Everything had been calm since Aurora had tried to take control of Artema. Elyn found herself relaxing almost every night, most often tied up, but on this night she simply enjoyed the balcony of her bedroom and watched the stars in the sky.

With Artema still recovering from her ordeal there hadn’t been much activity for the Guild in recent days. With a few political things to deal with during the day, Elyn had already tied herself up and enjoyed some time in the dungeon. For now she was content just watching the stars, tracing the constellation with her eyes and enjoying the chirping crickets on the ground below.

It was a peaceful, warm night and Elyn often found that nights like this would be accompanied by the presence of shooting stars. Her time in Weston taught her what they actually were but her people often thought of them as omen or a thing of magical power that could grant wishes. Of course, in a world of mystery and magic like Esterlin, it was possible that they could actually do that. Still, it was a comforting thought to know about the falling bits of rock that would burn up in the atmosphere and give off beautiful light as they crashed to the ground.

It was then that she spotted it. As she had thought, a bright streak of light dashed across the sky. It almost looked purple to Elyn and made her think that there must have been some mysterious magic to the meteorites and comets that would flash across the sky on occasion. The colours were so vibrant and lasted so long and there was something about the tail of this shooting star that told her it was different.

Still, Elyn didn’t think they actually had the power to do anything but she was in a good mood that night. She closed her eyes and indulged in the practice of her subjects; she would make a wish upon the shooting star.

Taking in a deep breath through her nose, Elyn pondered her wish for a moment. A smirk curled her lips and the thought sprang up in her mind instantly. I wish I was captured, tied up and gagged by a beautiful woman.

After a moment, Elyn opened her eyes and watched the shooting star glow brighter for a moment. Her eyes widened in surprise as it glowed brighter still and then, in that moment, everything for her went black.

...

At the same moment Elyn spotted the shooting star, another woman peered out the barred window of her cell and saw the same purple shooting star soar across the sky.

Fa’rah was still totally bound and gagged within Jhana’s dungeon as her prisoner. The muscular warrior’s wrists were still tied, crossed, behind her back and attached to two coils of rope around her arms that framed her quite large chest. Further rope kept her shapely, strong legs bound together at the ankles, calves and thighs. A strong ball gag had been strapped into her mouth and covered by a thick cloth to render her silent.

The window of her cell was tiny, up high on the wall, but the moonlight filtered in between the bars and illuminated her face, gag and all, when she looked up and saw the shooting star. Staring at it, she shifted a bit in her bonds and tried once again in vain to free herself but the ropes were too strong and the knots out of her reach. Fa’rah growled into her gag and stamped her sandaled feet on the floor. Still looking at the star, and without thinking, she wished to be free of this blasted cell. If only so she could have a chance at exacting some revenge against Jhana.

She watched the shooting star glow brighter and her eyes widened as the light started to engulf the world outside.

“Mmmmph!” Fa’rah mewled, squirming and struggling, thinking some tragedy must have befallen the world. In no time, the light engulfed her and her cell as well and the strong warrior, still tightly tied up and gagged, could no longer see a thing.

It took more than a minute for Fa’rah to regain her vision. She panicked and squealed into her gag, struggling furiously against her tight bonds but she stopped and simply stared when she could finally see again.

She was still as tightly trussed up as before but now Fa’rah was sitting on a balcony, staring up at the stars. Fa’rah stopped her struggling for the time being as she tried to process what just happened.

Okay she thought to herself. She pulled hard with her strong arms and found she still couldn’t move them and still stood no chance of escaping the ropes. I’m still tied up. Damn.

“Mmmpph...” she said, testing her voice. And I’m still gagged. Crap. Hoped I’d at least be untied out here. But where is here?

She looked behind her and spotted a red banner flapping in the wind with a golden symbol of the Sun adorning its centre.

Sixellia? Elyn’s palace? What the hell happened to me?

Having discerned where she was, Fa’rah could only try to think of how she had wound up on this high balcony.

“Mmmmph!” she squeaked when a thought struck her. The shooting star! I inadvertently made a wish! Wow. I didn’t think that actually worked...

Then Fa’rah furrowed her brow when another thought struck her. Where’s the princess?

“What the hell!?” A familiar voice spoke from somewhere behind her and Fa’rah struggled to see who it was.

“Mmmph! Hlmmmp mmm!” she said, struggling in her bonds and making her best pleading eyes when she saw Celia standing there, totally confused.

“Fa’rah!? What have you done with Princess Elyn?”

