Page 3 of Song of the Shadow Prince (The Dragon’s Ballad #1)

2

CAT

I was hurled onto an unforgiving surface and I choked on water. Desperate to expel the liquid from my lungs, I turned onto my side, violently coughing and sputtering. Battling for each gasp, my stomach threatened to revolt at any moment.

Rain pelted down with relentless fury, each frigid drop stinging my skin. My vision swam, blurry and unfocused, as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. Shapes moved around me, but they were indistinct, hazy silhouettes in the storm.

“Lady Arya!” A woman's voice pierced the din of a storm, shrill and urgent. She clung to me, her fingers digging into my arm.

Thunder roared across the sky, a deafening crack that made me flinch. “Marty?” I rasped, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Jake? Trish?”

“Lady Arya?” the woman repeated, this time with a note of confusion.

My chest rose and fell rapidly as I fought to control my breathing and take in the chaotic scene. This place was unfamiliar, alien. I was nowhere near the lake.

“Who are you?” I croaked, my throat raw.

“Lady Arya, it’s me, Maeve!” she cried, her wet hair plastered to her face like a drenched poodle. Her bottom lip quivered as she gazed at me, her eyes wide with concern.

My gaze darted around, struggling to focus through the sheets of rain. We were surrounded by people, their faces obscured by the deluge. Ignoring Maeve, I stumbled to my feet and pushed past her, making my way to the edge of what I now saw was a boat.

I was on a boat.

A flash of lightning split the sky, casting the scene in stark relief for a brief moment. It illuminated the swirling waters below, revealing we were on a river, not a lake. I didn’t know where I was, but I was certain it wasn't Los Angeles.

I pinched myself hard, the sharp pain confirming I wasn't dreaming. Counting my fingers, I confirmed all ten were there. This was real. Was I abducted? How? Hollywood sets were supposed to be secure, nearly impenetrable.

“Lady Arya!” Maeve's scream jolted me back to the present.

I spun around to face her and the others, my heart pounding. “Why are you calling me Lady Arya?” I shouted, my voice barely cutting through the roar of the rain.

Everyone froze, and for a few ponderous moments, all you could hear was the harsh pounding of rain.

“What is she wearing?” a voice hissed, low but clear, as others around me shrugged in confusion.

“What happened to her?”

“She looks crazy.”

“Has she gone mad?”

The voices swirled around me, a dizzying cacophony that made my head spin. I was on the verge of jumping overboard just to escape the noise.

“Where is the crew? Where are we?” I shouted, trying to be heard over the commotion. “Who are you people?” I edged closer to the boat’s railing, desperate for answers and ready to jump.

Maeve stepped forward cautiously, as if approaching a wild animal. “Lady Arya, you’re on the River Elara. The boat crew is here,” she said, gesturing to the people around us. “You fell overboard during the storm. Please, let us take you home. You’re not well.”

I vehemently shook my head. “No. You have me confused with someone else. My name is not Arya.”

Maeve sighed, a mixture of frustration and pity in her eyes. “Yes… yes, it is. I think you hit your head. Please.” She reached out a tentative hand. “Let us take care of you.”

The crowd was closing in, their concern suffocating. I couldn’t take it any longer. I spun on my heels, ready to leap overboard, when strong hands grabbed me and hauled me backward, throwing me to the deck.

I rolled, and the gadgets attached to my costume dug painfully into my skin. I winced and let out a shriek. “Fuck! What the hell?” I scrambled to my feet, glaring at my attacker. He was a towering figure, easily six-five, but the darkness and rain obscured his features. I squinted, trying to see through the water clinging to my lashes.

“Don’t hurt her!” Maeve shouted.

“Keep still, Arya,” he growled, his voice laced with annoyance. “You’ve already caused enough trouble tonight.” The sound of his voice, while deep and demanding, sent shivers through me, though I wasn’t sure whether they were the good or bad kind. But one thing was certain … there was a big neon sign above this stranger that just screamed danger .

I scoffed, incredulous. “Me? What the hell did I do?”

He snorted derisively. “As if you don’t already know,” he grumbled, turning his back to me. A very broad and strong back. He waved me off dismissively and addressed the others. “Bring her down to the bay and keep an eye on her until we reach the shore.”

A couple of men advanced towards me and my survival instincts kicked in. Adrenaline surged through my body as I ducked beneath a pair of reaching hands, my movements quick and instinctive. The rain poured down, soaking my clothes and making the deck slippery under my bare feet. The scent of wet wood and river water filled my nostrils, mingling with the acrid tang of sweat and fear.

My fist connected with the first man's jaw, and a satisfying crunch echoed through the storm. He staggered back and clutched his face in shock, blood mixing with rain as it dripped from his nose. Another man lunged at me, his wet clothes slapping against his body with each step. I spun away, feeling the sting of his fingertips grazing my shoulder.

