章 2: Captured!
Isabelle paced nervously, her every step echoing in the quiet room. A single candle flickered on the ornate table, casting eerie shadows on the cold walls of her cell.
This was no place for someone like her, these parts of the dungeon were reserved for the worst of the worst. But when you're being attacked by Adamine Icarus, even the worst dungeons suddenly become a safe haven.
Outside, the cold dungeon wall stood as a protective barrier, with three extra veils protecting the walls. The dungeon was secured by all means, but vigilant guards still patrolled the premises. She couldn't see who they were, but their unceasing footsteps gave her a glimmer of hope. Isabelle knew this day would come, father had always warned her about it ever since she was a child.
As the host of Avalon, Isabelle had trained herself both physically and mentally for this day. To stop the tyrant Adamine Icarus from getting his hands on the treasure of her people, Isabelle was ready to lay down her life.
Isabelle's delicate fingers traced the intricate patterns of her family crest on the wall, a symbol of her lineage. Admiring the crest that she has seen thousands of times was the only thing she could to ease her boredom. When you are locked up in the deepest part of the dungeon, you rarely have much to do.
The soft, haunting echoes of footsteps in the corridor caused her heart to race. She had been listening, and this footstep had a completely different rhythm from those of the guards. Someone new was approaching the dungeon.
"You don't have to worry your majesty, we'll protect you with our last breath."
A voice came from the other side of the door, offering reassurance.
Isabelle, her voice trembling, responded with a plea. "You have to run away, you can't win."
"We won't let any harm come to you, Your majesty. We've sworn to protect you and that's wh—"
The soldier's voice was completely drowned out by the shattering of the first barrier. The second barrier fell as well, and in no distant time so did the third.
Isabelle withdrew from the door in fear, her knees wobbly and her heart banging behind her rib cage. She hadn't even set eyes on him, but his ominous presence was enough to send chills down her spine.
"Don't let him get to her!" She heard the fervent cry of her guards as they engaged the intruder. But soon, all the noise and commotion ceased—they were all dead, and now it was her turn to die.
Pulling out a blade from underneath her dress, Isabelle cut her wrist and allowed her blood to flow to the ground. The pain was nothing compared to her determination to end her incoming opponent.
With a deafening thud, the dungeon door fell, and in walked the man she had heard so much about. Knight of the red dawn, Adamine Icarus. The child who was born of the earth but will inherit the heaven, the mad tyrant of the dark realm. He had a lot of titles to his name, but none of those things mattered to Isabelle at the moment.
"It's pointless trying to resist." Said Icarus as he rested his bloodied blade on the wall. He could end this all in one swipe, but he wanted to see what this little girl was capable of.
The blood streaming from the wound began to levitate and collect into a spinning red sphere, leaving behind perfectly regenerated flesh.
With just a movement of her finger, Isabelle launched the projectile at her opponent, but her attack was instantly nullified the moment it got close to the man.
"What?" She let out in shock.
"There's really no need to be surprised, we both knew from the start that it would be useless. Now if you're done wasting my time, I'll be ta—" Icarus paused as she raised the blade in her hand to her neck. This woman was crazy, and in the most comedic way possible. Did she really think that he'd just stand and let her take her life?
"Don't you dare take one step closer. If you do I'll kill myself." Isabelle threatened. Her hands were trembling, and even though she knew that killing herself would somewhat bring her people victory, she lacked the resolve to do it.
"Can you really take your life? I know I can't, so how can a little girl even think of doing so?"
"I swear if you t—" Isabelle's body froze, her lips, body and all. It wasn't a spell, nobody was holding her, she had merely been paralyzed by fear. Just now, she had really wanted to kill herself. But before she could even graze herself with the blade, he had disappeared from her sight, and was now behind her. She could feel his warmth all over her skin, his cold red eyes were staring at the back of her neck, and his hand slowly stole her blade away.
"You're even bolder than I am.." Icarus complimented.
The warmth of his breath on her neck could only mean one thing, his helmet was no longer on his head. If she acted fast enough, she could stab him through the head and make her escape. However, her plans were foiled when she reached for her hidden blade and felt nothing. This man had....
"I'm sorry, but I had to make sure you were completely unarmed."
"You sick pervert!" Isabelle cursed as she tore herself away from the spot she was rooted to. Reflexively, she shot two beams of light at him, but just like her first attack, it was completely nullified.
Despite being her enemy, Isabelle had to admit that this man possessed a captivating blend of features that rendered him undeniably handsome. His face was a symphony of well-proportioned elements, with cold red eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of the underworld.
His chiseled jawline sported just the right amount of ruggedness, accentuating his masculinity. His skin was smooth and had a healthy glow for someone who was constantly hidden under a pile of metals.
"What are you going to do to me?" Isabelle asked while taking simultaneous backward steps.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to extract my treasure from you, and after that send you to go be with your father."
Isabelle lost her balance after hearing Icarus's last sentence. She clutched at the nearest piece of furniture for support, but that was not enough to keep her from falling.
"Y...you..di—"
"I'm sorry, but he made the wrong choice. Let's hope you don't do the same." Icarus interjected, his voice devoid of emotion.
"You're going to take me away aren't you?"
"Yes I am." Came a curt reply.
"Before we go, can I see him?" Isabelle requested.
"It's not advisable, he's not really in the best condition right now." Icarus answered. He didn't mean to take it too far, but decapitating Adynaeus was really the only way to put him down for good. It didn't matter how many attacks he threw at the king, he would simply regenerate and get back on his feet. To really put him down, Icarus had been forced to behead the king, and crush his head.
Isabelle might be a princess, but she knew quite well about war casualties, and what the stories said about the man in front of her. Without asking for more answers, she immediately understood the reason behind his words.
Without waiting for his prisoner to grieve properly, Icarus walked up to the traumatized girl and bound her arms and legs with magic. Under normal conditions, he might have treated her a bit fairly, but he was in a haste. She had something that he must take for himself, something that had the capability to save him from himself.
-- 贈り物
が届きました 
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット