"Where are you taking me? What is going on"?
The guards opened her cell that morning without answering the frightened girl's questions. Instead they dragged her across what seemed like a luxurious mansion.
Her heart skipped a beat when she realized who her cellmate was. It was none other than Marcus DuCuteau. The former principal of Durrandal's God-Weapon Academy. And Katarina's father.
His clothes were torn and dirty. He seemed like he hadn't eaten in a long time. Luxanna shuddered at the thought of what he must had been through. Mental images of the man being tortured to his breaking point flashed before her eyes. He had been missing for almost a year now. It was a common secret among the school body, but at this point everyone presumed he was dead. But that was something that she would never dare to tell Katarina.
She tried to talk to him. Find out what happened yet the man would only ever let out confused grunts as he was drooling all over his chin. His stare was blank. The redhead could tell that he didn't recognize who she was even if she'd lived just across the street for all of her life. His mind seemed broken.
They had taken her to a large room. She immediately spotted a kingsize bed and a big closet. Every sheet, every carpet and every painting ornating the walls looked way too expensive. The guards ordered her to bathe and get formally dressed before they ultimately locked her inside.
Lux stood at the closed door waiting to hear something. Check if there were any guards posted outside. She needed to try to escape. She could still use her powers but without her staff.. she had no control over it. She might've ended up killing someone innocent or even herself if she wasn't careful with it.
She heard her stomach growl as she sat on the soft mattress. Where am I? She buried her face in her hands and wept silently for a moment. It didn't take long for her to snap out of it. She took a deep breath, then followed the guards' instructions.
They opened her door without bothering to knock first. Luxanna followed them obediently to wherever it was that they were taking her. She was wearing a long black dress with no details whatsoever apart from a small silver flower embroidered on the center of the bustier.
Luxanna had heard stories about the Noxian usurper. He may not have been in power for that long, yet he had somehow already succeeded in starting wars and conquering lands. All in the name of his vision of a mighty Noxian empire. What she had never seen coming, however, was that she'd ever see the man in the flesh. Let alone live to share the story.
Jericho Swain was standing across the room, looking out a big window. A large table with sets of plates and cutlery was placed at the center.
"Ah the future queen of Demacia! Good to have you here", Swain said casually when he noticed her presence.
Luxanna noticed four chairs around the table, yet the only people there were her and the usurper. She clenched her teeth. Swain wore no sign of rank apart from his scars. A telltale sign of his life as a soldier. His arms were folded in his long, black coat that was draped over his shoulders. His hair were slick and white and his gaze piercing.
Lux felt the tiny hair in the back of her neck stand as she realized how mortal the grand general actually looked.
"Come on now don't be shy have a seat", the man urged her with a smile before he himself took a seat at the head of the table.
Her heart was beating in her ears and an unpleasant knot was stuck in her throat. She wanted to know where she was. What was happening. But for the first time in a while Lux couldn't bring herself to say anything back to him.
"The feast shall begin shortly after the others arrive, just be patient your grace", Swain said in a slightly mocking tone.
"Others?", Luxanna managed to stutter.
"The other guests ofcouse! You surely didn't think you were the only one, did you"?
I'm not a guest! I'm a prisoner!
Swain knitted his fingers together. His left arm seemed corrupted. She could see red vains popping out. But she didn't say anything. She had never seen such magic before. Or had she? She remembered of Kayn's Darkin arm as the boy was drowing in sweat on Professor Zed's bed.
The sound of the door opening brought her back to reality. A boy with white hair came in. Luxanna recognized him as her Doran Academy counterpart. The champion of the Mystics. Followed by Katarina DuCuteau.
She unwittingly let her jaw drop when she recongized her friend. They got her too? Luxanna blinked to stop the tears from stinging her blue eyes. Is this all Doran's Academy's doing? Did they set us up?
"I'm so glad you could join us!", Swain stood up to greet them.
Katarina had a gloomy expression on her face. Lux searched for her hazel eyes but the girl wouldn't face her. Her dress was similar to hers. Swain approached them and placed his hands over Katarina's shoulders as he placed a kiss in each of her cheeks.
The three of them sat down in silence.
"Katarina DuCuteau.. this small gathering would not have happened without you", mused Swain.
Wait.
Katarina bowed her head slightly to the man.
"Are you pleased with your Darkin Vladimir?", he asked the boy.
"I will be", he replied audaciously, "when he's whole. Then I will do your bidding".
Luxanna gulped in fear. The Grand General huffed a laugh.
"And when is that exactly?", if looks could kill Swain's was it.
"The ritual must be performed during the Blood Moon", explained Vladimir.
What ritual? Darkins?
"Grand General", Katarina addressed the man. "I have done my part. When will I get my father back"?
Swain's lips formed a coy smile. Frankly he looked amused.
"Katarina DuCuteau.. You've disappointed me. After all of this.. It turns out you're exactly like your father. A traitor".
"My father isn't a traitor. And I'm not one either", she slammed her fist on the table.
"And what should I call him then? Leaving the empire to become a school teacher and cosy up to filthy Demacians? You and your father have betrayed Noxus the moment you decided to put your family over the empire".
Katarina swallowed hard but remained silent.
"Ah the food is here", Swain rejoiced at the sight of four butlers strolling in the room with a cart filled with goodies. "Dig in your grace", the general said to Luxanna when he noticed that she wasn't touching any of the food placed out in front of her. "I know it's not like Demacian cuisine but you should try it. I think Demacia is a lovely country. Too bad you won't get to rule over it".
I have to get out of here. Katarina.. what have you done?
I have to get out of here.
Katarina thought to herself as she placed small knives in every spot she deemed smart in her clothing. She was no prisoner here. No guards were placed at her door.
She might have played along all this time and fooled herself into thinking that they would actually give her her father back but now it was over. For real. It wasn't happening. She had to come to terms with it.
Katarina even gave them Luxanna on a silver plate. And she couldn't take her with her now. Undo her mistakes. She mentally cursed herself. She still had a stolen teleport spell with her. But where would she go? Luxanna was back in that heavily guarded jail cell. She was sure of it. Guards were posted around every corner.
I need help. She sighed as she leaned against the wall. The only thing Katarina ever wanted was to be able to do things efficiently and alone. And that was a failure.
I have to get her back. She bit her lip nervously as she was thinking about places she could hide and gather up some allies.
A familiar face popped up in her thoughts. Alright then, she thought.
Her body was quickly consumed in a purple glow. It looked like the light was consuming her every molecule and the pink haired girl shut her eyes.
A surprised looking Jayce was staring at her with wild eyes.
"I need your help. You owe me that much. I need a place to hide", she explained with as few words as possible.
"Hold on what?", Jayce flailed his arms in confusion.
"Noxus has Luxanna, Shieda Kayn and my father. And they plan an attack on the Demacian crown. We need to get them back before they start a war", she sighed. "I'll need as much help as I can get. I just hope that you have more balls now than you did before".
"Follow me", said Jayce surprisingly boldly. And Katarina tagged along without question.