squeezed together.

"The vial unfortunately is empty now." He said and pursed his lips suggestively at me.

I kept looking at him, not understanding a word.

"Aah, seems like your brain's all fried up in the dungeon," he laughed again, "Your blood, Eleni. I need it."

Of course.

"Why didn't you take a tankard full of it the last time itself?"

"I had that plan, honestly." He said and swiped his curl behind, "But I wanted to check. I had my suspicion that your blood might be the first of a kind, and could've turned out to be useless."

"Seeing that you are here means it's quite the opposite."

At my words, he suddenly gripped the bars of the prison and his eyes flashed a bright color of menace. Even with the bars between us, I was afraid for my life.

But he let go, closing his eyes shut. A blue spark had appeared at the spots where he had touched the bars. Zapped by the wards!

Suddenly confident, I stood up. I was safe here. Neither could I go out nor could he come in. The wards were powerful.

"You want my blood, I see. And how are you going to get it, master?" I smiled at him.

"You'll see, let's get down to business, shall we? Now like a good girl, you are going to cut any of your body part as you wish and fill up two vials, alright?"

A shrill laugh escaped my lips, "And why would I do that?"

"Oh, you will," he said with a misplaced confidence and put a hand inside his overcoat's pocket. He fished out a pointy dagger and extended it to me.

I looked at the dagger and then at his welcomingly cruel face.

"You do know right, that I never miss with this?" I asked with a confused look and took hold of the dagger. It fit right into my hands.

"Cannot forget." He chuckled and placed a hand on his chest.

What game was he playing at handing me a weapon?

"Go on and cut. Nice and slow." He said, crossing his arms again.

I stared at him and raised my hand to throw it at him instead. He was testing my already replenished patience.

"Aah, no. Wait. I almost forgot." Another twin dagger glimmered in his hands and he took a few steps back, wearing a smug-smile.

He got lost in the darkness around in the dungeon.

Flabbergasted, I kept my dagger at the ready, in case he had some tricks up his sleeves. My heart was racing wild.

But then I heard footsteps and a silent whimper - feminine whimper.

Three faces now accompanied Prince Nova and for the first time in my life, my right hand that held the dagger, shook.

Two black-dressed soldiers were flanked around a woman. One guard held her arms from behind and the other held a dagger in front of her neck.

Terrorized completely, I leaped and clutched the bars. But a strong thunderous jolt spasmed in my body and I had to let go. This was a threat. My worst nightmare coming alive.

"Now, will you cut or aim?"

My eyes not leaving her horror-stricken face, chin raised high, a dagger dangerously close to her throat. The twinkle of her eyes dead, replaced by only fear. How dare he use my friend!

How dare he use Serena!

"Eleni," she let out a cry.

"Serena," I screamed and again touched the bars, just to get spasms again.

"Cut or aim?" Prince Nova came closer to my prison, his usual dazzling smile wearing off me. He appeared to be basking in this achievement, that had left me with no choice.

Dead end.

Staring at him, I cut with the dagger at the same spot where the Head Alchemist had cut before. Pain rushed through me like flood, but I did not let my face betray it. The blood oozed out. He gestured me to let my hand out through the gaps of the bars.

"Eleni, no," Serena screamed through her bondage.

She had suffered just because she was my friend. My fear had become a reality. He had used her against me.

As I let my hand out of the gap, it felt like a thunderbolt had hit me. It was excruciating. I waited as drop-by-drop the vials filled up, which seemed like ages. The vials were bigger this time.

"There." He grinned at me.

And as I was about to pull my hand back, he clutched it. Turning it around, he kissed the knuckles of my fingers, smirking a little. I flinched.

"Good girl, now pass on that dagger." He spoke.

"Let. Her. Go." I hissed.

"Umm." He rubbed his chin. "I am not so sure about that." He stoppered the red vials.

Snapping my head at the guards, I realized they were indeed going to kill Serena.

Helplessness washed over me - I had to do something.

And I realized - two can play at this game.

"You know," I said, "the final round of the Conquest hasn't begun yet."

A vein in his forehead tingled as Prince Nova angled his face to a side.

"How are you going to win the Throne without my help?"

Prince Nova raised a brow at me and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I don't have time for this."

I leaned in closer and whispered, "I know it's not you in the duels."

His face did not betray the effect that my words had on him, but a blue vein on his forehead twitched and I knew I had hit a spot. I had intended at bluffing, but it suddenly made sense.

He had slaves!

The Alchemist had indeed told me something -

She had once called him 'master' and the other time - 'Prince.'

