Evangeline slowly opened her eyes, finding herself sprawled across the cold stone floor… The warm heat of the hearth spread through the room, but her wrist throbbed with a dull, cold pain—something biting into her flesh.
Groggily, she raised her head… her skull pounding with pain. She looked down—her wrist was shackled in a cold black cuff, a chain rattling from it, anchoring her down.
Her eyes flared. She yanked on the chain with all her might, pouring her first-class advancement strength into the pull.
The metal rang out with a sharp clang, but it didn't break. The chain shimmered faintly—runes etched across its length, glowing in response.
"Don't try to escape… you won't."
Her heart sank. She raised her head toward the voice—and her face went pale.
"Da… Damon… why? What did she do to you…?"
Damon turned his head, expression blank. The Beldam stood beside the furnace, her hideous silhouette framed by flickering firelight. She stirred a bubbling pot of green sludge.
