"You think that's funny?" I spit at him, taking pleasure in the way his face forms into an expression of disgust. "You're nothing to me Maven. Nothing!"
He steps back in anger. I can tell he's trying to control himself, trying not to damage his precious little Mare anymore. He should know that's pointless.
"You are mine." He hisses through clenched teeth. His bright blue eyes focused on my collarbone, right where he left his mark on me. "You love me, whether you'll admit it or not."
"I don't." I pull against the chains he has on my wrists, searching inside of me for the tiniest pulse of the electricity running through my veins.
"Yes," he growls loudly. "Yes you do."
I spit again. If I wasn't in these damned manacles I would fry him to death, just like I fried Elara. It would be easy. Enjoyable.
"You don't even love me, you sick, obsessive, brainwashed freak!" I scream.
He flinches. He knows I'm right.
"Oh, Mare. How right and wrong you are."
"I know I'm right."
"If I didn't love you, then why are you the only one alive? Why did I kill my brother, my father, everyone else?" Maven says sweetly, as if he's not speaking about murderous, terrible things. "It's because they were dispensable, Mare."
I feel the wetness on my cheeks. He killed them. He killed Cameron. He killed Farley. He killed Cal.
"I never have, and never will love you." I whisper. I know he can hear. "Nobody could ever love yo I."
For just a second, Mavens mask slips off. I see in his eyes the way he's hurt, and I'm reminded of the boy I almost did fall in love with.
The shadow of the flame, the boy pushed to the side.
But it was all an act, and anything I felt for that boy is gone. Faded. That boy is gone and will never be back.
Maven Calore will never be the shadow again.
"You're a liar." He frowns. "You're a liar, and you're nothing but a lowly Red with a few tricks up her sleeve. But where are your tricks now, Mare?" He grabs a shackle, heating the stone around my wrist. I try to tear my arm away, but he grips it tighter. "Gone. It's all gone."
I pull myself away from him, disgusted by his presence. "Get out."
Maven huffs out a single chuckle, a terrible sound. Then he leaves. He walks out of the room and waves an arm for a guard to take me out of the chains, but I don't let him touch me.
Silent Stone or not, I'm convincing enough, and they leave too, locking me into the prison of a cramped room.
I allow myself to sit, my arms raised since the chains are short, and stare at the door.
When Maven comes back, I think, I'll have a plan.
But with no hope for help, despair sets in, and sobs escape me.
There is nothing I can do. I'm really his.
Forever.
TAYLOR SAYS——
Okay! This was on the shorter side, yes, but it was just a little challenge I did with my friend where we had to use a certain three words in a scene. Hope you enjoyed this little AU!
