Elisa woke up. Her head was splitting from the blow, and her hands and feet were tightly bound. She tried to break free, but the restraints were pulled so taut that her attempts were in vain. Despair tightened her chest, and she let out a groan. Captivity. But where?
She looked around, trying to make out her surroundings. Lit by a dim light filtering in from somewhere above, the room was small and dark, yet it held a strange aura. In the corner, a hearth crackled cozily; on the shelves stood clay pots with dried herbs that gave off an intoxicating aroma. On the walls hung intricately carved wooden figurines of forest animals and bundles of medicinal plants. It all seemed familiar. "This is the place where Corrie and Henry spent their happy times," the thought flashed through her mind.
A strange, bitter smile touched her lips. "I finally made it to these places, but in such a sad way," she thought. Fear and curiosity battled in her heart. What would they do with her now? Perhaps they weren't as bad as people said? Or maybe this was their true face?
At that moment, the door creaked, and a woman entered the room. In her hands was a plate of hot stew. Her hair, just as Henry had described, was braided into a thick plait, and her eyes were full of wisdom and sorrow.
— You're awake, — the woman said softly, placing the plate on the floor. Her voice was melodious, like a stream. — You must be hungry.
Elisa looked at her intently, and her heart beat faster. It was her. Corrie.
— Who are you, and why did my sons bring you here? — Corrie asked, smiling. The smile did not reach her eyes. — It seems to me they like you. They don't usually bring people into our home.
— Is your name Aunt Corrie? — Elisa whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Corrie's face changed. Her eyes widened with horror, and the smile vanished.
— How do you know me? — her voice sounded as if she had seen a ghost.
— My name is Elisa! — the captive spoke quickly. — I am the Princess of Marionis. I fled my country. I traveled through the forest for a long time, and Henry told me about you.
— Do not speak to me of him! — Corrie turned away sharply, her voice ringing with pain and anger. — He cowardly abandoned me and the sons. I waited for him, believed he would return, but he vanished. I thought he was dead. But now that I know he is alive... he simply abandoned us.
— No! — Elisa exclaimed, her voice full of determination. — He is no coward! He did not abandon you! His heart aches to this day. He told me of his love for you. He told me how much he wanted you to go with him. But when he realized the curse had overtaken you, he couldn't, he just couldn't...
Elisa told her her story—the story of Torsken, the struggle, how she fled home, and how she met Henry. She told how he protected her and how he spoke of his feelings for Corrie.
— You must understand him, — Elisa said, tears streaming down her cheeks. — He begged me to help him find you. His heart is breaking into pieces. He is not to blame. He loves you.
At that moment, the door opened again, and two young men entered the room. They were tall and strong, with eyes that glinted like a wolf's. But in their features, something of Henry showed through. They were frightened.
— Mother, — one of them said, — we don't know what to do. The cannibals saw us with this girl. They are demanding her. They say she is their prey.
Elisa shuddered. Hearing about the cannibals, she realized her life was in even greater danger.
— Who are they? — Elisa asked. — Your brothers?
They shook their heads.
— My name is Corben, and this is my brother, Rylan. And who are you? — Corben asked, peering into her face.
— This is Elisa, — Corrie replied, her voice now calmer. — She is the Princess of Marionis, and she... she knows your father.
The brothers' eyes widened in surprise.
— Father? — they asked in unison.
— Yes, — Corrie said quietly. — He did not die. He is alive, and he was looking for me. He was looking for us.
The brothers' faces transformed. Surprise was replaced by joy, and then by deep, boundless happiness. They were stunned. Their father was alive! They thought he was gone, that he had perished, that he had abandoned them. But now they knew the truth.
— He's alive! — Corben cried, his eyes filling with tears. — Papa!
— He was kind to me, — Elisa said. — He told me about you, about how much he loves you.
Corben and Rylan approached Elisa. They looked at her with gratitude and guilt. Corrie quickly freed her from the bonds.
— Elisa, — Rylan whispered. — We didn't know... We thought you were just prey. Forgive us. We didn't want you to suffer. We just wanted to protect you.
