Chapter 111: The Nightmare Again.

Reika sprang awake, her chest heaving. Viktor came to save her in her dream. . It really had been just a dream. she sat trapped-with not a word coming from Viktor, Alfonso, or Kael. Shackles grated on skin at the wrists, just another grim reminder of what was going on. The sound of soldier's boots clattered down corridors mixed with muffled cheers outside. Arriadne was claiming this kingdom along with her soldiers. Reika closed her eyes to fight her tears. She's lost; but then people haven't seen the last of her. Outside, through the high, small barred window in the wall, people chanted; Araidne and Finley- victory their names ringing with proclamations. One guard strode by, chuckling to another that was talking. "They've already hung Viktor and Alfonso's faces up throughout the city. Wanted criminals, they are," said the first. "Do you think they'll show? Viktor is slippery," he replied. The name stuck in Reika's mind; she knew Viktor and Alfonso were still Alive anyways. And then Daisy filled her mind. She had entrusted the most fragile missions to her. She told her to take Ileus' body with her and hold it from all who wished to find him. The thought of her husband, helpless at Araidne's mercy, was too terrible even to consider. Reika clasped her hands and muttered a silent prayer, which came out pretty loud in the deadly dungeon. "Moon Goddess, protect Daisy, let her reach the destination without any obstacle, and don't let them have Ileus too.". Hours later, stone corridors ran with the sounds of raised voices. Reika sat up, tense. Soon, the doors of the dungeon burst open, and in stormed Araidne with her billowing crimson cloak, a mask of fury upon her face-Finley close on her heels, his face cold and calculating. "Where is he?" Araidne yelled as she entered into the prison room, her voice hollering back from cold walls. Reika met her gaze, raising an eyebrow. "Who?" "Don't play games with me, Reika!" Araidne snapped, fraying a thread of her patience. "We searched every inch of the castle, but Ileus' body is gone. Where is he?" Reika beamed faintly despite the weight of her situation. "You think I'd tell you even if I knew?" Finley stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "You are making it so much more complicated than it needs to be." Reika's eyes did not leave his, this man who was the bitter enemy all along, someone she had trusted. "Is it you, Finley? You are the one behind it-how long was this betrayal in the planning? He didn't even bat an eye. Cold as ice, void of feelings, his voice growled, "Long enough, you made it so easy, Reika, blind faith in people like that, but you mustn't worry, I will make this kingdom prosper… under a new leadership." Ariadne whirled around, interrupting her as finally her patience gave out. "Enough of this! Tell me where he is, Reika, or I'll make you wish you had. Reika said nothing, but her silence was fuel for fire. The queen flicked a wrist and the guards wrenched Reika up onto her feet. "Take her to the chamber," Araidne said cold as stone. It was in these words that her heart betrayed herself, racing while her face did not. "Do as you will, Araidne. I'll never tell." The room was dark and heavy with malice and cold walls lined with their apparatus for torture, contrived to snap even the most resilient will. And before her stood Araidne-the vicious smile spreading across her face. "Still so defiant," she mused. "But you will break, Reika. They all do.". Hours dragged on and Araidne had asked her every which way, but Reika was firm in her mind-as unshakeable as the unyielding images of Ileus and that life quickened in her womb. Never will she betray them. They left her finally bruised and battered and not broken, slumped against the cell wall with screaming body that yet housed unbroken spirit, Reika clasped onto picture of Daisy dumb and silent running down the passages with dead body of Ileus hoping God she managed some success. Her mind began to wander to Viktor and Alfonso-where were they? Had they found this golden spider rose, or had some misfortune overtaken them? Even the thought of Viktor's face on wanted posters made her stomach roil. She repeated the prayer, her voice now raw with determination. "Please, let them be safe. Let them find the cure. Let them return before it's too late." Later in the night, the creaking open of her cell door yanked Reika out of her sleep. For one hopeful instant, her heart leaped to think it could be Viktor or Daisy. Instead, it was one of the guards, coming in with food upon a tray. He set it down and wordlessly turned back for the door slamming shut behind him. She let her breath go and set her back to the wall, picking with her food. She didn't have even the remotest appetite. Her mind fell back to Ileus, coming awake into her mind's eye holding their child in his arms-the kingdom safe and whole once more. That hope of hers was pretty thin, but that was about all she held onto. As she fell back into sleep, her ears picked up a murmur of voices somewhere off. She could not catch what they said, but something of their tone caused a shiver to run along her spine. The voices rose louder, sharper. "Is that him?" it asked. "Yes," another answered. "He's in the woods. We have spotted him." Reika's eyes snapped open. Her heart quickened. Was it Viktor they spoke of? Alfonso? Another? She didn't get to puzzle it out because the door groaned again. This time a figure slipped into her cell, drawing closer hood over head. Reika's breath caught in her throat. "Who are you?"   The figure threw back its hood and revealed a face she hadn't seen in many years.   Her heart stopped.   "You," she whispered, hardly heard. The figure nodded somberly. "We haven't got much time, Reika. It isn't going to be much longer before everything changes."