Chapter 12
Fay stood in the corridor for a long while, unable to move. Her mind was a mess and a part of her wanted to scream, but she couldn't do that. She couldn't do anything. She had been nothing but a pathetic fool. Niklaus didn't love her or even want her. He had given her to his brother. Given her away like a useless object. Like his property.
That was what she was and always had been to him. Yet he had given her hope. Treated her kindly. Why? Had he found it amusing? Laughed at her naivety? He could have simply ordered her to do what ever he wanted, why had he toyed with her so cruelly? Make her believe that she wasn't a slave anymore when clearly, she was nothing more to him.
If he would have said that she was his now, but when he would get bored, he would give her to his brother, she would have found a way to endure that. She would have never had any feelings for him. Instead, he had hurt her worse than anyone ever could. And now she was expected to serve Elijah. What would happen when he would get bored with her? He would kill her? Sell her? Give her to Kol?
She could run away. To where? She had no family to go to. No possessions or an escort to keep her safe. A lonely woman wouldn't last long out there. She would be an easy prey to anyone. What were her options then? Stay quiet and endure? That was what she had done ever since she had been taken from her village and she would have continued doing it without Niklaus' cruel game.
He had given her hope for something better. A husband, a family, a home… He had made her believe that she would be loved and looked after. That she was good enough for him. She wasn't. Sure, she should be grateful that Elijah had agreed to take her, but all she felt was pain. Her foolish heart was completely and utterly broken.
Yet she couldn't cry, not here and not now. If she would let herself cry, she feared that she wouldn't be able to stop. What she needed was something else to think about. Or someone else. She wasn't the only one hurting here. Poor Lucien had done nothing to deserve this. She needed to make sure that he was safe. Determinedly she headed to the dungeons. There were two guards, but they were too concentrated on arguing to notice Fay.
"We need a priest here," one of them was saying. "All the disappearances, it must be some unholy beast."
"Don't be ridiculous," the other one snorted. "Those servants ran away."
"All of them? Have you not heard the stories? There is something evil among us."
"Perhaps some madman then?"
"No, something else. I think it's a demon."
"A demon?"
"Yes, and I am not the only one. The stories are spreading outside the castle, as they should. People need to be warned…"
Fay sneaked down the stairs as silently as she could. She gasped in shock as she saw Lucien chained to the ceiling. His whole back was bloody, he had been flogged badly. Fay hurried to him and saw a long and deep wound on his face. Oh no…
"Lucien?" she said as she knelt before him. He flinched when she touched his hair.
"It's alright, it's me, Fay."
Slowly he looked up and blinked his teary eyes.
"Fay?" he murmured. His voice was barely a whisper.
"Yes, I am here, and I will help you."
"It hurts…" he murmured. "My face…"
"I know," she assured and gently touched his forehead. "You will be alright."
He let out a weak sob.
"No. I am hideous."
"No, you are not. You are alive and I will get you out of here."
"Why?" he asked tiredly. "I lost the only woman I have ever loved…"
"Listen to me," she cut in firmly. "I know how it feels, believe me, I do, but that is no reason to give up. I need you to be strong."
"I am not," he murmured. "Look at me, I have nothing to live for."
"It does not matter what you look like, you are a good man, Lucien. A kind man."
"I am weak," he muttered. "And pathetic for trusting Niklaus."
"Me too," Fay sighed. "But we have more important things to worry about right now."
She stood up and examined Lucien's chains. There was no way she could release Lucien without the key or someone strong enough to break the chains. In other words, she needed Niklaus or one of his siblings.
"I can't get you off these chains," she said. "I must go and get help…"
"No! Please, don't go."
She knelt again in order to calm him.
"I will be back. I promise." She paused and kissed his forehead as carefully as she could. "Be strong."
He looked at her, confusion clear in his eyes.
"Why are you helping me?"
His question surprised her; she hadn't even thought about that.
"Any decent person would do the same," she replied and stood up. "Hold on, I will be back soon."
She hurried to the stairs and bumped into a muscular chest. She swallowed and looked up, meeting Tristan's pale blue eyes.
"Well," he stated. "Hello there."