Tamed by the Prince (Elven Lover) (12 page)

C
herry sat on
the bed as if paralysed. Today she was to leave Amarantus forever. The queen had not visited her again during the week that Cherry had spent on her sick bed. Apart from Awate she had only seen guards or maids.

Footsteps could be heard in the corridor. That must be her escort. The door opened and a large elf warrior entered the room. He looked at Cherry from friendly eyes and nodded at her. Then he turned to the healer.

“Is she ready for teleportation?”

Awate nodded.

“Yes, she’s strong enough now.”

“Good.”

The healer went up to the bed and put his hand on Cherry’s shoulder.

“Cherry. This is Vigor. He’ll take you back to your world.”

Cherry simply nodded.

“Are you ready?” asked Vigor.

Cherry got up and passively allowed Awate to embrace her.

“Farewell,” said the healer.

“Thank you,” whispered Cherry and tried in vain to suppress the rising tears.

Then Cherry turned to the elf warrior and was guided out of the room.

“We must first go outside. Teleportation is not allowed inside the palace.”

“OK.”

Vigor led her through numerous corridors and halls that Cherry hardly registered. She did not want to see any of the splendour. It was her fault that Merlon had lost all this. He had given his life to save her. She would never be able to forgive herself for that. The thought that he would probably still be alive if she had only not been so silly ate into her. She wanted to put all of this behind her as quickly as possible.

When they were outside she breathed a sigh of relief. Vigor led her onto a terrace.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Hold on tightly to me.”

Cherry allowed the warrior to put his strong arms around her and she put her arms around his neck. Then she instinctively closed her eyes. A strange feeling overcame her – as if she were hovering. Then it was over.

“We’re here,” sounded the elf’s gentle voice.

Cherry opened her eyes and they really were standing in her room. It was clearly the middle of the night because it was dark and only a little light from the street lamps lit the room.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Take care of yourself,” said the elf, then he was gone.

Cherry slowly sank down onto the bed and suddenly all the emotions that she had suppressed during the last few days exploded. Hot tears ran over her cheeks and very soon her nose was blocked and her eyes were burning from a lot of rubbing. She had thought that she could live without Merlon – and now that she had finally realised that she could not, and, in addition, knew that he had actually loved her – it had to end this way. How could she ever forgive herself for the fact that the love of her life had had to give up his life because of her hesitation?

The door opened and someone uttered a cry of disbelief.

“Cherry? Oh my God!”

Mina rushed into the room.

“I knew I’d heard something. How did you get here? Where have you been?” She sat down on the bed and stared at Cherry, wide-eyed. “Oh my god! What’s happened to you? Have you been raped? Can you describe the person who did it? Or was it more than one?”

Ellie and Molly came into the room in the midst of a heated discussion.

“What is it?” they called as one.

“Oh my God!” whispered Molly in shock and put her hand to her mouth.

“Shit!” gasped Tina. “What’s happened to her?”

The two women came closer.

“I don’t know what’s happened,” said Mina in despair. “She’s not speaking. Someone put the light on. I can’t see if she’s injured.”

“No!” Cherry uttered, sobbing. “I’m not …”

“Cherry, love. Whatever has happened? Should we call the police?” asked Ellie, concerned.

“No.”

“Don’t you want to tell us what happened?” asked Mina gently.

“You wouldn’t believe me,” sobbed Cherry.

“I’ll believe you. Whatever it is,” said Ellie.

“We’ll all believe you,” agreed Mina. “We know that you wouldn’t lie to us.”

“Not that I’d lie. But you’d think I was crazy.”

“I don’t know anyone who’s less crazy than you,” said Molly. “Come on! Out with it! Shared suffering means half the suffering. In this case a quarter of the suffering, because there are, after all, four of us.”

