Guild
1051 Words
----Guild----
***Lanie's POV***
I was being forced to go towards the guild and further and further away from my goal. Each step made my heart shatter more while the fear gripped at my chest, wondering what they were going to do with me.
The guards at the gate looked at me with curiosity while I was practically dragged forward. Reaching a small house, the elder went in first as the other two pushed me in. The guard went back to his original post as the son followed me in.
" Take a seat, Lanie." The elder spoke with a hint of warmth in his voice.
" It's been so long since I last saw you. You'd come over every single day to play with Blaze since you both were the same age. Unfortunately for him, you definitely were always the leader between you two." He chuckled, coughing a bit into a handkerchief.
"When your father passed away, as is custom, your mother was arranged to marry another man. We must keep our numbers up and pure after all. Your stepfather wished for your betrothal when you came to age as well. Your mother, probably still heartbroken over your father's death and the subsequent marriage after, took you and ran away from the guild. I know she was extremely outspoken over our arranged marriage custom here. Her first marriage was rare as it was for love but those typically are the exception more than the rule."
I stayed silent; my hands clasped tightly in my lap as the ice had slowly disappeared.
" You were trying to get that flower for your mother, right? For Marina?" His milky eyes met mine.
" ...Yes. I just need a flower. She's fading fast and I'm not sure if she will make it another week… please." My voice broke and tears openly fell again.
" Child…" The elder raised a hand and gestured to the maid who bowed before leaving the room.
" I will give you this flower…" The maid came over with a perfectly preserved flower in a see through box while the elder spoke.
" If you marry Blaze."
The words echoed in my head while I felt all of the air escape my lungs. The world began to spin as thoughts of Alec immediately flooded into my mind.
" Why Blaze? Why me?" My voice was shaky as I gasped desperately for breath.
"You were originally arranged to marry him. It's just like you were picking up where you left off. You were always special to me. Now come back and fulfill your destiny."
" I… can't marry him. I'm sorry. I'm in love with someone. I'm crazy about him. It wouldn't be fair to Blaze if I married him." I tried to reason with him.
" You were technically engaged to Blaze first. So if we wanted to run on the basis of… you were already a betrothed woman when you met your partner." The elder stroked his beard slightly.
" But, my mother took me away from all of this! I love someone. Please, can I do anything else?!" I pleaded to him.
" Those are my demands. Break up with your lover and marry Blaze… or your mother dies." The Elder grinned with a sinister aura to him.
My thoughts went back to Alec again. I loved him. I was his mate. My mother was my entire world though. She sacrificed so much to ensure my safety and here I was, walking right into the spider webs like a fly with a death wish.
" Why me? Why are you so desperate for Blaze to marry me?" I felt like an animal trapped in a cage.
"Simple. You were the one born into this guild with the highest concentrations of magical ability that I've seen. Your ability may even rival Blaze's. You have it in you to be one of the most powerful witches around. Why wouldn't I want to keep magic as powerful as that within the guild?"
My face fell at his explanation. "So, it's about power. You're forcing me to sacrifice love over your greed for power?!" Blinded by my rage and desperation, I shot some vines towards the elder to lock him into place so I could steal the flower from the maid and run.
Unfortunately, the Elder thought ahead and simply smacked my vines away with his cane.
" You are bold to try to attack me. I'll give you that. I could just keep you here and force you to marry Blaze and let your mother die. Don't try my patience."
Looking around, I couldn't find any other alternatives. My mother's life meant too much to me.
Dejectedly, I sighed. "Can I at least take the flower now and go back to tell him goodbye?" My heart felt like it burrowed deep into my chest as if it was hiding from the impending shock of heartbreak.
" Of course. I'm glad you see it my way." The elder snapped as the maid set the box on my lap.
" Be back in three days or we will find your boyfriend and kill him as well as your mother."
" Yes, sir." My voice was hollow as I picked up the box. I felt like a robot while I felt my heart and soul being simultaneously ripped away from me. I gave up the man I loved to save my mother. Would Alec even understand? How was he going to take this?
" Am I free to go?" I spoke, with no emotion in my voice, the luster in my eyes gone.
"Yes Lanie. Please wish your mother a speedy recovery for me. Mix the petals in tea and sprinkle the pollen in food." The elder waved, a s**t eating grin on his face with his triumph.
" Okay…" With that, I stood up and walked out of the building. As soon as my feet stepped away from the building, my anger bubbled over as well as the overwhelming sense of helplessness. What I didn't know was there was someone listening in on the whole conversation.
" Boss, you want me to follow her?"
" Yes, and find out who her boyfriend is."
" Yes sir." With that, the man seemed to vanish.
- Writer
