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The Ninth Agemature

The grubby stone cell was lit by a single candle which was now only an inch tall, its wax had hardened as it slowly crept through the dark, dingy cracks in the dark stone walls. The thick clunky chains that hung from the wall had been dark, shiny and black however time has slowly worn away at them, leaving them a dark rusty colour. The chains appeared to be old and weak though they performed their purpose as if they had just been welded: keeping prisoners locked up. The ever-fading glow of the candlelight was just enough to illuminate the emerald eyes of their current prisoner, a young woman but not human…her pointed ears mark her as an Elf.

            The chains suspended the Elf off the cold hard damp floor by her wrists that had been rubbed sore from where the chains strained against her skin. The Elf’s long smooth silky black hair had been roughly cut to shoulder length and her Elven robes had been replaced by a man’s white shirt that had seen better days, splashes of dried blood were scattered around the right sleeve and plain black leather trousers. A simple silver belt was fastened over the large white shirt around her waist, revealing her undernourished form. The Elf did not have her Elven boots but was barefoot which allowed a thin trickle of blood to drip slowly from her left foot. The faint rhythmic dripping provided the only sound that echoed dully through the endless stone corridor that lay beyond the thick metal gate that completed the prison cell containing the wounded Elf.

            The young Elf gracefully lifted her head as she heard the familiar sounds of paws heavily pounding down the stone corridor and as always she heard the clinking of his claws falter on the cobbled stone floor before the padding turned into light footsteps. The Elf surrendered herself to the gravity, allowing her head to slump forward so she was looking at the floor as the gate scraped open and slammed shut. The dull thuds created by his steps drowned out the faint dripping of her blood, which resumed as the footsteps ceased. Cold strong fingers lifted up her head so that he could stare into her eyes but the Elf kept her eyes fixed upon the ground.

            “How much longer must we do this Erin” he whispered in her ear “I have broken your mind and body. You have been saved from death many times over this…secret you wish to keep hidden.” He drew back; placing a hand on her stomach “You have lost more than you could imagine yet you still remain silent!” he shouted the last three words at her before he removed his hand from her stomach.

“You…know where my people are and yet…you have not…declared war?” she asked him weakly, breathing deeply as she glanced into his eyes. Zevan remained silent as he held her eye contact before a faint smile broke across his sinister pale face.

            “As you know Elf…that was minor information compared to the knowledge of the whereabouts of the blade and what is so special about its…keeper’s blood.” He extended out his arm, pointing one of his muscular fingers at her, barely touching her chest “I shall ask you once again. Tell me, what does their blood do and where is the blade” he asked her calmly as his finger nail grew thicker and stronger, reaching ever closer till he felt it pressing against her skin. Erin glanced at the werewolf claw pressing against her but as she remained silent, the pressure increased and the claw like nail dug further into her skin. The Elf clenched her jaw as Zevan locked his eyes upon hers.

A battle of will power began. A battle that had chosen its victor before it began. As his claw punctured her skin Erin drew in a sharp breathe and broke contact with Zevan, who slowly pushed his claw deeper into her chest, causing Erin to cry out in pain. Zevan’s voice drifted slowly through her mind.

You have suffered enough Erin. I can end this for you; just tell me what does their blood do? Zevan’s voice washed through her like crystal clear water that cleansed her mind and her body of all pains leaving Erin in a sense of peace. Relief flashed through her body drawing Erin deeper into Zevan’s conjured ploy as her mind fought against the peaceful white bliss that engulfed her completely.

“Do you want to leave?” Zevan materialised from the pure white light in front of Erin, who slowly surveyed the never-ending white light that enclosed them both.

“This…is not real.” She replied, noticing that she suffered no injuries. Zevan nodded once as he also studied the never-ending white room as he repeated his question.

“Do you want to stay here? You could go back…to all the mind games to all the madness of humanity. Or you can stay here and be forever in…heaven. No mind games, no suffering-”

“Nothing,” Erin interrupted “Stay here. In this…you said there are no mind games here but this is a mind game, an illusion!”

Zevan smiled slowly as Erin calmly waited for his answer. Zevan began to circle the Elf anticlockwise. Erin stood perfectly relaxed as he continued to circle her slowly.

“Does that matter? Here you have no worries, no fears. You are unharmed, your hair is long and you have your Elven clothes back.” He indicated to her leaf green robes she wore when she was captured and her black hair flowed down her back. Zevan had stopped circling her to stand behind her, leaning close to Erin he spoke softly in her ear “Here you are free Erin. I can let you stay here if you tell me what burden you carry?”  He drew away from Erin as she turned sharply to face him; her eyes were shining gold as they had done in the forest.

