Tamed by the Prince (Elven Lover)

by Cathy McAllister

  ‘Damn it! Where is the man now?’

  Before Cherry had completed this thought Aerios suddenly appeared with another man. Cherry only vaguely registered that Aerios’ blond hair was now considerably longer than before. The other man’s red hair was also long. They both looked more like characters from a fantasy comic. They even had … long pointed ears.

  ‘OK! Don’t worry about it! Whatever these men are, think about it later, Cherry!’

  “I don’t know how you guys do that, but I hope your powers can also do something about this,” she said more calmly than she really felt.

  “Damn it!” swore the man that Aerios had brought back with him.

  “She’s OK,” said Aerios. “She found him when he was still conscious. Merlon asked her to call me. He was so weak that he had no telepathic powers left to call me himself.”

  “I still think it’s better if she goes,” the other man said decisively.

  “I’m staying!” said Cherry in a voice that allowed for no contradiction.

  Just let them try to take her away from Merlon’s side! She had found him, in front of her club, and for some reason she felt responsible for him. She would not move from his side!

  “This could take hours, or longer,” Aerios interjected.

  “And the longer we carry on talking, the weaker he’ll get. So get on with whatever you can do!”

  The two men exchanged a glance and sighed.

  “Right, to work then!” said the red-haired man at last, and they stood at the table, one to the right and one to the left of Merlon’s shoulders. Whilst Aerios held Merlon’s head, the other man laid his hands on Merlon’s chest.

  “Don’t be shocked,” the red-haired man said to Cherry. “We first have to transform him back into his true form. The human body is too weak.”

  Cherry nodded weakly. She felt sick. She had found a man in the alley outside her club, half dead and totally ripped to pieces by goodness knows what; another man had appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared before her eyes; he had then brought another man out of nowhere and they both looked as if they were not from this world. What could make her day any worse? She took a deep breath and looked at the red-haired man.

  “I had realised that you guys aren’t human. Will … will I … be really shocked by his appearance?”

  “He’s not a monster, if that’s what you mean. Ready?” The last question was aimed at both Cherry and Aerios.

  Cherry nodded.

  “If you are,” answered Aerios.

  The two men were clearly making their energy flow into Merlon’s body until his body glowed in a weak bluish colour, and then the transformation took place. Merlon was now lying naked on the table and, apart from his facial features, he looked completely different. His skin was shimmering in a bluish colour and he had long pointed ears. But she was most shocked by his impressive sex!

  “Heavens!” cried Cherry.

  Aerios grinned.

  “It means that only the right one survives being entered by an elf.”

  Cherry blushed. And the two guardians laughed quietly.

  “Per… perhaps you guys should get on with it now,” said Cherry, avoiding eye contact with the men.

  The men focussed on their work again. Now and then they spoke to one another quietly but most of the time they worked in silence. Cherry could hardly detect any change in Merlon’s condition. The wounds had indeed stopped bleeding and Merlon’s breathing appeared to be stronger and more regular. The men’s powers did seem to be having an effect and for the first time since Cherry had found Merlon bleeding in the alley she regained a little hope that he might live. Her thoughts swam with the things that she had seen and experienced during the last few hours. Up to now she had never believed in the supernatural. She had once been to a magic show and knew that all she had seen there was tricks, even if she could not see how the magician did it. But she knew that she was not seeing that sort of trick here. What she had seen was real and that meant that the supernatural did exist.

  ‘Elves!’

  The two men had called Merlon an elf and he did look like one with his bluish skin and those ears. His friends did have the same pointed ears but their skin was normal. So were they not elves? So what were they?

  “Umm, you guys?”

  “Yes?” asked Aerios, looking at her.

  “Could you just explain to me what’s going on here and who you are? I mean, first I find your friend here in front of my club, more dead than alive, and it was clearly not human beings that treated him so terribly. Then you appear out of nowhere and look like … I don’t know, and you’re doing some sort of … heaven knows what, and I don’t even know yet whether you’re friend or foe, and … I don’t know!” she sighed.

  “Sorry. Cherry? That is your name, isn’t it?”

  She nodded.

  “All this is a lot for you to be dealing with. Why don’t you rest a bit?”

  “Not until I have answers!”

  “You’re right. I’ll make it brief so that we can concentrate on the healing. We’re guardians. Merlon’s an elf. My name’s Aerios and this is Volcan. We can’t say who it was that attacked Merlon like this until he wakes up and can tell us what happened. There are a lot of possibilities, but I won’t list them all now. We have powers that you humans don’t have but we don’t want to harm you. You have nothing to fear from us and we will probably need two days to complete the healing. We can’t teleport Merlon in his condition and that’s why we need you to help us by allowing us to use this room and keeping everyone away from us.”

  “I’ll do that! Don’t worry. I’ll shut up shop for two days. I’ll call all the employees and tell them they’ve got two days off.”

  “Thank you,” said Volcan. “We appreciate your help.”

  “I … I’ll go and make the calls,” said Cherry and disappeared from the room.

