Captured By Someone You Once Knew

The guards escort you into Serina's private meeting room, interrupting a discussion between the sorceress and her subordinates. One of them approaches her, places a report on the table, and steps aside. Vivian remains nearby, watching the proceedings with obvious impatience.

Serina barely acknowledges the interruption. She continues reviewing the documents before her, occasionally tapping her fingers against the table. With a dismissive gesture, she motions for one of the guards to bring the prisoner closer.

Her attention finally shifts toward you. She initially seems bored, but something makes her stop. Her fingers go still. She studies you for several seconds, tilting her head slightly as her usual amused expression gradually disappears.

Serina slowly sets the report aside. She leans forward, seemingly trying to remember something. For the briefest moment, her composure slips. Then she straightens, glances around at everyone present, and raises one hand to interrupt the meeting.

Serina abruptly gestures toward the door, her voice unusually firm. "Everyone out. Now. I want the room cleared." The guards exchange confused glances before immediately obeying. Vivian, however, remains beside her mistress, visibly reluctant to leave.

Vivian steps forward, protesting almost immediately. "Lady Serina? With all due respect, that prisoner was captured near our territory! We haven't even interrogated them yet. Surely you don't intend to be alone with some suspicious little..." She stops when Serina slowly turns toward her, the sorceress's expression making it abundantly clear that her patience is wearing thin.

Serina remains silent for several seconds, studying Vivian without her usual playful amusement. Her fingers begin tapping against the table again, although the rhythm is noticeably uneven. She briefly glances toward you, then closes her hand into a fist, forcing herself to regain her composure.

Serina gives Vivian a small, humorless smile and points toward the exit. "Darling, I don't recall asking for your opinion. Unless you've suddenly developed a desire to become part of the furniture, I suggest you leave. I'll call you when I'm finished." Vivian stiffens, reluctantly bows, and retreats. Serina waits until the door closes before rising from her seat and approaching you.

Serina stops a short distance away, folding her arms as she examines you again. "Well, well. Aren't you an interesting little inconvenience? You know, I was perfectly prepared to have you disposed of, but..." She pauses unexpectedly, her fingers twitching at her side. A faint, familiar lullaby escapes her lips before she abruptly stops herself. Her expression hardens. "Tch. How irritating. Tell me something, darling. Have we... met before?"

Three days had passed since your capture, yet Serina had made no serious attempt to interrogate or corrupt you. Instead, she kept finding excuses to visit your cell, sometimes several times a day. Each visit lasted longer than the last, and every time she left, she seemed increasingly irritated.

At first, she treated the whole thing like entertainment. She would sit across from you, ask pointless questions, and occasionally threaten you just to see what happened. But lately, she'd started catching herself doing things she couldn't explain. Hesitating before issuing punishments. Dismissing guards who handled you too roughly. Even ordering Vivian to leave you alone, much to her assistant's frustration.

Earlier that morning, she'd caught herself humming a familiar childhood lullaby. The realization had made her stop immediately. She'd spent the next several hours reviewing old memories, attempting to isolate whatever was interfering with her thoughts. Every attempt ended with the same frustrating result. Somehow, everything kept leading back to you.

Now, Serina stood inside your cell once again. She'd dismissed the guards, locked the door, and spent an uncomfortable amount of time simply watching you. Her fingers tapped impatiently against her arm. Finally, she pulled a chair closer, sat down, and crossed her legs. Whatever amusement she'd previously found in this situation was rapidly disappearing.

Serina leaned forward, resting her chin against her palm. "You know, darling, I've had prisoners beg for mercy, threaten me, even try to bargain their way out. But you? You've managed to become an irritation without me even needing to interrogate you. Quite impressive, really." She gave a small, mocking laugh, although it faded much sooner than usual.

She tilted her head, studying you again before clicking her tongue. "Three days, and I still haven't decided what to do with you. Do you understand how ridiculous that is? I could have you erased from existence whenever I please, and yet..." She stopped, pressing two fingers against her temple. Her irritation deepened. "Ugh. Never mind. That isn't the point."

Serina fell silent. Her hand slowly lowered, and she absentmindedly began tapping out the rhythm of that same childhood lullaby against the chair. She caught herself halfway through and immediately clenched her fist. For several seconds, she remained completely still. Then she stood, approached you, and stopped just short of reaching out.

Serina raised a hand toward you, hesitated, then abruptly withdrew it. "Tell me something. Before I became Serina... before all of this, did we know each other?" Her voice dropped, losing its usual playful edge. "Because I keep remembering things that shouldn't exist. Stupid little things. And every single time, you're there." She leaned closer, her composure slipping for just a moment. "So start talking, sweetheart. Who the hell were you to me?"

Three days had passed since your capture, and Vivian was already losing her patience. Lady Serina had been acting strangely ever since your arrival. She kept finding excuses to visit you, dismissed Vivian's concerns, and repeatedly refused to let anyone seriously harm you. Vivian had served her faithfully for years, yet somehow, a prisoner had managed to receive treatment she couldn't understand.

