Hey guys! I'm trying to keep the chapters still about the same length since I've started, but it is getting harder as there are certain points I want to stop for each chapter. I got this one in the range, but it's just a heads up for the future. Anyways, let me know what you think please.

Bellona groaned as she flopped onto her bed, covering her face with her hands. Even with control and her conscious again, she couldn't leave the room – just like Ardyn told her.

While it was nice that he placed her in her room, it also tore her heart apart from the memories that resurfaced as she was there; most with her father, who she won't be able to make anymore with.

It just reminds her that she is alone – here, with Ardyn. She turned over on her side to face the window – which had been locked shut – and away from the door. She has no clue how long she laid there until she heard footsteps approaching and felt a familiar haze trying to emerge.

She fought the incoming haze as his voice entered her ears. "Althaea."

"Bellona." She growled out from the inward struggle. "My name is… Bellona."

She could feel his gaze on her as she heard him sigh. "You know, you won't be able to fight it for long." Her eyes widened and she stiffened at the pity in his voice. The surprise cut her concentration as her body became laxed and laid still.

Ardyn sighed sadly as he approached the bed and sat on the side and reached over to pet her loose raven hair. "I'm sorry you're going through this. You may or may not be processing it as yourself right now, but I truly am."

Bellona did not respond to the looming man and he exhaled a breath. He calmly reached over and turned her head to face him; glassy eyes staring straight forward. Sadness flickered onto his face before disappearing. "Bellona… I'm sorry… but I'm doing this to keep you safe until your brother returns."

Nothing. He caressed her cheek once more. "And… I love you." He laughed quietly. "Who knew right? The universe can be ironic; just as the Astrals can be cruel to their Chosens… all of them." His voice turned distant. They sat in silence for a few moments before he looked to the still princess. "Say something, please. As close to yourself as possible. I need to know what you think of all this."

A pause. "I… I don't know what to say." Her voice flickered between hazy and confused. She groaned slightly. "Control…" she whispered painfully as her body trembled. "I want… control… too… strong."

Ardyn watched silently as the princess shuddered until going still once more. He looked at her, not saying anything as he leaned over her and kissed her forehead softly. "I will try to fix this. I promise." He whispered in her ear. "Now, go to sleep now, my dear. That way when you wake, you should definitely have your control."

He watched as she closed her eyes sleepily and her breathing was slow and steady. Silently, the Chancellor got up from the bed and exited the room, closing the door behind him.

Belle!

She tried to block out the voice as she slept contently in her bed. The voice had been calling her for a while and she just wished it would leave her alone.

Belle, please!

The voice seemed familiar but she tried to block it out; plus, her memory was fuzzy… why was it fuzzy? Oh, well she'd figure it out later. Right now she just wanted to enjoy the blissful sleep.

Bellona! Snap out of it!

Her brows furrowed as the voice yelled her full name; not Althaea either… who? Why did they sound so familiar but she couldn't remember who? Images flashed in her mind of someone always with her through childhood, laughing and playing, but couldn't remember the face.

Bellona Lucis Caelum! Since when have you ever given into something? Fight it!

Fight what? Fight the blissful sleep? Why should she fight sleep? And how does this person think they know her so well? Just who did they think they were anyways?

Belle, please! I don't know what he's done to you but I don't have much longer! The connection is breaking! Please fight it! I need my sister, not a controlled puppet!

Puppet? How dare they? She is not a puppet. She is asleep because she wants too -wait, what? Did he say 'sister'?

She tried to open her eyes but it was like they were made of lead. They wouldn't budge. This confused her as she tried again, hoping to hear the voice again in encouragement; but received nothing. Confusion filled her brain as she felt her eyelids finally lifting and she blinked to find a familiar Messenger standing beside her bed; staring right into the princess' eyes.

She looked at the lying girl with sympathy before directing her attention to the locked window. "The Accursed has shown a side to him that us Astrals believed died long ago. Your presence alone has changed him drastically. What will occur now is uncertain – but you might be able to save his daemon-filled heart after all." The Messenger departed before Bellona could respond.

Flashes of what occurred before flew through her brain and then when she was asleep. Consciousness returned, she laughed quietly in disbelief.

Noctis. It was Noctis.

Bellona closed her eyes momentarily before jerking her head to the doorway.

"Do not leave this room until I return, understand?" Ardyn's voice rang in her head in remembrance.

'But you did come back.' She thought as she smirked.

She jumped off her bed and raced through the doorway, taking a sharp right. Good thing about being in her room, she knows her way around her section of the Citadel.

