Chapter 16: Tortuous Vendetta, Part 2

The boy awoke, his wrists chained up. He looked around, barely able to see. There was a torch nearby that allowed him to make out the room. It was structured with stone brick. The chains had a blue violet glow to them, and Storm already knew that it was Celeste's energy that he felt. Storm felt extremely weak and didn't have the strength to break the chains. He attempted to, putting his feet on the wall and trying to pull them out, but he fell to the ground quickly, his body sore.

"Awake?" Celeste asked, her voice echoing through the room.

"The hell, Celeste?!" he yelled, his voice echoing from the bottom.

"Hm? Oh, this. I'm surprised you're able to maintain appearances after all of that. The lightning, the speech patterns. But enough is enough. You will tell me his coordinates as well as Storm's and you will remove the image of the boy NOW. You would be wise to do so now, or you will burn." she spoke, completely serious.

Storm felt like a small creature in the presence of a large, much more powerful one. He had one chance. If he couldn't convince her here and now that he was really himself and not some imposter, he was done for.

"Celeste-it's me. You found me, named me, took care of me-don't do this. BELIEVE ME, CELESTE!" he yelled out, a moment of silence between the two.

She shed a tear as she took a crystal. The crystal was shimmering bright red, a flame inside.

"You monster-" she spoke, ready to throw it down.

Adrenaline pumped into Storm's body. He wasn't ready to give up yet. He attempted to break the chain by hitting it against the stone wall. The chain didn't break, but he repeatedly hit it, desperately trying to escape.

"C-crap-" he said aloud, feeling the floor wet and oil like.

Now that he thought about it, the dungeon did smell like oil. He looked around and heard a clatter. He saw the crystal on the ground, the small item cracking, a small spark emitting from it.

Celeste pulled a chain from the top of the dungeon, a sewer pipe opening, water and oil filling the dungeon quickly. Storm's heart raced as he saw this, and he began making desperate attempts to escape. He yanked at the chain in the wall, hoping to break free. Storm slipped, the water and oil in his face, the boy frantically getting up. He got up quickly, realizing that he had no other options since the water already up to his knees. He stood still with his eyes shut, concentrating with all his might as the water got higher.

Opening his eyes, he chanted: "WINGBLADE!"

Celeste was slightly surprised but remained relaxed.

"Hmph." She crossed her arms, looking down on Storm, who broke his chain with his weapon and attempted to escape.

Storm looked to see a crystal was jammed into the wall, attached to the chain. Just how long had he been out for? Grabbing his blade, Storm threw the weapon into the wall, jumping up atop the hilt. Jumping and summoning another, he used the blades as steps to escape the pit. Celeste then summoned more crystal chains, suspending the boy in the air.

"Fine. If you dare to make this more difficult, then I shall fulfill your request!" she told him, lifting her hand upwards.

The crystal then burst, flames exploding and shooting upwards, and Celeste used her power to keep it shooting up constantly.

"You've disturbed me enough. Now BURN," she spoke. Storm screamed and desperately kicked his feet, calling the same wingblade to cut some of the chains.

The force of the flames and the way Storm moved forced him through the wall, and he fell out of the castle building. The flames burst from the hole, an explosion coming from it as Storm jumped out. He had been disoriented, hanging upside down by a few chains. He then created another blade, feeling even more exhausted after this. One of the chains broke, Storm seeing this and grabbing one as he fell. He cut one of the chains clasped around his foot, swinging with one of them and accidently crashing through another window in the castle.

"Daaamn-that hurt!" Storm winced, standing up.

His skin hurt from the burns as he stood. He felt his strength flow back into his body, and he sat down in a chair. He didn't understand. He thought about today, remembering how Celeste had knocked out Nixanya. Is it possible that she had the ability to siphon energy? Perhaps that's what she did to Nixanya. Storm looked at his hands and down at the chain on the ground. How did she do what she did?

"What the hell was she talking about-?" Storm muttered to himself, trying to think of this whole situation.

Someone who apparently looked like him had done something to Celeste and was so smart that he or she was able have Celeste mistake him for that person.

"This doesn't make any sense-when did this happen? Who exactly acted like this?" Storm thought, not able to think of anyone in mind.

Suddenly, his phone began to vibrate. Storm took his phone from his pocket, somewhat surprised that she hadn't taken it. The contact read "Rena". The boy wiped the liquid from the phone screen, answering the call and putting the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" Storm asked. He could hear Rena panting on the other end of the call.

"Storm, what's happening? I just saw an explosion from the castle, are you alright?" Rena asked.

"You're still here? I thought you were long gone!" Storm asked.

"You think I'd just leave like that without concern? I told you I'd call you. Have some faith in me, damn it. Where are you?" She asked. Storm looked around and saw that he was in one of the many bedrooms in the castle.

"In one of the bedrooms, maybe the third floor. I didn't really have time to check," he responded, walking towards the window.

He looked up to where he fell, but quickly backed away from the window when he saw Celeste hover in the air, searching for him.

"Celeste is looking for me. She almost killed me, but I got away. I still don't know how-" Storm said.

"Alright, listen to me. We're both leaving. I can't go knowing full well that you're in trouble like this. I was going to use a crystal, but that might be too risky because we could be tracked. I'll get a ride, so just make it outside of the castle and get to that café we go to. The one that sells the sweets I like," she instructed, and Storm nodded.

"Doesn't seem like I've got much choice. Whenever there's a threat in the castle she lets everyone know to get on high alert," he said to her.

"There'll probably be a fight, then," she said to him.

He could hear worry in her voice. Storm closed the bedroom door and walked quickly in the hallway.

"Most likely," he said to her, trying to get away as quickly as possible.

"I'll meet you out there. Stay safe and follow the plan," she said to him.

"Got it," Storm said, hanging up.