"Maeve? Psst...Are you awake?" The voice faded in and out in her mind like a whispered dream. The voice finally became quite clear and she fluttered her eyes open. She blinked. Darkness. At first Maeve thought she had gone blind but as her eyes adjusted she saw the figure sitting across from her. She felt her hands chained from behind. She looked around and realized that her and Sinbad were sitting on the floor of a windowless chamber both chained from behind. The only light filtered through a small crack below the door.
"Maeve?" She heard him again. She tried to focus on him but it was too dark.
"Sinbad, what happened?" She asked while trying to fiddle with the chains that bound her hands.
"I'm not sure but the last thing I remember was seeing Aidan," Maeve stopped moving.
"Aidan?." Maeve's thoughts furiously swirled around her head. He had betrayed her. Not that she didn't deserve it. It still hurt. She shook her head in sorrow, "Sinbad I'm so sorry. This is all my fault..." Tears escaped quickly down her cheeks.
"Perhaps if you hadn't kissed him," Sinbad retorted. His eyes were flickering. He was so angry at her.
Normally Maeve would have put up quite a fight but she was too tired for all this bickering, "Your right Sinbad, I was a fool..."
Sinbad stopped fidgeting. Maeve was apologizing? Maeve hardly acknowledged her mistakes let alone actually apologizing. His anger quickly melted, "Maeve...." was all he managed to choke out.
"Perhaps I can break us free," Maeve pondered ignoring Sinbad hoping to change the subject. Maeve concentrated on her breathing, "Frasa, Guardian of Iron, reduce the power of these chains..." As Maeve chanted the words, a bright red light illuminated right above her chest. Maeve instantly felt a stabbing pain flow through her body. She whimpered as the light glowed brighter. Sinbad tried to call out to Maeve. The light went out instantly leaving Maeve and Sinbad in the dark once again. Maeve gasped for air as the pain subsided. She sluggishly glanced down at the spot where the light came from. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness again she saw a pendant dangling from her neck. A intricately carved stone hung from it. Maeve gaped at the familiar stone as she cried out.
"Maeve?! What is it? What was that light? Are you all right?" Sinbad tried to drag himself closer to her. Maeve murmured something that Sinbad couldn't quite make out. He tried to move closer to her.
"The Pilferus Stone.." Maeve glanced up at Sinbad, "This is the Pilferus stone. It yields great powers."
Sinbad shook his head in confusion, "I don't understand Maeve....What about it?"
"The Pilferus stone is a legendary stone that is supposedly capable of stealing one's magic powers and transferring them to another individual with the right incantation. When the stone is placed on the body of a host, it begins draining that person of their powers. Then when the transfer is complete the magic can be extracted and bestowed in the person performing the spell. I always thought the stone was a myth but I can feel it draining me."
Maeve shook her head in distress, "Dim-Dim told me that only a great Sorcerer or Sorceress could harness the power of the stone. One guess as to who could use it."
"Rumina, but are you sure Maeve? I mean it was Aidan who knocked me out. I know I saw him."
"Perhaps, but I'm sure that Aidan has no idea that I am a great Sorceress. Only Rumina knows the true magic I have mastered. I know she can feel it. It's stronger than her and she knows it. I can't help us, Sinbad."
Sinbad pulled himself as close as he could get to her, "Maybe, I can pull the pendant off you..." He grunted as he inched closer.
"No! Don't touch it Sinbad! Only someone with magic powers can touch it!" Maeve turned away.
Sinbad stopped, "How are we going to get out?" Maeve shook her head and rested it on Sinbad's shoulder as she tried to think.
Aidan stood before Rumina.
"There both locked up, Milady," Aidan informed the dark mistress. A malevolent smile curled up her face. She chuckled.
"Good, and she still wears the stone right?"
"Yes." Aidan still didn't understand why the witch put the ugly thing on Maeve.
"Excellent! Now I have one more thing to ask..."
He sighed and nodded.
"I need the rest of the crew..."
Maeve woke to the feel of Sinbad rustling next to her. There backs were against the wall. It felt like hours since they first woke up.
"Sinbad..." Maeve motioned him with her shoulder. Sinbad woke with a jolt.
"Maeve! What....I....I'm....." Sinbad scanned the room as he realized they were still there, "were still here.."
Maeve nodded. She felt so weak. The necklace dimly glowed as it continued to weave its spell. Tears slipped down her cheek. Rumina would win. She would never see her brother again...
Sinbad could hear Maeve silently sob, "Maeve? What's wrong?"
She shook her head as she turned her head away, "Look, I'm going to think of a way to get us out of here, you hear me? We'll get your magic back. I won't let anything happen to you. I love you."
The words rang through Maeve's ears. He had said it again. The L word she dreaded so much, "Sinbad, don't..."
Sinbad took a deep breath. He was ready to settle this once and for all, "I mean it. No matter what you think, Maeve. I know you feel the same too. I see it in your eyes every time you look at me. Why do you deny me your love? Just answer me truthfully!"
"Stop it! I can't possibly love you! I don't deserve you!" Her voice became low and raspy as she managed to choke out the last words, "How can you love me, Sinbad? You don't even know me! Who would ever want to love someone as low as me? If you knew...."
"Maeve, I.....do...know...."
"No you don't! Would you still love me if you knew I was a thief!? Or a harlot!? Or even better yet, a murderer!? Would you!? I know I can barely live with myself......"
"I don't understand," Sinbad was worried about Maeve. She was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Since all is lost, I might as well tell you the truth...When I left Aidan I told you I went to see Dim-Dim. But I left out the journey to Dim-Dim where I did the most lowliest things a person could ever do..."Sinbad listened intently as Maeve suddenly revealed her secret past...
