Stella's feet flailed as she was lifted off the floor. Her hands gripped Ardyn's wrists as he put pressure on her neck. His face, tainted with the Starscourge, laughed at her.

"Look at me, Stella!" the Accursed demanded. "Look at what you celebrate every year."

Stella gasped for air as those hands crushed her windpipe tighter.

"A failed attempt of murder…"

Tears pricked Stella's eyes as she glanced up at the statue of the Mystic.

A few hours ago…

Stella stooped to pick up a battery lying in the street.

"Found another one here," she said, waving a hand to catch Gladio's eye.

"Then that should be enough," the Shield said as he waved Prompto over.

Stella put the battery away in her pocket and looked around. "Where's Ignis?"

She and Gladio looked at Prompto who shrugged.

"I thought he was with you?"

Gladio cursed under his breath as he looked up and down the street.

"Iggy!" he called as Stella turned around, scanning the area for any tell-tale signs.

"Iggy!" Prompto called next. "Where did you go?"

Stella caught a glimpse of Ignis down the street, at the gates of the Citadel. "There he is." Gladio and Prompto faced the Citadel as Stella jogged down the street. "Oi! Ignis!"

"Stells, watch out!"

Stella skidded on the concrete when a behemoth king bounded around the corner and roared at her. She flailed her arms for balance as the gust of breath nearly pushed her over.

"I got this!" Prompto shouted and Stella heard a gunshot behind her.

The bullet bounced off the behemoth's hide and it jumped over Stella and pounced on Prompto. Stella turned on her heel when she heard Prompto's scream of agony and covered her mouth.

Prompto was lying on the ground, a massive gash down his shoulder. She was surprised the arm hadn't been completely severed.

She ran towards him but the behemoth's tail swung into her path, blocking her. Gladio borught out his shield and defended Prompto from another attack.

"Stells, get Iggy!" he barked.

"But…"

She jumped back when the spiked tail slammed before her.

"Go!"

Gladio roared as he called his sword out and attacked the behemoth. Stella nodded and ran towards the Citadel.

As soon as she got to the plaza, the gates swung shut. The clang sounded louder than the battle outside.

Stella turned to look at the gates, uneasiness grasping her heart. Her breath quickened as she looked back to the Citadel and saw Ignis by the doors.

"Ignis!" she called. "Ignis, we need to leave now!"

Ignis didn't respond to her as he opened the door before him and walked in.

Stella sighed in aggravation and ran after him. Once in the lobby, she saw him go into a lift. Chasing after him, the doors swung closed before she could jump in with him.

Stella frowned and watched the numbers above the lift.

What was Ignis playing at?

As the floor number stopped at the throne room, Stella had the gut feeling that this was a trap.

But what if Ignis was in trouble?

Cursing to herself, she stormed into the adjacent lift and pressed for the throne room. She bounced on the balls of her feet when the lift ascended and called her axe out. The only thing she could hear, other than the soft whirrs of cogs turning, was her heartbeat. Her mouth felt dry and her body trembled.

She kept bouncing when the lift stopped and jumped out when the doors opened. She spun, axe braced above her and ready to cleave off a daemon's head.

When nothing popped out at her, she lowered her axe and moved forward to the throne room.

She opened the doors and looked around the dark, almost claustrophobic room. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Ignis trussed in chains before the throne, topless and bleeding. He was on his knees but looked like he was going to slump soon.

"Ignis!"

Ignis lifted his head. His glasses had been taken away, so the scars done by the Ring of Lucii were shown.

"Stella, leave!" he shouted as Stella ran down towards him. "Get away! It's a trap!"

Stella squeaked as shadows blocked her path and another Ignis formed before her eyes. He smirked, twirling the cane in one hand and taking the glasses off with the other.

"Oh, Stells," the clone purred as he approached her. "I gave you more credit than this."

Stella turned around to run back out but didn't get far when the doors to the throne room slammed shut. She skidded and turned back to see Ardyn standing before her. He lifted her chin with the cane and smirked.

"Then again, this trap was designed with you in mind. I'm delighted it worked."

Stella leaned to the side to try and get a glimpse of Ignis. Ardyn tapped her cheek harshly with the cane.

