Selene's consciousness returned slowly, like a nightmare unfolding. Her body ached, her wrists shackled in cold iron. The weight of her situation dragged at her, the burn of the chains sinking into her skin like poisoned thorns. Her senses sharpened through the haze of pain: the scent of damp stone, the faint fragrance of burning incense, the flickering torchlight that cast unsettling shadows against the obsidian walls.
She was in Kael's domain.
Her fingers twitched, testing the strength of the chains that held her. They were no ordinary shackles. Enchanted with Abyssal Silver, they were forged to restrain even the mightiest of sorceresses. No one had ever escaped them—no one but Kael.
Her breath was ragged, her mind clouded with pain, but she would not yield. Not now. Not ever.
A familiar voice sliced through the silence.
"Awake already?"
Kael's golden eyes gleamed from the darkness like a predator watching its prey. His presence filled the chamber, calm and absolute, the very air bending to his will.
Selene refused to flinch, refused to look away.
"Enjoying your hospitality?" Kael's lips curled in a smirk, his voice low, dripping with venom.
She spat blood onto the floor, the crimson splash stark against the cold stone. "Go to hell."
Kael chuckled, his amusement unwavering. "I'd rather bring hell to you."
He stepped forward, his fingers trailing lightly over the enchanted chains, inspecting them with a casual interest, as though they were mere toys to be studied.
"These are crafted from Abyssal Silver," Kael mused, his tone almost reverent. "Strong enough to hold a god. Certainly enough to hold you."
Selene's jaw clenched. The chains bit deeper, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her struggle.
But Kael wasn't finished. He knelt beside her, his presence enveloping her like a storm closing in.
"Tell me, Selene," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent a chill down her spine. "Did you really think the Veiled Order could protect you?"
Her silence was all the answer he needed.
Kael leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "They never stood a chance."
Her mind raced. She had been so careful. She had hidden herself well, kept her secrets tight. And yet, here she was, caught in Kael's grasp. Which meant… someone had betrayed her.
"Who?" she whispered, her voice hoarse, barely audible.
Kael tilted his head, his gaze never leaving hers. "Who what?"
She swallowed, her throat tight with growing dread. "Who sold me out?"
Kael chuckled darkly, the sound echoing in the chamber. "Why does it matter?"
Her fingers curled into fists, the iron chains cutting into her skin.
"It matters," she hissed, her voice barely containing the fury building inside her.
Kael regarded her for a long moment, his eyes studying her with a mix of amusement and contempt. Then, to her shock, he answered.
"It was someone very close to you."
Selene's stomach twisted, her heart skipping a beat.
"Your mentor."
The Grandmaster.
Her breath caught in her throat. The world seemed to tilt, the weight of his betrayal crashing down on her like a thunderstorm. She couldn't breathe.
Kael watched her carefully, his expression unreadable as the realization sank in. Then he leaned closer, his voice soft, almost sympathetic.
"He chose survival over loyalty," Kael said, his words like a dagger twisting in her heart. "Just like you will."
Selene's eyes flashed with fury. "I will never betray my cause."
Kael smiled, a smile colder than ice. "We'll see."
Hours passed.
Kael left her alone in the chamber, with only her thoughts to torment her. The silence was deafening, the weight of her betrayal more suffocating than the chains themselves. Her mind replayed everything—the Grandmaster's warning, his lies, his manipulations. Her trust had been shattered in an instant.
But Kael had miscalculated.
She was not broken.
She was furious.
The chains bit deeper into her wrists as she shifted, testing them once more. If she had to tear herself apart to escape, she would. Her cause was everything—nothing would stop her.
Before she could act, the door creaked open.
Kael returned.
And this time, he wasn't alone.
Two armored guards dragged a man into the chamber, his form slumped and barely conscious. Selene's breath caught in her throat as she recognized him.
The Grandmaster.
His robes were torn, his face bruised and bloodied, his once-imposing presence reduced to a shell of his former self. The guards dropped him unceremoniously to the floor. The old man collapsed, his body shaking with pain.
Selene's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't look away.
"What is this?" she demanded, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and rage.
Kael folded his arms, his expression cold and detached. "Justice."
He turned to her, his gaze piercing.
"You wanted to know if he betrayed you?" Kael motioned toward the Grandmaster's limp body, his boot nudging the old man with casual cruelty. "Ask him yourself."
Selene's throat tightened. Her world spun as the Grandmaster groaned, lifting his head slowly, his eyes meeting hers—eyes filled with guilt and regret.
"I… I had no choice," he rasped, his voice trembling. "I had to."
Her world crumbled. The foundation of everything she had fought for shattered in an instant.
She had fought for him. Trusted him. And now he had sold her to Kael.
A dagger clattered to the floor beside her, its cold steel gleaming in the dim light.
Selene stared at it, her heart thundering in her chest. The weight of Kael's words settled over her like a death sentence.
"Make a choice, Selene."
Her fingers trembled as she reached for the dagger, her mind a storm of conflicting emotions. Revenge? Or redemption? Would she take the path of vengeance, or prove Kael wrong?
The answer was simple.
But she wasn't ready to decide yet.
To be continued....