xv

"Let me go!" Ophelia yelled, trying to wrestle her way out of Gerald's tight grip. Yuki slowed her pace, letting the anticipation build. Ophelia was still trying to get out of his grip when Yuki finally reached her.

"Oh, when will you learn, you're not getting out of this." Yuki drawled, reaching up and grabbing her throat. Her hands, being so cold, steamed at the contact. Ophelia whimpered, but bit her tongue, not wanting to give Yuki the satisfaction of a noise of pain.

"Think you can hold out on me, hmm?" Yuki tilted her head up and removed her hand, looking at the bright pink skin on Ophelia's throat. "Let's see how you take this." Yuki rested a cold finger on the sensitive skin underneath Ophelia's eye, causing her to jerk her head back.

"Oh, we didn't like that, did we?" Yuki tutted. "Shouldn't have made Perseus fall in love with you." She gripped Ophelia's jaw and dug her fingernails into her flesh.

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Ophelia cried out, feeling trails of blood rolling down her throat.

"Let her go!" Someone yelled and footsteps thunder towards the three of them. Perseus came into view as he pulled Yuki away from Ophelia and examined her jaw.

"I told you not to hurt her!" Perseus turned and yelled at Yuki, who glared back. "I just got carried away." Yuki murmured, crossing her arms over her chest. Caspian rushed around the corner and noticed Ophelia was being held hostage. Slowly, he made his way closer, dagger drawn and laying along his forearm. He came up behind Yuki, grabbing her and pressing the dagger against her throat.

"Let Ophelia go, now." Caspian growled out, pressing the blade tighter against Yuki's throat as she fought him.

Perseus turned towards him and rolled his eyes. "Kill her. I don't care." He turned back towards Ophelia and brought out a handkerchief, dabbing at the blood. Ophelia jerked her head away from him.Yuki released a cry. "I'm nothing to you?" Perseus stopped before looking back over his shoulder. "On second thought, I need her. Let her go."

Caspian released a laugh. "Not until you let Ophelia go." He glared and Ophelia realized that - for the first time since she's gotten here - he cares more than he lets on. Perseus shook his head. "Why would I do that?" He turned towards Caspian and crossed his arms. "Because she's no use to you."

Perseus looked back at her before smirking. "No. You're no use to me. Neither is Yuki. I keep her around for help, that's all. Ophelia is the half-demon I need." Yuki felt her heart break. "You never cared for me? You only loved her?"

Perseus shrugged. "Did you think I loved you? I only used you to get here. I knew you would do anything to make me happy, so I used that to my advantage."

Caspian felt Yuki start to shake, steam started coming off of his arm and he let her go, backing away from her as she released a loud cry, snow and ice exploding everywhere. Once everything was clear, Yuki, Perseus, Ophelia, and Gerald were gone.

"No, no!" Caspian pushed himself up and ran to where they were standing before rushing down the hallway. "Where the hell did you go, Perseus? Bring her back right now!"

Abraxas came rushing around the corner to see Caspian sheathing his dagger and rushing towards the grand staircase.

"Caspian! What's going on? Where's Ophelia?" Abraxas asked, stopping Caspian from leaving. "They took her! They took Ophelia! I was there, I could've stopped it before anything happened!"

For the first time ever, Abraxas saw Caspian shed a few tears.

---

Ophelia couldn't stop shaking. Everything was so cold. Her arms ached and she couldn't touch the ground. She tried to look around but everything was pitch black. Where am I? How do I get out of here? Ophelia's mind screamed out, but her mouth wouldn't budge. No matter how much she tried to call out, it was as if her mouth had been sewn shut.

Almost immediately, bright lights snapped on, and Perseus' voice rang through a garbled speaker.

"Good to see you're awake, Darling." Ophelia cringed, squinting her eyes. "You're wondering how you can get out of here, I'm sure. You can't." Perseus continued. Ophelia went to say something, but still couldn't move her mouth.

"Don't worry about the lack of movement you have, the drugs I gave you while you were passed out should wear off soon." A click followed his announcement and Perseus stepped into the room. He pressed a button beside the door and Ophelia was lowered to the ground.

It was nothing but dirty concrete. Ophelia was able to move backwards from Perseus as he walked closer. He leaned down and yanked the chain, forcing her closer.

Ophelia released a sound of surprise. At least I can make more noise than before. She thought. "Stop fighting me, Darling, and this will go by much more easier." Ophelia wiggled to try and loosen the chains for her to get out, which wasn't a possibility because Perseus leaned down and grabbed where Yuki left cuts. Ophelia cried out. "Don't like that now, do you? Stop fighting me, you can't stop the transformation."

Ophelia looked horrified at Perseus before, finally, being able to croak. "You're a monster. Let me go!" Perseus stopped for a moment before lifting her up by the back of her neck.

"I'll be the monster you think I am if you keep talking!" Perseus tossed her over his shoulder and walked out of the room into a much smaller, cleaner one. "The transformation will take place the day after tomorrow." Perseus said, tossing her onto the hospital bed and leaving the room.

An hour later, a man dressed in all grey walks into the room and takes the chains from around Ophelia's wrists. "I'm going to set you up to a drip, please do not move or it will be worse for you."

Ophelia immediately knew this man would not help her out. He talked in a nasally, monotone voice and had scars underneath his eyes and all around his face. He gripped Ophelia's wrist roughly and pushed the needle into her arm, hanging up the bag of liquid.

"This is just water to keep you hydrated. You will be kept on this until tomorrow night. The next morning, you will be put on a sedative so you won't fight Lord Perseus on the transformation."

The man droned on and on. "If you try to yank any of the needles out, you will be punished by the guards who are going to be watching you day and night." The doctor turned to leave when Ophelia called out to him.

"Hey. Why are you guys doing this?" The doctor sighed and pursed his lips.

"Lord Perseus requires a half demon to drink his blood before he can become a full demon. He plans to overthrow your father."

The doctor left the room without saying another word and shut the door.

How did Ophelia end up in this hell?