  ***

  Aerios started swaying and Volcan looked with concern at his friend. For two days they had been occupied with the difficult healing, and they were both clearly running out of energy. Cherry kept them supplied with drinks but they did not want anything to eat. She had stopped bothering the men with the offer of food. They were going to know best what they needed and did not need. She ate very little herself, and with no enthusiasm, but now and then she had to have something if she did not want to collapse with exhaustion. She was also at Merlon’s side most of the time and only slept sporadically for a few hours on the bench in the corner.

  “Sit down for a while. We’ve dealt with the worst of it,” said Volcan to his friend.

  Merlon had regained consciousness on the previous day, and since then he had been awake and responsive for longer and longer amounts of time. However, he was very weak and Volcan had explained to Cherry that the danger of another collapse could not yet be completely ruled out. Merlon’s elf body was at least healing more quickly than his human body. If he had been a normal human being, he would not have survived the serious injuries. Only his elf strength had kept the human shell alive.

  “I can hold out,” said Aerios and, with relief, he accepted the energy drink that Cherry passed to him.

  “Thanks, babe!”

  “Will he pull through?” asked Cherry.

  “Yes, he’s almost made it now. When he comes around next time, then he’s survived it. He’ll manage the rest himself then,” explained Volcan. “Can I have one of those, too?”

  “Oh, yes, of course. Sorry. Here you are!” said Cherry, passing him an energy drink.

  Volcan emptied the can in one gulp and threw it, without looking, into the bin behind him.

  “You guys should go into the circus,” said Cherry, smiling.

  “Thank you,” said Volcan, and smiled at Cherry. “I mean because of Merlon. That was really brave of you to help him and call Aerios. I know about the difficulties you’re having and you’ve risked a lot. You could still have a lot of trouble when your boyfriend comes back.”

  “I won’t
be here when he comes back,” said Cherry. “I’ve decided to leave him. I’m only still here because of him,” she explained, looking at Merlon. “As soon as he’s better I’ll be out of here.”

  “He could help you. He likes you!” said Volcan.

  “I know,” answered Cherry quietly, and looked away. She had made her decision but that did not mean that she was happy about it. “I like him, too. But I’m not ready for a new relationship yet. I’ve been through too much. I don’t know whether I’ll ever be able to trust anyone again.”

  “He’s different. I don’t need to tell you anything else. You know now that he’s not a normal man. Elves bond for life. If he’s decided upon you, then it’s for life. For as long as you both live,” Volcan explained gently.

  “I … I need to go to the bathroom,” Cherry moved off the subject and disappeared from the room.

  She was in a complete mess emotionally. She could not deny that she felt something for the elf. She also liked the two guardians – she had grown to think highly of them during the last two days. But she was simply not ready for a relationship and Volcan was not making it any easier for her, praising Merlon likes that.

  Cherry had an alcoholic drink and tried to get her chaotic feelings under control. After a while, and two more drinks, she felt up to going back into the back room.

  Cherry entered the room, but neither Volcan nor Aerios seemed to notice her. She sat down at Merlon’s side and waited, just as she had waited at his side for numerous hours already. There was nothing that she could do. She could not even hold his hand because it would interfere with the energy flow, Volcan had explained to her.

  After what seemed like an eternity Merlon opened his eyes. The guardians stopped the energy injection and Volcan put his hand on the elf’s shoulder.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “I’ve been better, but I’m not complaining,” answered Merlon weakly. “I’m guessing that was a close one, huh?”

  Aerios uttered a disapproving sound.

  “Close? What the hell have you been up to? Who did that to you?”

  “Ice elves,” answered Merlon.

  “Ice elves?” Aerios looked in shock at Volcan.

  “Damn it!” exclaimed Volcan. “ I’ve got to get straight to Coreena. If it’s not already too late!”

  “Go!” said Aerios. “I’ll stay with Merlon, and when I can I’ll follow you.”

  Volcan immaterialised.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Merlon.

  “Don’t you get it? The attack on you was not against you personally. It was done purely as a distraction manoeuvre. Who has connections with the ice-elves?”

  “Exesor,” groaned Merlon in horror. “You mean the bastard had me beaten up so that Volcan was occupied, and Exesor could easily get to Volcan’s chosen one?”

  Ice-elves! Exesor? Whatever was that all about? Cherry gradually began to feel as if she was in a film. Only she did not know the script and had no idea what her role was in the whole thing. Not a particularly good feeling.

  “It certainly looks like that,” Aerios groaned in response to Merlon’s question. “We’ll soon find out.”

  “Shit!” Merlon swore.

  “You can say that again!”Aerios agreed with him.

  “I don’t understand any of this,” interjected Cherry.

  Only now did Merlon spot Cherry, and his expression became warm.

  “You’re here,” he whispered hoarsely.

  Cherry took his hand. Her heart was pounding.

  “Of course I am. You needed me.”

  Merlon put his hand to his head in shock, feeling his ears. He looked back at her.

  “So you know now. I’m not a …”

  “Not a human. Yes, I know!”