— We were in a rage when we saw that you had fled, — Corben added. — We didn't want you to fall into the hands of the cannibals.
Elisa smiled. She understood. They were not monsters, but simply children who wanted to protect her because they felt they liked her. They were Henry's sons. And now they were her friends.
But the joy was short-lived. The room door opened again.
— The cannibals are coming, — a voice rang out, and a shadow entered the room. — They are already at the gates.
The fight with the cannibals was short and merciless. Corben and Rylan, being in human form, could not withstand their brutal strength and insane speed. They were thrown to the ground, and their resistance was suppressed in an instant. Elisa didn't even have time to scream. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that she was already being dragged away. She turned around and saw that the brothers were being carried too. But their mother, Corrie, seemed to vanish into thin air. No one knew where she disappeared to. She possessed some kind of protection that was beyond the power of other creatures.
The cannibals led them to a strange house. It was massive, and its material was unknown. It was stronger than iron and stone. "Perhaps other dimensions have their own secrets and knowledge," Elisa thought.
Despite the piles of rubbish, the house was quite spacious and cozy. They weren't tied up, but simply locked in, with a heavy bolt clicking shut. Elisa, Corben, and Rylan found themselves in a large room from which one could reach other chambers.
— What is this place? — Rylan asked, looking around. — This doesn't look like any village I know.
— I'm scared here, — Corben added. — This is something alien, something I don't understand.
Elisa went to the wall and touched it. The surface was smooth and cold, like glass, but strong as steel.
— This isn't just a village, — Elisa said. — And most likely, it isn't a house. It's an entire city. A Forgotten City.
— What are you talking about? — Corben asked, approaching her. — A city? But how?
— Look, — Elisa led them to a corner where a tap protruded from the wall. She turned the valve, and clean, cold water flowed from it. — There is a plumbing system here. And also... — she opened a door to the next room. — There is a kitchen and a bathroom.
The brothers' eyes widened in surprise. They had never seen anything like it.
— We live in the forest, — Rylan said. — And for us, water is a luxury. We live in a hut. But here... it's like being in a city.
Elisa nodded.
— And that's not all. — She pointed to a massive door that led to a huge walk-in refrigerator. — I've seen this in cities. It's full of food, everything needed for life. These people live no worse than those in cities, but why? Why don't they live in their cities?
— We don't know, — Corben said, his voice full of despair. — We aren't alone here. Other creatures live here too.
— Who? — Elisa asked.
— We don't know. We've only heard of them. We heard that they live here, in this forgotten city, — Rylan said.
Elisa sat down. Her head was spinning from all these oddities. They were captives of cannibals, yet in a city that could be a paradise. What was this place? Why was it so strange? And what happened to Corrie?
— We must get out of here, — Corben said, his voice full of resolve. — We must find Mother and get out of here.
— And I will help you, — Elisa said. — I must find my way home.
After the door slammed shut behind them, Elisa, Corben, and Rylan began to tidy up their new, strange dwelling. Elisa, despite her royal origin, never shied away from work. She took a cloth and began to wipe the dust from the shiny surfaces, while the brothers, stunned and embarrassed, helped her. The room, though spacious, at first seemed like a foreign, hostile place. But over time, it became cozier.
— Well now, — Rylan said, watching Elisa wash the floor. — You're a princess, yet you act as if you were born for this work.
— In the castle, they taught me more than just dancing, — Elisa smiled. — There is everything here needed for life. We just need to put everything in order. Who knows how long we will be here.
And so they lived as if nothing had happened. They were not disturbed, and they could move freely throughout the vast house. The brothers slowly came to their senses. They marveled at every new detail of this place: the clean water from the tap, the abundance of food in the huge refrigerator. It was like a dream. A strange, frightening dream.
One day the door opened, and a tall, stately man appeared on the threshold. His skin was covered in tattoos, and a cold, calculating fire burned in his eyes. This was their elder, their chief. Behind him stood two warriors with rifles, as if he did not trust his guest.
— Greetings, Princess, — he said, his voice deep as a well. — My name is Erlik.
Elisa raised her head, and her heart beat faster. She realized this conversation would be fateful.
