Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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Who turned off the lights?

I remember that I was looking at the painting with Damiano Testa on it, and I wished for Duke to be with me and then… this.

I couldn't see or hear anything. Like I was in a completely dark, sound-isolated chamber.

I couldn't even tell if my eyes were open or closed because blinking didn't make any difference. Was I even blinking?

I was lying on the ground, and my limbs moved without restriction, so I was not tied. I decided to double-check if there is something blocking my sight.

OUCH!

That was my own finger in my own eye!

Well, I guess there is nothing physical to cause this what I could describe as blindness.

My hands moved over the ground, feeling the grooves of the cold stone.

Damn… It seems that my crazy idea worked, and I was kidnapped.

Wait! What if I accidentally activated some hidden trap and found myself in a secret room? Those old castle-like buildings definitely have many hidden passages and rooms. But if that's the case, I should remember how I found myself here.

Should I make noise and announce my presence?

"Hello?", I called.

Nothing.

The strange thing was that I couldn't hear my own voice, even though the strain in my throat told me that I spoke. What the…?

Calm down, Serina. This is no time to panic.

I knew that this was risky, and I knew that it could end badly in so many ways. If I break down in fear I will only prove to Aldus and Calista that this was reckless and that I've got myself way over my head. I won't allow that.

I was blind and deaf, and possibly mute, and it was extremely uncomfortable.

Someone might be one step away from me, watching me, and I would be absolutely unaware of that.

I was comforted by the thought that Duke was clueless about my plans for tonight. He knows I'm attending an event with my father, but nothing more than that.

I didn't want Duke to worry for no reason, but now that I found myself in this deaf darkness, my heart ached at the thought of how Duke will react if something happens to me. I had no answer if Duke would be more devastated that I'm missing, or because I didn't tell him about this.

I promised him no lies, and technically I didn't lie, but I didn't tell him the truth either. Is keeping quiet considered a lie? He would definitely be disappointed and probably not trust me again.

I forced myself back to reality. I needed to deal with my current situation and if I come out of this unscathed, Duke will never find out about it. It's that simple.

Now what?

Should I activate the beacon and get the cavalry to rescue me? No. I should at least figure out my current situation. The more information I gather, the better it will be.

I pushed myself to a seated position and felt the garment that covered my body. It seems that I was still wearing the dress for the event. That's one good thing in addition to the fact that I appear to be unharmed.

My attention fell on the air around me and I breathed a sigh of relief when I confirmed that I can create currents around me.

At least my abilities are not sealed.

I can move the air from various distances and based on what I feel, I can distinguish objects in my vicinity. It's not very precise, but I can tell if there is a large thing in my way.

The air ran smoothly, telling me that there are barely any objects around me.

Two-to-three meters in front of me was a big obstacle I couldn't get around. A wall? Possibly.

On my left and behind me, I identified similar obstacles, quite close to me.

On my right, there was a fairly open space.

A small cave?

I was fairly confident that nothing was moving, so if anyone was watching me, they were completely still.

I was frustrated that I was robbed of my sight and hearing.

It couldn't be more than five minutes since I woke up in this place, but I have no idea for how long I was out. Is my father worried about me? Probably.

As much as I was supposed to be a powerless lady who can be easily kidnapped, now that I found myself in this situation, I couldn't stay passive for long.

Emboldened by a deduction that no one is watching me, I reached for my waist and counted small jewels on the belt of my dress. The fourth one.

I pried it away and popped it into my mouth.

The bitter medicinal taste made me smile because it confirmed that at least some of my senses are working.

I counted five seconds when blurry shadows appeared in front of my eyes.

Finally! My vision was back.

Thank you, father. Your pills always work!

This proved that they gave me some concoction to shut down my senses because the pill I took is something like an adrenaline shot and unless my vision was permanently damaged, this medicine will give it a jump start.

I blinked as I observed the dark cell I found myself in. It looked like a dungeon from movies about Middle Ages. The floor and walls were made out of big chunks of roughly polished rocks, and there were even rusty shackles dangling on the wall.

On my right, there was no wall, but thick black bars prevented me from leaving the claustrophobic space I found myself in.

Luckily, they didn't bind my limbs. Or so I thought.

My eyes widened when I realized that my legs are tied together with a metal-like chain that allowed me to spread my legs no more than half of a normal step. It was obviously designed to prevent me from running.

I moved my legs, and the metal made a clinking sound. Hey, hey! My hearing is back as well!

Other than the sound of metal colliding, that my movements caused, it was eerily quiet.

How come I didn't feel that my legs are bound before?

I inspected the metal that was light and warm to the touch, and I concluded that was not a normal metal. Enchanted? Maybe.

OK. This confirms it. I'm kidnapped! Mission was successful!

Well, half-successful.

It will be a success if I get out of here unharmed and we get some information about the kidnappers.

A shuffling sound from the cell across the hall got my attention and I inched toward the black iron-like bars to get a better view of the shadow that looked like a ball in the far right corner.

I peered left and right down the hallway, how much I could through the bars, and I didn't see anyone in the light that was cast by several old-fashioned torches hung along the opposite side of the wall.

"Hey…", I called in a whisper to the shadowy ball which I assumed was my cell neighbor. "Psst… Psssst! Can you hear me?"

The shadow moved and I saw a shape of the head appearing on the top. I wondered if that's human or some animal.

It could be a bear, but if it's an animal, it would be in a different cage and not in this cell that seems to be designed for humans. Or maybe creatures. Somehow, I forgot about creatures.

Great, maybe it's a lizard who talks in tongue-clicks, yet I'm trying to hold a conversation.

But, what are my options? Considering that I can's see anyone else, this creature in front of me was the only source of information I could get.

"Can you understand what I'm saying?", I asked the shadow that observed me in silence. "Can you come closer? I would like to see you, and it will be easier to chat. My name is Seraphina. What's your name?"

Silence.

I thought that the other party didn't understand me, or maybe he can't hear me, but then I heard a raspy male voice.

"Zeiroi."

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