Once she was alone, Océane did as Corin had instructed. She undressed and made sure to scatter her clothes as though they had been dropped in a fit of passion. She raked her hands through her hair until the heavy waves were tangled and unruly and then set about laying herself on the bed in what looked like a state of abandon. Trying to present herself in such a manner whilst ensuring everything was covered from the neck down wasn’t the easiest of things to arrange, especially as her experience of such things came mostly from television and films.
Hearing a deep voice addressing the guards outside her door, she realised her time was up and tried her best to look as though she was in a deep, contented sleep. Belatedly, she took a moment to wonder if she was doing the right thing in putting her trust in Corin and playing Laen in such a way. He had made threats of a very unpleasant nature and to allow him to view her in such a light was far from prudent. Her heart began to thud as she began to realise the implications and dangers of what she was about to do, but it was too late now. The door swung open and the game began.
She heard someone enter the room and walk over to the bed and she supposed it was Laen. Keeping her breathing deep and even, she tried to still the desire to scream and run as far from him as possible. Corin had made her believe she was in no danger and both he and Aleish had gone to great pains to explain that Laen’s actions were totally out of character. Stupidly Océane had begun to come to the same conclusion as it was exactly the kind of behaviour she would have written for the hero of her story. She knew it was foolish to imagine that he had anything in common with a fictional character but there it was ... In her mind they were becoming one and the same man and she was probably not nearly as afraid as good sense should have allowed her to be.
It was still only early afternoon but whoever it was standing by her bed, they blocked the light from the glass doors and she felt a great, predatory shadow cast over her. Her lungs tightened, trying to keep the rise and fall of her chest steady while in truth she could hardly breathe at all. The room seemed to darken further as thunder rumbled overhead and the storm that had been threatening all day made itself known.
It was the hardest thing to lay there looking relaxed while he stood watching her for what seemed the longest time, though it was probably no more than a few seconds. Eventually though she heard him turn and leave the room, punctuated by the violent slamming of the bedroom door, then Laen’s voice roaring at the guards in fury and instructing them to find Corin without delay.
Océane sat up in bed while thunder shook the windows and doors and hail clattered against the glass with such violence she feared it would shatter. Lightening brightened the sky beyond the battered glass, an eerie luminescent purple, the strange light casting the room with a mysterious hue. With relief she exhaled as her tension ebbed away and she began to laugh. Thunder exploded overhead again and she jumped and then laughed harder still. She wondered if she should perhaps enroll in some kind of acting class if ever she got back home as she obviously had a talent for it.
***
Laen searched every room in the castle, some of which he’d doubted he’d even been in before, looking for Corin but he seemed to have disappeared. A wise move, he reflected with a bitter taste in his mouth, as in his current mood he wanted nothing more than to choke him to death. The nerve of the man, he could scarcely believe it. Slamming the door shut on yet another empty room he wondered who he was kidding. Corin couldn’t help himself, and the most irritating thing about it was that no matter how outrageously he behaved, the women seemed to love him anyway. If he were completely honest with himself at this point, Laen would have admitted that he was no better when it came to women, except his conquests tended to confine themselves to longing and tearful looks in his direction when they thought he wasn’t looking, and Corin’s simply adored him. He was even invited to the damned weddings when they settled down with a more sensible choice. By the fires, but it was unfair. He looked out of the window. The hail had turned to rain which fell in unrelenting torrents, slicking the castle walls until they shone and turning the paths and walkways into abrupt rivers that burst their banks and saturated the gardens around the castle. He dismissed the idea of looking outside as lightning split over his lands, the white light crazing the skies like ancient porcelain. Corin hated rain. Where ever he was to be found, it wouldn’t be out there.
Laen clenched his fists as he looked at the storm lashing at the world outside. He was well aware that he was becoming more and more bitter and alone but he didn’t know how to stop it. He was consumed with a nameless anger that seemed to eat away at his insides until everything good in his life could only be viewed through a veil of cynicism. The only person besides his sister that he had ever confided in, had ever counted as a friend, was Corin. Now his absolute refusal to see the danger that the human world presented to them was pushing Laen to a point where he would have to take a stand against him for the good of his people. Fury blazed in his heart at the injustice of it. Why couldn’t Corin see that a pretty face could not put to one side the retribution due for the destruction of their race?