Fa’rah shook her head. “Mmmm mmm! Mmm dmmdmt dmm mmmnyphmnmg! Mmm wmmph cmmptmmrd! Plmmmph, mmtmm mm!”

“And why are you tied up out here?”

“Lmmphn tmm mmm! Plmmph, mmtmmm mmm! Mmmt lmmpht tmmk mm gmmg mmmt!”

Celia sighed. “Well, I think you know the drill. Time to get you inside and see what you did to get yourself into this mess and how you’re involved with Elyn’s disappearance. Yes or no questions only because I’m not untying you and I will not remove that gag.”

Fa’rah struggled furiously again. “Nmmm! Plmmph! Mmm Jmmnmmph prmmphmmmnr! Mmm dmmt knmmm wmmmr Elmmn mmph! PLLMMMPPH!”

Celia had trouble dragging the much larger woman inside but she just about managed to drag Fa’rah slowly backward, though she grunted with the effort.

“I’ll... get the... answers I want... one way or another, Fa’rah!”

Fa’rah was helpless to stop Celia from dragging her away back into Elyn’s bedroom. She could only struggled and shake her head, mewling into her gag all the while.

“MMMMMPPPHHHH!!”

...

The room she woke up in was rather cold, though not too uncomfortable. Of course, the presence of tight ropes comforted her enough to ignore any cold. Elyn shivered with excitement when she awoke and found herself bound and gagged.

Rope covered her body, starting at the ankles, as well as above and below her knees and all cinched tightly in the middle to further hinder escape. Another coiled around her waist and kept her crossed and bound wrists tightly tied to her lower back. Further coils of rope perfectly framed her breasts and hugged her arms tightly to keep them pinned in place.

“Hmmph...” Elyn sighed into two tight cloth gags; one cleave gag pulled between her teeth and the other wrapped around and over her mouth.

The cell she was locked inside of was rather a small one, though she had enough room to stretch out her elegant legs fully when she leaned against the wall. Up on the wall, Elyn could see the moonlight shine through a barred window to the warm outside air. Any other prisoner might have longed to be on the other side of that window but Elyn was no ordinary prisoner. She was exactly where she wanted to be, well tied up and tightly gagged, smiling beneath the cloth at the lovely embrace of the thick and coarse rope.

Wow Elyn thought. My wish actually came true!

The smile was wiped from her face when an all too familiar voice answered her inside her own mind.

Just wait until you meet the beautiful woman you wished for, Elyn.

“Grrrmmph!” Elyn growled, struggling against her bonds. Jhana... she thought. I’d say it’s a pleasure but, well, it’s not.

When Jhana walked around the corner from the steps and stopped in front of Elyn’s cell, the princess glared at her.

“Must you always say such nasty things to me?” Jhana asked. “I’m happy to see you, Elyn.”

“Mmmpph...” Elyn grunted into her gag.

“Come now, dear. You yourself admitted long ago the beauty I possess. You can’t say this isn’t what you wanted. Here you are, tied up by a beautiful woman. What more do you want?”

I see beauty on the outside only and you don’t deserve it, you witch Elyn thought. Jhana could only chuckle.

“That’s not an insult anymore. Not in this world. After all, I am Jhana the Witch now, aren’t I?”

Fine, bitch-face. You want me to start calling you that? Like the girls in the academy?

Jhana clenched her fists and stepped toward the bars. “Is that all you have now? School girl teasing?”

Of course not. But it clearly got to you. I can hear all those angry thoughts of yours.

Jhana grunted back at her old acquaintance. “Yes. I almost forgot you could do that now. But you of all people should know that my mind cannot be so easily manipulated.”

I wouldn’t even bother to try with someone like you.

Jhana pulled up a chair and sat down in front of the bars of Elyn’s cell. “All this time, all these different worlds, and you’re still as petulant as ever. Though, I must say, I always enjoy seeing you in rope. You do make for a pleasant sight.”

I’m aware of that Elyn thought. But I think chatting time is over. What’s your plan and how did you get me here?

“Silly Elyn,” Jhana said. “You saw that shooting star. They don’t really grant wishes, not even in this world. That’s just a stupid Sixellian superstition carried on by your stupid people.”

“Mmmph!” Elyn said, struggling. Don’t you dare talk about my people.

“I’ll dare if I please, princess. Especially when you just fell for the shooting star I made just for you and Fa’rah.”

Fa’rah? What does she have to do with any of this?