— I know that your grandmother, Queen Gloria, was a great queen, — Erlik continued. — And your mother, Ellora, was very powerful. And I am certain they had a cure for the curse that was in your world, in the world of the Marionis dolls.
Elisa felt a chill run down her spine. How did he know all this?
— I have a request, — Erlik said. — I need that cure. It will heal my people from the curse that your ancestors placed upon us.
Elisa was stunned. She didn't know what he was talking about.
— I don't know what you are talking about, — she said. — I am not a healer.
Erlik smiled, and that smile boded no good.
— I know you are lying, — he said. — You begged Henry to help you. I know he gave you knowledge. He knows about this.
Elisa realized they were in a trap. They knew too much.
— What do you want from me? — Elisa asked.
— I want the cure, — Erlik said. — And I am ready to strike a deal. You will stay here until your relatives come. And when they come, they will bring me the cure.
— And what will happen to my brothers? — Elisa asked, looking at Corben and Rylan.
Erlik's eyes flashed with malice.
— They will stay here. They must answer for what their mother and grandmother did to my people. For what they did to us.
Elisa could not believe her ears.
— You want to kill them? — she asked.
— Yes, — Erlik replied coldly. — We want revenge. We want them to feel our pain.
— No! — Elisa cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks. — I won't let you. They are not to blame.
— They are flesh of the flesh of their mothers, — Erlik said. — And they must pay for their sins.
— No, — Elisa said. — I won't give them to you. I will fight for them.
— You cannot fight us, — Erlik said. — We are too strong.
— I know, — Elisa replied. — But I will stall for time. Until help arrives.
Erlik smiled. He understood that Elisa was just trying to win time. But he was in no hurry. He knew they had no other choice. He believed their relatives would come. He believed they would bring him what he wanted. And he believed he would get his revenge.
— Then the game has begun, — Erlik said. — But remember, Elisa. You can win time, but you cannot defeat us.
A few days later, Elisa, Corben, and Rylan, still in captivity, were led out of the house. They were fitted with coarse blindfolds so they couldn't see where they were being taken. Gravel crunched underfoot, and Elisa heard several more cannibals following them, armed with sticks and pikes. The air became colder. She smelled blood and freshly cut grass. When the blindfolds were removed, they were in an arena. This wasn't just a place for fighting; it was a place where werewolves, brought here, fought for their lives. Elisa saw other werewolves, bound and exhausted, waiting for their turn.
The cannibals were not prepared for what awaited them. Suddenly, deafening shots rang out, and several cannibals fell dead. Then, with a shout, James and his squad ran out from the forest. It was a swift and merciless attack. The cannibals, armed only with sticks and pikes, stood no chance against the rifles. There were few of them, and they were caught by surprise. In a few seconds, they were neutralized.
James approached Elisa and cut the ropes she was bound with.
— Princess, — he said, and there was such relief in his voice that Elisa felt tears well up in her eyes. — Are you alright?
— I'm alright. Thank you, James, — she whispered, and her arms immediately embraced him. — Thank you!
One of James's men quickly approached and handed Elisa a rifle. She took it. It was heavy but comfortable. The girl felt strength returning to her. Then James approached the brothers, Corben and Rylan, and cut their bonds. They stood up, their eyes burning with rage. They were ready for a fight.
— Let's go! — James shouted. — Quickly! We can't stay here.
They ran. Through the forest, along the paths they had recently walked. Elisa ran beside James, while the brothers followed them, their hearts pounding in their chests.
— I'm so glad you're alive, — Elisa said, looking at the brothers. — We were so worried we might lose you.
— We're glad you're alive too, — Corben replied, his voice full of relief. — We thought it was all over.
— James, you were so brave, — Elisa said. — You reacted so quickly. You saved us.
— It is my duty, — James replied. — You are our Princess. It is my duty to protect you.
They ran. Ran until they were out of breath. Ran until they were sure they were safe. They stopped in a small clearing. Their breathing was heavy, but there were smiles on their faces. They were free. And they were together. Elisa, the brothers, and James with his squad. They now had a common goal—to find Henry and decide what to do next.