Returning to his rooms, he found he was far too angry to concentrate on his work and spent the rest of the evening staring out of the window in a mood so black that his staff didn’t dare call him to dinner as thunder rumbled the castle to its foundations. The unlucky serving girl who lost the toss tiptoed into his study and wordlessly left his meal on a tray beside him where it remained, untouched, for the rest of the night. He hardly noticed it was there.
He really couldn’t fathom why he was so devilishly annoyed. So Corin had taken the wretched woman to bed, so what? If she allowed herself to be used in such a way, why should he care? It was just the kind of behaviour he would expect from a human female. He could not decide quite why he was so angry with Corin, though, as his behaviour was hardly out of character either, far from it, except he reasoned that Corin had taken advantage of his hospitality. No doubt his prisoner was now feeling safe in the knowledge that she had a champion to defend her against his brutality. Well he would show her that that was far from the case. He took a moment to wonder if he had started off on the wrong foot with Océane and if perhaps he should have acted as Corin had and seduced her, maybe then he would have found the truth and had a rather more enjoyable time in doing so. The thought did not improve his mood.
***
By the next morning Océane had decided that she had to trust Corin and believe that he really was sincere in his desire to help her. Besides she really had very little other choice, and once she had stopped worrying about whether or not this was a good idea, she felt able to relax a little. He would keep her safe from Laen and she felt sure something was being done to get her out of this weird, frightening and beautiful place.
Aleish had come to see her very early, scolding her for still being in bed despite the fact it was barely dawn. She’d brought a great pile of dresses, this time all far more suited to her tastes. She had settled on a deep green velvet, which she had to admit fitted her rather well. It was long-sleeved and simply cut, with a deep neckline slightly off the shoulder and tight at the waist. It showed off rather more cleavage than she was comfortable with but Aleish had nodded with approval and seemed to think it wouldn’t hurt her cause, so Océane wasn’t about to complain. It wasn’t jeans and a top but it would have to do. At least it wasn’t pink. She even decided that she’d go the whole hog and abandon her DM’s in favour of the elegant shoes that obviously matched the dress.
Now she sat, suffering in silence as Aleish had taken it upon herself to bring her own make up to complete the ensemble.
“There,” Aleish said, apparently expressing her satisfaction at a job well done.
“That’s it?” Océane asked in surprise as she had expected far more than the few simple touches that had been given.
Aleish shrugged. “It is all you need.” She hesitated for a moment as she began to put her belongings away before asking, “You saw Corin yesterday?” with a note of enquiry, despite the fact she must be well aware that she had.
Océane nodded, wondering if she should tell her the truth or if she should be played as Laen was. “I did, yes.”
Aleish got up and smoothed out the folds of her dress. Today she was wearing a delicate pale blue that worked well against her fair skin and blonde hair. She looked elegant and ethereal and every inch a Fairy princess. “He is very charming, is he not?” she asked, sounding far too nonchalant.
“Yes, very,” Océane agreed and wished she could pull off such a look, perhaps then Laen wouldn’t feel so angry towards her. Aleish had the kind of fragile beauty that usually made men trip over themselves in an effort to open doors and throw their coats over puddles. She snorted at the idea of Laen acting in such a way for her. He’d probably push her in head first.
Aleish gathered her things and gave her an encouraging smile. “I had best be gone, Laen will be bound to come early he ... He was in such a frightful temper last night, I doubt he slept.” She jumped as a crack of thunder exploded over the castle. “Do try and be polite to him, Océane ... I know he does not deserve it but ...”
“But I have to charm him, yes. Yes, I know.” Océane rolled her eyes and sat down on the bed, crossing her arms and looking mutinous. Aleish bit her lip and looked increasingly anxious.
