“I understand your desire to return to your life in your village, but there are matters that need to be addressed. Matters that concern both of us.”
“Concernbothof us? How convenient for you! You brought me here against my will, binding me to you with some ridiculous magical bond. I want nothing to do with you or your so-called destiny!”
Ryu’s expression hardened, his voice growing colder. “You may not understand now, but this bond between us holds significance. I brought you here to reverse it, to free us both from its grasp. But it is not a simple task, Ella.”
“I don’t care!” Ella screamed. “I want to go home!” As her voice rose in volume, alarm crossed the Elf’s face, and Ella pressed her advantage, screaming as loud as she could.
“Quiet!” the Elf hissed, stepping closer to her. “Drawing attention won’t help you. The world outside is not as forgiving as you might think. You are safer here, under my protection.”
“I don’t need your protection,” Ella seethed, her voice filled with defiance. “I’d rather face the dangers of the world than remain in captivity. Mark my words, Ryu, I will find a way to escape and go home. And when I do, you won’t see me again.”
And the Elf laughed in her face. “Escape is impossible.” He shook his head. “I promise you, I shall return you to your village once I ascend the Twilight Throne.”
“And how long will that take?”
The Elf shrugged, his gaze dropping from hers, and Ella frowned. The dragon in the stable next door huffed loudly, and she knew she couldn’t spend another minute trapped in here, like she was little more than an animal herself.
She had to escape.
She staggered on her feet, as if she was swooning. She’d seen her former friends swoon enough times to know how it was done. The girls she’d played with before the pirates and the Elves had come had been delicate, and many of them had often fainted in the Drakkan summer.
Now, she called on all her acting skill. Letting her body go limp and hiding her face with the fall of her brown hair, Ella swayed on her feet. And as she had known he would, the Elf bounded closer to catch her in his arms. Ella suppressed a smile. Human or Elven, it seemed all males were the same.
As soon as he had her loosely in his arms, she reacted, stamping on his foot and knocking her head into his. It made her teeth clack together, and she bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood, but it worked—it distracted Ryu enough that she could escape the circle of his arms and dart around him for the open door.
With a burst of strength, she pushed past Ryu and sprinted towards the door, her mind set on escape. Ryu lunged forward, his fingers grazing her arm, but she slipped away, disappearing through the door and into the corridor.
Scrambling past the sleeping dragon in the stall next door, Ella slipped through the stable doors and into the moonlit gardens outside. Her heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted toward the dense cover of the surrounding woods, the leaves rustling under her hurried footsteps.
A spike of anger coursed through her, and Ella shook her head. Was this more Elven magic?
As she ran on, Ella could feel Ryu's presence behind her, a testament to the mysterious bond that linked them.
Fear propelled her forward, urging her to go faster, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Ryu was closing in. His Elven magic granted him an advantage she couldn’t easily overcome. But she had to try. She would never give in.
Desperation consumed her as she pushed herself to the limits of her physical capabilities.
But just as she thought she might escape his grasp, Ryu appeared before her like a specter emerging from the shadows. His eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. Defying her attempts to evade him, he swiftly closed the distance between them.
With a flick of his wrist, Ryu employed his magic, ensnaring Ella in a binding spell. Ropes materialized out of thin air, wrapping tightly around her wrists, constricting her movements. She gasped in pain as the bindings dug into her skin.
“You thought you could trick me, escape from me? Foolish human,” Ryu spat, his voice laced with fury. “You can’t escape me.”
Ella struggled against her restraints, her eyes flashing with defiance.
“You may think you have me now, Ryu, but I will never submit,” she retorted.
“We’ll see about that,” he said with a frown. With a wave of his hand, he pulled her along behind him, her form floating through the air as he took her back to the stables.
It was over. She’d gambled, and she’d lost. Now that she’d tried to escape once already, the Elf would be doubly careful to keep her on captivity. Who knew when she would get another opportunity to escape?
Despair filled her heart as Ryu dragged Ella back to the stables, their footsteps echoing through the quiet woods. The air was thick with tension, a swirling mixture of despair, anger, and frustration.
As they reached the stables, Ryu reached out to grip Ella’s arm, tugging her closer. She tried to pull away, but he was strong for her.
Even as her feet scrabbled on the threshold, Ella was dragged into the stall at the back of the stables, past the snoring dragon. Frustrated tears filled her eyes, and Ella sniffled as she was pushed into the stall that had become her prison.
“Everyone knows this is where I keep Ember,” Ryu spat, as he shoved her into the stall. “I’m the only one who comes here, so don’t try anything else.” Ella glared at him, imagining herself scratching his eyes out.
