The Elements of Arialora

Prologue

She walked swiftly down the black halls. She looked out where the windows should be, but only saw more black wall. She left the dark grey carpet and her feet hit stone stairs. Her heels clicked and echoed as she walked down the torch lit stairway. She could hear the cries of pain from below as the guard's tortured prisoners.

Soon the red flames turned blue as she neared the entrance. She faced a titanium door with three bars going down it. She swiped her card and it opened, scraping against the ground. "Ms. Desdemona," The guards greeted her. She replied with a nod.

Desdemona walked past the cells filled with sick and frail people. Some held new prisoners whose bodies had fresh cuts on them. She walked until she reached cell fifty-eight. Next to it was fifty-nine.

In cell fifty-eight held a skinny, bloody, and bruised woman. Her white hair crisp with blood. Her hands chained to the wall with her head hung low. Small, ragged breaths were all that came out of her mouth as her body tried to stay alive.

In the next cell was a similar case, instead a man. Blue hair mixed with the dark red of his blood. Slow breaths he breathed, making sure to breath from his mouth, just in case he spit up blood.

Desdemona smiled sickly at the prisoners. She started to walk in between them, back and forth. Her heels clicking loudly once again.

"All you have to do is tell us where the girl is located, then you'll be set free." She said in her evil voice. Her hair didn't need to be covered in blood to be red. Her dark eyes looked at them, waiting for a response.

"Never." The man croaked out. Desdemona chuckled, putting one bony hand to her mouth as she walked.

"But just imagine how easy it will be." She started again, "Just tell us where you sent her, and you can be free into the world." She said as if it was the best possible thing.

But it wasn't.

The war only ended about 20 years ago, no one is truly safe. The elements don't trust each other, that's how you get organizations like The Black Abyss.

"We'll never tell." The woman's voice was hoarse, and it took much effort to speak. Desdemona's face turned to rage.

Rage that she could not get it out of them. Rage that her master will feel once she reports that they won't budge. She should set them afire like a firecracker and watch them turn to ash.

But she controlled her anger.

"Fine." She said as she walked away. Only a few moments later she returned with a small knife and keys.

She set the keys down and put a calm face on. She started to heat the blade with a single flame as she spoke, "Once we find that girl, master will be so pleased. Pleased to have his final weapon. To be able to rule not just one element, not two, but all." She smiled as the blade got hotter and hotter.

"Never!" The woman yelled, pulling at the chains that bound her to the wall.

Desdemona's face filled with more anger at the audacity she thought she had to yell at her. Her! She picked up the keys and opened the cell. The lady moved back to the wall in fear.

Desdemona bent down on one knee and pressed the knife to her scared cheek. The woman flinched ever so slightly as it pressed into her skin. She felt the small drops of blood trickle down her cheek and her husband's worried eyes watching.

But before it went any deeper, a guard called for her. "The master needs you." He said and went back to his post.

She ran one long finger above the cut and then stood and left abruptly. Locking the cell behind her. Her footsteps faded as she walked farther.

"She'll be okay," Her husband reassured her. She nodded and said, "I know," Then pressed her head back against the cold stone walls of the prison.

She wondered how her daughter was. Was Arialora Evergrove okay?