Forced into Fantasy
Chapter 30 - Deceived

Ivy;

I watch with fear as their blades impact heavily upon one another’s with loud ‘crashes’ of solid steel, one after the other.

Both men’s muscular bodies are now fully on display for me to see as they use nothing but brute strength to fend each other off. They clearly want to murder one another… but I have yet to learn their reason for such seeded loathing.

One day perhaps.

And how do I feel about the duel occurring before my eyes?

Let’s face it, most women would be drooling over such a sight if it happened!

The movement of their sun-tanned skin flexing over incredible muscles, the impressive strength both men show whilst effortlessly wielding their massively heavy swords and spinning them around in the air… it’s enough to make any woman’s panties soaked with heated desire.

But me, I feel terrible... I can physically feel my stomach churning with anxiety as I try to swallow it away.

The last thing I wanted was for Adomis to risk his life for me in such a senseless duel to the death. I can not control the outcome of this fight and deep down I know that if he died, I would soon follow.

The pain would be too much for me to bear.

Ronaar on the other hand, I couldn’t care less if he gets skewered.

Suddenly the idea hits me like a cold bucket of water being thrown over my head, shocking me to my very core as my wide-open eyes stare blankly at the two men who continue to fight.

‘No way… it’s not possible!’

But as much as I try to talk myself out of it, I know the truth. I know this feeling deep within my heart and what it means.

I know why the possibility of him dying today is more than I can think to bear.

Why I care about him so much…

I suddenly smile as I allow it to sink in and become a reality among my many thoughts.

‘I love him…’

‘I love Adomis, with every fibre of my being - with my very heart and soul.’

This newly acquired information seems to lighten my mood somewhat, even as the possibility of death looms heavily in the air. Zarkin looks at me with a baffled expression.

He’s unsure of why I’m smiling in a situation such as this.

And I don’t blame him, I’m just as confused.

His voice beckons me from my thoughts all of a sudden.

“Come Ivy, we need to go now, while he’s distracted!”

Zarkin pulls at my arm as I feel myself unknowingly pull back in defiance.

“We don’t have much time.” he adds.

I stiffen against his hold.

“No, I can’t just leave Adomis here.” I insist sternly.

Zarkin comes around to stand in front of me, blocking off my view of the fight to allow me to give him my full attention as he speaks.

“Adomis needs to make sure that you’re safe. We came all this way to bring you back home safely. Do you understand?” he explains.

“The Overlord is fully capable of holding his own in this situation against Ronaar. You just need to trust him.”

I open my mouth but there is no argument exiting it. I have nothing. Yes, I am afraid for Adomis’ safety, but perhaps Zarkin is right.

Lowering my gaze and with a massively defeated sigh, I nod my head in silent agreement of his request.

Taking the opportunity in this small win, Zarkin grabs my hand and pulls me along after him as we head towards the dull moonlight just up ahead.

I turn my head to glance behind me and just manage to see Adomis one last time before we disappear around the rocky bend.

As he leaves my sight I fear I may never see him again.

-

So many emotions are flooding my mind now as both Zarkin and I finally dart out into the chilly night, free at last from the cavern and its constraints. We are both panting as we each glance around to see if there are any more guards loyal to Ronaar we may have to take on.

Luckily for us, we replace none.

“Now we just need to summon that… thing.” he makes his announcement, while still short of breath.

Zarkin seems to be thinking aloud to himself as he squints his eyes and peers up towards the starry sky. It’s as if he’s looking for something up there… but what could it possibly be?

And how would this help us escape?

“Um… what are you doing?”

He quickly turns to face me as he replies hesitantly.

“Oh, um… just looking for something.”

He nods and smiles, as if trying to reassure me.

‘O…k… now I’m confused.’

A tremendously deep roar sounds, shaking the nearby trees and almost shattering my eardrums as I struggle to cover both of my ears with my hands.

My blue eyes flick up at the night sky and notice the moving figure slowly descending towards us.

I gasp at the sight of it and can not believe my very eyes.

“A… dragon?” I hear myself whisper.

-

Adomis;

Once more my blade crashes against Ronaar’s and my strength easily overpowering him as his sword is forced to lower slowly.

This gives me the small distraction I need to surprise him.

I pull my sword back and at the same time spin by body around in a swift motion.

As I turn and simultaneously lift my left leg upwards, my boot connects with his midsection, forcing a pained grunt from Ronaar.

He suddenly stumbles backwards, grasping at his stomach and glaring daggers back at me as I stand tall and proud; the handle of my sword gripped firmly in my right hand as my knuckles whiten from the force.

“You dared to take her from me.” my voice is incredibly deep and bone chilling, “I’ll admit, you’ve got guts.”

Ronaar chuckles, which causes me to snarl with anger.

“You speak as if you own her, Adomis.”

“She is mine.” I insist firmly with my teeth gritted together, “We have been bonded as one, Ivy and I. There is no possible way to break such a connection.”

Once more he chuckles, now shaking his head from side to side in disagreement.

“Sorry to burst your little love bubble, but I’m afraid it is I who bonded with the beautiful Ivy. The connection was instantaneous and unmistakable.”

I point the end of my sword directly at him in a rage now. The audacity!

“You… are nothing but a thief and a liar!” I snarl.

“Even so, it seems that you no longer hold claim over her. Leave now and I may yet allow you to live.”

Ronaar seems confident. A little too confident for my liking.

My eyes narrow in suspicion.

‘Something is wrong… But what?’

-

Ronaar;

My hand moves ever so slowly from right side to behind my back where the pouch is fastened securely to my black leather belt.

At long last, my time appears to have arrived.

It is time to put my plan into action; to steal away everything that Adomis cares about. To claim all that is his and make it my own.

