Stolen by the Cursed Prince

*Chapter 1: The Night It Changed*

The sky cracked with thunder just as Ella's phone died.

"Perfect," she muttered, pulling her hoodie tighter. The bus had left, and she was stuck on a rural road with no signal.

Then she saw him-tall, cloaked, and standing in the rain like he belonged to the storm.

"Ella Hart," the man said, voice low and steady. "You're coming with me."

"Who-what? Do I know you?"

He didn't answer. Before she could run, the world blurred. Wind howled around her, then everything went black.

When Ella opened her eyes, the sky was purple, the trees glowed, and the man was staring down at her with eyes like gold fire.

"Welcome to Caeloth," he said. "You are no longer in your world."

---

*Chapter 2: The Mark*

Ella jolted upright, breath sharp in her chest. The air was warm but carried a strange, electric tension-like the calm before lightning.

She wasn't in a forest anymore. She was in a stone room lit by floating lanterns. The walls were covered in vines that pulsed faintly, like they were alive. Her hoodie was gone, replaced by a long, silver robe she didn't remember putting on.

The door creaked open. Ben stepped in-same glowing eyes, same unreadable face.

"You've been marked," he said flatly. "The realm has accepted you."

"Excuse me?" Ella narrowed her eyes. "Marked for what? And what is *this place*?"

"Caeloth," he said, as if it were obvious. "A realm hidden from your world. And you... you were born with magic. You're the only one who can break my curse."

Ella scoffed. "Magic isn't real."

Ben stepped closer. "Then explain this."

He reached out and touched her hand. A glowing rune appeared on her wrist-like fire inked into her skin.

She gasped. "What did you do to me?"

Ben looked away, voice quieter now. "I didn't do this. The realm did."

For the first time, Ella saw something behind his cold exterior-regret? Pain?

"You're not a prisoner," he said. "But you can't leave... not yet."

Ella stood slowly, eyes locked on his. "Then tell me everything. Now."

Ben hesitated, then nodded. "It began with a betrayal... and a war."

---

*Chapter 3: The Curse Unveiled*

Ben leads Ella through Caeloth's enchanted forest to an ancient temple. There, he reveals that a sorceress cursed him to live in isolation until he finds someone who can see beyond his curse. Ella learns that her unique aura might be the key to breaking it.

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*Chapter 4: The Hidden Library*

Exploring the castle, Ella discovers a hidden library filled with ancient texts. She finds a journal belonging to Ben's ancestor, detailing the origins of the curse and hinting at a prophecy involving a "seer from another world."

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*Chapter 5: Dreams and Visions*

Ella begins experiencing vivid dreams of Caeloth's past. In one, she sees a woman resembling herself sealing a dark force. She wakes up with a mysterious symbol glowing on her palm, matching one in the ancestor's journal.

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*Chapter 6: The Council's Warning*

Ben introduces Ella to Caeloth's council. Skeptical of her presence, they warn Ben that bringing an outsider could endanger their realm. Despite their objections, Ben insists Ella is crucial to their salvation.

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*Chapter 7: Training Begins*

Determined to help, Ella starts training to harness her latent abilities. Under Ben's guidance, she learns to channel energy through the symbol on her palm, unlocking powers she never imagined.

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*Chapter 8: Fire Unleashed*

Ella stood in the courtyard, heart pounding, palms glowing faintly with the golden energy she still barely controlled. The training had been hard-but tonight, something felt different.

Ben circled her slowly. "You're holding back."

"I'm not," she snapped. "I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of what I'll become if I don't stop this power."

Ben stepped closer, his voice low. "Then let it out. Fire only destroys when it has no direction."

Ella closed her eyes, focusing on the mark. The dream visions flashed again-flames, shadows, a woman screaming her name. Her pulse surged. Then-

*Boom.*

A wave of energy burst from her chest, blasting the air around her. The stones beneath her feet cracked. The torches lining the walls blew out.

When she opened her eyes, the sky above had split-just for a moment. Everyone in the courtyard stared at her in stunned silence. Even Ben looked shaken.

"...You saw that, right?" she whispered.

Ben nodded slowly. "That wasn't just power. That was prophecy."

Before Ella could reply, a loud horn echoed from the northern cliffs. A guard ran into the courtyard, pale and breathless.

"My prince," he gasped, "the veil has been breached. Something... or someone... has crossed into Caeloth."

Ben's eyes darkened. "Then it's started."

---

*Chapter 9: The Shadow Beyond the Veil*

Ben moved fast, his cloak trailing behind him as he headed to the northern watchtower. Ella followed, her heart thudding. The wind had changed-sharp, cold, heavy with something unnatural.

When they reached the cliff's edge, guards pointed into the distance. A thick mist had rolled into the valley below, swallowing trees and sky. Then, a figure stepped out of it-tall, cloaked in black, and faceless.

"The Shadow Walker," Ben muttered. "He's not supposed to cross the Veil."

Ella squinted. "What is he?"

Ben looked grim. "A harbinger of war. He's bound to the curse... and now that you're here, he can pass into Caeloth."

The figure raised one arm, and the ground trembled. Trees withered instantly. Birds fell from the sky. Then, it spoke-not with a voice, but inside Ella's mind.

*"Return the marked one... or Caeloth will fall."*

Ella staggered back, gripping her head. "He spoke to me-inside my mind!"

Ben grabbed her arm. "We need to go. Now."

"But why me?" she cried. "Why does everyone want me?"

Ben didn't answer.

But his silence said everything.

He knew.

And whatever truth he was hiding-it was about to surface.

---

*Chapter 10: Secrets Revealed*

Back in the castle, Ben finally opens up about the curse's origin. Long ago, his family betrayed a powerful sorceress who cursed their bloodline-damning him to live isolated and hunted by shadow creatures. Ella's arrival was foretold, but the truth is darker: she is linked to the curse by blood, and her magic awakens it.

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*Chapter 11: The Betrayal*

Ella discovers one of Ben's closest allies has been secretly working with the Shadow Walker, feeding him information. Trust shatters, and Ben must decide who truly stands with him as the war looms.

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*Chapter 12: The Battle for Caeloth*

[11/06, 22:34] ChatGPT: The Shadow Walker's forces invade Caeloth. Ella and Ben lead the defenders, fighting alongside magic-wielders and warriors from hidden realms. Ella's powers grow stronger, but the cost is high.

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*Chapter 13: Breaking the Curse*

In the heart of the battlefield, Ella confronts the sorceress's spirit. Using the mark and the knowledge from the hidden library, she performs an ancient ritual to break the curse-freeing Ben and sealing the Shadow Walker away.

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*Chapter 14: A New Dawn*

With peace restored, Ben and Ella face a new future. Caeloth slowly merges with the human world, and Ella embraces her destiny as the bridge between realms. But shadows linger, hinting at adventures yet to come