Mara was resting in Aira’s bed-chamber at Hammedatha Manor. She had only been informed of the fact that Kieran knew where Elena had been taken, and that he would have her back home by the next morning.

He had made her promise to calm herself and not tell the Riveras about Elena’s predicament, because he didn’t want them to worry.

“Tell your parents that Elena will be sleeping at Hammedatha Manor tonight, per Aira’s invitation,” he had said.

Kieran knew Elena would be shaken up by the time they rescued her, and thought it best if she rested the night at Hammedatha Manor, so her parents would not be suspicious about her state.

The Hammedatha siblings were currently in the Guard’s meeting chamber, with Kieran leaning in one corner of the room, his arms folded and his eyes burning holes in the large mahogany table.

Anyone could sense the dark aura surrounding him, and his siblings had wisely maintained their distance as they huddled together to discuss the situation in hushed tones.

“How can someone be so stupid to provoke Kieran like this?” Joshua asked, his hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket. “I simply can’t believe how little Prince Jairah thinks of his life.”

Aaron nodded. “Kieran is going to kill him.”

Ray scoffed. “Only that? He’ll definitely torture him first, that’s for sure.”

“I’ve heard pint-size call him ill, but I didn’t know it was this bad,” Aira stated, and they all hummed in agreement.

The sudden bang as the doors were flung open alarmed them all.

“Alright, we got here as quickly as we could so let’s get this situation assessment going, shall we?” Debra announced casually as she strutted towards the table, her brother in tow.

Everyone else except Kieran moved to stand around the table.

“One thing we all agree on is there is no way we’re getting my sister married to that mongrel,” Luke said, giving a sharp look to each of them. “We conduct this rescue mission without the king’s knowledge and without an exchange.”

“That’s well and good, sire, but what is the back story here?” Ray asked. “The letter clearly indicated the existence of one and I-”

“We,” Aaron corrected.

“-we are very curious.” Ray looked pointedly between Kieran and Debra.

“I could have figured it out and told you if you had let me read that letter,” said a miffed Aira.

“No.” Aaron, Joshua and Raymond gave a firm chorus.

Aira groaned. “I want to know the details too!”

“Aira, go and bring my golden vambraces,” Kieran spoke for the first time.

“But they’re all the way in the Western wing!” she whined.

“Now.” Kieran flashed his dark cyan eyes at her, his tone final.

Aira swallowed and flexed her gloved fingers. With a resigned sigh, she departed from the room.

The silence was broken by Kieran’s voice. “Your question, Raymond, would be best answered by the Princess.”

At once, all the men’s heads turned to Debra, who raised her palms in mock surrender.

“Oh sure, cause it’s my fault a delusional lad got obsessed with me,” she said, but couldn’t shake the awaiting gazes.

She sighed. “Anyway, what Jairah and I had wasn’t anything concrete. It was sort of like what Kieran and I do.”

“Did,” Kieran corrected.

Debra pursed her lips. “Did. I met prince Jairah about two years ago, on my vacation in Rahandi. Since my brother and Crown Prince Rukh were pals, I was staying at the castle. All I wanted was to take a break from the swords, the fights, the politics and the missions.

“So while in Rahandi, I adopted the societal aristocrat lifestyle – a do nothing lazy princess who took evening walks even in the finest gowns and attended balls and tea parties. I didn’t expect Jairah to become enchanted by me and neither did I reciprocate his feelings.”

She gave a nonchalant shrug. “But I was bored and so I accepted to fool around with him until when I felt like leaving the castle. Things took a wild turn when my brother and Kieran arrived in Rahandi for a mission, and were to stay in the castle.”

Aaron nodded, already getting the gist. “Jairah found out about you two.”

Debra narrowed her eyes as if in reminiscence of that particular moment. “In a very…blatant manner, if I may add,” she said. “Nearly gutted Kieran like a fish.”

“Yet I was oblivious to his reasons.” Kieran snorted.

Debra looked over at Kieran. “Are you seriously still angry about that?”

He met her gaze. “He was in love with you.”

She rolled her eyes. “He was delusional. Still is.” She turned back to the rest. “Anyway, we had to make a hasty departure or it would have gotten pretty gory.”

“You could have at least cut into the fight, you know,” Luke told her.

Debra shook her head. “No way. I had to keep up my ‘Princess Damsel’ façade and stay in character.” She smirked. “Plus I kind of enjoyed watching two men fight over me.”

“So you left the Prince heartbroken and shattered,” Ray said, getting back to the story.

“And me to do the apologizing and sucking up!” Luke lamented. “Except clearly, it didn’t work because that rogue’s gone and taken Elena hostage and wants my sister back.”

“I wasn’t his in the first place,” Debra commented. “I clearly told him I didn’t love him and wasn’t looking for a formal relationship. I drew the line between what could happen and what could not. Sort of like what Kieran does.”

"Did,” Kieran corrected, exasperated.

“Did,” Debra muttered and flipped some tresses behind her shoulder.

“But everything’s in the past now,” said Luke. “All that matters now is getting Elena back.”

“And stopping him from taking me away,” Debra added.

