"Celso?" Athena pulled against the chains but didn't get any closer to the bars. She remained where she sat and looked with amazement at the man across the hall. Was he really here, or was it just her imagination?

Celso opened his mouth to speak when a noise started down the hall. It sounded like someone trying to fight the guards.

"Let go of her, you little-" she heard a male voice yell.

"Robby!" She turned her head back to Celso's voice as he rattled the bars. "Don't you dare finish that sentence!"

"I think you should listen to your friend," she heard one of the guards sneer at the man.

Athena backed against the wall as two guards came in front of her cell door. In the middle was a woman with black hair and big brown eyes. The woman looked surprisingly calm despite her predicament with her hands tied in front of her and two bulky demons standing on either side. The guards opened the door and shoved the woman inside. She stumbled a few steps before stopping in front of Athena. The guards closed the door and locked it back in place before disappearing down the hallway.

Athena watched with awe as fire surrounded the woman's wrists and the rope burned away into nothing. The woman looked up at Athena and knelt in front of her.

"You must be, Athena," her soft voice reached towards her. "It's very nice to finally meet you." She stuck out her hand for Athena to shake.

She gripped her hand and shook it. "Who are you?"

"My name is Coleen," she introduced herself. "I'm a friend of your boyfriend." She nodded her head in Celso's direction. "He's told me a lot about you."

"He has?" Athena looked around Coleen to see Celso watching them. She raised one of her eyebrows at him as he looked away.

Coleen chuckled. "Nothing bad, trust me." She sat down next to Athena and leaned against the wall. "Did you know that you were like me?"

"What?"

Coleen smiled. "Did you know that you could do what I do?" She stuck out her hand and from her palm came out fire in the shape of a flower. Its petals sizzled and cracked, but never faded.

"No," Athena breathed. "How did you do that?"

"Magic," Coleen chuckled. "You can do this too, but your magic is much stronger. What you have is what King Buledal wants."

"But," Athena breathed. She looked down at her hands. "I can't do any of that. I don't even know how to read or speak demon. I can only speak one spell and I don't even know what it does. How can King Buledal use me if I can't even perform one simple spell?"

Coleen looked at her. "You'll learn, but it will be through one of the demons. He will make you learn." She sighed. "I can't say for certain how he'll make you learn, but it will be hard."

Athena brought her knees up to her chest. "I want to go home." She raised her eyes to see Celso leaning his head back against the wall with his eyes closed. "How can he sleep here?"

"He's not asleep," she chuckled. "He's listening." She leaned closer to Athena and whispered in her ear. "He's been worried sick since you've been gone. I've never seen him be so aloof for the long time I've known him. You must be something really special to him if he would call us up to help save you."

Athena gave a small smile. "But look where you all are now. Trapped like me."

"At least Celso can see you," Coleen gave her arm a tight squeeze. She stood up and walked back to the bars. She leaned against them and brought her hand down by her side. A dull green started to glow from her fingers as they brushed the rusty bars.

"Oi!" Athena heard a deep gravely voice yell. A demon rushed to the bars and pointed his staff and Coleen's chest. "What do you think you're doing?"

Coleen took a step back and calmly held up her hands. "Nothing, I'm just letting my magic flow freely."

The demon guard eyed her suspiciously before lowering his staff and stepping away from the bars. "I'll advise you not to let it flow freely. The King doesn't like magic he can't control." His eyes quickly darted towards Athena before walking away back towards his post.

-

A few hours later, King Buledal appeared in front of Athena's cell. He opened the door and jerked her up to her feet. He paid no attention to Coleen as he tied Athena's hands together and pulled her out of the cell.

Athena looked at Celso glaring at King Buledal and gripping the bars tight. She willed him to look at her and he did. She slightly shook her head and he sighed as he understood. He backed away from the bars and watched with regret as King Buledal took Athena away.

They walked for a while until Athena was pushed outside. She closed her eyes and brought her hands up to shield her from the blinding light. She blinked rapidly trying to get her eyes used to the light. Eventually, they did and she brought her hands down. King Buledal had led her out into a small courtyard. Trees lined the edge of the courtyard as if they were bars of a cell keeping her from finding a way out. A large fountain rested in the middle of the courtyard. Water spewed out of the stone opening and landed in the pool beneath it.

