The Prodigy Antaris - a secret World of magic #1
Chapter 21

I don't know where I am...And I don't know how long I've been trapped here. Maybe it's hours or even days, but I can't orientate myself. I see no sun or moon. The dungeon I was in had only walls with no windows and I was in the dark most of the time.The last thing I know is that the night the party was I went to the amicus. I heard voices and shouting and amicuse whinnying for help. When I got there I realized this was an attack but when I recognized father's friend...I knew it was treason.

Silak had opened a portal and I had to prevent them from entering Antaris. I didn't manage to stop him and I didn't manage to raise the alarm either. I only managed to save the amicus but then Silak overpowered me and took me away. I don't know where I am and I don't know what they will do to me either. The only thing I know...I'm not home anymore...I'm not safe anymore and...I'm alone.

I have only heard tales of Portus Mali The home of the evil beings, and as I see it I am right there.As Silak dragged me through the portal, I saw where we were. I saw the creatures that lived in the dark. All the evil beings that fed on fear and death. Portus Mali was dark and cold and in the middle stood a Black Castle surrounded by huge lizard-like winged beings. The screams of the beings were horrible and I was afraid.The creatures lived in front of the castle like animals covered in dirt and blood.There were witches and demons gnomes and vampires, werewolves and ghosts among them were evil elves and sirens all together like animals.This place was nothing like Antaris when it was the opposite.

Silak brought me before the princes of darkness who looked at me with disgust. They ordered me to be tied up in the dungeon and left me to a woman.The woman was obviously powerful because when she put the handcuffs on me she dragged me towards the dungeons where all the soldiers and local residents bowed their heads before her. She threw me on the cold floor and locked the cell door as she walked out.

"Have fun with her," she sneered as she walked down the aisle.

I've been sitting on the hard, cold dungeon floor for hours, some guards came by to check on me, but nobody spoke to me, not a single word.They didn't give me water or food. They just checked on me to see if I was still there.After a while, they didn't just come to check. They kicked me, scratched and bit me, leaving wounds and a bloody aftertaste in my mouth.

At first I just screamed for help and tried to use my power to free myself, but I soon realized that the handcuffs they put on me were no ordinary handcuffs. They kept my elven powers under control and so I was powerless and unable to defend myself.The creatures laughed at me and every hit made them cheer and they laughed at me and continued to torture me until I lost consciousness again and again.

And so, after the tenth time, I came to unconscious and just lay there on the floor without moving.

Does my father know that I was kidnapped? Or are they still partying and haven't even noticed that I'm missing? Avery and Iris would know, for sure. Jade would know, too, at the latest when Bael arrived. She would want to tell me he was there.

You've noticed by now, haven't you? My tears rolled down my cheeks and I couldn't keep the sigh in me. Is this how I'm going to die? Locked in a cage like an animal starved and forgotten? Thinking of my friends and family gave me hope again. And of him... Bael. I know he doesn't want me. I'm just an elf a burden to him. But what I would give now to see his face again.Even though he doesn't want me, and even though he doesn't love me, his face would save me from this hell.

I was hungry tired and in terrible pain. I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open.

"Ava...Ava what happened to you?Are you alright?Tell me my life..where are you?" I heard Bael's voice.

This must be a dream, at least here in this dream I hear his voice. Bael knelt in front of me and I looked into his eyes. His eyes were sad and he looked over my body. He bit his lip and took me in his arms. Just like when we first met, his manly scent surrounded me. A mixture of a forest after a rain and a flower meadow surrounded me.

" Ava this is not a dream my love. We are still connected and this allows me to appear in your dreams. You must help us to replace you. We are ready to fight and we already have a plan. We have been preparing for days my angel. Two days you have been away from me." Bael whispered while holding me in his arms.

Can that be? My brain is playing tricks on me because of the tiredness and my pain.

"Ava you are not dreaming! Tell me my angel where are you?" Bael asked me.

I looked into his eyes my only consolation at this time.

"At least in my dreams you want me. You are here, I have seen you. I can die now too." I whispered softly.

"Ava your father has prepared all the armies. Tomorrow we come to Portus Mali to save you. Tell me where you are. Tell me my beloved." Bael said with a trembling voice.

"All I know is that I'm in a dungeon. There are no windows, I hear water near me and terrible screams from creatures around my cell. When they opened the door, I saw a wildflower meadow with black flowers and burning trees in the background.” I explained to Bael while still hugging him.

"Very good Ava, I know where they're keeping you. Hold on my angel, I'm coming for you.” Bael said while kissing my forehead.

"But...why do you want to save me? You do not want me. So leave me here, I don't want to live without you anyway. The pain my soul is in without you is far worse than what my body is going through.” I said as my tears blurred my vision.

“Ava...I loved you before I saw you...and when I saw how innocent and good you are...I was scared. I figured having me as your soulmate would only bring you trouble and put you in danger. But I was wrong, Ava! I love you and I'm coming to get you, to save you and to stay with you. Do you hear me my angel, I want to stay with you. Forgive me my angel, I thought I was protecting you from evil. I was wrong.I'm coming to get you I promise.” Bael said while kissing my lips.

He looked into my eyes as he took off his necklace and hung it around my neck.

"You belong to me. You are mine Ava.I love you...Be strong my beautiful Princess." he whispered to me while kissing my face.

He kissed my lips and nose tip then my forehead tenderly and carefully over the injured areas. And when I no longer felt his touch, I opened my eyes and saw...nothing.

I stuck my hands in the dark but there was nothing. It was just a dream. I sighed loudly when I was alone in reality again. The pain in my chest was so terrible, is this what a broken heart feels like? My hand fell to my chest and I froze at the touch of the metal hanging around my neck. I felt the fine metal in my hands and the pendant of a small sword that hung around Bael's neck. My eyes widened in shock as I realized this wasn't a dream.Bael was here...he was with me...he used our bond to appear into my dream.He gave me something to let me know that it wasn't just any dream ..but one where soul mates could meet on a higher level. He's coming to get me..They're all coming to save me...I just have to endure...I have to survive.

Iris

We watched as Bael awoke from his dream. The worry was visible on his face and his eyes were sad and hurt.

Everything was ready for our attack tomorrow. The plan was made, everything was prepared, the only thing missing was Ava's location. Bael knew he was still connected to Ava. Because even though he told her he didn't want her, that was a lie. He loved Ava long before they met, the fear that she would get hurt because of him was too great. No one understood why he rejected her until now. Jade used her powers and Bael allowed her to read his dreams as we all watched. Poor Ava...

But now Bael knows where she's going to be caught and we're finally leaving. Ava knows we're coming we need to hurry before they knock it out of her.

"Get ready we don't have until morning. We have to leave immediately. Ava won't survive this until morning. And I won't leave my woman there another second." Bael exclaimed as he fastened his combat suit.

Avery looked at him and nodded as he held my hand. The king was very concerned for his daughter after watching Bael's dream. He took his sword and walked towards the door and we all followed him.

"Get ready, we're leaving for portus Mali!" shouted the king to the crowd waiting in front of the mansion.

The warriors cried out their battlecry and the legions fell in formation towards the portal. Ava here we come...