The chains went slack around her ankle, hitting the floor with a rattle.
"Where have you been?" Her voice was cold and he flashed her a smile.
It was an uncanny sight.
"I got trapped in a baby."
Well, that was the lamest excuse she had ever heard.
How could he have gotten trapped in a baby?
His hands moved around her other ankle, taking off the chains.
She could see how his muscles twitched beneath his cloth again, a low groan made it out of the guard's lips, and in a flash, his eyes were set on her again.
Flashing between black and the reptilian one that immediately took charge.
"Our energies do not match. I can't last in this body."
The chains around her other ankle fell and he leaned in to undo the one around her neck.
She tensed up, the distance between them little as he worked on the collar.
Staring ahead of her and with her heart racing with fear of the ticking clock loud in her mind, it was getting difficult to breathe, knowing that anytime soon, Eli would burst into this dungeon and send her to her death.
That was one of the reasons she just couldn't believe that the dragon was who Alaris said it was.
The dragon had tried to kill her many times. Anytime they came in contact, she always had a ball of flames ready for her. If he was truly connected to the dragon, wouldn't Alaris have used his connection to ensure that didn't happen?
His hand brushed around her neck and she tensed up, her eyes fixed on the bars, her ears listening to his raggy breath.
"Hard." He hissed.
It didn't seem like getting rid of the collar was the hard thing, although she knew it was a complicated process, it seemed the body he was in was really fighting him as he had said earlier.
It slowed him down.
Her heart was hammering with fear, the ticking louder.
Her lack of breathing now concerning, she tried to distract herself and the image of his eyes popped into her mind.
Good distraction.
"Is that what your eyes look like?"
"They are the dragon's eyes. I see through them." He answered, a tremble in his voice.
That was when she noticed that his voice still sounded very much like him.
She wondered if others would be able to hear his voice or the guard's voice instead, just like they weren't able to recognize her.
The collar came off and she let out a sigh of relief, it was easier to get rid of the chains on her wrists after that.
"Why didn't you tell me that no one will recognize me?"
"I didn't know. Just as I didn't know that I will get trapped in a person's body if our energy matched."
He was still on that stupid excuse?
Alright.
He pulled her into an embrace, his arms tight around her, the smell of the sweat from the guard filling her nose.
"He stinks. I know. Stay still."
It was only then she realized that she had tried to wriggle out of his embrace.
A second had passed and nothing happened.
That was a problem, but they had a bigger problem. That bigger problem was the sound of the clicking heels that were now quickly approaching this side of the dungeon.
The sound of boots accompanied it.
Her time was up.
Lady Kestra was here.
"Bring me the Witch."
And Eli!
By Ignas, what did this keep happening to her?!
"What is going on?"
There was no response, the guard was staring back at her now, his eyes black, all trace of Alaris in him, gone.
"Alaris?"
The sound approached faster and the gate pushed open, her gaze fell on Lady Kestra as she stepped into the dungeon, and that was it.
Kestra blinked, her gaze fixed on the spot she had just seen the strangest woman in her life.
It had only been a second, now she was gone.
The news got to Eli quickly and he was storming into the dungeon in no time.
Quickly, he sent out orders for the whole castle to be checked.
A lockdown.
No movement in or out.
Kestra's hands moved around the chains, the mark on her forehead glowing red as she observed the essence surrounding it.
Magic.
She was indeed a witch.
Wait, there was a witch aside from her.
One that was more powerful too.
One that could just disappear into thin air and be gone.
That was something she hadn't been able to attain yet despite all her powers.
She did not like that.
Her body stilled, her eyelids fluttered close, and she took in a deep breath. When she opened her eyes next, blood was dripping down her nose.
This energy was too strong.
She would need these chains to figure out who the witch was.
There was a possibility it could be linked to the one who owns the White Aura.
"Your Majesty!" A guard shouted as he rushed into the dungeon. The shout cutting into her order for the guards to have the chains packed and taken to her Sorcery Room.
"Your Majesty!"
"What is it?"
"It's the Bride!" He was panting. "She is awake."
____
It had been three days since then and it was clear as day that Eli had no intention to stay away from her in the slightest.
First, he had her moved back to his chambers.
"I will not force my presence into your space, I promise, but you must understand my need to protect you. This "The Eye" they are getting bolder. I will not forgive myself if I let any harm befall you."
Those had been his words and she had nodded along for two reasons.
First, wanting to stay would have seemed suspicious. He would think "the witch" had done something to her brain and now she couldn't reason properly. Then, he would tell Kestra to have an intensive look at her, as if what had been done so far wasn't already terrifying.
Kestra was determined to find out who the witch was, tirelessly working on those chains and anything she could find.
Belladonna only hoped that she would come up with nothing in the end.
Second, it would be useless.
They still haven't said anything more about the coffins and he wasn't pushing to explain himself. He ensured that the cut on her neck was well taken care of though, as well as her stomach.
He also told her about what had happened that night.
The trembling in his voice when he had spoken about "the witch" and how terrified he was that she would do something to herself in the dungeon just to hurt her, made her heart clench.
Acting shocked had come way too easily to her. It was shocking.
The piano played from the next room and Belladonna turned in her bed. It had been a while since she heard it.
The memory of how things had gone the last time she had been in that room, made heat dance beneath her skin, but the memory of the coffins was just as evident, and with a disturbing sigh, she turned again.
Being close to Eli must have a repelling effect on Alaris.
She had not been able to dream of him.
Also, his presence was slowing down her research.
She still hasn't been able to go through that book yet.
With determination, she sat up. She couldn't just sit and allow this to go on forever.
She had to do something and she had to do it now.