Lucia's Point of View

Unknown Location

“AAAAAAHHHHH!!!” I was awakened with horrible pain in my right hand. “What’s happening?!”

My entire right hand felt like it was on fire as the pain traveled up my arm. A few sobs of pain left my mouth as I tried to grasp the situation. Looking around was pointless as I was stuck staring at the ceiling once again. Biting my lips to try and focus on something else, I stopped as I was startled by a sudden but familiar appearance.

“Are you finally awake?” The woman from before inquired as she stepped into view and practically leaned over my face. “I thought about how to wake you.” Her hair dangled down onto my face as I looked at her carefully. “Then I figured I should do something to really grab your attention.” It felt like some hot liquid was running down my hand, wrist, and arm.

Holding a small finger as she backed away, my eyes widened, and my body trembled. She put up the holders once more to prevent me from turning my head so I couldn’t see. Yet, I knew without even seeing the wound. This woman had cut off one of my fingers. My breathing quickened as she twisted it around with blood on her hands.

“Was the pink nail polish to match your hair?” She inquired before shifting my restraints into an upright position and stepping in front of me. “Or was it for another reason? I will admit, it is cute.” Leaning against me, I tried to ignore the pain I felt, but tears quickly came to my eyes. “Oh, don’t cry! I didn’t wake you up so you could cry!” Stopping my tears, I watched her cautiously.

Another gem lit up on the other side of the room. Alwin was there in restraints that likely mirrored my own. Trying to move only aggravated the wound. I tried to wiggle my fingers, but they were encased in some manner of contraption once more. My magic wouldn’t activate as I felt sweat start to drip down the side of my cheeks from the pain.

“Leave him alone, you monster!” I told her through clenched teeth.

“I doubt this man even knows what the word ‘alone’ means.” She stated as she moved over to him. “General of Lestrania, and in command of its Elven forces. Nobility, powerful, and quite handsome.” Tapping his cheek where his scar was, she smirked. “Only this little scar on his right cheek could be considered his only blemish.”

My body thrashed violently against the restraints that held me when she moved to his left cheek. Her finger dug into his skin as she cut into him. A slash appeared across his cheek as she did it in less than a second. Alwin flinched but stayed unconscious for the most part. Blood dripped from the wound, down his neck, and into his clothes.

“No!”

She backed away and seemed to examine her work. “You know, I really wanted them to match, but I think I was slightly off. Maybe a little too close to his mouth?”

“Get away from him!” I cried out as I strained to move, even though I knew it was futile.

“Don’t you think so?” I didn’t answer as she looked back at me. “No?”

“Please! Just-Just wait! Okay! I’ll do whatever you want! Just leave him alone!”

Stepping away from him, she smirked before she sauntered over to me. “What can you do for me?” Her tone was filled with her usual smugness. “And be honest. You don’t have any real power in Helmsforth, let alone Lestrania. You’re nothing more than a trophy of sorts. Nice to look at, but that’s about all.”

A few tears rolled down my cheeks. “Please don’t hurt him. I can talk to the Priestesses about you! See what they know!”

For a moment, she seemed to consider it. “The only real problem with that,” Her tone turned bored. “Is that I would have to let you go, which I’m obviously not going to do.” Then her fingers wiped away my tears. “It is amusing that you didn’t cry when I cut off your finger…” Quickly moving back over to Alwin, she grabbed his cheeks. “But him!” Pressing firmly against my restraints, I watched her carefully. “I touch him just barely, and you’re practically on the verge of becoming a sobbing mess.”

“Please. Please. Please!” I begged. “He doesn’t have anything to do with this!”

“Maybe.” She agreed before she shrugged. “Maybe not.” Suddenly, the palm of her hand slammed into his mouth as she squeezed with an alarming amount of strength that woke him. “There he is!” Her triumphant cries sobered Alwin rather quick, but he began to cry out when his eyes met mine. “Shhhhh.” She let out as she kept her hand over his mouth as she moved behind him.