The tower shook like it had been struck by a god.
Rhiannan's heart jumped to her throat as the stone walls trembled and a deafening BOOM reverberated through the floorboards. Scrolls flew off the shelves. Bottles shattered. The air thickened with the scent of burning ozone and fear.
Arwen was already in motion, blade drawn, eye scanning the room for exits. Cal didn't flinch just flicked his fingers and sent a cascade of shimmering runes to seal the windows.
"They found you faster than I thought," he muttered, grabbing a staff from the corner of the room. "Damn royals have bloodhounds in the sky now."
"Who's they?" Rhiannan snapped, backpedaling toward the nearest wall. Her voice was shaky, but her stance wasn't. That fight or flight trigger didn't hit her with fear...it made her angry. "Be more specific, Gandalf."
"The royal fucking guard," Cal said. "And they've brought a seer. They wouldn't come storming in without backup. They're here to bag you before your powers grow any stronger."
Another crack echoed through the tower, and the ceiling splintered above them.
Rhiannan swore and turned toward Arwen. "Do we fight or run?"
His eye glinted. "Both."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward a bookcase. Cal slammed his staff against the floor and a hidden passage opened in the wall with a hiss of air and magic.
"Tunnel leads out the back and into the forest," Cal said. "But they'll follow. They can scent her magic now."
"I'll slow them down," Cal added, voice grim. "Buy you time."
"You'll get yourself killed," Arwen growled.
"I'm already mostly dead," the old man snorted. "Now go. You've got a goddess to protect."
Rhiannan paused just long enough to grab the green bird from her shoulder and nuzzle it to her cheek. She stared at Cal and rushed forward, embracing him tightly. "Don't you die, you old wizard. I want to come back and visit someday." Cal smiled warmly, embracing her back. He said sharply, "Don't your worry for this old fool, you've got a world to conquer and destiny to meet!" He shimmered out of view with a wink. She sucked in a breath.
"I'll be fine," she whispered to the bird. "Take care of Cal please!"
The bird chirped once and flew to the rafters.
They bolted, hand in hand rushing down the tunnel.
The tunnel was narrow, lit only by faint blue stones embedded in the walls. The magic buzzed against Rhiannan's skin like static electricity. Her breath came hard and fast as she ran beside Arwen, their boots pounding against the ancient stone.
Voices echoed behind them. Angry. Commanding.
Then...
A sudden snap of magic. The tunnel exploded with white light. Rhiannan screamed as pain lanced through her skull and spine.
She collapsed.
Arwen whipped around, scooping her into his arms, but it was too late.
The light dimmed.
And standing at the tunnel exit, dressed in black and gold armor, was a commander of the Royal Guard.
He raised a curved blade. "Seize the traitor and the goddess."
Arwen snarled, shifting partially mid motion. His skin rippled, and for a brief moment, his shadow transformed into a prowling panther. He launched forward, but a second guard appeared and struck him in the head with a glowing club.
Everything went black.
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: Torture, Abuse, Violence, and Emotional Trauma
This next scene includes physical and psychological torture. Please proceed with care.
The throne room was colder than she expected.
Not the kind of cold that made you shiver. No, this was the kind that crept into your bones and curled around your heart, whispering that you were alone and no one was coming to save you.
Chains rattled.
Rhiannan hung suspended from the ceiling by her wrists, her bare toes brushing the marble floor as the cuffs around her wrists pulsed with cruel magic. Her arms screamed from the weight, her shoulders on fire, but the cuffs made sure she couldn't access even a flicker of power to help herself.
She was powerless. Vulnerable. And absolutely fucking furious. She had no idea who these fucking people were or what they fucking wanted. Her power blazed inside of her chest, eager to be released.
"Tell us where the spell was cast," Queen Lorelei purred as she circled her, each heel click echoing like a death knell. "Tell us how a creature like you came to be. Who gave you the gift of divinity? What ritual did they use? How many others were there?"
Rhiannan spat a bloodied glob at her feet. "Eat shit." She grinned like a maniac, memories of being a prisoner of war in Iraq floating through her head. She knew now that she was trained to withstand torture and she'd be damned if they learned a single thing from her. She steeled her resolve, preparing for the worst.
She said slowly, "I have no memories. I only know my first name. You're wasting your time you dim witted fucks!"
King Kristoff snarled and stepped forward, striking her across the face with the back of his hand. Her head snapped sideways, blood dripping from her split lip.
"Such a filthy mouth," he growled, grabbing her jaw and forcing her to look at him. "We'll break you open like a pig and sift through your guts if we have to."
Lorelei smiled, a predator in silks. "Oh no, darling. There are far more entertaining ways to extract truth."
She waved her hand, and the guards brought forth a silver rod tipped with glowing runes. The moment it touched Rhiannan's ribs, her back arched in agony. Magic pulsed into her nerves, searing, splintering white hot fire that burned through every synapse.
She screamed. This was pain unlike anything from her memories but she snapped her mouth shut, refusing to even allow them to hear her scream.