“I’ve been in another world,” began Cherry with hesitation, and she watched her friends sceptically for signs of disbelief or rejection, but all three just looked at her expectantly and so she continued. “The world is called Amarantus and it’s the world of the elves. I don’t mean the sort of elves that are in children’s books. They are as big as us and look the same as us except that their skin is a little bluish and they have long ears. I … I was abducted by an elf prince.” She stopped again. She was certain that from this point on, at the latest, her friends would declare her crazy.

“Carry on,” Ellie urged her, and the other two friends nodded.

“You believe me?” Cherry asked in disbelief.

“You’re not the sort to take drugs. I am finding your story fantastical, but hey! Why shouldn’t there be such a thing? Tell us about this prince. He’s certain to be outrageously sexy with a long sword, if you know what I mean.” She giggled.

“His name is … was … Merlon, and yes, he was the most attractive man that I had ever met.” She told the story from the beginning; how she had found him injured; how they had made love and everything that had happened in Amarantus; right to the sad end and her return. Her friends hung on her every word to the very end, without interrupting her. By the end of the story, first Ellie, then Molly and Mina, began to cry. “Vigor teleported me here and disappeared. Then you came in.”

“Oh my God!” sobbed Molly. “That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. Oh, Cherry!” She threw her arms round Cherry and hugged her. “I’m so very sorry for you.”

“Were you not allowed to see him again?” asked Ellie.

“No,” whispered Cherry sadly. “They didn’t let me and by the end I didn’t even want to any more. I didn’t want to see him like … that!”

“I can understand that,” said Mina. “I think I’d have wanted to keep him in my memory the way he looked when I last saw him, too.”

“I’m getting us something to drink,” said Ellie hoarsely. “We can all do with a drink now. It is the weekend. No one has to get up early tomorrow.”

Ellie came back after a short while with a bottle of brandy and four glasses. Cherry took a glass and Ellie filled it. Then she took a long sip. She had to cough, but that did not stop her emptying her glass in record time and having her glass filled again. She wanted to drown her sorrow. What else could she do?

“T
hat film was
really great. I cried my eyes out,” said Ellie with a sigh.

Cherry drank the last of her coke and put the empty cardboard cup into the likewise empty popcorn carton. They waited in their seats until the other people had left the cinema to avoid the crush. Once most of the people had reached the exit Ellie got up and Cherry did the same.

“I’m glad you came with me,” said Ellie. “You’ve spent the last two weeks hidden away in your room. I know it’s hard, but life goes on.”

“I know,” said Cherry.

They stepped into the isle that led to the exit. Suddenly Cherry had a feeling that someone was watching her. She turned round and saw a man looking in her direction. He had shoulder-length, blond hair. His face was half-hidden in the dark but somehow his large stature was familiar to her. Could it be?

“I think Vigor’s here,” she whispered to her friend.

“Who? The elf? The one that brought you home?” asked Ellie, excited.

“Yes. I’m not sure. I only know his elf form. As people they always look a bit different. But the facial features and the blond hair. And the huge build. And he’s looking this way,” Cherry whispered back.

Ellie looked round discretely.

“Shoulder-length hair and a body that’s screaming ‘baby I’m going to make you lose your mind!’?”

“That’s him.”

“If your elf looked half as good, I now understand everything.”

“I’m just wondering what he’s doing here? He seems to have followed us. Why?”

“Unfortunately you can’t ask him now. He’s gone. He took the exit on the far left. By the time we get out of here he’ll be long gone.”

“Damn it!”

They pushed their way further along the queue until they at last stepped out into the open. As Ellie had predicted, there was no trace of the man who had looked like Vigor.

Cherry sighed.

“Shall we go for a pizza?” asked Ellie.

“Why not,” agreed Cherry. She could not stop wondering whether this man had really been Vigor and if so, why he was following them.

“My goodness! I’m full!” groaned Ellie, pushing the plate away.

“Me, too,” said Cherry, suppressing a burp.

“I can’t stop thinking about that man in the cinema. What he wanted? Or whether it was a coincidence? Maybe he’s not an elf but just looks like this Vigor,” babbled Ellie.

