Lila shivered in the cold and damp cell, wrapping the tattered remnants of her dress around her frail body. The air was thick with the stench of mildew, and the only light came from a small window high above, barely illuminating the stone walls and the iron bars. She had been imprisoned here for weeks, ever since Prince Adrian had invaded her kingdom and captured her. She had resisted his attempts to break her spirit, but she knew he would not give up easily. He wanted something from her, something she would never surrender.
She heard the heavy cell door creak open, and looked up to see Adrian's smug face. He wore a fine cloak and a jeweled sword, contrasting with her ragged appearance. His eyes were cold and cruel, and they scanned her body with a gleam of satisfaction. He saw the bruises, the cuts, the dirt, and the blood. He saw her suffering, and he enjoyed it.
He walked towards her, his boots echoing on the floor. He stopped in front of her, and spoke with a calm voice that sent a chill down her spine. "Well, well, Princess Lila. How does it feel to be reduced to such a sorry state? How does it feel to lose everything you ever cared about?"
Lila glared at him, her voice full of disdain. "Save your words, Adrian. They mean nothing to me. You can torture me, you can humiliate me, but you can never break me."
Adrian leaned in, his face inches from hers. He smiled wickedly, showing his teeth. "You may despise me, Princess, but I hold the key to your destiny. A destiny that no longer involves your precious kingdom. A destiny that belongs to me."
Lila snorted, her eyes flashing with anger. "You are delusional, Adrian. You have no right to my kingdom. It is nothing but a realm of vanity and arrogance. A realm that you will never rule."
Adrian chuckled, his eyes mocking her. "Ah, but that is where you are blind, dear princess. Blind to the reality that your ego has shielded you from. Your kingdom, once grand and prosperous, now lies in ruins—all because of your absence. All because of your foolishness."
Lila felt a pang of fear, but she quickly suppressed it. She refused to believe his lies. "You are lying, Adrian. My kingdom is strong. My people are loyal. They will never bow to you."
Adrian shook his head, his tone dripping with false sympathy. "Your blindness is staggering, Princess. You are so consumed by your ego that you fail to see the destruction I've wrought upon your beloved realm. I have burned your villages, slaughtered your soldiers, and enslaved your people. I have taken everything from you. And all for what? A senseless act of defiance."
Lila felt a tear roll down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. She would not show him any weakness. She would not give him any satisfaction. She asked him, in a rare moment of vulnerability, "Why are you telling me this? What do you want from me?"
Adrian's gaze hardened, his voice lowering to a whisper. "Because, dear princess, I want something from you. Something you hold dear. Something that is more valuable than your kingdom, your people, or your life. A pendant that holds more power than you can comprehend. A pendant that can change the course of history. A pendant that is mine by right."
Lila's hand instinctively went to her neck, where the pendant once rested. It was a gift from her mother, the late Queen, who had told her it was a family heirloom. It was a simple silver chain, with a blue gemstone that sparkled in the light. It was the only thing she had left of her mother, and of her past. She had hidden it under her dress, hoping that Adrian would not notice it. But he had. He had seen it, and he had wanted it. He had tried to take it from her, but she had fought back. She had managed to slip it off her neck, and hide it somewhere in the cell. She did not know what power it had, or why he wanted it so badly. But she knew she would never let him have it.
She looked at him, her eyes defiant. "You will never find it, Adrian. I have hidden it well. And even if you do, I will never tell you how to use it. I would sooner die than let you claim it."
Adrian laughed coldly, his voice echoing in the cell. "You are a fool, Lila. You think you can keep it hidden forever? You think you can resist me? You are no match for the currents of fate. I have my ways of finding it, and of making you talk. You will beg me for mercy, before this is over. You will beg me to end your misery."
He turned around, and walked towards the door. He closed it behind him, leaving Lila in the darkness. But before he left, he did one more thing. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small jar. He opened it, and poured its contents into the cell. A swarm of ants crawled out, heading towards Lila. They were red and black, and they had sharp mandibles. They were hungry, and they smelled blood.
Adrian smiled, as he heard Lila scream. He said, as a parting gift, "Enjoy your company, Princess. They will keep you company, until I return. And when I do, you will give me what I want. Or you will wish you had."
He walked away, leaving Lila to her fate. A fate that was worse than death. A fate that was in his hands.