My Clichéd Love Life

Chapter 22 The End Part 3

‘’How much longer is it going to take?'' Aaron asked anxiously for the umpteenth time while pacing back and forth in the dusty old cabin room, situated in the abandoned valley. Where the whole council was waiting for dad to finish the locator spell.

‘’Locator spells take time to cast and in case you haven’t noticed, he hasn’t gotten any response from his previous tries. He is far more anxious than you, to find her.’’ Layla reminded Aaron.

‘’I get that, but it has been hours. Who knows, what that sick bastard has been doing to her?’’

Aaron spoke worriedly.

At the mention of Lucas’s name, August Black spoke with derision as if to remind everyone of his family’s position in the council, ’’Watch your mouth mutt! Lucas isn’t someone you can impugn offhandedly.’’’

‘’No one offence to you, but I am with Aaron. You better pray my sister is found, unharmed cause, if not. It won’t just be Lucas facing the wrath of my family.’’ Layla threatened.

Not believing his ears, August Black continued, ‘’You can’t possibly believe that Lucas would betray his race just for his self-interest? He is not that kind of a man besides, who knows, maybe she went with him willingly?’’

‘’There is evidence of Lucas’s collaboration with the rogues. So don’t date try to weasel your way out of this. After my sister is found there is going to be an investigation on the whole Black family. So save your excuses for then.’’

Amidst the heated argument, dads voice resounded in the cabin. ‘’I found her.’’

‘’What?! Where is she?’’ Aaron asked impatiently.

‘’Here.’’ dad pointed at the map, where a certain location was surrounded by light tendrils of magic.

‘’This place… isn’t the Black family’s property? There used to be a factory here.” someone spoke.

August Black’s face paled at the realization that Lucas might have doomed not just himself but his whole family. There was no way out for him now.

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My mind was filled with thoughts of Lucas. His scent, his voice, his presence, everything about him, beckoned me to accept him, to forge the mating bond. I was caught up in the euphoria caused by the mating bond and Lucas’s voice, his nearness was not helping either. He held my hand in his as I continued to fight with my might to hold on to whatever consciousness, I had left.

‘’Come on, Elena, accept the mating bond.’’ He placed my hand on his rapidly beating heart. My eyes followed his motion. ‘’Elena, feel my heart, it’s dying to be one with you. Accept me, our bond and we will be united for our whole life. ‘’ I moved my gaze to his face. Everything within me urged me to do as he said.

Accept him.

Make him yours.

One for life.

But something in me rebelled at that thought, maybe the consciousness; I was fighting to hold on to, maybe it was my will or maybe it was my love for Aaron. I couldn't tell, but I grasped onto that errant thought as I was forced to submit myself. And I said NO.

I must have said it out loud because I watched Lucas’s features harden and his face change several colours. My theory was proven right when he threw away my hand roughly and asked the mage to persuade me.

‘’ If I use any more force now, it might kill her. She is already in this state, she can’t resist much longer. Why don’t you wait for a bit, she doesn’t have any way out of this.’’ the mage tried persuading Lucas.

‘’No, do it now. I can’t afford to waste any more of my time on her. The mating bond is already taking its toll on me too. Force her to accept. If she resists even then…... Then she would make a far better mate dead than alive.’’Lucas declared deadpan.

The mage pleaded, ‘’You can’t! Her father is on the council. If she dies, we would have an all-out war between races.’’

‘’Just do as I say. If you succeed I won’t be risking anything. So, It is entirely up to you to persuade her, that accepting me is what is in all our best interest.’’

The mage heeded his masters commanded and I was jolted awake from my semi-conscious state with the help of the searing pain caused by the mage. He started with my legs. Lazer sharp molten fire branded my legs causing me to scream my throat out. The smell of burned cloth and flesh dispersed in the air. After a second or two the mage stopped and asked me to submit. Then continued again. In a matter of few minutes, I had screamed so much that now what followed the pain was my throaty whimpers.

‘’She can't endure much longer.’’ the mage looked at Lucas expecting him to have a change of mind.

‘’Tsk.tsk.tsk, What a stubborn woman. Do it again.’’ Lucas commanded. But before the torture started anew. The sounds of an explosion resounded, The building shook with reverberations, and then I heard his voice.

ELENA!

What the hell didn’t you cloak this place?’’ Lucas roared in anger.

‘’I did cloak it but I have used too much of my magic on her. The cloaking spell must have slipped.’’ The mage’s voice trembled as he answered. Lucas threw the mage a vicious glare and his gaze turned to me as he spoke, ‘’Form a barrier around her, while I take care of this mess. No one is going to take her from me. Not now, not ever’’ menace laced his voice.

He drew near me and spoke in a low hush, ‘’Now you are going to have to watch your beloved die right in front of your eyes just because of your stubbornness.’’

The mage started to form a barrier around me, to trap me inside as Lucas went off in the direction of the noise. I was sure It was Aaron’s voice, I heard. He had come for me.

A tear escaped my eye. Aaron came here for me and now, he had to fight Lucas, who was hell-bent on killing him and here I was drenched in my blood powerless to do anything.

I couldn’t save myself, nor could I help Aaron, who was risking his very life for me. What was the use of learning magic, when it failed me when I needed it most?

‘’Accept him and all of this will be over. Don’t make me hurt you even more because I will do it.’’

I watched the mage as he threatened me, even now. A strange sense of revulsion developed inside me for him and Lucas. Their avarice, their cruelty really knew no bounds and here I was blaming myself for being powerless. None of this my fault and yet I was the one who was hurt, blamed and used for others to fulfil their desires.

I was not powerless. Not entirely, I had always underestimated my magic but not know. It has been so long. Never had a flare-out of mine, last this long. There should some magic inside me even a flicker would do. If not. At this point, I wouldn’t my exhausting myself to the point of no return. And I was right. I had a little bit of magic inside not enough, to kill the mage but enough, to save myself. I beckoned the power and let it flow inside me and then I struck.