“This is her cell,” Jhana said. “And she’s still just as tied up as you are. Only she made a wish at the exact moment you did and, lo and behold, she was transported out of her cell and off to your palace.”

“Hmmph!?” Elyn said, still struggling against the ropes.

“Oh, didn’t you notice? You swapped places. Although, with Fa’rah still nice and tightly tied, I doubt she’ll be going far. Someone probably found her and thinks she had something to do with your disappearance. And she has no idea where you are!”

Elyn rolled her eyes. Are you trying to frighten me, Jhana dear?

“Not at all. I merely wish to help you better understand your situation and let you know that nobody is coming for you. You’re my prisoner now.”

Elyn sighed. Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve thought that. I’ll be out of here before lunch time tomorrow. Count on it.

“I wouldn’t. Like I said, there is no one who knows I’ve got you. And, one by one, every last princess of Esterlin will follow you here to my dungeon. As soon as I have the energy to draw Fa’rah back here again, I will. And she can keep swapping places with everyone in your stupid Guild until there are none of you left free.”

Do you really think a shooting star is going to work on everyone? Elyn asked in her mind.

“No. But I have other ways of catching their eye and making them make themselves my prisoner just as you did, Elyn. It’s only a matter of time now.”

Elyn shook her head, still refusing to believe Jhana would win. Though, she did feel a bit worried about how subtle Jhana’s new plan was and it did seem rather clever.

“Thank you, dear,” Jhana said. “I thought so too.”

“Mmmphh...” Elyn grunted, rolling her eyes again. She had momentarily forgotten Jhana’s own ability to see into the minds of others.

“Yes, that was stupid of you,” Jhana said.

Shut up, you arrogant bimbo.

Jhana chuckled once again. “Bimbo? You’re grasping, Elyn. Surely you can do better than that.”

I don’t have the energy to think of clever insults. Just call yourself a name and leave me alone. I have bondage to enjoy.

Jhana stood up from her chair. “Then, by all means, struggle away! I know you’ll have fun and that you will not get free. Tomorrow you’ll even have company! But who.... I know you like Celia. Yes, that troublesome woman will be next. Maybe I could send a shade to kidnap her. Or send her false information about your whereabouts... Sit tight, Elyn. I have plans to make.”

Jhana walked back up the stairs to her tower and left Elyn alone to uselessly fight her bonds and fail to escape. Well, best to make the most of this she thought to herself.

Elyn rolled over onto her stomach and began writhing and bucking, fighting the ropes and loving the feeling of their tight embrace. “MMMPPHH!” she screamed, testing her gag, and found herself muffled to a whisper.

At least this will be fun...

...

The mattress shifted when Lanala sat bolt upright, breathing heavily, her eyes opened wide and her mind was still on the dream she just had. It was so vivid and felt... real.

Artema awoke beside her, the moving mattress disturbing her sleep, and sat up beside her wife and started gently rubbing her back.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Artema asked.

“Um... I had a dream. And I’m not sure if it was real or not.”

Artema leaned in closer, wrapping one strong arm around Lanala’s shoulders. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“I saw Jhana in the dream and... well... I’m pretty sure she spoke to me when we were in Aurora’s basement. I think she made me... let the power out.”

“And what did she say to you this time?” Artema asked, her brow furrowing in deep concern.

“She... I don’t think she was trying to contact me. I saw her in front of a prison cell and Elyn was tied up inside it. They mentioned something about a shooting star and switching places with Fa’rah. Then she talked about more spells to lure in the rest of us... I think it was a vision, Artema.”

“You think Elyn’s in trouble?”

“It really feels like it. But sometimes my dreams are just dreams,” Lanala said.

“Not when they’re this specific. You remember when you saw Jonas and the exact place you saw him. And that time with Jhana and the Orb.”

“The orb...” Lanala repeated. “That’s what started this whole mess. Jhana wanted that thing so bad and now we’re here, two worlds later, and she’s still as powerful as ever.”

Artema turned her wife’s head gently with one hand and peered deep into her eyes. “Focus, dear. If you’re saying we need to go after Elyn then we should. If Jhana is after all of us again, like she always is, then we need to put a stop to whatever it is she’s planning.”

“I know where her tower is, too. The dream showed me. It’s right on the border edge of Trivalia.”

Artema nodded. “That explains a bit why Taria’s been having so much trouble out there. It must have something to do with Jhana’s influence.”

