Chapter 12

Cilia frowned as the damp smell of an underground prison assaulted her nose. Looking around, Cilia was able to make out a simple prison cell, her choker had returned to having a chain connected to it. She was able to move around, but it was barely one meter because her choker was connected to the wall. Her hands had been cuffed together, while her feet had a chain connecting them. At least the length was enough to move without much of an issue, but running would be impossible.

Taking the time, Cilia analyzed her situation. Nishas hatred of the council seemed to be immense. She had to get to Nisha and get through her head and tell her, that she hated it too. This would be her only way to survive, because she couldn't remove the choker.

„Hey newbie, your from the council aren't you?"

Cilia looked through her cell bars as she saw a haggard looking man on the other side. „Why do you think so?"

„This prison floor is especially for people like us. You don't know the boss here yet. Her hatred for people of the council is immense. The reason only two people are here is because everyone dies when they meet her. Our death is already approaching."

„Who is she?" Cilia knew that he talked about Nisha, but she wanted to know more.

„You seriously don't know her? She is the 'Empress', with the second highest bounty the council ever gave out. Second only to the mad butcher, the ex-counselor 'John the Butcher' who had a body count of a few thousand humans until his deeds were discovered. That's the person we were captured by.

But hey, at least she kills people fast because she can't bear to see any of the councils forces alive."

„Oh." Cilia stopped listening to the useless rumbling of her fellow prisoner. At least she was able to get a few useful information about her prison.

They were in the lowest and most secure underground prison, situated under the 'Empress' home. They would have to escape through at least two different prison floors to escape.

Laying down on her bed, Cilia decided to go to sleep now. The recent happenings had tired her out.

After a few hours of unsatisfactory sleep Cilia woke up to a guard delivering her food. It was barely editable, badly cooked soup with a hard piece of bread.

---

Surprisingly only the other prisoners were taken to be tortured, she had heard guards complaining about the boss ordering for her to be left alone.

Cilia figured that Nisha either wanted to do it herself or knew it would be useless as torture would trigger her trauma.

Luckily it would only flared up, if a situation would almost replicate the cause of it.

As such Cilia could only stay on her bed and continue studying her blueprints, which she had bought after already being imprisoned for a few days. She didn't want to stay idle all the time and not progress as she didn't know how long this would go on.

After this much time since her imprisonment, Cilia was able to make any modern gunpowder weapon and a few basic weapons, which were focused on lasers. A lightsaber would be a long way to go. She had already tried this once, she was able to transform into a force sensitive species, but it would only last for a short while. However it would be enough to make her own lightsaber if she spanned it over a few months.

---

Steps echoed across the hallway as screams resounded all around. The wailing of the prisoners would resound in this prison all day long.

Cilia had already gotten used to the screams, but sometimes it would get louder when people on her floor were the ones being tortured.

A week went by as Cilia could only stay in her small cell, while trying to preserve her strength by working out.

No sign of anyone questioning her could be found, as she was ignored expect when food arrived.

Cilia hated not being able to move around as the collar was still in place and connected to the wall, making movement harder. She did however preserve and continued studying her blueprints while working out concepts to improve her magic

Unbeknownst to her, her time of peace had already come close to an end, as Nisha had calmed her mind and ordered for Cilia to be moved for interrogation.

Cilia was able to pick up footsteps, they were coming to her cell, and she knew, that her time in this cell would soon come to an end.

A key was inserted as Cilia tensed up, as 2 guards entered her cell. They wordlessly disconnected her chains from the wall, using them to drag her out, where more guards were waiting.

Silently the group moved upwards, inspiring curiosity into the prisoners about the prisoner, who needed that many guards to be escorted. Those that could get a glimpse were stunned by the beauty, who was walking in between.

The escort just silently continued on to the top, ignoring all the shouts coming from all around them.

They arrived at the interrogation room after a few minutes, where Cilia was once again chained onto the wall. This time her movements were limited to around half a meter. She could only sit still on the chair while waiting for someone to come.

„Nisha.."

„Cilia…"

„What gives me the honor of personally being interrogated by the beautiful 'Empress'?"

Nisha didn't answer as she seated herself across Cilia.

„How unfortunate, I thought we could have a good relationship but…"

„I'm working for the council, already figured out that much. Not thanks to you." Nisha frowned after being interrupted.

„Your name, your real name.

„Sure, let me introduce myself again, I'm Cilia Myrthmitore though you should already know this."

„Do you want to fool me? This is just a name you got later on, but no one seems to want to tell me your original one."

„Why would they, those people know that I don't like being called by that name. Neither do they trust you enough for them to tell you anything special about me."

„You have quite…., loyal acquaintances. They seemed to like you quite a bit. I even heard you tricked an elf to teach you magic and get her to be your…"

„Don't you dare insult my teacher!"

„Overprotective now aren't we?" Nisha didn't like Cilias tone, throwing a punch towards her abdomen. Cilia whimpered in pain as she tried catching her breath.

„Now moving on, since when are you working for the council?" Hatred was visible in her eyes as she continued with her original questions.

„I'm not working for them. Simple as that."