"Attention on me, my dear," he said and Stella glared at him. "Lest your beloved has an unfortunate accident."

Stella took a deep breath and lifted her chin. "What do you want?"

Ardyn smirked as he lowered the cane and took her chin in his fingers. He pulled her forward, so he could look down in her eyes.

"Why, your delightful company for the next ten years."

Stella widened her eyes as he dropped the cane to the side.

"Stay here with me and your little playgroup may leave here unharmed and unspoiled. Their safety is dependent on their staying out of Insomnia and you being a good girl."

Stella looked over his shoulder to try and look at Ignis. Ardyn pressed his fingers down on her chin.

"Look at me," he snarled.

Stella looked up at him with teary eyes. She let her axe drop and disappear.

"How can I trust you?" she asked in a soft whisper.

Ardyn's eyes lit up and he grinned. "I'm a man of my word, Stells. Just say the word and I'll let him go."

"Stella, don't listen to him!" Ignis shouted.

Stella saw Ardyn's lips twitch slightly and he raised his hand. Her heart sunk when she heard Ignis scream in pain.

"Stop!" she cried and grabbed the Accursed by his coat. She let out a breath and bowed her head. "I'll stay with you. Just let him go…"

Ardyn grinned as he cupped her face and tilted her head back up. "Good girl."

He let her go and disappeared into black mist.

He reappeared by Ignis's side and grabbed him by the hair. Stella ran towards them but stopped when Ardyn held a hand out to her. He wagged his finger at her and she stepped back.

They disappeared, and Stella broke down into tears.

Stella wasn't sure how long she'd been kneeling on the floor, crying.

Had she really signed her freedom away to a madman?

But what could she have done?

She was shaken out of her thoughts as she heard footsteps approach her. She opened her bloodshot eyes and glared at the boots that approached her.

Ardyn crouched before her and placed two fingers under her chin to tilt her head up. He smirked.

"Now, dear," he chastised, "that's enough. Let me take you to your room."

Stella pulled away and pushed herself up. Ardyn offered his hand and she stuffed her hands in her pockets, looking away from him like a petulant child. He didn't show if he was annoyed or not as he pulled his offered hand away and led her out of the throne room.

Stella looked at the floor as he led her through the cold corridors. She nibbled her lip, trying to think of something other than how awkward she felt now that the climax of the drama was over.

She bumped into Ardyn's chest after a while and stumbled back, looking up at him in surprise. He merely smirked and opened the door next to them.

"I thought it would be more comfortable for you to have your old room."

Stella felt her breath hitch as she looked into the dark room before her.

She stepped in and looked around, her stomach twisting.

It wasn't as bad as she had anticipated. She expected everything to be covered in a layer of dust and be freezing. What she stepped into was a toasty warm room with clean sheets on her bed.

Ardyn turned the lights on for her as she wandered to her shelves of figurines. She smiled to herself as she picked up one of her favourite characters, a gunman wearing a red cape. She twisted it around in her hands, looking at the details closely.

Noct had given her this as a present. He didn't like the franchise himself, but the fact that he managed to get this for her spoke volumes. He didn't express himself much, which Stella accepted. He was her little brother and she loved him to bits.

She giggled slightly when she remembered visiting Prompto and seeing lots of other collectable figurines. Apparently both the boys had made an effort to buy the boxes to unwrap them and find the rare, favourite character.

"Oh?"

Stella's euphoria came crashing down at Ardyn's voice. She froze, looking at the gunman in her hands as her captor approached her, breath tickling her ear.

"You have hundreds of collectables here, I reckon," he whispered. "What's so special about this one?"

He reached out to touch the metal gun and Stella drew it out of his reach.

"It's nothing!" she said and placed the gunman carefully back in its place. "Just a child's toy."

She turned away from Ardyn as he lingered, his hand dropping. She squirmed under his gaze.

It was like being studied under a microscope. A giant lens bearing down on you with a bigger eye watching your every move.

Stella side-stepped away from him and turned her back, rubbing her biceps.

"Sweet Stells…"

Stella cringed with how he spoke her nickname, as if assaulting it.

"What would you say if you let your uncle took you on a trip to wherever you please?"

