[ Chapter 26: Deal ]
Selene | Selvy
My head throbbed as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. Blinking to refocus my eyes from the bright light, I roam my eyes around the opulent room that held me captive. Golden walls gleamed in the bright light, and diamond chandeliers cast an ethereal glow. The air was heavy with a mixture of fear and confusion.
I glanced down at my attire, stunned by the extravagant dress that adorned my figure. Its intricate embroidery and the weight of real pearls in my headdress only added to the surreal atmosphere. How had I ended up in this luxurious prison?
A shiver ran down my spine as I realized that I had been abducted. Panic threatened to consume me, but I steadied my trembling hands and forced myself to think. I needed to find a way out, to escape the clutches of my captor and discover the truth behind this ordeal.
Carefully, I examined the room, searching for any sign or clue that could lead me to answers. The grandeur that surrounded me felt suffocating, a cruel contrast to my current predicament. But I refused to succumb to despair.
Just as I approached the door, it swung open, revealing someone standing in the doorway. Memories of our encounter during the birthday celebration flooded back, but his expression now held no warmth or familiarity. Instead, there was a cold, calculating look in his eyes.
"You didn't really think you could escape, did you?" Parch sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "You're ours now, and there's nowhere to run."
Fear gripped my heart. I already didn't like his presence before and it only added to my hatred now. My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of his involvement in my abduction.
Parch's grip tightened on my arm, his fingers digging into my skin as he forced me to sit on the plush sofa. Though fear and nervousness coursed through my veins, I couldn't suppress the fire of anger that burned within me. I glared at him, my eyes conveying my defiance and contempt.
"Sa umpisa, hindi ako naniwala na wala kang maalala," Parch spoke again, his voice dripping with a mix of arrogance and authority as he circled around me, maintaining his domineering aura. "I was sent to Palares to assassinate a high-ranking official, and when I received the news that there's a bounty on your head, I immediately headed here."
I continued to glare at him, refusing to show any sign of weakness. "Anong kailangan mo sa 'kin?" I demanded, my voice laced with defiance.
"Marami," he replied, his hands gripping the edge of the sofa as he leaned in, his gaze menacing. "If you could just remember them now, you won't be asking that question. Instead, you would ask how the hell am I alive."
Frustration mixed with my fear as his words echoed in my mind. The confusion of my lost memories only heightened the urgency of the situation. I needed answers, and I needed them now.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and defiance.
"Try to recall... ah, you can't," he sneered, a wicked smile curling his lips. He laughed maniacally, relishing in my disorientation. "I wonder why Sigrid wished to capture you alive when Uncle Baltras ordered your execution."
A chill ran down my spine as his words sent a wave of realization crashing over me. The revelation that there were forces at play, conflicting agendas that sought to control and manipulate me, added another layer of danger to an already treacherous situation.
"Because I am a virgin mermaid, and foremost, a princess," I stated, my voice filled with a mixture of pride and defiance.
"Exactly, Selvyna! You got that right!" Parch exclaimed, his laughter echoing through the room. "Virgin mermaids with locked powers are captivating. He will use you before he disposes of you."
My heart pounded in my chest as I grappled with the gravity of his words. My virgin power, my hidden potential, made me both a target and a valuable asset. But I refused to be a mere pawn in their twisted games.
"And what is your stand?" I challenged, mustering every ounce of courage within me to face him.
"Well, I serve another master," Parch revealed, his voice filled with a chilling certainty.
As the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, a cold realization settled over me. I was trapped in a web of treachery, with Parch acting as the puppeteer, carrying out the orders of a hidden master. But I wouldn't let fear consume me. I would find a way to break free and reclaim control over my own destiny.
"What does your master want from me?" I demanded, my voice laced with defiance despite the fear that threatened to consume me.
Parch took a step closer, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Oh, Selvy, you have something that our master desires," he replied, his voice filled with malevolence. "You possess a power that can tip the scales of our world, and we won't rest until it's under our control. It is not just your locked powers, but beyond Dalaysia ever known."
Dread washed over me as I realized the gravity of the situation. I was not just a captive; I was a pawn in a dangerous game orchestrated by those who sought to exploit my abilities. But I refused to be a helpless pawn.
"You won't succeed," I declared, my voice trembling but filled with determination. "I may be trapped now, but I won't let you use me for your twisted ambitions. I will find a way to escape, and I will fight against you until my last breath."
Parch's eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger crossing his face. "You underestimate our power," he hissed, his tone venomous. "But you will soon learn the extent of our reach. Resistance is futile."
Parch resumed his pacing, his intentions clear as he made his way towards the exit. But just as he was about to leave, he abruptly turned around, his eyes fixed on me. His voice carried a chilling warning as he delivered his final words.
"You will be meeting our master, which is why you are dressed in regal and elegant attire," Parch revealed, a hint of anticipation in his tone. "This place is siren-proof, my dear. Your scream holds little significance if you harbor any thoughts of escape."
With that unsettling statement, he left me alone in the luxurious room, a prisoner of confusion and uncertainty. The weight of my situation pressed upon me, and I couldn't help but feel trapped, like a pawn in a dangerous game. My mind raced with questions and fears, but amidst the chaos, a glimmer of determination ignited within me. I refused to succumb to despair. I would find a way to unravel the mysteries that surrounded me and break free from this sinister hold.
As time dragged on, my unease grew, and the room seemed to close in around me. I wondered what awaited me when I finally met this master, Baltras. The thought sent shivers down my spine, but I couldn't afford to cower in fear. I had to find strength within myself.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and in walked a figure cloaked in darkness. His presence exuded power and malevolence, leaving no doubt that this was the infamous master he was talking about. I felt a surge of adrenaline mixed with dread as he approached, his eyes gleaming with a twisted ambition.
