A kelpie, an incubus and two wraiths walked into a bar. A human mage trailed behind them, a slightly bored expression on his face. They were here to see the Loch Ness monster, also lovingly known as Aunt Nessie.

It was a pub as Scottish as they came. Slightly dark, slightly smelly, and full of loud people. A sign by the door announced live music later that evening and Macey was a little sad that they'd likely be gone by then.

This was Aunt Nessie's favourite haunt. She knew most of the local fishermen and had helped a few of the tourist businesses in the village to see a glimpse of 'the monster'. Not that she was actually a monster. She was a kelpie, just like Macey, but her temperament was a little more volatile. She was a loud and very determined old lady who didn't take no for an answer. Macey loved her aunt and had always found her advice invaluable. Which was why she was taking the others to see her.

She spotted Nessie in a corner, surrounded by a few older men, all of them wearing the thick oilskins the fishermen here preferred. They certainly weren't in here for a pint, judging from the agitated manner they were talking to her. In contrast, Nessie was looking relaxed, calmly sipping on her large glass of the local frothy ale.

However, she did look a little relieved when she spotted Macey making her way through the crowd.

"My baby niece, come over here!"

"Baby niece?" Cam chuckled and Macey elbowed him in the ribs.

"Not a word. My brothers are older so I've always been her youngest niece."

"Don't think we won't forget this," Jared laughed. "My little baby."

She aimed at him with her other elbow but hit Izban instead.

"Watch it!"

"Sorry," she muttered. Izban and her were still not on the best terms. They were both headstrong, and neither liked agreeing with the other's opinions. Even if they were right, in Macey's case. Her three men seemed to be okay with having the mage around, but she was going to need some more time to get used to it. If he wasn't one of the Seven Wardens, she'd tell him to fuck off.

"Feasgar mhath," Macey greeted her aunt in Gaelic. "Everything okay with these gentlemen?" She shot them a curious look. Everybody loved Nessie, so seeing them argue with her was very strange.

"These 'gentlemen'," the older kelpie emphasised the last word, "were just about to leave me the hell alone before I tell their wives what they've been up to."

That got the men muttering amongst themselves, before one of them said angrily, "We'll be back tomorrow, and the day after, until you tell us." He left and the others followed them, leaving some empty seats for Macey and her guys to take.

She gave her aunt a quick hug and sat down on the wooden bench next to her. "Good to see you, auntie."

"And you. I didn't expect you, is something wrong?"

"There's a lot going on that I can't go into right now," Macey said, trying not to give too much away. Aunt Nessie may be formidable but she was also getting old and she didn't want to worry her. "But I need some advice."

Nessie chuckled. "Oh no, not like that, young lady. I want the full story, gossip and all. Make it a juicy tale, then you can have my advice."

Macey launched into the twisty tale that has somehow landed her here. Even as she spoke, she realised how ridiculous it all sounded; to her own ears as well as to anyone else's. Who was going to believe the things she'd seen and done? That she'd been under a dome in the sea? Or in a house in the mists? Not to mention being hunted by a disembodied voice that just appeared in her head at the worst possible point in time.

But, to her relief, Aunt Nessie not only listened, but she nodded along, clearly understanding the complexity of the journey Macey and her Wardens had been on. She didn't even interrupt to ask to be introduced to Macey's men, which was actually a little out of character. Aunt Nessie was no shrinking violet, if she wanted to know something, then she'd butt in the moment she thought of it and demand to know it.

Macey stumbled in her retelling, and a wide grin spread over Aunt Nessie's face. That was never a good sign. Normally it meant mischief, but there was something sinister about the look she was currently giving her niece.

Something wasn't right here. But Macey couldn't put her finger on what. And why was she here and not in the warehouse with the men? Her last memory had been of meeting Izban, and trying to convince the mage that he should travel with them. He'd agreed so long as they went to save Amber, who oddly wasn't here with them.

It definitely wasn't right. She knew her guys, no way would they be this cool and collected if they knew someone needed saving.