She raced up the nearby staircase, ascending the floors; running through the halls once stopping. She knew that by now that Ardyn must have known she had left and would try to find her. She glanced between the doors on the hallway, avoiding some rubble as it was nearby where some bombs had gone off and she silently prayed that she would find what she's after.

She could have cried in relief as the room she needed was untouched. Ardyn had wanted her to stay in there for a reason – and this room was the key.

She knew her father and Clarus would show her this room a lot when she was younger, just not understanding why. There was once detail that was hidden in the room though, that only the three of them knew about. Luckily, not many were allowed to enter anyways since it was her father's study.

She ran to bed her father's old desk and looked around the edges of the back wall until she found what she was after: the family crest. A bookshelf covered the tile and Bellona pushed it off carefully before kneeling back down to the title as another shape was etched into the ground not far behind it.

And it was exactly like the bracelet the Astrals had given her in the Crystal. Not exactly surprised that it was here, she quickly took it off her wrist and placed it carefully in the outline. She heard a soft click as the band glowed brightly. The light spread to the outline of the tile before racing up the wall in front of her. She was in shock as a section of the wall opened, leading to a downward staircase.

'Leave it to our family to have secret passages as well as our tombs.' She thought intrigued. She jumped as she heard the sound of footsteps running and she gasped. She quickly grabbed the bracelet from its place and jumped up; running into the doorway. She took a few steps down the stairs to hear Ardyn's voice come from above.

"No!"

Bellona ran faster down the stairs as she felt the haze trying to emerge. She knew he was following; his voice just gave that away.

"My dear, wait!"

Her muscles froze temporarily before Bellona thought forcefully and angrily. 'No!' She continued down as her body listened to her will – at least temporarily.

The stairs seemed to go on forever as Bellona felt panic emerging as she felt her body getting more sluggish. He was getting closer. The haze was getting stronger than ever when her right arm was gripped and she was turned to face Ardyn.

She feebly fought against his grip, the daze as well. She knew there was a reason that her father wanted to see down there – no matter how far down it was, but she felt her body go lifeless in his grasp.

'No…'

Ardyn released her and gazed at her for a few minutes before softly speaking. "I thought I said for you not to leave your room." His tone was unemotional as he waited for her to reply.

"You had said until you had returned; which you had and left again. So, I was going to retrieve something that belonged to me." Her tone was annoyed, which let the man know she was conscious for once.

"Then why were you running from me?" he asked quizzically, already thinking that he knows the answer.

"Because I'm tired of doing every little thing you want and losing control of my own body!" Anger had filled her voice now as her arms shook angrily. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to collect what my father left for me." She turned around and began to walk down the stairs, silently thanking the Astrals that she saw the end.

Her praise was short-lived though when Ardyn declared. "No, you won't. Stop right there, my dear."

Her body froze and she growled, but Ardyn ignored it and continued. "Turn around and face me."

She sent a heated glare so hot that if looks could kill, the man would be on fire. She watched as the man stepped down to stop in front of her. "As much as I love you conscious and aware…" he trailed before grasping her right cheek softly, the girl subconsciously leaning into it with her eyes closed; making Ardyn smile. "… I need you under right now."

She remained still in his touch until he removed his hand and softly commanded her. "Open your eyes."

Glassy eyes opened and met Ardyn's gaze. She remained still as Ardyn took her left hand and pulled her down towards the bottom of the staircase. "Come. We are getting what you came for – only difference is I'm afraid I have to take it."

Bellona didn't respond as she obediently followed the Chancellor. Ardyn stopped suddenly and gasped in pain as he went to enter the room; he harshly released his grip on the princess as he jerked back into the dark staircase, his right side of his body burned as it entered first as well as black smoke emerging around his eyes. Bellona looked down at him and silently knelt down to him and put her hands on his chest; eyes glowing.

Ardyn breathed hard repeatedly as the tranced princess healed him; silently surprised that it is not burning him like it does with the light of the Oracle. When she finished, she stood back up; clearly awaiting orders.

Ardyn regained his composure, standing and looking at the still girl. "Thank you, my dear. Now, would you be a dear and fetch what's in there and bring it to me?" She nodded obediently and turned and walked through the doorway into a familiar looking room, even to the blank princess. It was similar to the inside of the royal tombs; only difference was the inside was gold.

She blinked repeatedly as she stood in the room and her consciousness and control returned to her body. She smiled but pretended that she was still under since Ardyn was watching and she leaned over the stone body lying on a pedestal and paused to read the name carved on the edge.