Stella frowned and turned to him, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. He merely smiled, walking past her to her window and gestured outside.

"You know very well the walls of this palace. Why not explore? It's been an awfully long time since you've been here."

Stella pressed her lips together.

Everything about this screamed that he was scheming something.

She was a little curious about the apartment she and Noct stayed in whilst they attended their final school. She also wanted to grab a few things to bring here, to try and calm her down.

"There's…" she muttered, "one place a few miles away…"

Her voice failed her. Was she really considering his offer?

"Oh?" Ardyn prompted her, tilting his head. He chuckled softly. "Stells, you'll need to tell your uncle more. I am afraid I can't read minds yet."

He shrugged and shook his head whilst Stella fumed, already regretting opening her mouth.

"Tell me where you'd go, and I promise we will be there in a matter of a few hours. After all, there is so much that I don't know about my little Stells."

Stella bristled at the nickname and backed away as he approached her. He sighed mournfully, reaching out to brush some hair out of her face.

"So many years that I've missed as your uncle," he spoke as if he was performing a critically acclaimed stage play, "truly dreadful, isn't it?"

He took his hat off and placed it over his heart, to complete the ensemble of an actor guilty of exaggerating. It made Stella's stomach coil.

"Then again, it's not important," she muttered as she moved to her bedside to sit on it.

"Oh, but I insist, Stells!" Ardyn chased her to crouch before her. "Believe me, I have no malicious intentions behind this. I am merely curious about your life."

Stella leaned away from his eager gaze. He was like a weird puppy, apart from the fact that puppies were cute.

She looked away and hummed.

"It's an apartment building by Crescent Plaza," she murmured. "Southwest from here."

Ardyn's grin was as wide as a Cheshire Cat's.

"There now!" he said as he sprung to his feet. "That wasn't so difficult was it?"

He headed out of her room.

"Very well. I will let you settle in and prepare for our little trip."

He paused by the door, hand lingering on the doorframe as he looked over his shoulder to her.

"I suggest you take warm clothes, dearest," he said. "When you're ready, I shall be in the throne room."

Once he closed the door, Stella flopped back onto her bed and covered her face with a groan.

At least ten minutes with him and already she's exhausted.

How was she going to handle ten years?

Stella adjusted her hood in the mirror. She tucked some stray strands of her hair back behind her ears then pulled her mask up.

She felt some sense of security when she felt it around her nose and she sighed.

It had been roughly an hour since Ardyn announced that they should go to her and Noct's old apartment. She had been procrastinating to avoid seeing her ancestor so soon.

Stella took a deep breath, adjusted her appearance for at least the fiftieth time and walked out.

When she arrived at the throne room, she saw Ardyn pacing before the throne. He sometimes paused to look up at the throne and Stella vaguely heard his voice. Not that she could hear what he was saying.

She raised a hand to announce her presence and froze when Ardyn barked out a word, one that she didn't recognise. Probably Old Lucian.

Yeah. No.

Might need to come back later.

Stella swivelled a hundred and eighty degrees and decided to take a walk around the Citadel to give the old man some space to ramble his insanities.

She hadn't walked four steps when dark mist surrounded her before taking Ardyn's appearance before her. He looked annoyed.

"So eager to leave alone, Stells?" he spat.

Stella raised her hands. "You looked busy?"

Ardyn narrowed his eyes, those golden pupils darting across her half-covered face. Stella felt her muscles tense, preparing to bolt if necessary. She didn't dare relax when his scrutiny faded, and he offered a smile.

"My apologies, my dear," he said with a dismissive wave, "this old man was caught up with memories of more…enjoyable days." Stella swallowed at his sombre tone. He offered a hand. "However, let us not dwell on the past. Are you ready for our trip?"

Stella nodded as she ignored his hand and walked towards the lifts. She pressed herself to one side as Ardyn joined her and pressed for the ground floor. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and looked at the numbered lights. The back of her neck prickled as she felt his gaze on her.

"Why do you hide your face?" he asked. "Am I not worthy to see your beauty?"

Stella shuddered slightly. She hated how his words seemed to drip with honey. But where there's honey, there will be bees to sting.