"What's going on here?" she asked, her voice shaking. Aunt Nessie's smile broadened, filling her with dread. No, something definitely wasn't right here.

"What do you think is going on?" Aunt Nessie's question set off all kinds of red flags in Macey's mind. It wasn't something the older woman would ask. She'd tease and prod for Macey to work it out herself, but she wouldn't be quite so sinister about it...

"Auntie?"

"You don't seem certain."

Beside Macey, her men stayed suspiciously quiet. She knew they'd leave her to do the talking if they thought that was what she wanted, but at least one of them should have offered her some support right now, even if it was just a gentle touch. She liked it when they did that, it gave her a satisfied sense of support. Made her feel loved and wanted in a way no one else had ever quite managed.

"This isn't real," she murmured to herself, not quite believing it. She'd been in a lot of outlandish situations recently, this could just have been one of those, but she doubted it. "This isn't real," she repeated, louder this time, and she made sure to look into Aunt Nessie's eyes.

The twin orbs swirled with darkness, completely unlike the moss green eyes her aunt usually had. Macey was right. She had to be. This wasn't her aunt. And though it was possible, she doubted this was actually happening.

A chilling laugh filled the air and her heart sank. There was only one person that was going to be...

WORKED IT OUT, LITTLE KELPIE?

Macey shuddered, and the world went black.

She jolted upright, taking in the dark cell around her. She was relieved the weird dream was over, not quite so much over her surroundings. After a few blinks, memories came rushing back in, and it all slotted into place.

She was a prisoner.

This was her cell.

The Voice had her.

"This is hopeless." Her voice came out as a whine and she instantly hated herself for it. She wasn't the kind of woman who'd just take what she was given. She could sort this out. She wasn't sure how, but damned if she was going to wait around to be saved. Her Wardens would have a field day if she did that.

"I'd hardly say hopeless." The small squeaky voice broke through her inner misery, and made Macey jump. She glanced around the room a few times, trying to find where it'd come from. This voice hadn't sounded hostile, but what did she know? Nothing was as it seemed, according to her recent experiences.

"Where are you?" she asked quietly.

"On the windowsill," the voice replied instantly. Looking in the direction of the tiny window, that definitely wasn't big enough to warrant the name, Macey gave her own squeak of surprise.

"You're a mouse." It was smaller than one of her hands, with dark brown fur and intelligent eyes.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," the mouse replied. "Though I much prefer Luch."

"Is that your name?"

"Of a sorts. It's what you can call me." It scratched behind one of its ears with a paw, studying her intently.

"Why am I talking to a mouse?" she asked herself quietly.

"Better than talking to yourself."

And why was the mouse such a smart ass? She was hundreds of times bigger than he was, even with her tiny stature.

"It just seems unlikely."

"Says the walking, talking, water horse," it replied.

Macey growled low in her throat. "Don't call me a water horse."

"Don't call me a mouse then. I told you, I prefer Luch." It seemed pretty serious, and she didn't want to annoy the only thing she could talk to in this place.

"Okay, I'm sorry, Luch. I'm just grumpy from being imprisoned and all."

The mouse, no, Luch, chuckled. "You're not the only one. Though I think the other woman is nearly mad. She rocks a lot." Luch frowned.

"Other woman?" Macey perked up. While being imprisoned herself wasn't exactly a good sign, if the other woman was Amber, then she might be able to turn this around. Being in the same place as the person she was trying to rescue was a good start. Even if she technically needed rescuing herself.

"Yes, red hair, very skinny. Too much so for my tastes."

Macey ignored the last comment. Not quite wanting to think about what kind of tastes a mouse could possibly have. But Amber didn't sound to be in good shape. And in the Voice's tender care, that wasn't a good sign. She tried to work out how long the Lightning Warden had been here, but she didn't recall Izban or Sharrara mentioning a specific time frame.

One thing was for certain though, Macey needed to get out of here quickly. She needed to find the other woman and get her out too. And try not to go too crazy. If talking to Luch didn't already make that too late.