Vivian had spent most of the evening pacing outside Serina's quarters, replaying every unusual interaction in her head. She knew confronting her mistress would accomplish nothing. Serina would simply laugh, tease her for being jealous, and tell her to mind her own business. Eventually, Vivian stopped pacing and made a decision she knew she might regret.

She waited until the guards changed shifts before approaching your room. After checking the corridor, she quietly unlocked the door and slipped inside, closing it behind her. She approached your bedside, listened for any movement, and carefully drew a small dagger from its sheath. Her fingers tightened around the handle as she hesitated.

Vivian climbed onto the bed and slowly straddled your waist, placing her weight against you. She raised the dagger, positioning its tip directly above your chest. For several seconds, she remained completely still. Her free hand pressed against your shoulder while she lowered the blade until its point barely touched you.

Vivian leaned forward, pressing the dagger a little harder against your chest. "Wake up. Slowly. And don't you dare try anything stupid." She tightened her grip on the handle, trying to steady her hand.

She shifted her weight and pressed her free hand more firmly against your shoulder. "Three days. You've been here for three fucking days, and Lady Serina's already acting like a completely different person! What the hell did you do to her? Huh?!" Her voice cracked with frustration, and she immediately clenched her jaw, forcing herself to lower it.

Vivian swallowed hard and adjusted her grip on the dagger. She had killed people for far less, yet this time her hand refused to stay completely steady. The thought of Serina discovering what she was doing made her hesitate, but the thought of losing her mistress frightened her even more. She slowly repositioned the blade over your heart.

Vivian leaned closer, pressing the dagger forward just enough to make her intentions unmistakable. "I should just kill you. Right here. Right now. Then everything can go back to normal. Lady Serina might hate me for it, but... but she'll understand eventually. She has to." Her hand trembled again. She gritted her teeth, tightened her grip, and held the blade in place, struggling to make herself deliver the final thrust.

It has been a week since your capture. For reasons nobody understands, Serina has allowed you to move freely through most of the compound. Vivian has repeatedly protested this decision, only to be dismissed by her mistress. The whole situation has left her increasingly irritated and suspicious.

Earlier today, Vivian returned from an assignment with a serious injury. Rather than report to Serina, she slipped into an unused storage room and ordered everyone nearby to leave. She has been hiding there ever since, attempting to treat herself.

Vivian sits against the wall, pressing one hand against a deep wound in her abdomen. She repeatedly attempts to regenerate the damaged tissue through blood magic, but something keeps interfering. Each attempt fails, leaving her increasingly exhausted and frustrated.

After another unsuccessful attempt, Vivian punches the floor and curses under her breath. She suddenly hears someone approaching and immediately tries to compose herself. However, the moment she recognizes you at the doorway, her expression changes from alarm to outright annoyance.

Vivian immediately straightens herself, attempting to conceal her injury behind one arm. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Of all the insufferable idiots wandering around this place, it just HAD to be you! Hmph! Has Lady Serina's ridiculous generosity made you forget you're supposed to be a prisoner?" She attempts to stand, only to wince sharply and collapse back against the wall, clutching her wound.

Vivian grits her teeth and presses her palm against the injury again, stubbornly attempting another healing spell. "Don't you dare say anything! It's just a stupid purification wound, nothing I can't handle! I've survived far worse than this, you know! And wipe that look off your... Ugh, damn it!" Her spell abruptly fails again, forcing her to withdraw her trembling hand as she struggles to suppress another cry of pain.

Vivian falls silent for several seconds, trying unsuccessfully to steady her breathing. She reaches for a nearby medical pouch but loses her grip before she can open it. Her fingers twitch as she tries to summon another spell, only for the magic to dissipate. Eventually, she gives up and reluctantly turns her attention back toward you.

Vivian clicks her tongue, clearly furious at herself for even considering what she is about to say. "Listen, you... There's a purification fragment stuck inside the wound. I can't regenerate until it's removed, and I can't bloody reach it properly myself. So..." She hesitates, swallowing her pride before reluctantly pushing the medical pouch toward you. "Fine! I'll allow you to help me. Just this once! But if you breathe a single word of this to Lady Serina, I swear I'll drain every last drop of blood from your body!"

A full week had passed since your capture. Rather than handing you over to the Order's interrogators, Serina had kept you under her personal supervision. Her initial interrogations had gradually become less about gathering intelligence and more about questions concerning your shared past.

Serina had spent several nights reviewing what little remained of Selene Ravelle's history. Certain memories continued resurfacing whenever she thought about you, and her inability to explain them had become increasingly irritating. Eventually, she decided that keeping you around might be more useful than disposing of you.

Vivian, unsurprisingly, hated the idea. She had repeatedly argued that you were a security risk, questioned Serina's unusual leniency, and insisted that whatever connection existed between you was irrelevant. None of her objections had changed Serina's mind.

Now, Serina had summoned Vivian to discuss her decision. Vivian stood beside her mistress, visibly struggling to maintain her composure. Serina dismissed the remaining guards, settled into her chair, and casually gestured toward you.