“Well ... just try, please?”
Océane glowered, harbouring dark thoughts of giving Laen a taste of his own medicine as her eyes fell upon the heavy silver candlestick, but Aleish frowned back at her. “All right, I promise!” she huffed.
“Good.” Aleish put her hand on the door knob and hesitated once more. “Do ... Do be careful with Corin, won’t you?”
“Oh?” Océane felt a moment’s alarm at the serious look in her eyes but then Aleish flushed and looked at the floor.
“He is most dreadfully easy to fall in love with,” she said in a hurry, and left the room with equal haste.
Océane chuckled to herself. Oh yes, Corin had left a mark there, that was for sure.
A gust of wind rattled the glass doors and she shivered as she looked outside. The temperature had dropped further overnight and although the rain had gone, a thick smoky fog had engulfed the castle. The trees on the horizon all but disappeared in its heavy, damp embrace and made her feel that she was lost among the clouds. Océane turned her back on the chilly scene beyond the glass and went to stand by the fire to warm herself up.
She didn’t jump this time as Laen swung open the heavy oak door and stood glowering at her. “You are awake then,” he stated.
The moment he entered the room the idea that she had to make herself agreeable to this overbearing oaf made Océane’s blood boil. Instead she made a great show of looking around herself before replying. “Why yes, it appears I am.”
He snorted at her, his face set with a haughty sneer of derision. “Yes I have no doubt you are in a good mood this morning. I confess I find myself astonished that you had the energy to haul yourself out of bed. I do hope you found everything to your satisfaction?”
Océane was surprised at how much the accusation stung, after all she had been prepared for it, but she returned his glare with an innocent expression. “I’m so sorry, what ever do you mean?”
“I mean the fact that you entertained a man you had just met in your bed yesterday. I always knew humans lacked any kind of morals, but I have to admit you surprised even me with your cheap behaviour!”
She saw his fists clench with anger but instead of being alarmed Océane was gripped with such fury at his words that before she had time to think about what the hell she was doing she had crossed the room and slapped him hard across the face.
“Bastard!” she exclaimed with rage. “I never knew it was possible to hate someone quite as much as I hate you. I did no such thing yesterday but frankly I don’t care if you believe me or not. I can't do anything to change your mind as you've already painted my character in the blackest of colours. And that being the case I might add ... What’s it to you?” she demanded as she glared at him, defiance etched in every line of her body.
***
Laen took a moment to catch up as he was still in shock from the fact that she had actually hit him. She was half his size and by rights ought to be terrified and intimidated, and she had stood up to him and slapped his face. As a Prince he was used to being treated with a great deal of deference from women, and whilst she had attacked him the day she was abducted, that had been out of fear. For her to stand there and slap him out of pure anger was something he had never encountered before in all his life. As for the question she had asked, he still hadn't come up with a good answer for that one himself.
He looked down at her feeling quite as perplexed and angry as he ever had in his life, and wondered why the hell he hadn't just killed her when he’d had the chance. If he did it now his sister would never forgive him as she seemed to have taken a liking to blasted woman and had threatened that she would return to their father’s palace and take the consequences if Océane was harmed in any way. On top of that was the very unpalatable fact that he now knew without a doubt that he couldn’t do it. Océane didn’t know that though, and he took a little grim satisfaction at the fear evident on her face as he took a step closer.
Her eyes widened and his gaze fell on her mouth as she gasped, her lips parting a little, and the sight almost made him catch his own breath. He grabbed the hand that had slapped him and made a point of standing over her, using his imposing size to intimidate her. She still glared at him with anger burning in her eyes despite her fear and he could not help but admire her courage. Nonetheless he leaned down until his mouth was against her ear, feeling her soft hair tickle his cheek and cling to the stubble. “Do that again and I will have you removed to the dungeons to end your days with the rats,” he whispered. Unaccountably he then raised her hand to his lips and kissed the palm, making her jump as if his touch was electric.
Before she had time to ask him what he was doing, he turned and left the room, slamming the door so hard it rattled on its hinges.