But I don’t plan on killing him just yet…

No, he will live to see yet another sunrise. My goal is to ensure that he lives on with the sole purpose of suffering throughout the rest of his pathetic life, alone and miserable. He can watch as I take it all from him. As he did from me.

And there’s not a thing in this world he can do to stop me!

“It’s over Ronaar. Ivy’s gone now; you’ve lost.” Adomis announces as his chocolate brown eyes never leave mine even for a second.

“Surrender… or die.”

I can’t help the smirk that quickly forms at the left corner of my mouth, my brow rising along with it at the obvious threat against my life. Not that I’m afraid of him in any way.

“Are those my only two choices?” I taunt.

His eyes narrow now, his sword lifts up as if he is preparing to charge at me and land the lethal blow to end my life.

But I have other plans.

“I’d prefer my own choice...”

Once concealed by my gloved hand, I lift the vial up from behind my back and use my teeth to remove the cork plugging it closed, yanking it off forcefully and spitting it to the side. A waft of glowing green, pungent smoke immediately rushes out from the vile as I throw it directly at him, hitting him square in the chest.

Adomis appears unphased as the glass vial shatters upon impact, releasing its contents into the air where they immediately form into a smoky substance. The smoke rises within seconds and my opponent unknowingly breathes it in through his nostrils while grunting and shaking his head.

His expression is one of confusion as he looks from the area where the vial hit him back to me for apparent answers as to my most recent actions. But I know not to bother, he will not have time for answers.

“What the fuck was th…”

His voice trails off into a mumble and then a whisper as his eyelids suddenly become incredibly heavy and his eyes roll to the back of his head.

I know the effects of this potion quite well. I’ve used it many times in the past. And it will serve me well in the here and now.

I watch as the mighty Overlord crashes down onto the ground beneath my feet, his sword dancing on the floor for a moment before eventually silencing in stillness beside him.

With his eyes closed and with the poison of the potion now running through his veins, Adomis is out cold, forced to slumber in a dreamless sleep.

And the best part of using this particular poison was that when he eventually did wake again, the mighty ruler would have no memories whatsoever! None!

“And for the final part of my plan…” I announce aloud, as if I am still conversing with my foe.

Removing my glove from my left hand, I crouch down beside the sleeping giant and slowly reach my fingers out towards his face.

As soon as our skin connects the spell begins and I am filled with a sudden surge of warmth as my features slowly begin to change from what they once were. My hair, my body, even the shades of my irises change.

After mere seconds I stand once more, no longer as myself, but as the last person in the world I would want to look like.

But desperate times have called for such desperate actions, and I will soon have everything that was once his...

-

Ivy;

Frowning in disbelief at what I was currently seeing, I begin to make my way over to one of the nearby flame torches hanging against the outer wall of the cavern. Call me crazy, but I felt the need to have something I could use to protect myself against the gigantic bloody creature now standing on the tiny clearing before us.

I take the flame torch and as soon as I do, I suddenly feel a strangely chilly sensation moving from the tips of my fingers, up across my hands, along my arms and over both shoulders.

‘That’s weird, why am I suddenly so cold?’

Zarkin’s words cease my concerns immediately.

“Come on Ivy, we must leave!” he calls out, holding out his hand for me to take.

I suddenly feel something come over me. A strange sense of missing something; a piece of me that without it would cause me to feel incomplete and empty.

“Something’s different…” I whisper to myself while deep in thought.

Zarkin senses my hesitation and looks back towards the waiting dragon, then to me once more.

“Ivy, come, please.”

His voice sounds constrained, as if he too felt guilty for leaving Adomis alone to battle it out with Ronaar. But my guilt is far too powerful, or perhaps our connection is far too strong. In that exact moment I knew I couldn’t just leave him like this. I couldn’t run, no matter how much my instincts were telling me to.

“Ivy, you must return with me.”

He sounds more desperate now and I realise he too knows the choice I have made. I can see it in his furrowed eyes and on his pouted lips.

“Please.”

My brows furrow as I whisper my apology.

“I’m sorry.”

With that I turn and run for the cave’s entrance, my bare feet pounding against the dirt below as I race to aid the man I know I love. I won’t allow him to fall at Ronaar’s hand. I hear Zarkin calling out for me as I dart in through the entrance and into darkness.

“IVY!”

-

The brightened flames from the torch I now hold in my hand are the only lighting that assists me to manoeuvre through the underground tunnels at a rapid speed. I turn left, then right before coming to a large bend I begin to recall.

‘I’m coming Adomis…’

Stepping around yet another corner suddenly run into something solid and fall backwards from the impact. But before I can hit the floor I feel strong arms wrap around me and pull me in towards him.

With the torch still in my hand to light the space we are in, I look straight into his dark brown eyes and instantly melt away all anxiety and fear with one giant exhale.

“Adomis?” a smile forms on my face as tears begin to fill my eyes, tears of appreciation.

“You’re alive?”

But my expression suddenly changes as I come to realise. If Adomis won the duel then where is…

“Ronaar?” I question aloud.

“Dead.” he replies promptly with his usual sweetly deep voice as he lifts me up to stand on my own two feet.

“Come, we must leave now.”

With that he begins to lead me back out through the darkened tunnels once more. And like a love-sick puppy, I follow along after him blindly.

All I can keep thinking of is how grateful I am to have the man I love in my arms again.

And that’s where I want him to stay from now on...

TO BE CONTINUED – Book 2 - “Forced into Fantasy 2” – NOW AVAILABLE HERE ON INKITT!

Hey guys,

Thanks to everyone for reading my book and for all of the people who have commented throughout the year of writing it. It’s really fuelled my fire of creativity!

Book 2 - FORCED INTO FANTASY 2 - OUT NOW on Ebookex.com!

Bec