Chapter 3 – Part 1
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Aerin was shocked and outraged by what she had just seen. Maeglor had revealed himself to be a selfish and controlling person, but to take part in a murder? She could never have imagined that he would be capable of such wickedness.
As the brute guard dragged her, Aerin struggled to break free, but he was much stronger. Her heart pounded as she thought of the terrible things that could happen to her while she was trapped in that place.
When they reached the basement, Aerin was pushed inside and locked in. The place looked like an old mansion’s wine cellar. She collapsed on the floor, sobbing with fear and sadness. How could she have been so blind and naive? Why hadn’t she noticed Maeglor’s true motives and the signs of his villainy before?
The basement was a dark and cold place, with stone and exposed brick walls. The air was impregnated with the damp and fetid smell of earth and mold. A single candle flickered in a corner, casting sinister shadows around the room.
There were barrels of wine and beer stacked against the walls, and Aerin could hear rats running behind them. She curled up in a corner, trying to protect herself from the cold and the fear that consumed her.
She was trapped in that dark basement for days, without an exact sense of how much time had passed. She refused to eat the food brought to her by the servant, and soon felt weak and discouraged.
She was curled up in the farthest corner of the cell, trying to warm herself with her own hands. The cold and humidity of the basement were not unbearable, but uncomfortable enough.
Aerin constantly thought of her family and friends, and wondered if any of them were worrying about her. She prayed to be found and released soon, before it was too late.
But time continued to pass, and she feared she would never see the light of day again. Aerin wondered what Maeglor and his father were planning, and if they would leave her to die there, forgotten and alone. She felt powerless and afraid, and could only do her best to stay alive and wait for a chance to escape.
The door opened, revealing Maeglor’s silhouette. The sunlight that entered through the door momentarily blinded her, and she blinked several times to adjust. Maeglor entered the cellar.
Aerin huddled against the cold wall, fearing the worst. “What do you want?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Maeglor walked towards her with irritating calm. He crouched in front of her and raised a hand to touch her face. Aerin turned her face away, avoiding his touch. He chuckled and played with a small lock of her hair. “I miss you, Aerin,” he said. “I know you still love me. Don’t let an insignificant obstacle like this keep us apart.”
“Please let me go,” Aerin begged, but he refused.
“I’m sorry for what happened,” he said. “I didn’t plan for it. But now we need to forget about it and move on together. You know I love you. I would do anything for you.”
Aerin felt sick to her stomach at Maeglor’s words. She knew he was capable of anything, and that she couldn’t trust him. “I don’t love you anymore, Maeglor,” she said once again. “This is crazy, and I want to leave here. Please, let me go.” she pleaded again.
Maeglor frowned, visibly annoyed. “I can’t let you go, Aerin. You know too much about me and my father. I can’t take that risk.”
Aerin felt a tightness in her chest. She knew she was trapped there, and that she could spend years trying to get out of that place.
Maeglor stood up and walked to the door. “I’ll let you think about what I said,” he told her. “When you’re ready to be with me, just call me. I’ll be here, waiting for you.”
The door closed, and Aerin was left alone again. The girl knew she had to escape, but she didn’t know how. She wondered if anyone would ever come looking for her. She wondered if she would ever see the light of day again.
***
Aerin slept a fitful sleep and suddenly woke up to a gentle touch on her arm. She opened her eyes and saw Maeglor leaning over her, looking at her with a drunken expression. She was scared and tried to move away from him, but was afraid of causing his anger.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice permeated with fear.
Maeglor sighed and sat on the floor next to her. “I hate secrets,” he said, his voice drunken. “I hate when people hide things from me. And my father… My father told me a terrible thing today. Something I could never have imagined.”
Aerin was confused, but tried to appear interested in what he was saying. She hoped that this would help her buy some time and find a way to escape.
“What did your father tell you?” she asked, trying to sound interested.
Maeglor furrowed his brow and ran his hand through his hair. “He told me he’s half-fairy,” he said angrily. “That I have a bit of that blood in my veins. It’s something I hate with every fiber of my being. And now I have to deal with it.”
Her blue eyes widened in surprise. And all that hate and desire for war? Would he do this against his own people?
“And to make everything even more interesting…” Maeglor said sarcastically and with a slurred voice. “He follows orders from a stupid High Lord! Do you believe that?” he asked in frustration. “My father!”
The revelation surprised Aerin, but she was still afraid. Maeglor continued to touch her shoulders and stroke her hair, and she didn’t know how to react. She tried to pull away from him again, but he grabbed her tighter.
“Maeglor, please let me go,” she begged.
But the girl gasped as Maeglor, unexpectedly, pushed her to the ground, her heart racing with fear. Aerin tried to push against his chest, but he was too strong. “Please, Maeglor, I don’t want this.” She begged.
But he only laughed, his breath hot and rancid against her face. “You don’t get to choose, Aerin,” he snarled, his grip on her tight. “You’re mine and you’re going to stay with me, whether you like it or not.”
Maeglor leaned down to kiss her, but Aerin turned her head away. She could feel his hot breath on her neck, the stench of alcohol filling her nostrils. She felt trapped, powerless to escape his grasp.
“Stop!” She pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes. “Please, just let me go.”
But he only laughed, a cruel glint in his eyes. “No.” He growled. “You belong to me.”
Maeglor leaned down to try to kiss her again, and Aerin turned her head to the side, trying to avoid his lips. But he was relentless, his mouth pressing against hers with force. She tasted the bitterness of the alcohol on his tongue as he kissed her violently, ignoring her protests.
Aerin felt trapped, suffocated by his embrace. She tried to squirm away, but his arms held her in place, his strength overpowering her. A wave of disgust washed over her as his hand roamed over her body, and she struggled with all her might to escape his grasp. But it was no use.