Their joy was short-lived. They hadn't gone ten steps when fierce cries were heard from behind. A squad of cannibals, even more numerous than those at the arena, dashed after them in pursuit.
— Run! — James shouted without looking back. — Don't stop!
They hurtled forward. But the cannibals were incredibly fast. They had long legs and strong, wiry bodies. They ran through the forest like wild beasts, and their cries tore through the silence.
— They're catching up! — shouted one of James's men. — They're too fast!
James stopped, turned around, and fired. One of the cannibals fell. But another immediately took his place.
— Fire back! — James commanded. — Keep going forward!
Elisa, gripping the rifle tightly, also began to fire. She aimed for the head, the heart, somewhere in the center, just to hit. One of the cannibals fell. Her heart throbbed in her chest.
— I can't believe I'm shooting at people, — she whispered, her hands shaking.
— These aren't people, — James replied, reloading his rifle. — They are cannibals.
The shooting didn't stop. James's men, retreating, fired back and reloaded their rifles. Some of them, entering into close combat, struck the cannibals with rifle butts to knock them off their feet and then ran on.
Suddenly, a cry rang out, and one of the brothers, Rylan, fell. A cannibal had struck his leg with a pike.
— Rylan! — Corben screamed, and his eyes lit up with yellow fire.
He lunged forward, and his body began to change. Bones crunched, muscles swelled. In seconds, he turned into a massive wolf. He sank his teeth into the cannibal and tore him to pieces.
— Go! — Rylan shouted, and his body also began to change. — Save yourself!
Corben and Rylan, already in wolf form, threw themselves into the fray. They were incredibly fast and strong. They tore and slashed, ripping the cannibals apart. But there were too many of them.
Elisa could not believe her eyes. She had never seen werewolves change their form so quickly. She understood they were doing this for her, for their family.
— We can't leave them! — she screamed when James pulled her by the arm.
— We're leaving! — James shouted. — They will win us time!
But at that moment, another deafening shot rang out. And another. And another. From the bushes they had just come from, Henry's squad ran out. They were dressed in black, their faces hidden by masks, and they held rifles in their hands. They shot without missing. Every shot meant one dead cannibal.
— Henry! — Elisa screamed, a smile appearing on her face.
Henry, fast as a shadow, ran up to them.
— I told you we would catch up with you, — he said, his voice hollow.
— Help! — Corben cried out, teeth clamped on the neck of one of the cannibals.
Henry fired, and the cannibal fell. Henry approached his sons and stroked their heads.
— My sons, — he whispered. — My sons.
The battle lasted about an hour. James's men and Henry's squad worked as a single unit. They shot, fought, struck cannibals with rifle butts, and tore them apart. They were ruthless.
In the end, the cannibals, as if on command, stopped. The fighting ceased. And then their chief Erlik came forward. He was covered in blood, but he was not wounded. He looked at Elisa, and in his eyes was no malice, only pain and disappointment.
— Princess, — he said. — I can continue the fight, but I want no more blood.
— I will keep my word, Erlik, — she shouted. — I have not forgotten your curse. When we are finished with Torsken, I will send you the cure. You are wise, you stopped the fight. I give you my word.
Erlik, hearing this, smiled.
— I believe you, Princess, — he said. — I believe your word.
And his squad seemed to dissolve, like a ball of smoke. They vanished, leaving behind not a single body of their fallen warriors.
Silence fell. Elisa, Corben and Rylan, James and his men, Henry and his squad stood in the clearing, exhausted but alive. They had won. But they understood this was only the beginning.
— He let us go, — Corben whispered, looking toward where the cannibals had just stood. — He believed you.
— I gave him my word, — Elisa said. — I cannot break it.
— Now that we are safe, — James said, — we can rest. And then we must find shelter.
Henry approached Elisa and embraced her.
— Well done, — he said, his voice full of pride. — You saved them. You saved us all.
Elisa looked at her friends, at her brothers, at her uncle. She felt stronger than ever before. She knew they would win.
— We will win, — she said, her voice full of determination. — We will win!