“I can’t let anything happen to my sister-in-law,” Ray resolved, balling his hand into a fist. “She has no part in this.”

“I am also in trouble here,” Debra noted aloud.

“What’s the plan?” Ray asked Kieran, ignoring Debra.

Aira then walked into the chamber, and delivered the vambraces to Kieran. He backed off the wall and moved towards the table with slow steady steps, while wearing the guards. All eyes were on him as his gaze pierced the surface of the table.

“It needn’t be said that this is no official mission, but its importance needn’t be stressed either,” Kieran spoke. “I did not assemble you all as my soldiers, nor as the royals of Rievelt.”

His gaze flicked to each of his siblings. “I assembled you as Elena’s brothers, as her sister. We might not be married yet, but she is family. And as Hammedathas-”

“We go above and beyond for family,” Aira finished, causing a half-smile to cross Kieran’s lips.

He then turned to Luke, on his right. “Lukas you are here as my best friend,” he said. “I am going to pay that imbecile back for daring to touch my betrothed. You will clear the path that leads me to him, won’t you?”

Luke placed a hand on Kieran’s shoulder and squeezed. “I will always have your back, Kieran.”

There was a brief moment of comforting silence, interrupted by Debra clearing her throat.

“I’m helping too, you know,” she said, gazing at Kieran.

“You should be,” was the blunt response.

****************

When Elena opened her eyes, the first sensation she experienced was something akin to a boulder being dropped right on her brain. She winced and groaned. Her reflex was to hold her head, except she found she could not.

She realized she could not move her hands from behind her, and felt something rough digging into her wrists when she tried.

Were they bound by a rope?

The thought caused her nerves to brutally awaken. As she assumed a sitting position, her back found a wall and she came to a second realization that her ankles were also bound by rope.

Still a bit groggy, she blinked a couple of times and proceeded to examine her surroundings.

She was in a fairly dark room whose walls were made of plain bricks, and cobwebs decorated all four corners. The floor was wooden and dusty, and some of the boards were either cracked or broken. She noticed a hole in the floor a few metres away.

There weren’t any windows, so the only source of light was a candle chandelier above and the door at the far corner, to her right. The door was more of a gate made of metal bars, like the kind that would be designed for a cell.

Wait, cell?

Tinkering sounds alerted Elena to focus on the gate, and when it was opened, a man wearing brown breeches and a sleeveless brown tunic walked in.

Elena held her breath, but when she noticed his shaven head, recognition sparked in her.

“You…” she breathed.

The man smirked. “Awake at last, are we?”

“Where is my sister?” was the first sentence she uttered out. Her voice had a tremor to it, but her glower made the question seem like a demand.

The man looked clueless. “Who?”

“My sister,” Elena repeated, unwilling to give in to her current fear of the man. Not being able to get Mara back was scarier. “You said that you wuh-would take me to my sister if I came quietly wuh-with you. I want m-my sister.”

The man peered up at the chandelier as if trying to jolt his memory. “When did I…”

“You said you had her!” Elena cried out, desperation lacing her voice. “You said something bad wuh-would happen to her if I didn’t follow you so I did and you…”

A foggy memory of her entering a carriage with the man flashed in her mind, along with images of him forcing a cloth over her nose. He had doused it in a pungent smelling herb extract that made her unconscious.

“You drugged me,” she finished.

The man snapped his fingers. “Oh that’s right!” he exclaimed in triumph. “Mara Rivera.”

“Yes,” Elena quickly affirmed, hope filling her eyes. “Where is she?”

He gave a carefree shrug. “I don’t know; probably back in the city or her home. I don’t care.” 

A twisted smirk crossed his lips at Elena’s dismay. “Listen, darling. I only said that because it would be difficult to capture you and take you in such a busy place. We don’t want Mara Rivera. It was just so we could have you, and only you, Elena Rivera.”

We? Were there more like him around?

The fear she had for the man multiplied tenfold.

“Wuh-what do you want from me?”

His wolfish gaze trickled from her feet and roamed over her body. “A lot of things, darling.”

He walked over and crouched beside her. She flinched, cringing and turning her head away from him. A rough finger skimmed down her cheek and she shut her eyes, her stomach wrenching unpleasantly.

She didn’t like it. She didn’t like it one bit.

“You’re quite the beaut,” his gruff voice spoke into her ear, sending chills down her spine. “I’m kind of hoping this deal won’t go through so I can have some fun with you.”

Elena’s eyes flew open, a new wave of horror washing over her at the insinuation. She struggled against her binds, but they were tight.

“Careful there, slink,” a new voice cut in, a little less deep than the bald man’s, and the latter quickly rose to his feet. “Your master might hear your ill thoughts.”

Elena looked at the new comer. He was slim and tall, with short brown hair. Judging by the make and design of his gold coloured harem trousers and tunic, he was most likely an aristocrat. But when she saw how the bald man hung his head before him, she concluded that the slim man was his master.

“Do not worry,” the master said in a smooth voice that reminded Elena of a serpent.

He cast a sinister smile at her. “Any slight mistake at the exchange, and you can have her. It’s not like she’s in a position to go anywhere.”

She knew he was referring to her bound wrists and ankles.