Somewhere in the castle, Arwen felt it. The bond between them flared like a wound torn open. He staggered in his cell, fists slamming against the iron wall.
"Rhiannan!" he howled. He panicked, eyes wide as he felt the searing pain of her torture. He raged and threw himself into the bars of the magical cage, snarling like a beast as he tried to escape to no avail. He screamed for all to hear, his rage terrifying and complete. He would have his revenge.
But she couldn't hear him. Not over the laughing.
Lorelei dragged the rod down her spine, slowly. Deliberately. "Do you feel that, little goddess? That's your power trying to escape you. It wants out. Maybe we'll help it."
Kristoff stepped forward next, holding a whip made of enchanted chain links. With a crack, it tore into her back, shredding skin and drawing deep, magical burns. Her knees buckled, but the chains held her up.
Again.
And again.
And again.
She steeled herself, the pain slicing through her like lightning and fire. She held firm, tears pouring down her face but her mouth remained shut. She would not break. She would not scream.
They taunted her. Called her filth. Called her a mistake. Lorelei asked about her parents, about the prophecy. She asked if she'd already chosen her consorts. If she'd bred. If she could be bred.
The questions were foul. The answers, unspoken.
Rhiannan stayed silent even as they carved into her skin, even as they branded her shoulder with a searing iron seal that smelled like her flesh cooking.
But inside, she burned brighter.
A fire with no air still burns. Quietly. Vengefully.
She gave them nothing. Repeating the same line over and over. "I know nothing. I have no memories." Her mind began to fog over she knew she wouldn't last much longer through this torture. She tried to send a silent plea to Arwen, letting him know her love for him. Just as she was about to give up hope, they grew bored. Lorelei spat, "She obviously knows nothing. Maybe she isn't the threat we thought."
Kristoff laughed evilly. "It doesn't matter. She's divine. She will produce divine children. We will breed her. The divine children will rule for centuries." He grinned smugly. "I'll be the first to ruin her and implant my seed. The children will be the most powerful fae in existence!"
Queen Lorelei just stared at her husband. She was disgusted. He wanted to breed her personally? She shouldn't be surprised. The man would fuck anything with a crotch and Lorelei had long since lost interest in his boring cock. She didn't give a rats ass what he did. But he would not replace her with this filth. She snorted angrily, "You absolutely will not fucking touch this filth!"
He glared at her with rage, storming up to her and grabbing her throat with his huge hand with impossible speed. He squeezed so hard she felt her head might pop off. He moved his face so close to hers that his spittle landed on her nose. "I will do whatever the fuck I want in this kingdom, you worthless bitch." He threw her against the wall and began to kick her repeatedly while she was down. She grunted with pain, letting him let his rage out on her. She kept her head low, quiet and embarrassed.
Rhiannan witnessed the entire thing, her eyes half closed and almost passed out. She was terrified he would turn that rage onto her next.
By the time they tossed her into the dungeon, she was barely conscious.
Arwen caught her before she hit the floor. His hands trembled as he gathered her into his lap, brushing matted hair from her bruised face.
"Oh gods, Rhi," he whispered, voice cracking. "I felt it all. I couldn't stop it...goddess, I couldn't..." He mumbled, half coherent, his body broken and bruised from repeatedly throwing himself into the cage bars.
"I know," she rasped, barely audible. Her body trembled as Arwen pushed what healing magic he had left into her. her wounds began to close and she sighed with relief. She wasn't 100%, but she would live.
He held her tighter, forehead resting against hers. "I swear to you. I'll burn this whole kingdom to the fucking ground."
Footsteps echoed down the corridor and they clutched each other tightly.
A shadow appeared at the bars, slender fingers clutching a ring of keys.
"I'm getting you out," came a soft, desperate voice.
Arwen tensed, snarling as he recognized her.
"Gailia," he growled. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Helping," she whispered, tears already welling in her eyes at the sight of her brother cradling Rhiannan's broken body. "I didn't know. I didn't know she was the one. I didn't know they'd..."
Her voice broke.
Rhiannan stirred, lifting her head slowly, one bloodshot eye glaring.
"You better be real, princess," she hissed, "because if this is a trick, I'll gut you with my fucking teeth."
Gailia knelt beside the bars, unlocking the cell. "It's not. I swear it's not. I've been waiting for someone like you my whole life. Someone strong enough to fight them."
She looked at Arwen, pleading.
"I was just a kid when you left. I thought you were dead. I didn't blame you, I was glad you escaped. But I needed you. I needed someone. And now she's here, and I won't let them have her."
Her voice shook, but her hands were steady.
"I have the map. I have the codes. And I'm not letting them break her. Or you."
Rhiannan stared at her, then nodded once.
Arwen's lip curled, but his arms tightened protectively around Rhiannan as she weakly reached for Gailia's hand.
"Then let's fuck up a kingdom," she whispered.
Gailia gave a shaky smile, unlocking the shackles. "Welcome to the rebellion, Goddess."