"Keeps me warm," she muttered.

"A scarf would suit you better," her captor mused as they arrived at the ground floor. "That mask is hideous and unwelcoming."

Good, Stella thought to herself.

She lingered behind Ardyn as they walked out into the city. The daemons moved out of the way for the Accursed and leered at her as she followed. Her hand twitched, ready to summon her axe if need be.

"They won't hurt you." Stella glared at Ardyn as he turned his head to look at her. "You're mine, they know to not attack you."

Stella snarled. "I am not yours."

"For the next ten years, you are. Or have you already forgotten?"

Stella's stomach churned as she glared to the side. His words were venom. She'd rather go deaf than to have to hear another sugar-coated syllable fall from that wicked smirk.

Despite his 'reassurance', Stella nearly jumped a couple of feet when a Nagarani slithered into view. In the span of a few seconds, memories of turning into toads flashed before Stella's eyes, including nearly getting eaten whole by the damned snakes.

Ardyn smirked when she grew closer to him, eyeing the oversized serpent sceptically.

"Afraid of snakes, Stells?"

"None of your business."

Ardyn laughed as the Nagarani slithered out of view, but Stella didn't draw away from him.

Every time a daemon would step into view, particularly the large ones, Stella would quicken her pace to stick close to Ardyn. Ardyn would laugh and reassure her that she was safe.

Yeah, like she was going to trust him.

When they finally got to the apartment block, Stella stepped into the lift with Ardyn and pressed for the sixth floor. The lift was smaller than the one at the Citadel and it didn't leave much room for Stella to press herself against one side of the lift. Their elbows could touch, and she was sure Ardyn was deliberately brushing against her.

She practically leapt out of the lift when they arrived at the floor and sped-walked to the apartment. She fumbled with the keys for a moment until she managed to open the door and walk in. She went straight for her room and nearly slipped on a few playing cards when she stepped in.

After regaining her balance, she looked at the scattered cards and smiled behind her mask. She crouched and began picking out the cards she wanted to take as keepsakes. She paused as Ardyn crouched next to her and picked one up.

"My brother and I…" he murmured as he held it to the light, "we used to place a similar game to this every night as children."

He trailed off as he got up and walked to the bed. He sat down and looked around, a wistful smile crawling onto his face.

"This is a nice place, Stells," he said, twirling the card around. "I wonder… How many memories of your sweet adolescence have you had here? Times spent with your brother, your friends…" A mischievous gleam crossed his eyes. "Your first love?" He chuckled as Stella glowered at him. "I want to hear it all, Stells. Tell me all your memories from when you first moved here…"

"It is none of your business!" Stella snapped.

Ardyn's smile dropped as Stella pushed herself to her feet.

"You want to target Noct where it hurts?" she spat. "Then do your own research."

Ardyn's eyes flared and Stella swallowed. He turned his attention to the card in his hand and Stella walked across the room to her desk. She looked through her drawers, trying to take her mind off the tension in the room.

When she finally plucked the courage to turn around and face him, her heart dropped.

There he was, lounging on her bed…

With one of her diaries.

Judging from the cover, it was the one she had when she was fifteen.

Stella's cheeks went red under her mask.

"OI!"

Ardyn dodged her as she lunged for him. He laughed as he retreated to the door and she faceplanted into her pillows. She shook her head, propping herself up and glaring at him.

"Don't read that!" she barked.

"But, Stells," Ardyn sighed as he continued reading, "you told me to do my own research. So, I am."

"It's private! Give that back!"

Ardyn disappeared after she jumped off her bed and tried to grab him.

"First of December," his voice echoed in the apartment, "Got up at half past five. Ignis was already here with my favourite breakfast."

Stella ran out of her room, expecting to find Ardyn. Except he wasn't around.

"Aw, Stells," Ardyn cooed. "Chocolate crêpes? I daresay, that is an adorable image."

"Ardyn, give it back!" Stella demanded.

"Ah, ah, ah. You didn't say the magic word!"

"Please!"

There was a disappointed sigh.

"Oh, Stells. You need to learn to say it nicely."

"Motherfucker," Stella cursed under her breath.