"There's two men too. Whiny ones. I got bored of them, so I'm glad you're here now."

"So where are we, exactly?"

The mouse shrugged and Macey tried not to laugh despite the seriousness of the situation. Watching a mouse shrug was one of the most hilarious things she'd ever seen.

"I was born here, never left the place. You're in the dungeon, and there's about twenty floors above you. It's a big castle, from what others say." He shrugged again. "I've never seen another one, so couldn't tell you if that's true."

"Twenty floors? Yes, that's definitely big. Now, can you help me get out of here?"

"Nah, I don't get involved. It's not worth the trouble."

Macey sighed. Of course, it couldn't have been as easy as that. Otherwise Amber wouldn't still be here.

"Come on, don't you want to see the world? You could come with me."

Luch shook his little furry head and jumped down from the window sill, somehow managing not to hurt himself. "You're not the first to try and you won't be the last. I like my tail intact, so don't ask me again."

He ran over the uneven stone floor and jumped through the bars at the other end of the cell.

"Wait!" Macey called, but it was too late, the mouse had gone.

Time passed very slowly. She knew the Voice would return. She knew she'd only be alone and undisturbed in this cell for so long. Of course, she'd tried opening the door to her cell, but even with her kelpie strength it didn't budge. And of course, she'd tried to use magic, but it was as if she was trying to grasp air, her magic just wouldn't listen to her commands. It was different from having it locked up inside her. She could still feel it, but she couldn't get a hold on it. No wonder Amber hadn't escaped yet. She'd been wondering about that. From the few things Izban had told them about Lightning, she was strong.

Macey paced from wall to wall, counting her steps. The cell wasn't very large, six steps in each direction. The tiny window was the only source of light, and it was beginning to get dark outside. She'd tried to look out of the window, but it was too high up. There was no furniture she could have used to stand on, all she had was a filthy blanket she'd avoided even touching. It was a stereotypical dungeon, except that she didn't even get a bucket to do her business in. There was a small hole in the floor in one of the corners and Macey dreaded having to pee through there. Nobody had given her any water or food so far, so at least she could deal with that problem later.

Although her stomach was starting to make itself noticeable. Somehow, she didn't think she'd get proper food here, but right now, she'd be grateful even for some bread.

She sat down in the middle of the room which seemed to be the cleanest bit of the floor. It was getting cold in the cell, but the blanket wasn't tempting her yet. She could almost see the fleas living in it.

It was strangely silent. No shouts, no talking, not even footsteps. Knowing the Voice, she had expected tortured screams, but of course she was glad she didn't have to hear those. From what Luch had said, there were at least three other prisoners, Amber and two men. Were the men connected to the Wardens somehow? Was one of them Air, perhaps? But according to the prophecy, Air was the last of the Wardens to join them, and who knew if it even was a male. It could be another woman.

How long had she been here now? Macey wasn't sure. It could have been hours or days; after her dream experience earlier, she knew she couldn't assume anything in this place. Maybe this cell wasn't even real. Maybe she was still with her men, locked inside her mind, the Voice making her think that she was imprisoned. Everything was possible, and that scared her. She'd always been able to rely on her senses and her mind, but right now, she couldn't trust herself.

There was a noise in the distance and she jumped to her feet. Better be ready.

Footsteps were coming closer, but they stopped before they reached her cell. The sound of a door opening gave her hope. Was someone letting them out? Were her fellow Wardens here to rescue them?

"Get up," a rasping voice said in the distance and her hopes evaporated into nothing. That didn't sound like someone friendly.

"Get up, I said!"

The sound of a slap on bare skin made Macey shiver. So, it wasn't just mental violence the prisoners here had to endure. Now she was hoping the man wouldn't come to her cell. She'd rather go hungry than be beaten.

Something - perhaps someone - was dragged along the corridor, away from Macey. She didn't hear the cell door close, so she assumed whoever had been in there was now with the man. Soon, silence fell again. The last light outside disappeared and Macey was left in darkness, cowering in the middle of the cell, trying not to think of what was happening to the other prisoner.