2: The Diary of Cordelia Fairwood

My name is Cordelia Fairwood.

For reasons beyond my comprehension, I have been given this diary to write in during my captivity. I can not fathom why, other than some odd sense of mercy on behalf of my captor. If this is the case, then it confirms something I have previously suspected. To avoid prying eyes, I will refrain from exposing it here.

I must say, however, that it is odd for a demon to provide a captive with such lodging, or to take captives at all. As I am not allowed to leave this room, I can not ascertain why. However, it has become clear to me that despite my captivity, there is someone entering my cell– as that is how this diary had been left here in the first place.

I pray that my companions escaped safely from the baron’s clutches. To them, I apologize.

Day 2.

Food has been left for me; a modest plate of bread and milk. I dare not eat it, as it may have been tainted in some way. I do not see any reason why they are keeping me alive at all other than to sadistically torture me with a slow death. I can only hope that my hunch is correct about the baron, for that truth would provide a means to salvation.

As I will be fasting, I must conserve my energy and pass the time by meditating. My allies must be devising a plot to rescue me. I must be ready for when that happens.

Day 3.

More food has been left for me, this time more extravagant. Meats, eggs, milk, juice– the scent assaulted my senses. Who put it there, and when? I did not hear anyone enter or leave this dungeon I’m in.

As I meditated, I wondered about where I’m being held. It does not seem like there are any other captives here, as it is eerily quiet. There are no windows, so I have trouble keeping my sense of time. I can only hope I am tracking it correctly as I write in this diary.

There is not much to do within this cell. There aren’t even any guards. Theoretically, this would make it easier to escape, but there must be something keeping me here. There must be guards somewhere I can not see from my cell posted somewhere.

My location, as of now, is unknown to me. As this is my third day in captivity, I am assuming that a mage or rogue must have been able to track my whereabouts by now. By my estimates, it should take about seven days for help to arrive. I must last until then.

Day 4.

More food has been brought in. Before, the food was merely left on a tray on the opposing “bed” (a plank of wood attached to the wall via chains), but now there were proper chairs brought in with a beautiful cloth adoring the table underneath.

It is clear to me that this is a trap, so I must not partake. However, it is becoming more difficult to resist the smell of the freshly cooked food. I have not had anything to eat since before I was captive, about four days ago. A devilish scheme this is, I’ll give it that.

I attempted to use the table and chairs to pry open the bars of the cell somehow, but as my lockpicking skills are simply not up to par, I failed to make any progress. As a mere fighter, this is simply outside of my area of expertise.

I haven’t heard a single other voice or noise other than myself since I’ve been here. I wrote “Day 4” as today’s entry, but has it actually been four days? I can not truly tell. The smell of the food is the only thing keeping me sane and rooted in reality. I can not speak or make any noise, because then I would be expending my energy and would require food. Be that as it may, I simply can not do so, for it is surely some sort of trap.

Baron Vincent is toying with me. It’s clear that this is some sick torture of his. However, that is not the only possibility. Demons don’t toy with their food.

I know what you are, Baron Vincent, and a demon, you are not.

Day 5.

Today, I awoke to what can only be described as a banquet. I am unsure how a table of this size was even brought into this cell without me even noticing it. More dishes than I could describe were set upon it, and the aroma must have filled the entire dungeon. This was, in its purest form, temptation.

The baron was toying with me, and he was not playing fair. I can feel my mind slipping as my hunger claws at my very being. I must resist. I must resist. I must resist. Not one bite. Not one bite. Not one bite. I must remember why I am here. I must not give in to his temptation. To his delicious temptation.

My allies have not yet arrived. Have they abandoned me? I wonder if they actually considered doing so. Can I truly call myself the hero now? From the looks of it, I have failed, and am now at the whims of the demon lord. The world would look at my efforts as those of a failure.

But I must keep faith. I am here for a reason. I have a plan. This spell, the baron’s spell, must be broken, shall be broken, will be broken. I must break it. I must resist it.

Day 6.

There was no food today. I had not laid a single finger on the banquet left for me yesterday, nor any other day, so now I was truly feeling the lack of presence. My senses desperately searched for something to stimulate them. I did not give into the baron’s temptation. Now, it seems I should have.

I have no strength left to write. Tomorrow is the seventh day. My allies will be here soon. I shall pray for their safety.

The sound of her cell door opening gently wrestled Cordelia awake. After seven long days, her salvation had finally arrived.

“Cordelia.”

A voice reached her ears. Her knight in shining armor. She sat up and smiled.

“I’ve brought lamb… your favorite.”

He gave a slight bow as she unveiled the dish to her. A tear rolled down Cordelia’s cheek. It’s not everyday a demon lord serves you food.