Lanala tore off the covers of the bed and walked to the wardrobe across the room. “Come on. Let’s get dressed. Elyn needs us.”

Artema got up and followed her wife to the other side of the room. “All right. Let’s go.”

...

Still struggling away with her tight bonds, mewling and moaning into her gag, Elyn had made exactly zero progress toward freedom. She wasn’t trying very hard, of course, but there were a few fleeting moments where she did try to escape the rope that held her captive. The thought of being held prisoner by Jhana was not something she enjoyed, despite her love of the ropes that currently hugged her tight, so she would sometimes be spurred on to try and escape. Of course she didn’t practice actually escaping enough and couldn’t get out of the rope even when she did try.

Artema has warned me about this Elyn thought. But how can I concentrate when the ropes always feel so damn good? How does she expect me, of all people, to get good at escaping when I don’t want to?

“Hmmmpphh...” Elyn sighed, her gag muffling the sound.

Her thoughts were put aside when she saw Jhana step in front of her cell door again, a wide grin on her face. “Turns out I’m bored,” Jhana said. “And I haven’t recovered enough energy to trap one of your little allies yet. But, of course, I have a plan in mind. Would you like to hear it?”

“Nmmm..” Elyn said, shaking her head and sighing. I’ve heard enough of your wretched voice.

“That’s a shame. Because I can never hear enough of my own lovely voice.”

Colour me surprised Elyn thought.

“Even your thoughts are sarcastic,” Jhana said. “What a treasure you are.”

So are you going to tell me your stupid plan already or do you plan to bore me to insanity with your inane prattle?

Jhana feigned a wince as though Elyn’s mental words had actually hurt her. “Oooh, such harsh words, my dear. But, perhaps you know me a little too well. Of course I was going to tell you anyway. No harm in a trussed up captive knowing what I have in store for your dearest Lanala.”

Elyn rolled her eyes, shifting a bit in the tight ropes, before glaring back at Jhana again.

“I’ve been... speaking to her you could say. Letting her see how good it feels to truly let yourself go. That girl has no idea how much power lurks within her. I’ve always felt it. She could wipe us all out if she truly let herself go. There would be no stopping her. Lanala could be the most powerful sorceress this or any other world has ever seen. If only she would stop limiting herself.”

She would lose her mind, Jhana. You know this. Nobody could control her. Not even Artema and especially not you Elyn thought.

“Au contraire, dear Elyn. If I sow the seeds of doubt just enough, make her listen to the ‘voice in her head’ just enough then she’ll start to rely on it. Depend on it. Soon she won’t be able to do anything without the ‘voice’ commanding her. And you do know whose voice that is, right Elyn?”

Lanala’s a lot stronger than that. You won’t win a battle of minds with her. You and I both know she’s stronger than you.

“Perhaps. Which is why it must happen gradually and subtly. And, I think, you are underestimating my own power, dearest Elyn. I got you here, didn’t I? And, as much I hate to admit it, you’ve always been a strong magic user. But just look at you now.”

“Mmmph,” Elyn grunted.

“Lanala will be on my side one way or another, Elyn. And then who can stop me? Artema’s physical strength cannot hope to compete with the power of two great sorceress’ can she? And none of you could even begin to match the power, even combined, the two of us will have. Then what will you do? Where will all of that bravado go, Elyn?”

A voice from behind her startled Jhana, making her jump and whirl around. “You always did talk too much, Jhana.”

Jhana smiled when she was face to face with the loving couple before her, ignoring Artema and staring right into Lanala’s soft, orange eyes, knowing it was her who had spoken.

“I trust you heard what I said?”

“I heard the part about controlling me,” Lanala said. “Do you really think I’d let that happen?”

“It’s not about whether you let it, Lanala. It’s about what you need. And you need to power. I sensed it in you when you saved your darling wife from Aurora. You let it in. The temptation. The power. It’s there, Lanala. You can’t deny the intoxication, the ecstasy, that comes with power. It feels good. And you know it does.”

Lanala couldn’t think of anything to say. She hated it but Jhana was right. That power she had felt was such an incredible feeling. And she couldn’t stop the whispers in her head. Even though she knew it was Jhana, some part of her brain denied it and wanted to grasp that power and never let go. Jhana’s smile widened.

“I can hear those thoughts, Lanala. I’m already living inside your head. It won’t be long before you and I are one and the same.”

“That will never happen,” Lanala said plainly, though she doubted even her own words in that moment.