“I’ve been wondering that, too. But it was strange the way he looked at me. I mean, the cinema was full of people and the guy was looking at me from half way across the cinema. I don’t think that it was a coincidence that he was looking at me. He was watching me. I felt his gaze before I even saw him. That’s why I turned round in the first place. Because I was aware that someone was staring at me. That’s unreal!”

Ellie put her hand to her mouth to suppress a small cry. Her eyes widened and Cherry thought the mysterious man must be somewhere in the restaurant and Ellie had spotted him, but Ellie was not looking past her but directly at her.

“What is it?” she asked nervously as Ellie shook her head in confusion.

“You … you told us that someone wanted to kill you. Can it be that it was Vigor who shot the dart at you?”

For a moment Cherry felt sick, but then she shook her head decisively.

“No! That doesn’t make any sense. He could have killed me instead of bringing me back here. I was at his mercy. And anyway, he seemed really nice.”

“Perhaps he just didn’t want to kill you right then because then suspicion would have fallen on him immediately. But if he were to see to it now, two weeks later, that something happens to you here, then none of his people in Amarantus would find out.”

“I can’t imagine what reason he would have.”

“Someone wanted to kill you. So someone must have a reason. How can you know that he hasn’t got a motive? Just because you don’t know the reason doesn’t mean there isn’t one.”

“I hope you’re wrong,” said Cherry with an uncomfortable feeling in her belly. “If Vigor has it in for me I don’t stand a chance. No human could protect me from him. Elves are much stronger and harder to kill than humans.”

“Wow!” said Ellie, full of admiration. “Real Superman types, huh?”

“If only Merlon were still alive,” whispered Cherry.

Ellie reached over the table to press her hand gently.

“Sorry! I’m coming out with too much stupid stuff. Just don’t listen to me, OK? Next time I start talking such rubbish just say: ‘Ellie, shut up!’” Ellie gushed forth.

“Ellie! – Shut up!” said Cherry in a strict voice and suddenly began to laugh.

Ellie joined in with her laughter until the other customers started to look at them.

“Come on! Let’s go home,” suggested Ellie.

Cherry nodded and got up. They paid for their meal at the cash desk and left the restaurant.

During the next few days Cherry felt as if she was being followed everywhere. She did not know whether it was a good or a bad thing, but she was certain that Vigor was watching her. She did not actually see him again after the cinema visit but she could feel his presence. She woke up twice in the night with the feeling that someone was in her room. She had listened out in the darkness with a pounding heart, expecting him to declare himself, but nothing happened.

“You look exhausted,” declared Molly, and Cherry looked up from her untouched breakfast to meet her friend’s concerned gaze.

“I … I’m not sleeping too well at the moment.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Cherry slowly shook her head.

“It’ll be OK. I’ve just been working too hard. The job at the diner has been pretty stressful since my boss reduced the staffing. Sometimes I wish he’d fired me, too.”

Molly gave her a look that showed that she did not accept that this was the reason for her poor state.

“Are you having bad dreams because of the elf?”

“Sometimes,” answered Cherry quietly, looking down.

“I can ask my therapist if she has space for you. She’s very good. Since going to her regularly I’ve felt much better. I hardly ever think about the business with Robby.”

Molly’s ex-husband had stalked her constantly after the divorce, and in the end he abducted her and nearly killed her. It was only with a lot of luck that she had been able to escape from him and after weeks of searching the police had finally caught him in Mexico.

“And what do you think I should tell her? That I was taken to another world by an elf prince and was nearly killed there? She’ll send me straight to the madhouse!”

Molly sighed.

“You could be right. It does sound too … fantastical.”

After glancing at her watch Molly jumped up hastily.

“Oh goodness! I’m late. Take care, love. Chin up. At the weekend let’s go out together, yeah?”

“I don’t know if I’m up to going out,” said Cherry evasively.

“What! Once you get yourself out you’ll have a great evening. I already know where we’re going to go. But I’ve got to go now!”

