It was dark.
Myranda hated the dark.
...and it was cramped, and small wherever she was....
Myranda hated that, too.
What happened? She was celebrating their victory, and their upcoming nuptials - and then...
Fuck, her head hurt.
Her arms were sore and pulsed as the rope around her wrists proved to be extremely tight.
What was worse was that she could smell the familiar scent of dust and stale bread - the precise smell that her old kitchen closet had. The same closet her parents locked her in most days in order to not have to take care of her, or deal with her.
Fear and anxiety soaked her to the core as the terrible memories flashed behind her eyes in rapid flickering scenes. Myranda would have to get ahold of herself -- but how could she in such a state? Had someone known how to torture her? Was this just a nightmare?
In general she just wanted to know why - why anything.
The black and white hair she possessed clung to her wet face, which made it so much harder to focus on trying to reach out to Metas. What good would that do her, though? She wasn't stupid. Myranda knew they would use her as leverage against the giant male.
Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, because she wouldn't allow him to give up /everything/ they had fought so hard for just to save her lousy skin. She wasn't selfish - or foolish.
Even if it would kill him, too - at least Ajax would still have power. There was no reason to give up their ground, not when they had the advantage. Whoever was behind this didn't really think this through, did they?
What did they take Metas for, a sap? A weakling? Someone who caved to the demands of others?
Hah. What a great miscalculation on their parts. Many a night the two of them spoke about how the revolution and the colony were bigger than either of them. There were times they spoke on how it would be okay to let the other go in order to keep what they had gained.
They had planned for this. So in a way, the situation was hilarious. They were wasting their time, and they were going to make her into a martyr.
'You know what? Go for it. Slit my throat - whatever you want - but you'll never kill the desire of the rest of us who want to be free. Who want to be equal.' Myranda thought with a mix of bravery and bitterness.
She wasn't surprised by this outcome, really. She never thought a happy ending was in her cards - but that didn't mean she hadn't at least experienced happiness. Knowing Metas and having his love was the best thing she could have ever experienced or asked for - so this was more like a 'ending where you started' kind of thing.
What a cyclical piece of shit ending.
As badly as the female wanted to cry, she refused to shed a single tear for her captors - whoever they were. As consciousness returned, the voices outside the closet door could be understood better the longer she woke up.
There were three voices -- two males and a female. None of their voices were recognizable.
"Are the others safe?" A deep male voice asked.
"Yes. We made sure she was safe, and the textile family's girl, as promised. Keep us out of it from this point on. I think you're making a huge mistake." An adult female spoke sternly (was that the maid that hit her?)
"I didn't ask for your opinion," the first male retorted sharply.
"You did not, my lord. I would like to leave now, please." The same female said timidly.
"As long as we have your silence, you may leave." A third voice answered, this one much deeper and rougher than the previous.
"I'm not keen on being punished by Metas. My lips are sealed." She promised in haste.
"You are right," the third voice spoke with a sinister intent.
The female screamed, but it didn't last long as the shrill cry turned into those of pain and fear mixed with the gurgling of blood.
Myranda, who usually felt pity for others - felt none for this traitorous wolf, whoever she was. This was what one deserved when they fucked around on the wrong side of the river - and - maybe she felt a little vindicated that the maid who did this to her, met an untimely end.
"What are our next steps?" The first male asked.
"Simple. Either Metas gives in to our demands, or we kill his precious mate. From what the rumors say - he threw everything away to pursue her. If that's the case, he'll do it again. I want her humiliated and presented to him in the lowest way possible. Even if he saves her, the shame from the parade of her captor will make her look weak for the remainder of her tenure. Citizens are easily manipulated if you play them well enough.... Harbinger taught me that." The second replied darkly.
"You are so very smart, my king." The first male replied obediently.
'King? Hah. I hope Metas rips your heads off and uses your asses to wipe the mess up...' Myranda thought bitterly. '--and you can't take my pride without permission.' Her brain followed up defiantly.
"I would hope so. Metas unknowingly did me a favor by killing Harbinger. Now we can use our resources and our forces to push against his tiny little circle of friends. Let's march his little lady over to the castle gates, and while he's distracted trying to get us to give her over, we'll use our connections to start an inside coup. That idiot really thinks that everyone will follow him just because of his size and title. I'm happy to teach that brat a lesson. He's always been a thorn in my side," the second male waxed on roughly.
Myranda wasn't sure who this asshole was -- but she was going to commit his voice and his words to memory, because she was going to pay them back ten-fold.
This moron must not have known that she and Metas were fated mates - and thanks to Jhinto, they had grown so much more powerful with their bond and the abilities that came with it. So, to repay this male's treachery, she would set up some disappointment of her own.
All she had to do was reach out for him....and if he would just reach out to her, they'd be able to plan together.
Much like a human of old times begging for someone to 'pick up', Myranda felt that same, desperate dread as she pleaded for Metas to feel her.