When the men left the room and locked the gate, it took all her willpower not to breakdown right then. The mere thought of what the men were imprisoning her for made her nauseous.

Why her?

She had been jolly that morning, admiring the suggested designs of her engagement dress. She had imagined how wonderful the dress would look once finished, and she had gotten nervous and excited at the same time just thinking about wearing it for Kieran.

Not once had she thought that things would turn out like this.

Despair seeped into her heart and her shoulders slumped lifelessly as she thought out the possibilities of her no doubt, ill fate.

She tried to make sense of the situation, but each scenario ended up in her not leaving the place unscathed.

******

The next time Elena saw her captors was when they brought her meal – a piece of bread and a chalice of water mounted on a bronze platter.

She refused to eat anything, but didn’t think she would get hit because of it. She only realized it by the involuntary whipping motion of her head to the side, and the stinging sensation on her cheek that followed.

“Come now, sweets,” The bald man who they called ‘Slink’ cooed like a dove as if he hadn’t been aggressive seconds before. “We don’t want you running out of energy before we even get started.”

He crouched beside her and she inched away, eager to remain as far away from him as possible. To her shock and displeasure, Slink’s rough fingers took hold of her jaw, forcing her to look at him. Her terrified blue orbs met his dangerous grey ones.

“So you won’t be obedient, huh?” he gritted out. “Should I make you? It’d be fun to watch you choke on that piece of bread.” His eyes darkened. “Or something bigger.”

A snicker came from behind him, and Elena knew it came from his partner. This one had more muscle, and his beard was like a lion’s mane all over his neck and clothed chest. He had been watching her with the same randy glint Slink had in his eyes.

“You’re sick, Slink,” he stated. “You shouldn’t scare her like that. Keep those ideas for dusk.”

Slink jerked Elena’s head back from his grasp, causing the back of her head to bang against the wall behind her. She winced at the harsh contact.

Despite her shaken up state, she voiced out, “You plan on keeping m-me here even up to dusk?”

“Oh no, darling.” Slink stood up, keeping his gaze on her. A grotesque grin made its way across his face. “We plan on keeping you here for as long as you remain of use to us.”

“You’re betrothed to the General, right?” the other man asked, stroking his beard. “If I were you, I wouldn’t even think about marrying him after tonight.”

The both of them shared villainous laughter and exited the cell, leaving Elena to wallow in desolation.

Slowly, she slumped down her right, until she was lying on the floor on her side, her pounding head resting on the dusty, dirty wood.

She moved her feet and hands around but it was futile. They were too tight.

Her heart sank upon realizing that there was nothing she could do. She was too frightened, too helpless. Always had been. She didn’t know what to do in this kind of situation except resign herself to the ugly fate.

What could she do? She had no skills, no wits, no training, no courage. All she could feel were her nerves shaking her body for what was to come, and a deep sadness at the thought of never getting married…never marrying Kieran.

Tears blurred her vision when she thought about her betrothed.

What if she never saw him again? And even if she did, what if he did not want her anymore? Did not want to embrace or even touch her anymore?

It was the thought of being unable to return to Kieran’s arms, to feel him again, that scared her even more than her current predicament. All she wanted to do was break free from the perverts and run to Kieran. He was the only man she wanted to be with.

The ropes dug into her ankles when she writhed a bit, and she groaned in frustration.

But what could she do in her state? She could not break free. She was helpless, alone and afraid.

Elena shut her eyes tight. Everything was too loud. Her thoughts, her own quick breaths, even her feelings of misery and trepidation…

“You needn’t be afraid of certain things, Elena. When you know what it is you want and keep it close to your heart, you can even roar like a lion.”

Just like that, everything else was drowned out by his distinct voice. And just like that, a sense of calmness floated around her. It enveloped her like a warm fur coat as the memory of Kieran became vivid in her mind. He was holding her hands, bringing her comfort, while his words were an incentive, giving her courage.

“Because you are Corporal Elena. And to me, Corporal Elena is a tigress who not only defends, but is capable of fighting back as well. I can see that in you.”

She pushed herself of the ground, her heart guarded by flames. His flames. He believed in her, and she would not succumb to any fear as long as she had him in her heart.

She knew what she wanted; to return to his embrace. And she would do whatever it took, run whichever path, as long as it would lead her back to him.

Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind and started to think of a way to escape. She needed to free her binds somehow. She looked at the rope on her ankles for a while. If only she could untie them somehow…

A bell dinged in Elena’s mind, and a triumphant smile crossed her lips. She might have been merely a dancer, but it came with its perks.

Perks like flexibility.

She inched forward to create space between her and the wall and braced herself. She had been out of practice, and she knew it would hurt.

Nevertheless, she stretched her arms back and carefully, she flexed them up, biting down on her lip to prevent any yelps of pain as she felt a few cracks and strains. She brought her arms over her head till finally they rested on her lap.

It definitely hurt.

Except she did not care. At least now, she could untie the ropes on her ankles, and await the chance to make her escape.

Author’s ramble:

Gosh, I watch too much anime.

There was a chick who used to do that arm thing in my school and I never thought I would end up using her skills in an idea for my story. So thank you, Tracy.🤩

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