Burning Flames

Chapter 3 - Mare

Authors note:

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Also warning ⚠️⚠️⚠️! Some profanity (swearing) so please be cautious if you don't like that sort of thing!

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I need to leave. ESCAPE. That word rings in my head as my new Arven guards push me through the familiar halls of Whitefire Palace. We arrived after a week or two of traveling on the underground train, and now that I'm back, it feels way too short. I'm not looking forward to going back into the silent stone cage, knowing that my chances for escape are much limited there.

I didn't see Maven the rest of the trip and I'm glad for it. He doesn't need to know that I'm at my breaking point. I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't realize one of my new Arvens, the only woman, with blonde hair, who's probably in her 30s, shoving me through the door to my prison. I fall face first, a loud crack when I fall to the ground, causing searing pain. I cry out, my eyes watering, before saying out loud, "Shit, I think you broke my nose," A different Arven quickly walks in, this one bald like Egg, but quite old compared to him. He quickly chains me up to the wall, making sure this isn't a stupid attempt to escape, and walks to me.

He grabs my chin and looks at my face, checking if my nose is broken or not, and after a moment he sighs and lets me go. My nose is killing me, and I can tell that I'm bleeding, a lot too. He walks out slowly and calls for a healer, before looking the other way and quickly standing up straight and looking down. "Y-your Majesty," I freeze. The door opens and instead of a healer, Maven walks in.

He sees my bloody face and frowns. "What happened?" The blonde woman looks terrified. I take my chance and grin, pain be damned.

"My Arvens happened," I say, spitting some of the blood in my mouth at his feet. His eyes narrow.

"Which one?" The blonde woman and I make eye contact. Her breaths come fast and her clasped hands behind her back are shaking in fear. I feel pity for her as I realize this mistake could cost her life. I open my mouth but Maven cuts me off.

"Lady Arven, step forward," She hesitates, but steps forward slowly. "You broke her nose?" She takes a trembling breath and nods slowly. "I said no one was to harm her. Did my rules ever change?" She shakes her head, still focused on her feet. "Take her away, and the rest, get out," He says, gaze still on me.

They leave, dragging the woman as she sobs for her life. The door slams shut and the room grows silent. My nose throbs in continuous pain, and I know my blood is everywhere. I curse under my breath. But I can't even touch it, because the Arven's already chained me up to the wall. The pain makes me forget who I'm with for a second and I swear loudly at the Arvens. "Shit," I close my eyes, trying to block out the pain. "That bitch did that on purpose," I mutter.

Maven chuckles and with that, I'm back to where I am. "How are you feeling?" I roll my eyes and laugh darkly.

"Oh, I'm fine. Nothing's wrong. I'm back in my cage, I'm chained to a wall, and my nose is damn killing me. Other than that, I'm perfectly fine,"

"I'll get a healer," He says, clasping his hands behind his back. Today his curly black hair is quite unruly, strands of his hair spilling over his eyes, and his crown, makes him taller than he already is. He's wearing pins of all sorts over his red and black uniform, representing the colors of House Calore.

He quickly steps out, motions to someone with a flick of his hand, and re-enters just as quickly. "Can you at least unchain me?" I ask. He visibly hesitates and shakes his head.

"Once you get healed I'll have one of your Arvens unchain you."

"Why? Is the King too afraid of his newblood pet?" I sneer. I make the mistake of looking into his too-blue eyes. Her eyes. Elara's eyes. I once thought them ice cold, but now I know better. The hottest fires burn blue. Even though I know he's a monster, everything I know he isn't, I can't help but be reminded of the boy I once knew. I open my mouth to speak when the door opens and my Arvens stomp through.

They come in holding a different chained prisoner that I know, Wren. My eyes goggle and I realize that this isn't a mercy, it's just another planned torture, like everything else, my mind whispers. He could've used any healer, but of course, he chose Wren. They aggressively unchain her and shove her my way. "I have more guards than you can see. Don't try anything," Maven warns, the threat clear as day.

Wren walks up to me and places her hands on my throbbing nose. I expect pain, but her cold hands soothe the pain and an audible crack tells me that my nose is back in place. Instantly Wren is grabbed and taken away, leaving me and Maven alone once again.

I am reminded of our last time together and I have to look away. My arms are still chained up, and without them, I feel defenseless. He takes a step closer to me, and I realize I have to be free of them now.

"Can I be unchained," I ask, keeping my eyes on him. "I would like to rest." He opens his mouth, but closes it, hesitating, as if there is something he wants to say stuck in his throat.

"Answer this first," He pauses, looking at my face momentarily. "Who's are you?" I keep my mouth shut. I don't want to sacrifice my dignity again, but I'm also scared of his capabilities. My brands sting. I hesitate, contemplating whether I follow my heart or my brain.

I decide not to answer. His eyes flash for a second, but he doesn't say anything. I try to look sheepish, but my defiance shows. I want him to know I still have fight left. I won't be broken- at least not yet.

He then surprises me. He smiles. When he walks towards me, alarms are blaring in my head. All I want to do is run, but I can't. When he gets close enough to touch me, I quickly stick out my leg, showing the distance I want between us. "That's good," I say swiftly. He smirks.

"Who are you to tell the King to distance himself from his prisoner?" I don't respond, and look down at the floor. "Look at me." I do. "It's just two words. Do you want to stay in those chains all night? You won't get any sleep,"

I scoff. "You act as if I sleep soundly every night. I can survive standing. I've been through much worse."

"Fine," He pauses, but suddenly his eyes light up and he grins. "I guess I'll see you later, my dear," I narrow my eyes. What is he planning? I watch him leave my cell and hear voices outside before an Arven stands right in front of me.

"What?" I ask, already bored. I try looking past him, wanting to know who Maven is talking to, but the Arven blocks my view. "Do you mind? Also, you're too close," I say, trying to use my leg to distance myself. He doesn't even blink and instead comes even closer. I then realize he's holding a scarf behind his back.

"What the hell? Stay away from me," I say alarmed. He doesn't even give me a fighting chance. The scarf is wrapped around my head tightly almost instantly, with me barely even able to struggle. Suddenly the prison I once thought small, was too big; anyone could be in this room and I wouldn't know.

My breathing gets faster and faster until I'm suddenly aware that I'm hyperventilating. I try to control it, but it just keeps getting worse and worse. It's when I remember Maven's grin before leaving that I lose control.

I can't breathe- shit I'm scared, I don't want to have anything to do with Maven's weird obsession. What if he comes in here and-

Everything fades to black.