„Then why are you here, listening to the orders of those bastards. To me it seems like you just tell the outside you don't want to work for them, while you have been doing so for years. She was unable to control her anger, as she slammed her fist onto the table, cracking it.

„Big wrong! Just what changed your mind about me so much, that even your IQ dropped. I thought you were smarter than this. For clarification, this is my 3rd mission and I have no clue about most of the dealings of the council. I only know some of them, whom most of are commonly known."

„Do you think I'm a fool, why would they appoint a newcomer as the team leader of a mission?"

Cilia shrugged, while looking into Nishas eyes, „I'm just more trustworthy than all others on the team and I have the capabilities." Both adverted their eyes at the same time after an intense staring contest as both of them erupted into a peal of laughter.

After calming down, Nisha continued questioning further. Cilia was already bored, as she answered most questions truthfully while avoiding the ones she couldn't.

"You have one remaining question open from yesterday. After that I'll stop talking. Though I already answered more than three, I guess you got lucky."

Nisha had one nagging question on her mind, why was Cilia so honest. Although most of what she said might be lies, finding out if she Lied was quite easy.

„Last question, why is it that they deemed you as trustworthy but you are answering my questions? Because those questions, that I know the answer of were answered truthfully."

„Because they know that I will not betray them. As for why I am answering you, just because I won't betray them, doesn't mean that I am loyal. I couldn't care less about what happens to the ones ordering me around, as long as they don't think I have anything to do with it."

„So you won't betray them as long as they can find it out. Alright I have stuff to do now, I'll see you some other time." Nisha bade her farewell and left, but not before she talked with the guards. As she left, guards came in again, removing Cilia's cuffs from the wall. They once again started moving while surrounding her from all sides.

However something was off, the direction they were walking was not the same as they were coming from.

Cilia could only wonder, where their destination laid as they continued walking.

They arrived at a familiar room and shoved Cilia inside. However her chains were still connected to the ceiling.

The chain on her choker had extended itself and was connected on the ceiling, giving her enough space to freely move around the room but hindering her from going outside.

Cilia was happy about finally having back a warm bed as she threw herself onto it. The chokers chain mysteriously disappeared shortly after it was connected to the ceiling, but it reappeared after Cilia went close to the window.

As such Cilia didn't have to worry about being choked to death in her sleep.

As such Cilia's eventful day came to an end as a new time approached.

--

In the next 2 days, Nisha came by Cilia's room and asked her questions about herself, the council and a few other things. Some were as random as: „Are your parents alive?"

On the 3rd day, Cilia was once again escorted to the interrogation room. This time her restrictions were only consisting of her collar and its chain.

„Cilia, this will be the last day. Depending on your answers you will either die or have the possibility of being free."

Before Cilia could even react to that statement, Nisha had already started.

„If you stay silent, I will take that as you agreeing to my statement."

„Sure, just ask. I wanna get over with this, I'm tired." Cilia was mentally exhausted because of all the happenings in the last few weeks.

„You know, as you already are aware, I'm smart as hell and have no problem assessing any situation. So, you told me you won't be betraying the council, but at the same you will never be loyal."

„What a narcissistic remark, but yes you are right."

„I'm sorry I had to, now let' keep going. Am I right if I assume, that you have no choice but to follow the councils orders?"

Cilia's eyes constricted as her mouth fell agape. She didn't know what to say but remembered Nishas previous words as such she just closed her mouth and kept silent.

„Is your family part of the reason why you can't betray them?"

Cilia only kept her silence as mixed emotion flooded her mind. Nisha had figured out this much, within only a few days. If she had known Nisha was as smart, she would have made a plan to tell her about this. She could only scowl herself internally that she underestimated the 'Empress'. How stupid of her.

„I can imagine the remaining information." Nisha could only sight as painful memories assaulted her.

"I have a mission for you. You can't refuse by the way or you will continue to rot inside this prison and maybe I'll treat you as my personal pet.

Cilia already had a rough outline, as a possibility formed in her mind.

„…you want me to spy on them for you."

„…I want you to spy for them on you."

Both looked at each other before laughing, they truly thought alike.

„Sure, but you have to ensure that no one expect you knows about it. I can at least trust, that you won't be caught that fast in the future."

„I know, that's why only us both know about this conversation. I'll tell you the details tomorrow."

As such an once again eventful day went by, as both of them went to bed, thinking about each other.

The next day, Cilia was summoned to Nisha's office.

„Sit down for a bit.

Cilia followed her order, as she sat down across from Nisha.

„Sorry about that for a second, [Don't move]." There it was again, Nisha's trait.

Cilia only wordlessly stared at Nisha, who was moving closer. She removed Cilia's choker, which had restricted her magic power till now. Quickly reacting, Nisha reinforced her order once again, before taking out another choker, slinging it around Cilia's neck.

Releasing her trait, Cilia was able to feel her magic once again after having it sealed all the time.

She just raised her eyebrows while looking deep into Nisha's grey eyes.

„Don't think to much about it, you still don't have a choice but to obey me. If you will ever go against me that collar will either seal your magic and we'll capture you or explode and kill you.

The same will happen if you go against my orders."