I jerked my hand off his clutch. The pain was unimaginable, but not as horrible as the weight of Serena's life on my shoulders.

"Let her go and I will help you." I tried to keep my desperateness in check.

"And then what, let her run to your friends? No, thank you." He said with a tight-lipped smile and flicked a finger to his guard.

Panic rose in me as I looked at Serena' woebegone whitened face, I needed to keep her alive.

Bargain her life out.

I screamed into the echoing dungeon, "You need me alive, don't you? For the blood to work."

I put the dagger to my own throat.

He raised a hand to stop the guards from driving the daggers through Serena and my heart slowed with relief. I could see a hurricane of fear in Serena's eyes but she did not make any sound.

"If I die here, you lose, right?"

"Eleni, that's extreme." His fury was not lost on me.

"Let. Her. Go. And I will keep my word of helping you." My chest heaved vigorously, an unmistakable edge to my voice.

"How many lives are you going to save Eleni? You think you're a hero, don't you?"

"Let. Her. Go." I stared at him before looking at Serena.

"Eleni, no!"

I saw Serena's eyes close, tears streaking down her face. My heart broke.

"Oh, the drama!" Prince Nova shook his head, and gestured his guards to release her.

They unwillingly loosened their grip on her arms and she dashed to my cage. I stopped her from touching the bars. Her dress was all messed up, her brown curls tangled and the usual twinkle of her eyes dead. Serena was reduced to despair, but the fight had not left her.

I watched as Prince Nova came closer to Serena and put a caressing hand over her hair, tucking her curly light brown strands behind her ear. She went stiff, her nostrils flared and fists clenched.

"You know, Eleni. I always liked this one." He said looking at Serena in creepy adoration.

"I thought we had a deal. Do not touch her." I hissed.

"Yes, I am letting her go," he retreated his hand and threw them up in the air. He added, "But you see, I make the deals here."

My nails dug into my palms as I wanted to burn his face.

"A life for a life." He said.

Serena turned frantically to him and then to me. I found myself numb with fear. His smile was digging into my guts, the horror of his implication crystal clear.

"You don't have to," I cursed myself for letting a tear escape.

"You can go, dear Serena. My guards will safely escort you to wherever you say."

"I am not going anywhere." Serena spoke in a clear voice, turning to face him.

"Do you want to spend the night at the dungeon with your friend or perhaps...you prefer my personal dungeon?" He asked leaning into her.

She stood her ground, not letting him see her terror. Serena was always like that.

"I'd prefer to see you spend your whole life here," she spat.

And in a sudden movement, Prince Nova gripped her hair and her head jerked back.

She struggled in his hold and groaned as his pull on her head tightened. I watched his muscles flexing with the force. A deep frown on his face - the mask of goodness broken.

"You girls have gotten quite bold with me," he hissed in her ear, the veins in his neck twitched.

I wanted to scream, thrash him, bury him deep into the ground but I watched and watched. Helpless.

But Serena suddenly smiled, "No one is afraid of you. No one is afraid of a villain who they don't know exists."

A streak of rage flashed on the prince's face and he flung her body to the ground with a huge force.

She thrashed to the ground, her back touched the thunderous bars and she screamed in pain.

"Serena, move." I screamed and she did. Her agonized face burned into my eyes.

"I think its time." He said in a murderous voice and looked straight at me, "I will show you what I am, who I am and what I can do."

A chill crept up my body followed by another and several more. The dead stare that he directed at me, scared me like never before. I had seen his anger but not this. This was a promise. Cold-blooded promise.

He gestured his guards to grab Serena. She was exhausted and tormented to the level of immobility. They raised her by her arms and dragged her sagging body out of the dungeon. I wanted to stop them, needed a moment with her, wanted to apologize but only watched. Helpless.

"As I said she will be fine. But - a life for a life it is." He did not smile now, his inner devil on display.

"Is my blood all you need?" I asked, ignoring the meaning of his words!

Serena was spared but... another life?

"Well, I'd be happy to provide you a recipe, with all the ingredients, but I am afraid you'd not know how to use it." He smirked.

"And you do?"

"I am winning, aren't I?" He cocked his head to a side, raising a brow at me. I watched him walk backwards and disappearing into the blackness.

I looked at the dagger he had given me - I could end this. End myself and end it all. Or throw it at him? But what after that? Where else will they put me after this dungeon?

Maybe straight to Hell.

But I knew, he would take hold of another Luesha and repeat it allover again.

I had to stop this. Get out of here somehow.

A life for a life - I gulped. The Gemini Prince had meant it.

***

|| Serena's aesthetic ||