Molly kissed Cherry on the forehead and hurried out of the kitchen. Cherry played with her scrambled egg. She had already lost quite a lot of weight because she had eaten so little recently. If she carried on like this she would have to buy new clothes. Her trousers were gradually getting too loose and were baggy around her hips.

“Good morning!” called Ellie, in a happy mood, as she rushed into the kitchen and dived straight for the coffee. “I need an extra strong coffee now. You’ll never guess who I met yesterday.”

Cherry forced a smile.

“Brad Pitt?”

Ellie shook her head.

“Noooo! Brad Pitt is an insignificant lad next to the person I met last night.”

“No idea! Do I know him then?”

Ellie nodded and took a sip of coffee, sitting down opposite Cherry at the big table.

“Out with it. I won’t work it out myself anyway.”

“It is …” Ellie made a theatrical pause and looked at Cherry, grinning “… Vigor!”

“No!” Cherry uttered in disbelief.

“Yes!” answered Ellie and her gaze became dreamy. “I went to get some cigarettes last night and when I left the house the guy was standing in the shadows on the other side of the street. I thought, I must find out why he’s following you. So I went up to him and …”

“You went up to him? In the middle of the night? Have you lost your mind? He could have done something to you.”

“Maybe it was a bit risky, but I …”

“A
bit
risky? If it really is Vigor then he can kill you quicker than you can blink and if he’s a normal man he still doesn’t need much longer!”

“Right then, just listen to me now! So I spoke to him and asked him directly who he is and what he wants. He admitted that he is Vigor and that he’s watching you.”

“Holy shit,” Cherry uttered and became pale.

Ellie looked at her with concern.

“Are you OK? You look as if you’re about to fall off the chair.”

“I … I’m OK. Carry on.”

“OK then. The queen has – wow, I would never have thought that I would ever believe such a thing – well, the queen of the elves has given him the task of guarding over you as long as the criminal who poisoned you has not been arrested. That’s why he’s here. To take care of you.”

“But why?” asked Cherry in confusion. “Why is the queen still interested in me? Her son was having an affair with me and now he’s dead. Because of me. I’m to blame. I …”

Cherry broke down in tears and Ellie rushed to her side to take her in her arms.

“It’s OK, it’s OK. It was not your fault. You couldn’t do anything about it and I’m sure that his mother knows that. She’s worried about you because you meant something to her son.”

“He didn’t even love me,” sniffed Cherry.

“What makes you think that?”

“He never said a single word about what he really wanted from me, whether we had a future together and the word ‘love’ wasn’t mentioned
once.
It was just good sex. That’s all!”

“Such nonsense!” Ellie contradicted her. “Why would he have gone to the trouble of abducting you if he hadn’t felt anything for you? I’m certain that he wanted to make you his wife. He even died for you. For goodness’ sake! Cherry! What more proof do you need?”

“But how could we have lived together? He would have reached a thousand years old and I’ll be lucky to live to eighty.”

“It seems to me that I know more than you do. At least in this case!” said Ellie laughing.

Cherry looked at her friend in bewilderment.

“What do you mean by that?”

“That what you’ve just said isn’t right. If you marry an elf you live for as long as he does. Vigor told me.”

“You mean, I … I could have lived to a thousand years old with him?” asked Cherry in disbelief.

“Yes. That’s what I mean.”

Cherry collapsed. “It’s of no importance now anyway. Merlon is dead.”

Ellie pulled up a chair and sat down. She took Cherry’s hand and squeezed it. It was hard for her to watch her friend suffering whilst she was euphorically in love herself.

“I wish I could help you,” said Ellie in frustration.

“I know. But nothing can be changed now. Merlon is dead and will never return. It’s time for me to begin living again.”

“That’s right, love. Always hold your head up and look forward. The girls and I will do everything we can to get you back on your feet again.”

“I love you three,” said Cherry and smiled warmly at Ellie.

“We love you, too, baby.”