A great strong wind sprang from behind her, whipping at her clothes and her hair but Erin stood firmly while Zevan struggled to remain standing. He felt his boots slipping backwards as the roaring wind pushed him back a few feet

“I refuse to give into your games Zevan!” he heard the Elf cry spiral towards him, pushing him away from her. Zevan roared with frustration as he gathered his power and felt his form rip apart as he changed into his wolf form. He dug his claws into the white ground as the Elf’s magical wind surged upon him.

“You have failed once again Zevan to retrieve what you want! I shall never tell you freely!” A fresh blast knocked Zevan off his feet, sending him flying into the white abyss.

Time grew to a halt as Erin, overcome with pain doubled over instantly. The white light vanished as pitch black darkness surrounded her. Sharp cold claws roughly grabbed her neck, forcing her head upwards as her eyes adjusted to the faint light Erin recognised the familiar old stones that formed the roof of her prison cell.

“I hope you enjoyed that Elf.” A deep rumble of a voice stated as his grip tightened around her neck “For the king is displeased that you will not speak and he wishes to meet you soon…very soon.” The clawed hand released Erin, who glanced at the werewolf as he left the cell, locking the gate with a dull thud that echoed through the corridor.

“I would save your strength for you won’t last long against him. He’ll break you and I can’t wait to see it.” He turned to leave the Elf alone.

“You weren’t strong enough to do it yourself. I’m surprised Vredemon has left you alive. One year and you haven’t gotten what you were sent for-” Zevan silenced Erin by sending the ice blue energy blast straight at her.

            As Zevan watched the Elf with glee, a voice full of charm boomed over Erin’s sobs of pain.

“You should show a little more self control, Zevan. Otherwise we will have no one left alive in this prison.” The voice finished as Zevan reverted to his human form, bowing deeply to the tall strong man in black robes who stood beside him. Zevan slowly straightened himself glaring at Erin who was watching the stranger with interest.

            The man flicked his wrist at Zevan who bowed his head gracefully as he quickly departed, offering the key to his Lord who declined the offer as the gate slowly creaked open. The man glided smoothly towards Erin as the gate swung shut with a dull thud of metal against metal. The man looked attractive in his long black robes as he stood before Erin, his face was hidden from view as the candlelight flickered desperately to stay alight.

            “I must apologise to you Erin…I never knew Elves were this strong.” His words ended the candle’s fight to stay alight, leaving the cold harsh prison in darkness. “I must was apologise for not introducing myself. I am Lord Vredemon, ruler of all Baen Luin.” His voice was full of charm as he pronounced this from the darkness. “I would like to duel you but-” he chuckled to himself “I feel it would be an unfair match given your current state.” As soon as he spoke his last word, a small fire sprang into life at his feet allowing his face to be lit up in a menacing red glow.

“Then have me healed and I shall grant your request.” Her voice sounded tired and weaker than ever. Vredemon grinned playfully in Erin’s face while a hot piece of coal, glowing bright orange, drifted casually to eye level, rotating slowly in the air.

            “Tell me, how hot do you think this is?” Vredemon asked her as the red-hot coal floated towards Erin, who neglected it completely as she fixed her eyes upon Vredemon.

“First you tell me how you’ve managed to stay in shape for so long.” Erin answered as she felt the heat intensifier on her frozen skin. The coal fell to the ground as Vredemon glared at her as he glided through the fire, the dancing flames licked at his boots as he passed gracefully above them. A puff of dust sprang from the ground as he landed quietly in front of Erin.

“You show courage but you lack strength.” His voice lost all charm as he hissed these words at her “By the time I leave you I will have what I desire!” he glanced at the piece of coal slowly glow into life and rise gracefully up into the air.

 

            Vredemon glided out of the prison as Zevan recovered from his deep bow, glancing at Erin who was no longer suspended from the wall but was slumped against the corner, panting heavily, the gate swung shut with a loud clang as Vredemon faced Zevan.

“Assemble some of your best men cable of this task ready to leave tonight.” Vredemon started to glide down the corridor as Zevan asked him what he should do with the Elf. Vredemon glanced at the Elf collapsed in the corner.

“She’ll find more misery in life then death.” He continued to glide away. Zevan watched him go before he turned to Erin

“I’m going to enjoy making your life hell when I get back.” He told her before he followed Vredemon down the corridor, their footsteps echoing through the stone hallways.

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