"So, this is the virgin mermaid, Selvyna," He spoke with a voice dripping with malice. "A prized possession with untapped potential."
I mustered up the courage to meet his gaze, despite the fear coursing through my veins. "What do you want from me?"
He approached, his eyes filled with a sinister gleam. "I seek to make a deal with the deity Fate of Esher. I will offer your life as an exchange, in return for more territories of water under my control."
My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the gravity of his intentions. My very existence was to be used as a bargaining chip in his quest for power and dominance. I knew I had to find a way to escape this dreadful fate.
Just then, the door swung open once again, and Lula, Parch's twin sister, stepped into the room. Hatred emanated from her every pore, her eyes locked on me with a venomous glare.
"So, you still don't remember me, do you?" Lula's voice dripped with bitterness. "We were childhood friends, Selvyna, until you cast me aside without a second thought."
Confusion filled my mind as I struggled to recall any memories of our supposed friendship. But the blank slate of my past offered no answers, fueling Lula's resentment even further.
"I hate you, Selvy," Lula spat, her voice laced with venom. "You stole everything from me, and now you dare to stand here, oblivious to the pain you caused."
The tension in the room grew thicker as the air crackled with animosity. I felt trapped, surrounded by enemies who sought to manipulate and destroy me.
Before any further words could be exchanged, the door burst open once again, but this time, it wasn't a planned entrance. The room was filled with chaos as a frantic figure stumbled in, his face contorted with fear.
"The entrance is under attack!" he screamed, his voice filled with panic.
Parch immediately sprung into action, gripping the man's arm firmly. "My lord, we need to secure your safety!" he declared, his voice authoritative and urgent.
Meanwhile, Lula's grip tightened around my hand, her eyes gleaming with a mix of anger and determination. "Come to me, you pathetic excuse for a mermaid. We're not done with you yet," she spat, her words laced with venom. "It seems your comrades are more persistent than I thought."
Fear and frustration overwhelmed me, and I struggled against Lula's grasp, desperate to break free. "Let me go!" I screamed, my voice filled with defiance and a burning desire for freedom.
But our escape was interrupted by a sudden, violent crash. The roof of the room was torn apart, debris raining down upon us. Amidst the chaos, my focus was drawn to the large hole in the ceiling, and the massive, reptilian head that emerged from it.
"Lutch!" I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest.
The dragon's eyes locked onto us, its fiery gaze filled with a mixture of fury and determination. It was Lutch, in his powerful dragon form, ready to protect and fight alongside me.
"Lula," Parch called out to his sister, urgency in his voice. "Bring her to the waterfall at any cost."
Lula nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "Stay safe, brother," she replied, her voice laced with concern.
Parch and his master, that darn old man with ill intentions, swiftly departed, leaving Lula and me alone in the room. The air crackled with tension as we prepared for the imminent attack.
Summoning all the strength within me, I let out a piercing scream, my voice echoing through the room and reverberating in Lula's ears. She winced, her grip on her ears tightening, clearly affected by the high-pitched sound.
"Fucking bitch!" she exclaimed.
"I'm sorry!" I shouted, the words escaping my lips instinctively. Why was I apologizing to someone who posed a threat to me? But perhaps in that moment, my humanity prevailed over the enmity we shared.
Seizing the opportunity, I darted away from Lula, sprinting towards a broken window where Lutch awaited me in his majestic dragon form. Without hesitation, I leaped onto his back, feeling the warmth of his scales beneath me.
Lutch unleashed a powerful blast of fire from his jaws, creating a path amidst the chaos. The flames danced and roared, clearing the way for our escape.
"Let's get out of here!" I shouted to Lutch, my voice filled with determination.
As the wind rushed through my hair, and the thrill of freedom coursed through my veins, a sudden jolt interrupted our escape. A lasso snaked through the air, finding its mark around one of Lutch's powerful legs. It tightened, causing the dragon to sway and falter mid-flight.
Lula's taunting voice sliced through the air, filled with malice and determination. "You are not going anywhere, you bitch!"
Fear gripped my heart as I clung onto Lutch's back, trying to maintain my balance despite the dragon's disrupted flight. Lutch let out a roar of frustration, his fiery breath momentarily forgotten as he struggled against the restraint.
A scream coming from my mouth filled the scene when I fell off his back. Pain seared through my body as I lay on the ground, helpless and vulnerable. Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of physical agony and the overwhelming despair of my situation. I desperately scanned the chaotic scene, searching for any sign of rescue, my heart pleading for his presence.
"Valan...help," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
But the chaos around me drowned out my plea. Lutch was still engaged in a fierce battle, struggling against the overwhelming numbers of Lula's men. Each passing moment felt like an eternity as I lay there, my consciousness teetering on the edge.
The pain in my back intensified, shooting waves of agony through my body. My vision blurred, and darkness threatened to engulf me. In my weakened state, I couldn't shake off the feeling of abandonment, the crushing weight of being alone in my most vulnerable moment.
"Valan... where are you?" I murmured, the words escaping as a fragile breath. The hope of rescue flickered, threatened to fade away completely.
But then, through the haze of pain and despair, a glimmer of hope emerged. Footsteps, urgent and determined, grew louder. And then, a figure appeared. Is it Valan?
"Selene...”
•×•×•×•×•×•
VOTE ~ COMMENT ~ SHARE
are very much appreciated, thank you!