"I had to have singing lessons from seven to half nine, which meant a late start to school. But I only spent two hours before I had to leave again to rehearse for the new winter holiday production. I have so much to catch up on."

It was her words from his lips and Stella loathed it.

"Stop reading it out loud!" she shrieked as she stormed out of the apartment. "Show yourself!"

Ardyn wasn't out in the corridor either. She bounced on the balls of her feet, clenching her fists.

"So…" Ardyn spoke and Stella flinched when he sounded…dark. "The King's hand, hm? These childish feelings of yours have their roots deep in your teenage years, it seems."

Stella's heart dropped.

"Those feelings are private…" she whimpered.

"I wonder, Stella… Would you ever sing for my sore heart? Or maybe, you only reserve that sweet voice of yours for Ignis?"

Stella detected an innuendo in that last sentence and it made her sick. She swallowed down the bile that was building up at the back of her throat.

"My last performance was the night before I left Insomnia," she snarled, "and it shall remain that way."

Enough is enough. She is leaving Insomnia now.

Before Ardyn could read out another page, Stella turned and ran down the stairs, leaping down half of them at a time sometimes.

She burst out of the apartment block and turned to head towards Insomnia's gates. She ran three steps before a Red Giant appeared and blocked her path. She skidded on the pavement and turned around to run the opposite direction.

It was like the whole daemon population knew where she wanted to go, and they were preventing her from going anywhere near the gates. Every turn she intended was blocked off by a large daemon, prompting her to turn back and find another way.

Panic gripped her mind as she began to run almost blindly. Every corner was greeted by a grotesque face and a set of sharp teeth.

Stella's legs felt weak as she jogged up a set of steps, wanting to find somewhere to catch her breath.

Only, she lost it when Ardyn awaited her at the top of the stairs, eyes showing his anger. Her legs trembled as he approached her.

"Your last performance…" he growled, "was at this very spot."

He raised his hands and Stella felt paralysed.

"Your last performance…was for my traitorous brother!"

He ripped her mask off and Stella let out a small scream of terror.

The princess felt her heart race as she looked up at the statue next to them.

Ah, she had been cornered to the Mystic's Statue.

"You sung the very song…" Ardyn snarled as black ooze dripped from his eyes, "that was sung at my execution. For him."

Stella choked as his hands flew to her neck and began squeezing. She gripped his wrists as he loomed over her.

"Oh, it was a glorious day, my dear! How people cheered for the end of that monstrosity! The very one they used to worship! The very monster they once called their saviour!"

He laughed sardonically, his nails digging into her skin.

"Oh, how they cried when they realised that not even death could vanquish me! How they fled whilst the Mystic…my own flesh and blood, locked me away to be forgotten…"

Stella's feet flailed as she was lifted off the floor. Her hands gripped Ardyn's wrists as he put pressure on her neck. His face, tainted with the Starscourge, laughed at her.

"Look at me, Stella!" the Accursed demanded. "Look at what you celebrate every year."

Stella gasped for air as those hands crushed her windpipe tighter.

"A failed attempt of murder…"

Tears pricked Stella's eyes as she glanced up at the statue of the Mystic.

She was going to die. He was going to murder her. Like how he murdered Luna that day…

Stella felt the edges of her vision darken and her struggles grew weaker.

Then she was dropped. She fell to her knees, then to her side, coughing and holding her neck.

"A country built on blood and lies…"

Stella looked up to see Ardyn looking up at the Mystic's statue.

"And yet…they still love you."

Stella tried to shuffle away but he noticed. He crouched before her and grabbed her hand. He placed a potion in it and squeezed her fingers around it.

"I lost my temper…" he muttered. "Please, use this and excuse me. I expect you to be back at the Citadel by midnight."

He got up and walked around her, his coat brushing against her.

"If you leave, I will know."

Stella flinched at his dark tone. She listened to his footsteps down the steps and looked at the potion. Despite her throat burning, she threw it aside.

She shakily pushed herself to her feet and looked up at the Mystic. It looked down at her as she bowed to it.

She hobbled down the steps, gripping the iron railing for balance. She paused as she heard a sinister hiss and looked up to come face to face with an angry looking Nagarani.

Well.

This just isn't her day.