*********Harper's pov
I had never hated silence more than I did at that moment.
The deeper we ventured into the dungeon, the colder it became. The walls were damp with dark magic, and the air carried the faint scent of blood and decay. Every step echoed endlessly through the corridors, making it impossible to tell whether we were being followed.
Ellis walked ahead of me, her expression grim.
Vaelthor remained alert beside us, his hand never leaving the hilt of his sword.
No one spoke.
No one dared to.
I could feel the remnants of the fusion stirring inside me. The power of light and darkness flowed through my veins in uneasy harmony, and every now and then, my red eye would throb with a strange heat.
Something was wrong.
I could feel it.
We turned another corner.
Then I saw her.
My heart stopped.
"Natalie…"
She was lying on the cold stone floor.
Her clothes were torn.
Bruises covered nearly every inch of her body.
Blood stained her skin.
One of her arms was twisted unnaturally, and her breathing was so faint that I almost couldn't hear it.
She looked…
Broken.
Vaelthor was already moving before any of us could react.
"Natalie!"
He rushed forward and dropped to his knees beside her.
He carefully lifted her into his arms, his hands trembling for the first time since I had met him.
"Natalie…"
His voice cracked.
"Wake up."
He gently brushed the blood away from her face.
"Please."
She didn't respond.
"Our son…"
His grip tightened around her.
"Our son has been waiting for you."
There was desperation in his voice.
He looked at her as if she would disappear if he let go.
"Natalie, open your eyes."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked closer.
My heart felt unbearably heavy.
I knelt beside them and placed my hand near Natalie's neck.
A pulse.
Weak.
But there.
"She's alive," I whispered.
Relief flashed across Vaelthor's face.
Then—
A sharp metallic sound echoed through the dungeon.
Clang!
I looked up instantly.
Chains.
Silver chains covered in ancient runes shot out from the darkness.
"Ellis!"
The chains wrapped around her body before she could cast a spell.
They coiled around her arms.
Her waist.
Her legs.
Her neck.
The runes ignited with blinding silver light.
Ellis's eyes widened.
"No…"
She tried to move.
She couldn't.
I felt a chill run through me.
Ravenna's voice became unusually serious.
"That chain…"
Seraphina whispered.
"The Chain of the Ancient Witch."
My heart sank.
"What is that?"
"It was forged to capture the first witches."
I looked at Ellis desperately.
"It seals ancient witch magic completely."
Ellis struggled against the chains.
The runes tightened.
She gritted her teeth.
"I can't…"
A familiar laugh echoed through the dungeon.
Elegant.
Cruel.
Terrifying.
Seraphine.
She stepped out of the shadows with a smile that made my blood run cold.
"Well."
She looked at Ellis.
"The mighty Witch Queen looks rather helpless."
Ellis glared at her.
"Coward."
Seraphine laughed.
"You should feel honored."
She touched one of the chains gently.
"These were made specifically for witches like you."
Ellis tried to cast a spell.
Nothing happened.
The chains absorbed her magic instantly.
Seraphine looked at me.
"And you."
I stood up immediately.
"What do you want?"
She smiled.
"You."
The air around her changed.
Dark symbols appeared beneath her feet and she began chanting.
The language was unlike anything I had ever heard.
The moment the final word left her lips, she appeared directly in front of me.
Too fast.
I barely had time to react.
She grabbed my wrist.
A freezing sensation spread through my entire body.
I tried to pull away but I couldn't.
The dungeon spun violently.
My vision blurred.
"What…"
My head felt unbearably heavyand the world began tilting.
Seraphina's voice echoed through my mind.
"Harper!"
"Resist it!"
Ravenna shouted.
"Don't let her drag you under!"
I tried.
I really tried.
I gathered every bit of strength I had left.
For a brief moment, Seraphine frowned.
Then she tightened her grip.
The dizziness became overwhelming.
My legs gave out beneath me.
"No…"
I could hear Ellis calling my name.
"Harper!"
"Stay awake!"
"Don't close your eyes!"
Everything became darker.
Their voices became distant.
I couldn't feel anything anymore.
The last thing I saw was Seraphine smiling.
Then—
Darkness.
I collapsed.
***********Author's pov
The dungeon fell silent.
Vaelthor slowly stood, still holding Natalie in one arm.
His expression became terrifyingly cold.
He drew his sword.
Black energy erupted around the blade.
The killing intent in the dungeon became suffocating.
Seraphine looked at him with amusement.
"If you try anything…"
She tightened her grip on Harper's unconscious body.
"…then you can say goodbye to your Harper."
Vaelthor froze.
His eyes were fixed on Harper.
For a long moment, no one moved.
Then, with visible reluctance…
He lowered his sword.
The blade disappeared back into its sheath.
Seraphine smiled in satisfaction.
"good."
Ellis struggled violently against the chains.
"Vaelthor!"
But there was nothing he could do.
He held Natalie.
Harper was in Seraphine's hands.
And the Witch Queen herself was completely powerless.
**************