King Buledal pushed her towards the fountain and pushed her to a sitting position on the edge. He kept her hands tied and paced in front of her. "Have you made your decision, Athena?"

She sat up tall and glared at him. "My decision is the same as it was."

King Buledal sighed and shook his head. "I didn't want to force you, Athena. Your magic could have been much stronger if not forced." He turned towards her and knelt down in front of her. "You will do my bidding, Athena. You will help me."

Athena shook her head and looked away from him. "I will never."

King Buledal grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "You will do as I say, or your friends will be hurt. Do you understand?"

"What will you do to them?" Athena's voice quivered. That was a mistake to give away.

King Buledal smiled wickedly. "If you don't do as I tell you, you'll see what I'll do to them." He pushed her back and into the water.

Athena fell with a splash. She glared up at King Buledal through the wet locks of her hair. Bringing her hands up she tried to pull herself out of the water but was unsuccessful. She heard King Buledal laugh and felt a strong hand on the back of her soaked shirt. She bit her lip to keep herself from yelping in surprise as she was lifted out of the water and back on dry land. She was soaked and cold. She clenched her jaws together to keep them from chattering, but that didn't make her body stop from shaking. Athena glared at King Buledal as he laughed at her appearance and bent down to her size. 

"You will do as I say," he reminded her. "You are allowed to roam the castle now, but not without one of the guards with you." He straightened up and snapped his fingers. A guard came instantly to his side. 

The guard was a little smaller and lighter than King Buledal but still looked as equally powerful. 

"Follow this wrench around," King Buledal commanded the guard. "Send her to her new quarters and make sure she's dried for tonight's feast." He looked down at Athena and smirked. "We will be celebrating our latest weapon." With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the courtyard. 

Athena glared at his back until she couldn't see him anymore. Beside her, the guard cleared his throat and pushed her forward with the bottom of his staff. She stumbled forward and regained her footing. She was pushed towards the door that she had walked out of. They walked through the door and turned a sharp corner to come upon a narrow staircase. The guard pushed her up and through another door. 

Athena gasped as she saw the inside of the castle. The decor was totally different than the dungeons below. Hundreds of lanterns lined the stone hallway giving off a bright light. A dark red rug lined the floor and paintings filled the walls. Athena tried to read the plaques underneath the paintings but was pushed forward.

"We can't have you ruining the rug with your wet clothes and hair," the guard calmly said behind her. 

She looked behind her at the guard. She didn't know what to think of him. He looked rough and mean, but his tone told otherwise. "What's your name?" she asked him.

"Kassach," he told her. 

Athena nodded. She looked ahead of her and tried to think of another question, but was stopped suddenly. Kassach turned her towards a door and pushed her through. The room was bigger than the cell in the dungeons. A large red bed sat against the wall across from her and huge windows were placed behind it. A brown dresser sat on one side of the bed and on the other side sat a small table with a gas lamp. 

"Through the other door," Kassach pointed towards the another wooden door in the room, "is the washroom. There's a water basin in there and a bucket filled with warm water beside it. In the dresser, there should be clothes that should fit you. If there's not, ring the bell and I'll come with clothes." He turned around and headed towards the door. 

Athena turned to look at him. "Thank you, Kassach."

Kassach, with his back turned towards her, slightly looked at her over his shoulder. He gave her a small nod before opening the door and closing it behind him. 

Athena turned back around and headed towards the washroom. Closing the washroom door behind her, she filled the water basin up with the warm water and lowered herself down. She cringed as the water hit the burns on her stomach. She scrubbed herself clean and once she thought she was clean enough, she stood up slowly and looked down at her burnt skin. They were still red and blistering. She bit her lip to stop her from crying and stepped out of the tub. 

Walking towards the dresser, she pulled on one of the drawers and found the undergarments and clothing of a human woman. Her eyes widened at the thought that these could have been someone else's clothes at one time. She shuddered as she grabbed the clothes and put them on. Finding a long mirror beside the dresser, she took a good look at herself in the mirror. 

She was wearing a long sky blue dress with large sleeves falling down to her wrists. She pulled her long hair up into a bun and placed it at the top of her head. She sighed at the image in front of her. She hated that she was here living in this room now while Celso, her brother, and the rest of their friends were staying in the dungeons. But she was confident that she wouldn't let anything happen to them as long as she's still alive. 

She'll get them all out of here.