  “I’ll leave you two alone for a minute. I’ll get myself a beer first.” With these words Aerios left them alone.

  Chapter 5

  “Thank you,” whispered Merlon, squeezing her hand gently.

  “Wh… what for?” stammered Cherry, confused by his proximity.

  She pulled her hand away from his. The brief touch had sent a tingling sensation right down to her toes, and her heart was beating faster.

  “For everything – for calling Aerios and for being with me.” He looked at her intensely. “Above all, for being with me.”

  His gaze made her nervous. She had never reacted to a man as much as she was reacting to him. Perhaps it was because he was not human. Perhaps he was able to influence her somehow, like a vampire could influence its victim. How could she know whether he was dangerous? She did not know him and did not know what he was capable of. She had learnt that appearances could lie. Evil men did not always look evil. She ought to know better, so why was she so attracted to this elf?

  “It was … that was of course …,” she stammered, confused.

  “No!” he interrupted her. “Don’t say ‘it was nothing’! I can well imagine what the whole situation must have been like for you – and still must be. I’m sorry you’ve been put into such a terrible situation because of me.”

  “It’s all so … there’s so much that I don’t understand.”

  “Then give me time to explain everything,” he said in a weak voice, closing his eyes. “I’m still a bit …”

  Cherry realised, with concern, that Merlon was unconscious again. She was about to call Aerios for help when the guardian came through the door.

  “I have to help Volcan. Can I leave Merlon with you?” he asked.

  “He’s just fallen unconscious again,” said Cherry, worried.

  Aerios put his hand on Merlon’s forehead.

  “He’s healing. No need to worry. Can you look after him until he gets his strength back?”

  “Yes! I can do that.”

  He put a shopping bag into her hand.

  “Thank you! I must hurry. There are clothes for him in the bag.” He grinned and winked at her. “The lad can’t walk home naked after all.”

  Cherry blushed. She nodded and the guardian disappeared before her eyes.

  She looked at the sleeping elf and sighed. Precisely now, when she wanted to begin her new life, he had to turn up and confuse everything. Right now, when she was finally free of Justin, she did not want to tie herself to any other man. Maybe she would never get involved again. The fear of being hurt again was too deep. Up to now men had only done her wrong. It had started with her mother re-marrying when Cherry was seven years old. He brought a son into the family. Aiden was six years older than her and as a thirteen year old he already had a pronounced sadistic streak. He tortured Cherry for years. He threatened her so that she did not betray him. When she was twelve her stepfather’s interest also grew and he began to abuse her. After the first time, she told her mother, but she did not believe a word and scolded Cherry for telling lies to make her throw her stepfather out of the house. Cherry’s mother made it very clear that she was not going to allow her happinessto be destroyed.

  Two years later the whole family was involved in a car crash and only Cherry survived the accident. She was put into an orphanage where smacks and abuse were the norm. When she was sixteen she could not bear it any longer and ran away.

  Justin was her knight in shining armour and for a short time she floated in bliss. He conducted himself like a gentleman. But soon after she had moved in with him he let his mask fall and at some point she started to believe that she must be worthless, as no one seemed to be able to love her. She crept into a hidden corner of her inner self and built high walls around her. Thick walls. Only in this way was she able to survive her ordeal. Cherry was broken and the only part of her that was still alive was the small, undamaged core of her being hidden behind the walls. But now she could see with horror that the walls were splitting and the cracks were becoming porous. She had to do something about it. She had to get into safety and repair her walls before it was too late.

  Cherry’s eyes fell upon Merlon again. He was helpless. At least, in his current s
tate. She was responsible for him and she could not leave him alone right now. She would look after him until he was well again. But then she would flee. As far away as she possibly could. Perhaps to Europe. She could speak a little Spanish and French, so she could probably manage there.

  ***

  When Merlon awoke from the deep, healing sleep his head was pounding like after a night of drinking. He could even feel the same furry sensation in his mouth, and for a moment he wondered whether he had had one too many and had only dreamt about the incident with the ice-elves. Gradually he became aware of his surroundings. He was lying on something hard which definitely did not feel like his soft, warm bed. It smelt of floor polish, stale tobacco smoke and beer. A quiet humming sound came to his ears, accompanied by a rhythmic ‘woosh’. He tentatively opened his eyes and saw a large fan slowly turning above him.

  Footsteps were approaching and he turned his head in the direction of them. A little later the door opened and Cherry entered the room. Her eyes widened when she saw him and then a somewhat shy smile appeared on her full lips. Merlon looked at her face and responded with a smile.

  “You’re awake?” she said, visibly pleased. “How are you feeling?”

  She closed the door behind her and went closer.

  “My head is going to explode at any moment and I feel dehydrated, but otherwise I’m fine. I’m alive – thanks to you.”

  Cherry reached out for a glass of water on a coffee table.

  “Can you sit up?”

  He nodded, groaning quietly as he did so. He was in disbelief himself at how weak he felt. A slight faintness made him stop and he closed his eyes. He heard her put the glass down and then he felt her hands supporting his upper body until the faintness had passed.