Selene woke in a cage. Her arms were pulled through holes in its sides and chained to the walls. Her feet were shackled to the sides, bruising her ankles and rubbing her skin raw. The room was stone, with only a single torch hung on the wall to provide her with light.

At first, she did not know where she was and confusion clouded her mind. Then her memories returned.

She had been captured.

She had already sweat through her bloody clothes, the heat so intense, and her face was already swollen with bruises. Her head was pounding, and opening her eyes sent bolts of pain into her brain. She could feel the dried blood on her chin from where it had split.

She had no idea how long she had been down here, and without the light of the sun, she had no idea what time it was. She looked around the room, analyzing anything she could use to her advantage.

The only thing near her was a barren table, out of reach with her shackled hands. The rest of the room was empty, the cell door in front of her shut and locked.

Did they truly fear her so much that they put her in this small cage inside of another?

She attempted to use her magic to break herself free.

Still Nothing.

The Moonfire wasn't responding to her. It was like someone had cut the cord inside of her. Ever since she summoned that strange white fire, there hadn't been an inkling of magic inside of her. She couldn't even use the raw magic stored within her tattoo. She hadn't felt this helpless in a long time.

Think, Selene!

The only thing she could think of was to wait for someone to come in and somehow use them to break free. At some point, someone would open this cage, and that person would have opened the cell door. Even if they don't open the door to her cell, having a captive would help her get out of it, and then she could use her hands.

From here until then, it was a waiting game.

She thought back to what the King had said in the throne room. He had mentioned someone named Enico. Was he the one who would come through the door?

It was most likely someone who would be sent to torture and experiment on her. After all, the king wouldn't throw away a weapon like her. Unless he was confident enough to believe he could win this war with the power he had now. He would be disappointed to discover that she wasn't able to summon. Either way, it would be a painful path she was about to go down.

She would not break, though. There was no way she would allow the king to feel his satisfaction.

Something rattled against the door, keys in a lock. Someone was here.

No doubt she looked pathetic already with her dirtied hair, bloodied face, and bruised neck, but she raised her chin as she waited for the figure to come in the room.

The king was playing with her.

Through the cell door threshold walked the beautiful man that had attacked her in the woods. The one who had almost succeeded in capturing her until she had fended him off with a wave of Moonfire that almost killed her.

It seemed she had dealt him damage. A burn scar traveled along his cheek and down to disappear under his clothes. She didn't doubt the sight was worse there. A grin spread across his face as they locked eyes, one of absolute malice and evil. He was angry. He had been beautiful until she had maimed his body with her fire and now the king had given him the power to get revenge.

"How I've missed you, my wild warrior," he said, his voice smooth yet threatening.

She said nothing, just stared at him with hatred and resentment.

"My King has given me free rein over your punishment. Wasn't that kind of him?"

He walked over to the barren table and laid out a piece of wrapped up cloth. He rolled it out slowly, letting her watch as different tools became visible. He ran his fingers over them all, and the suspense made her want to shut her eyes and will him away. Each one would be used on her until she was dead or a broken shell. He turned to her and smiled as if he were thinking the same thing and reveling in it.

He picked up a small knife, twirling it in his fingers as he made his way over to her cage.

"Do you remember the fun we had that day in the woods? How eager you were to come with me and let me ease your pain? I can still do that for you," he said as he dragged the dagger slowly across the metal, "except this time, you can't use that little magic you have."

He tapped the cage, "Iron. It prevents the wielding of all magic."

Was that why she couldn't summon? She wouldn't be able to figure it out until she got free. Until then, she just had to suffer through whatever pain he wanted to inflict on her.

He stepped back and cocked his head to the side, examining her.

She hated the look in his eyes as he dragged his gaze over her. Her lip curled in a snarl and he smiled.

"You've put on some weight since I last saw you. A good amount. You no longer look starved." He took another look at her, "In fact, you look tempting."

"Stay the hell away from me," Selene spat at him.

"You have more spunk too," he said with a chuckle, "Then again, I'm not trying to hold your mind yet."

She despised this man with everything in her being, almost as much as the King himself. The things he said to her back in the forest were the words of a monster. She would kill him along with the King. It was what they deserved.

"I see hate in your eyes," he said as he strutted to the side of the cage, towards her exposed arms, "That hate brings me a joy you would never understand."

He dragged the dagger along her skin, not nearly hard enough to draw blood, only tracing it.

"That hate will only grow, and with it, my joy. Until I am drowning in pleasure and you've handed over your sanity to me." His grin grew wider.

"Welcome to hell, my dear."

Then he plunged the dagger through her skin.