“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 bitrisky? 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.”
Chapter 14
Ellie lay snuggled into Vigor’s arms, her eyes closed. Since she had spoken to the elf two weeks earlier they had spent a lot of time together. Cherry did not know that Vigor spent the nights in Ellie’s bed. He simply materialised in her room instead of coming through the front door. She had not yet dared to ask the elf what would happen with them when his task was over. She was more than willing to go with him, but she had no idea whether he wanted that, too. He did make love to her with immense passion every night, but that did not necessarily mean that he reciprocated her feelings.
She sighed as she thought of Cherry. Since she had slept with Vigor the first time she could finally fully understand what her friend had lost. That was not simply just damned good sex. It was indescribable. She had never before felt so fulfilled and so whole. Vigor was rocking her world and even now, half an hour after they had last had sex, she could still feel the quivering that had shaken her body.
“What’s wrong, sweet thing?” asked Vigor and he pulled her closer to him. “I can hear you thinking from here.”
“I was just thinking about Cherry. She’s suffering so badly because Merlon is dead. She has …”
“Dead?” asked Vigor in surprise. “Who says Merlon’s dead?”
Ellie suddenly sat up in bed and stared down at Vigor.
“Are you telling me that Merlon is still alive?”
Vigor sighed.
“He’s alive. Yes. But he’s in a deep coma that he’ll never wake from. He put all his life force into Cherry’s healing. He has no chance of replenishing his energy.”
“But if he could give energy to Cherry then someone must
be able to do the same for him,” said Ellie hopefully.
Vigor shook his head sadly.
“There’s only one person who can do that.”
“And who’s that?”
“His true mate.”
“So Cherry can save him?” asked Ellie in excitement.
“Perhaps. But perhaps not. There are only two possibilities. Either she is his true mate and can perhapssave him or …”
“Or what?” asked Ellie, when Vigor stopped speaking.
“Or she dies in the attempt if it turns out that she’s not his true mate after all.”
“Is there … is there no way of finding out beforehand whether she is?”
“Unfortunately not. Only the healing ceremony can show that. And one way or another it would be a very painful process. It’s even possible that a true mate may not survive the ceremony. There’s about a forty per cent chance of success.”
“Damn it!” cursed Ellie. “That’s just … oh, damn it!”
“Come here, love,” said Vigor huskily and reached out his arm to her.
Ellie swallowed hard and welled up. She was so sad for Cherry. It was not damned fair. She looked at Vigor who was looking at her sympathetically and threw herself into his arms, crying hard.
“Shhhh! It’s OK. Don’t be sad. She will get over this. We just won’t tell her, then, sooner or later she’ll forget and perhaps meet another man.”
When Ellie had grown a little calmer she raised her head and looked at Vigor decisively.
“She has a right to know the truth!”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. She might try to save him and could then die. Furthermore she would first have to present a declaration before the king and the royal court, claiming Merlon as her true mate. That’s a binding act. If she survives the ceremony she becomes Merlon’s wife. There’s no going back.”
“It is her decision!” declared Ellie with determination. “You can’t just take this decision away from her. You don’t have the right to do that.”
Vigor sighed.
“She’s your friend. Do you want her to risk her life?”
“No! I don’t want that. But it’s not my decision, it’s hers. Whether I like it or not!”
“OK,” groaned Vigor unenthusiastically. “Then we’ll speak with her tomorrow.”
Chapter 15
Cherry hardly closed her eyes all night. Her thoughts kept on wandering back to Merlon. Over and again she had imagined a whole load of different scenarios that would have happened if she had not run away from him or if she had at least reacted differently after Merlon had taken her to Amarantus. She could not overcome her feelings of guilt and her pain. At some time around five o’clock in the morning she had given up and had got up to sit in the kitchen and drink coffee. Now, five coffees and two hours later she was still sitting at the table with the red wax table cloth, staring into space, when the door suddenly opened.
Her mouth opened to utter a scream that remained frozen on her silent lips. With a mixture of disbelief and horror she stared at the man who came into the kitchen with Ellie.
“Cherry, baby. We need to talk,” said Ellie decisively.
Cherry tried to slowly close her mouth again. Her heart was beating furiously and goose bumps crept over her back.
“Vigor?” she croaked hoarsely.
The elf smiled at her cheerfully and sat down opposite her, whilst Ellie took a seat to her right.
“What …?” began Cherry weakly.
Ellie took Cherry’s hand and looked at her intensely.
“We have something to tell you. I don’t want you to get worked up and make any hasty decisions. Think calmly about everything first, OK?”
“I … I don’t understand. A decision about what? What are you going to tell me?”
Cherry’s heart was beating fast. Her eyes went from Ellie to Vigor and back to her friend. She had no idea what all this meant.
“Tell her,” Ellie said to Vigor.
Ill at ease, Vigor ran his hand through his hair. It was clear that he was not keen to tell Cherry whatever it was that he and Ellie had to say.
“Merlon …,” he began hoarsely.
Cherry’s heart began to pound at the mention of her lover. She had a strange feeling in her belly and her hands began to tremble. Ellie noticed her trembling and squeezed her hand.