Jhana sighed. “Well, there’s no use in fighting. You’ve some to free Elyn? Take her. I can’t take on both you and Artema. Go ahead. I’ll even get on my knees and put my hands behind my back.”

“What game is this?” Artema asked. “What are you up to?”

Jhana turned around, got down on the ground to her knees, and tightly placed her hands together behind her back. “No games, Artema. I surrender.”

Artema and Lanala looked at each other before turning back to Jhana. “I’ll deal with her. Carefully,” Artema said. “You get Elyn out of there.”

Lanala simply nodded and worked on getting the cell door open. Artema, meanwhile, approached Jhana with coils of rope and thick and heavy cloths. “You put up a fight and I’ll break your arms,” Artema said.

“You should gag me first,” Jhana said. “So I can’t use any spells. Go on then.”

Artema furrowed her brow and ignored Jhana’s words, instead tightly tying her hands behind her back. Then she pulled a cloth between Jhana’s teeth, tying it on tight behind her head, before tying another cloth over Jhana’s mouth and nose.

“Mmmph,” Jhana grunted, working her wrists back and forth but the rope held firm.

Artema coiled a long piece of rope around Jhana’s arms, just above the elbows, and pulled it as tight as she could before working on Jhana’s legs. Two more coils went around Jhana’s ankles and just above her knees before Artema laid her on the floor, face down.

“Stay there. If you try to escape I will bury you. Understand?”

“Mmm hmmm,” Jhana said, nodding.

Lanala had worked the cell door open and was getting Elyn free of her bonds. Artema helped her untie the Sixellian princess, getting her to stand up and stretch out her muscles.

“You didn’t have to untie me,” Elyn said. “I was perfectly happy with my situation. Of course, you did save me from this one’s idiotic rambling. So thanks.”

“How did she even catch you?” Lanala asked. “All I heard in my dream was something about a shooting star.”

Elyn nodded toward Jhana. “She cooked that one up, knowing the Sixellian people traditionally wish on them even though it does nothing. I guess she knew I would indulge the ways of the people I rule. I do love them, after all.”

“And she told you about... me?” Lanala asked.

“Don’t let it get to you,” Elyn said. “I know you. You’ll beat her, just like always.”

“Mmmph!” Jhana’s muffled voice said from behind them. All three women turned around and saw that Jhana was now hovering a few inches off the ground and a golden aura surrounded her bound and gagged body.

“Should have seen this coming...” Artema said.

“We really should have,” Elyn said.

“But is there anything we could have done to stop it?” Lanala said. “Even I don’t know how her magic works.”

Artema and Elyn both shrugged as Jhana’s form was consumed by bright, golden light and she was gone from their sight in seconds.

“Suppose we couldn’t have expected it to be that easy,” Artema said.

Lanala sighed. “Well, let’s get Elyn home. If Fa’rah is still there, maybe we can get some answers out of her.”

The three of them left Jhana’s tower together, making their way upstairs and outside once again. When they got there, they all watched as it completely faded from existence, leaving nothing but an empty field where it once stood.

“Back to the drawing board on finding her, I guess,” Elyn said.

Somewhere in the darkness, the tower emerged again with its bound and gagged owner lying in bed at its top, enjoying the tight ropes that held her body. In her time, Jhana had come to enjoy the feeling of being tied up and let herself indulge that pleasure for the time being. She could escape at any time, summoning minions or simply making the rope come to life and slip off of her. For now, however, she decided she would go to sleep in the ropes for a day or two but not before expending the last of her energy.

With a simple, concentrated thought, Jhana’s mind searched for the form of the muscular, tied up warrior she had been keeping prisoner. Fa’rah was still useful to her, after all, perhaps even as a bargaining chip when the Guild would finally make their push to stop her.

With Celia still pacing back and forth, trying to get coherent answers from behind Fa’rah’s tight gag, she was startled when the warrior was not there when she turned around to face her again.

Within the cell that Elyn had been tied up inside less than an hour before, its original occupant re-appeared inside with the door locked and the same cold, stone floor beneath her.

“Wmmt? Nmmm! Nmmm, nmmt mmgmmmn!? HHLLMMMPP! HHLMMMP MMM! MMMMPH!”

Fa’rah screamed and struggled but she still couldn’t hope to free herself, now once again the prisoner of Jhana the Witch. Upstairs at the top of the tower, her captor fell into a deep sleep, also tightly bound and gagged, awaiting the moment she would wake up. Then her real work could begin.