"Another witch?" I asked, finding it hard to believe.

Our people despise witches the king most of all, so why on earth would he have one on his side? It couldn't be true, but as I looked into Lizzy's eyes I saw no trace of a joke, no trace of humour, only a serious look from her words.

"This witch is more powerful than I. As I said before, I sensed their aura right when I came through the door. A witch that powerful, I'm surprised my family back home couldn't sense them." Lizzy stated and leaned back against the bars that separated our cells.

"Is there any way we could defeat them?" I asked.

"Not by ourselves. We need help from my coven, though I doubt they'll even want to, they haven't stepped out of their base for decades. Their all terrified of the King and the Prince"

I tried to move closer to Lizzy, to try and comfort her from whatever pain I could see in her eyes, but whenever I moved, pain would shoot through my body and I would crumble onto the stone floor. Trying not to cry whilst there.

"Do you want me to heal you?" Lizzy asked, when she noticed my obvious pain. Her expression was filled with genuine concern, a look I hadn't seen much here.

"Can you do that?" I questioned in disbelief.

"Of course I can, I'm a witch." She said, as if her healing abilities were obvious. I felt my cheeks heat up from embarrassment. Lizzy had already said that she was the most powerful witch in her coven, why would I doubt the words of a fifteen year old with?

Moving towards the bars seemed like the hardest thing I've had to do in all of my life. It felt like a thousand tiny needles were being pushed into every inch of my body, especially my back. I had felt as if I had wasted years trying to reach the witch. Tears pricked my eyes as I finally made it to Lizzy. I was exhausted and felt like I could crumble and step into an unwakeable sleep.

"This might sting a little." She said, pressing her hands to my wounds.

The pain I was in a few moments ago was nothing compared to this. It felt as if I was being beaten all over again, though now by a million whips hitting me at the same time all while being drowned in water that was impossible to escape from. My cries of pain rang out in the empty dungeon and painful tears were streaming freely down my cheeks. It was odd that a guard hadn't come down to check who was making that sound. I was sure the whole castle had heard my cries of pain. But as soon as it came, the pain vanished and I fell to the floor, breathless and even more tired than I was before.

"You said it would sting a little." I emphasized on the little, my words quiet and filled with what little annoyance I had left.. I looked into her eyes and could see her apologetic gaze from mine.

"Well I didn't want you to freak out." Lizzy countered as I sat up and scooted away from the bars. She again gave me a genuine apology.

"Great! That makes it all better." I said, sarcastically. I knew that I was starting to take my problems out on Lizzy and I quickly stopped, feeling guilty from my actions. She didn't deserve more pain and weight on her shoulders, all already had too much from just being herself.

"A thank you would have sufficed." She muttered and another wave of guilt flooded through me. She had done a kind thing and I was being a brat about it, she was becoming my friend.

"Thank you." I said, giving her a warm apologetic smile. I saw her lips curl a little into a forgiving smile.

We sat in silence for a while, my mind wondering from my back to Lizzy's magic and how strong her power really was.

"Wait, can't you break us out with your magic?" I asked, feeling as if we had somehow gotten an advantage on Damian and his father or at least some way to get out of this cage.

"I can't." Lizzy stated, her voice montoned as if she didn't care to break out.

"Have you tried?"

"No, I'm choosing not to. The future will play out as it should. How it is meant to."

"Lizzy, what on earth do you mean by that? How is it meant to?" I asked, my mind trying to come up with any logical answer. How did she know how the future would play out and who was she to decide how mine would?

"Well remember what I said earlier about being the strongest in my coven?" She questioned. I nodded my head and she continued. "That's because I have these... visions."

"Visions?"

"Yeah, they come and go, they're random and I don't really get a warning. They also aren't that clear, but... I had one of you a while back, when I was at home. Before I had been 'kidnapped'... and..." She stopped, leaving me in a pile of wonder and confusion.

"Lizzy?"