"Oriana Lucis Caelum,

She was a queen who put her people above all else; healing all from a forming disease and sacrificed herself for the sake of all.

Here rests her scythe, wreaking destruction when needed but also protects, which can only be used by those who wield the Bracelet of the Lucii – which is fated by the Astrals."

Bellona traced her right hand over the inscription as the Bracelet began to glow. Bellona rotated it as she watched, shockingly, as a golden scythe materialized on top of the resting statue. She blinked at its appearance, glowing like Luna had made her trident do with her powers, but reaching out with her left hand to grab it. Instead of floating to her, she did grab it for a bright light to appeared; calming down almost immediately. Bellona gasped before laughing slightly – forgetting about pretending because of Ardyn – as all the Royal Arms her brother had collected floated around her; having access to them once more.

She looked over the scythe in her hand to squint her eyes as she found an inscription in between the blade and the middle hand rest.

"Scythe of the Protector." She read aloud, interest in his voice. She took a sharp breath, knowing she'll have to go back to him and what will happen.

'Maybe I can just stay a little bit longer…'

"My dear, is everything alright? If there is nothing, just come on back." His voice rang out.

'… So much for that.' She thought annoyed before turning and walking out; mentally preparing for the haze that will emerge.

She felt her body slow, walking in that obedient form once more to Ardyn, scythe now in her right hand. Ardyn visibly stiffened harshly at a good sight of the scythe. "Dismiss it, and you are not to summon it in my presence unless I give you the order too." His tone was cold, just like his now hardened eyes.

Bellona did is commanded, but Ardyn was too in thought, mumbling about the scythe to notice that Bellona was aware and making notice of everything. His head shot up and he quickly commanded. "We're leaving; now."

Bellona followed but was inwardly cheering at Ardyn's reaction to the scythe as the two climbed the staircase again. When Bellona exited, the door shut behind them as her bracelet had flashed once more.

A familiar chirp had entered the aware princess as Ardyn pulled out her phone and groaned. "Persistent, aren't they?"

She blinked confusedly, before he shoving her phone towards her. "Reply to them. They kept texting since I haven't responded. Assure them you're alright."

She took the phone and thought bitterly. 'Oh, I'm gonna leave them a message alright. Let's see how much control I can take for this…'

She pulled up her conversation with Kara. She had repeatedly texted, worried. Bellona pulled up the keyboard to reply.

She hit send once complete, and shut the phone and prepared to hand it back to Ardyn when he held up his hand. "Keep it. In case they still text, just let them know that you are fine."

She put the phone away, while inside she was cheering that she sent the message. No doubt Kara will show it to the others and if she can't figure it out, Ignis probably will. For now though, she just had to deal with Ardyn, and whatever he has planned.

Kara shot up from the book she was reading when the familiar notification sound rang over her phone. She raced to pull it out as she excitedly called the others as she pulled it out.

"Guys! Guys! I got a response from Belle!" she yelled excitedly as soon the others were around her.

"What did she say?" Luna asked worriedly,

"Only one way to find out." Gladio commented as Kara opened the message for them all to see.

"Hey. I'm fine. No reason to be Scared. Just needed some time Alone; not like I got Caught or anything. How are the others doINg? iS Iggy ok? I knOw that he Must still be feeling the aftereffects of my healing. Sadly, it doesN't always go away quickly. Then agaIn, I know I overexAggerate. I hope we Can meet up soon though; IT does get A little lonely, not to mention Dead quiet. Have the boys drove you girls crAzy yet? Don't worry, I'm tired of being aLone so I'll be back soon. Miss you KARA.

-Belle."

Prompto's eyebrows scrunched. "Huh? She knows Iggy is doing fine. I mean yeah it's been two years, but still she should know."

Kara didn't take her eyes off the message, rereading it multiple times as her face turned appalled. "That's because that's not the point. I need something to write with and to write on."

Gladio and Iris disappeared to get what she asked for, giving them to the archer who ran to one of the tables in Takka's Diner, glad they decided to go back to Hammerhead, and sat down quickly. The others raced in not long after.

"Kar, what's going on? She's okay, right?" Iris voiced all of their concerns as the blonde sighed but continued her work.

"I wish. It's a message." She stated as she finished writing a few things before turning it for the others to see.

I'M SCARED, ALONE, CAUGHT.

I-S-N-O-M-N-I-A

C-I-T-A-D-E-L

She looked at them. "She put my name at the end as she knew I could figure it out. It was directed at me. She was probably afraid someone else would see the phone first." Her tone was serious.

"We've got to return to the Citadel."