Lightning split the sky again, illuminating the chaotic scene. I could see the wild eyes of my attackers, their breaths coming out in visible puffs in the cold air. The next man came at me with a low growl and I sidestepped his approach, bringing my knee up into his stomach. He doubled over with a wheeze, the impact resonating up my leg.

Maeve screamed something, but her words were lost in the thunder and pounding rain. I caught a glimpse of her wide, terrified eyes, and the sight fueled my determination. I wouldn't be taken so easily.

A large hand grabbed my wrist, the grip like a vice. I twisted, feeling the slickness of his wet skin against mine, and brought my other hand up to claw at his face. My nails raked across his cheek and he yelped, releasing me. His blood was hot against my fingers, contrasting sharply with the icy rain.

Another attacker came from my left, and I turned just in time to see him grab for my face. I ducked, the air whooshing past my ear as he missed. Using his momentum, I grabbed his arm and pulled him forward, sending him crashing into the railing. He let out a pained grunt, the sound almost drowned out by the tumultuous storm.

The tallest man, the one who had grabbed me earlier, stepped forward again, his eyes narrowed with anger. He moved with a predator's grace, his muscles coiled and ready. I heard the creak of the boat beneath us and the river slapping against the hull. Every sense was heightened, every sound and movement etched into my mind.

“Like I said, you’re nothing but trouble,” he said over the rain.

“I don’t even know you!” I shouted in desperation.

He scoffed. “Of course you don’t, little liar.”

He threw a punch, fast and hard. The others only tried to grab me, but this guy was trying to hurt me. I barely managed to block it with my forearm, but the impact jarred my bones. Pain shot up my arm but I pushed through it, retaliating with a quick jab to his ribs. He grunted as the force of my punch made him stumble.

Suddenly, arms wrapped around my waist from behind and lifted me off the ground. I kicked and twisted, my feet slipping on the wet deck as I struggled to break free. The smell of damp cloth and unwashed bodies filled my nose, making me gag. I craned my neck and bit down hard on the arm holding me, tasting the bitter tang of skin and sweat.

The man yelped and dropped me, and I landed awkwardly. My ankle twisted and I bit back a cry, forcing myself to stand. The rain was relentless, each drop a cold needle against my skin. My breath came in ragged gasps, mixing with the roar of the storm.

My attackers regrouped and circled me like wolves. The deck swayed beneath us and I felt the river's current tugging at the boat, a reminder of the danger swirling below. I couldn't give up now. I had to fight, had to survive. I didn’t know what these people wanted or why they had abducted me, but I wouldn’t make it easy for them.

The tall man came forward again and chuckled. “Who knew Lady Arya could fight? You’ve been keeping it a secret.”

I frowned and tilted my head, not understanding his words.

The tall man advanced again, his movements deliberate and controlled despite the chaos churning around us. His eyes locked onto mine with a predatory focus, the flicker of lightning revealing the determination etched into his features. He was beautiful. Midnight black hair matched flashing dark eyes, and those eyes seemed to pierce my soul. I was frozen for a split second until I snapped out of the daze. I clenched my fists, the ache in my twisted ankle a dull throb that I forced to the back of my mind.

He swung his fist, aiming for my head. I ducked, feeling the rush of air as his punch sailed past my ear. Using the momentum, I spun and delivered a swift kick to his side, the impact making a solid thud against his ribs. He barely flinched, his body absorbing the blow with a grunt.

Before I could react, his other hand shot out and grabbed my wrist in a grip as unyielding as iron. He yanked me towards him and I stumbled, the slick deck making it hard to keep my footing. His fist connected with my stomach, and all the air rushed out of my lungs in a painful gasp. I doubled over and clutched my abdomen as nausea rolled through me.

“No!” Maeve screamed. “Don’t hurt her!”

He didn't give me a chance to recover. His knee came up, slamming into my chest and sending me sprawling onto the deck. The world spun as the rain pelted down mercilessly, each drop a stinging reminder of my helplessness. I tried to push myself up, but he was already on me, his weight pinning me down.

I struggled, my hands slipping on the wet wood, but he was relentless. His hand wrapped around my throat, squeezing just enough to cut off my air supply but not enough to make me black out. The pressure was agonizing, and my eyes narrowed as black dots crept along the edges of my vision. I clawed at his arm, my nails digging into his skin.

He leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear even in the cold rain. “Stay down, little liar,” he growled, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. “You're only making this harder for yourself.”

I tried to respond, but my words were choked off as my lungs burned for air. Desperation fueled me and I lashed out with my free hand, aiming for his eyes. He anticipated the move, catching my wrist and slamming it down against the deck with bone-jarring force.

Stars exploded behind my eyes and pain radiated up my arm. My strength was waning, each breath a struggle against the iron grip on my throat. He shifted his weight and pressed down harder, and darkness crept in at the edges of my vision.

My body thrashed in one last effort to break free, but it was futile. The tall man's face was the last thing I saw as consciousness slipped away, his eyes cold and unyielding. The sound of rain faded, replaced by deafening silence as the world went black.