"I can't tell you... it wasn't that clear. All I got from it was that I needed to keep you safe and on your path." She said, as if I would know what my path was.

"What does that mean?!" I almost yelled.

"I don't know!" She yelled back.

"Damn it." I whispered, sitting down against the stone wall behind me and ran my hand through my hair.

Why would anyone give a damn about me? I was a girl from a small village in the country with no significant value except we supplied wheat. I didn't even know why the Prince had chosen me, so why would something tell Lizzy to keep me safe?

I unconsciously got up and started pacing. I always did this when I was stressed or unsure of things, much like my unknowing nail biting, though lately I've been too beaten and bruised so my habit has gone away, mostly. Now I was back to almost being myself, the nail biting would be soon to follow.

The weight of the world felt as if I was carrying it. It felt too much, I didn't even know how I was still standing. I was sure my legs would have given out by now and my back would be as broken as it had been a few minutes ago. But still I stayed upright. My nails unconsciously being bitten by my sharp teeth.

Lizzy was still sitting on the ground, staring at the wall, her eyes as black and vivid as the day I had seen her arrive. This must be what happens when she has a vision. Her face expressionless and empty as if they were lost in another world. The future.

I didn't know how long had gone by, a day or two maybe, though probably not. All the while I had been pacing. A guard came down from the small entry with two plates of food. One full of delicious kinds of foods, such as chicken and lamb, carrots, peas and pie. A glass with red wine came along with it and when the scent of the feast drifted to my nose, I heard my stomach start to growl. I realized that I hadn't eaten in a while, my stomach was empty and begging to be fed.

The guard placed the plate in front of my cell and I instantly ran over to it and started to eat. The taste exploded in my mouth, much like at breakfast, I bit back a moan. My stomach made another noise, though this time it was with satisfaction. But as soon as I looked over at Lizzy's plate my time of minimal happiness was washed away.

A small bowl with rock hard porridge was placed on the tray and that was it. No drink, no spoon or fork to eat it, just a measly bowl of porridge. I instantly felt guilty.

"Guard." I yelled at the young man who was now walking away.

"Yes, m'lady?" He said, turning back to me and speaking to me as if I was a princess and not a prisoner.

"Why am I getting this meal and the witch is getting..." I looked at the porridge in disgust. He had obviously seen my expression and started his stammering answer.

"Well... the Prince wanted you to be fed and healthy for the wedding in a week and well... she only a... a mere witch..." He hesitated on the witch part, as if saying the word would mean he would be cursed. I saw the guard cast Lizzy an unsure look.

"I demand that you give this girl a proper meal." I forced out. The words that came out of my mouth seemed foreign and it sounded nothing like me.

"But m'lady... Prince Damian... he specifically-"

"I don't care what the Prince said. You are talking to me and I demand you get this girl another meal." I spoke. "A better one... Like mine."

"Aurora, it's alright." Lizzy said from beside me, her voice sounded weak and small next to mine, as if the hunger was just now getting to her.

"No it's not Lizzy." I said, looking at her. I saw the pain and fear in her eyes that had now just appeared, though for some odd reason I felt it wasn't for herself. "Now do what I say."

I turned around and stalked to the back of the cell and sat down. I didn't bother to take my plate, I wouldn't eat another bite until I was sure that Lizzy had something suitable to digest. Surprise went through me as I watched the guard leave with a jolted expression and return a few minutes later with a plate identical to mine. It's decorations are just as elaborate as mine and it's food just as appealing.

"A meal for the witch. Just as you asked, M'lady." The guard said and swapped the porridge and the delicious meal. I watched as Lizzy quickly scrambled for the food and began stuffing her face with the plate contents.

"Thank you guard. Now please if you could tell Prince Damian that I will never marry him and he can go to hell for all I care."

"Now love... is that wasn't very kind?" The voice sent shivers down my spin as I turned to stare into the same deep green eyes of a monster.