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Chapter 13 - The Unknown

The flames of Queen Melinoe's pyre had long since died down, leaving only smoldering ashes. As Oephidia mourned, the subterranean realm remained unaware of the truth hidden beneath layers of deceit and darkness.

Deep within a concealed cavern, far from the palace and its mourning citizens, Queen Melinoe lay immobilized on a cold stone slab. Her wrists and tail were bound by glowing chains that pulsed with an eerie light, sapping her strength and preventing any movement. She was conscious but weak, her senses dulled by the seal that kept her captive.

The cavern was dimly lit by torches casting flickering shadows on the damp walls. The air was thick with the smell of earth and moss, and the only sound was the occasional drip of water echoing through the stillness.

A figure emerged from the shadows, their face obscured by a hooded cloak. The figure approached Melinoe, their movements deliberate and filled with a cold, calculating energy. Melinoe's eyes, though weary, burned with defiance as she watched her captor draw near.

"So, you're finally awake Queen," the figure said, their voice a chilling whisper that sent shivers down Melinoe's spine. "I must say, you put up quite a fight. But it was all in vain."

Melinoe struggled to speak, her voice barely a whisper. "Who... who are you? Why have you done this?"

The figure chuckled softly, a sound devoid of warmth. "Who I am is of little importance. What matters is that your people believe you to be dead. They've performed your last rites, thinking it was you they were mourning."

Melinoe's heart sank at the revelation. Her people, her beloved Oephidia, were suffering under the illusion of her death. "How... how did you manage such a deception?"

The figure stepped closer, their hood casting a deeper shadow over their face. "Dark Magic, my dear Queen. Powerful illusion magic. We managed to weave a spell so powerful that it made one of our own look exactly like you. The resemblance was quite uncanny and she sacrificed herself for our cause so while we abducted you, we planted her body in the Palace after killing the guards and knocking the rest out to make it seem like you died fighting. What they burned on that pyre was nothing more than her. Convincing, wasn't it?"

Melinoe's mind raced as she tried to comprehend the implications of this betrayal. "What do you want from me? Why keep me alive?"

The figure's smile was a cruel, twisted thing. "You still have your uses, Melinoe. As long as your people believe you to be dead, they will be easier to manipulate. And as for you, you will remain here, out of sight and out of mind, until I decide otherwise."

Melinoe's eyes flashed with anger. "They will find out the truth. Kael and the others will not rest until they uncover this deception."

The figure leaned in closer, their breath cold against Melinoe's skin. "Let them try. By the time they realize the truth, it will be too late. Oephidia will be mine, and there will be no one left to oppose me."

With that, the figure turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Melinoe alone in her dark, silent prison. She could only hope that her friends would discover the truth and save her before it was too late. The fate of Oephidia now hung in a balance, and the real battle was only just beginning.