Vigor uttered a tortured sigh.
“Merlon is alive.”
Cherry felt as if her heart had stopped beating. All colour drained from her face and she became faint. Ellie put her arms around Cherry’s shoulders to support her.
“But …,” Cherry said quietly.
Her thoughts began to race. Merlon was alive. But why had he not come to her? Did he not want her any more? Is that why people had made her believe he was dead? Because he did not want her any more? Or did his parents have something against it and did not want Cherry for their son? She could completely understand that. After all Merlon was the successor to the throne and she only a normal woman and not even of elf blood. Maybe that was why. She could accept that more easily. It would be more painful if Merlon did not want her than if it was not permitted.
“He’s alive but he’s in a deep coma,” continued Vigor. “He hardly has any life energy left and can never wake from the coma.”
Tears came from Cherry’s eyes and fell down her pale cheeks. She would have preferred for one of the options she had thought of to be true. She could not bear the thought of Merlon vegetating in a coma. Her proud elf warrior helpless and unconscious tied forever to his bed. That was more than she could bear. She sobbed helplessly and collapsed.
“Tell her!” demanded Ellie. “She has a right to know, damn it! We agreed to tell her everything!”
“Cherry? Do you love Merlon?” asked Vigor gently.
Cherry raised her head and looked at the elf from eyes glistening with tears.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I love him. More than my life and I wish he’d let me die. Then he wouldn’t now …,” she sobbed again.
“There is a way … a chance of healing him.”
A small cry left Cherry’s lips. Her heartbeat increased. A chance? Of healing Merlon?
“What? What do I need to do?” she uttered decisively.
“Cherry, I have to warn you. Firstly, there is only a forty per cent chance of success and secondly …”
“I’ll do it! Even if there’s only a one per cent chance. As long as there is any chance I’ll do it.”
“I haven’t finished,” said Vigor emphatically. “It’s possible that you won’t survive it.”
“I have to do it. I haveto! Don’t you understand? I would do anything to save him. Anything is better than going on living like this. Especially now that I know there’s a chance. There’s no choice.”
“There’s something else that you should know.”
“I’ve already told you that I’ll do it!”
“If you both survive it then you’re bound to him forever. As his wife.”
“What must I do?”
***
Cherry’s heart was pounding as she crossed the enormous hall. She held her head down as she approached the royal couple. Her stomach had knotted so much that she thought she was going to be sick from the upset, right here in the middle of the throne room, in front of the whole royal court. She was glad that Vigor was striding next to her. His hand lay lightly on her upper arm as he led her to the royal couple. Once they were in front of the podium on which the thrones of the king and queen stood Vigor squeezed her arm reassuringly. He bowed and Cherry sank into a pre-learnt curtsey.
“My king. I bring you Cherry Thorne from the humans,” declared Vigor and stepped back after bowing once more.
Now Cherry was standing completely alone in front of the royal couple. Her hands were damp and she had to remind herself not to forget to breathe.
“Cherry Thorne. Welcome to our modest palace. Please rise,” said the king in a pleasantly deep voice.
>
Cherry almost smiled when he referred to the palace as modest. She had never seen anything bigger and more splendid in her life than the elf palace. She was not sure whether there was even anything comparable in her world. With weak knees she rose and looked up. Merlon’s mother smiled at her warmly and nodded to her encouragingly. Merlon’s father cut an impressive figure. Despite his age he was still a very attractive man. His eyes gave the impression of wisdom and worth, yet his body was still firm and more than impressive.
“I …,” began Cherry, her voice trembling. She swallowed down her nervousness and braced herself. “I have come to present my claim over Prince Merlon. As his mate I am entitled to wake him from his coma and claim him as my husband.”
The king looked at her intensely then nodded.
“Let it be!” he said.
Queen Molwina rose from her throne and came down the steps of the podium to her. She took Cherry by the hand.
“Come, daughter.”
Cherry followed the queen out of the hall. They walked together along the numerous corridors of the palace. She wondered how anyone ever found their way around here. Her head was swimming from all the staircases, halls and corridors. She felt as if she was walking in a circle and was already wondering whether they would ever reach a destination when the queen suddenly stopped in front of a door.
The heavy golden doors were opened by two guards and they entered a large round room. Huge windows let a lot of light into the room. In the middle was an enormous bed with a dark blue canopy and slightly transparent blue curtains through which she could see a person lying on the bed.
“Merlon,” she whispered in a choked voice.
Queen Molwina took her hand and squeezed it.
“You know what you have to do?”
Cherry nodded.
Merlon’s mother kissed her on the forehead and smiled at her warmly.
“I wish you success, daughter. Return to me in good health, both of you.”
“We will,” Cherry assured her with more conviction than she really felt. She knew that she may well never see Merlon’s mother again.
Once Molwina had left Cherry stood indecisively in the room, her heart pounding. For so many weeks she had suffered, crying over Merlon. She had been convinced that her lover was dead and that she would never see him again. The knowledge that he was lying just a few steps away from her behind the blue curtain made her heart beat faster. Tears filled her eyes and she swallowed hard.
Tamed by the Prince (Elven Lover) Page 11