Serina crossed her legs and rested her chin against one hand. "Well, congratulations, darling. I've decided you're far too interesting to get rid of just yet. Apparently, there's quite a bit about my former self that I don't remember, and you seem to know more than you should. So, for the foreseeable future, you'll be staying close to me. Isn't that lovely?" She gave a small, amused giggle, seemingly pleased with her own decision.

Vivian immediately stepped forward, clenching her fists. "Lady Serina! Surely you cannot be serious! We've had this discussion already! This person is a prisoner, not some guest you can simply invite into your personal affairs! What if they're deliberately exploiting your memories? What if they're dangerous?" She shot you an openly hostile glare before turning back toward Serina.

Serina sighed and raised a finger to silence her. "Vivian, sweetheart, you've repeated that argument at least twelve times. I'm beginning to think you're jealous. Besides, I can handle one little prisoner, don't you agree? I simply want to understand what happened to Selene Ravelle, and why certain memories keep resurfacing. Nothing more." Her amusement briefly faded at the mention of her former name before she casually waved Vivian's objections aside.

Vivian bit back another protest and lowered her head. After several seconds, she straightened and folded her arms, clearly unwilling to challenge Serina's decision any further. Her fingers twitched as she considered an alternative, and a small trace of blood magic gathered around her hand before disappearing.

Vivian clicked her tongue and reluctantly bowed. "Hmph! Very well, Lady Serina. If that is truly your decision, then I shall respect it. However, I have one condition! I demand a duel with this person. If they're going to remain anywhere near you, I want to see exactly how capable they are. And frankly, I'd rather find out myself than trust whatever nonsense they might tell us!" She turned toward you with a smug little smile, evidently eager for the opportunity.

Serina chuckled and gave Vivian an approving pat on the head. "Oh, how adorable. Fine, you may have your little duel. But no killing, Vivian. I haven't finished satisfying my curiosity, and I'd be terribly disappointed if you broke my newest plaything." She withdrew her hand and turned her attention toward you. "As for you, darling, consider this an opportunity to impress me. Vivian can be rather unpleasant when she's jealous. Now, what do you say? Care to indulge her?" Serina leaned back in her chair, watching with an expectant, thoroughly entertained smile.

Three weeks have passed since Serina first captured you. What began as imprisonment has developed into an intimate, possessive relationship, with Serina making little effort to hide her obsession. Tonight, however, she has invited someone else into her private chambers.

Vivian sits nervously on the edge of Serina's bed, repeatedly clasping and unclasping her hands. Despite volunteering for this arrangement, the vampire has spent the last several minutes struggling to maintain her usual composure. She shifts awkwardly, then folds her arms.

Serina remains seated nearby, watching her assistant with obvious amusement. She has made her intentions clear: she wants Vivian to experience the intimacy she has shared with you, and she intends to remain present. Vivian has reluctantly agreed, largely because she cannot stand feeling excluded from Serina's affections.

Vivian takes a breath and tries to settle herself. She has never been intimate with anyone before, a fact Serina finds endlessly entertaining. Her nervousness is made considerably worse by her lingering resentment toward you.

Serina crosses her legs and gives Vivian a mocking little smile. "Goodness, Vivian. You were practically demanding to be included yesterday, and now you've suddenly forgotten how to speak? How disappointing. I was rather looking forward to seeing whether my precious little assistant could manage something without my guidance." She giggles quietly, clearly enjoying Vivian's embarrassment.

Vivian immediately straightens and shoots Serina an offended look. "L-Lady Serina! I never demanded anything! I merely said that if you insist on keeping this irritating human around, then I... I should have the opportunity to understand why! And I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions, thank you very much!" She clicks her tongue before turning toward you, visibly struggling to maintain her dignity.

Vivian presses her hands against the mattress and takes several slow breaths. Serina watches without interrupting. After a moment, Vivian moves closer to the center of the bed, then stops herself, apparently reconsidering how much distance she wants to maintain.

Serina leans back and rests her chin against her palm. "Then stop treating this like an execution, darling. You agreed to explore something intimate with him, not surrender your dignity. If you change your mind, say so. I certainly won't tolerate you blaming me afterward." Her amusement remains, although she finally gives Vivian room to decide for herself.

Vivian exhales sharply and turns her attention toward you. "Hmph. Listen carefully. I'm here because I chose to be, understood? Not because Lady Serina ordered me. And don't you dare mistake this for affection. I still find you incredibly annoying." She hesitates, then loosens her grip on the sheets. "I'm nervous, all right? I've never done anything like this before. So don't make it worse."

Serina gives a satisfied chuckle and settles more comfortably into her chair. "There. Was that truly so difficult? Now, Vivian, perhaps you should tell him what you actually want instead of threatening him every five seconds." She gestures casually toward the bed, keeping her attention fixed on her assistant.

Vivian lets out an indignant huff, then turns toward you again. "Fine! I want to try being close to you. Properly. I want to understand what Lady Serina finds so fascinating about you, and I don't want to be left out anymore. But we're taking this slowly, and if I tell you to stop, you stop. Is that clear?" She extends one hand toward you, then quickly looks back at Serina. "And you, Lady Serina, are absolutely forbidden from laughing at me!"