Aidan furiously forced Sinbad to the ground. Hands still chained behind him, Sinbad hit his head. Grunting in pain, Sinbad lifted his face off the floor to see a pair of familiar shoes. A clear, bell-like menacing giggle filled the cold stone room. As Sinbad's eyes grazed slowly over the curvy female in front of him he knew who would be waiting for his gaze at the top.
"Rumina."
Shifting her hips, she strutted seductively over to him and knelt down before him, "Well, well, well, if it isn't my little sailor, Sinbad." Her eyes were cold and narrow. Her mouthed twisted into her customary smirk. Bringing her fingers to his face, she began to trace his jaw line. She pressed harder causing her nails to dig deeper. Thin streaks of blood appeared across his cheek. She pulled her hand away quickly, then with reverent speed she backhanded Sinbad. Hard.
Making no move, Sinbad stared back at the hardened witch. She was obviously pissed. Aidan pulled Sinbad to his feet. As he gained his balance he looked up at Rumina who sneered and motioned for the two to follow her. Aidan forcefully pushed Sinbad in the direction of the small woman. As the three passed the threshold of the room next door Sinbad saw his friends chained to the wall. Doubar, Firouz, Rongar, Bryn and even Dermott, who was caged, were all there except for Maeve who Sinbad grimly thought Rumina must be saving her for last. Aidan stopped moving at the sight of Dermott in a cage.
"Sinbad!" Bryn's nervousness enveloped her words.
"Your alive, little brother!" Doubar's gruff voice filling the tense air.
"Silence! All of you!" Rumina's voice grew loud and harsh. With all her might she spun Sinbad around and stared up at him.
"You will die! You are the cause of my misery!" She called to Aidan, "Kill the rest of them! Now!"
Nothing. Rumina turned around to find Aidan not there.
She blinked away the tears as she stared at the black ceiling above her. This was it. Sinbad was probably dead and she was next. All these years and she had failed her brother who probably dead as well. Maeve was hopeless, her magic was almost gone. The light coming from the stone was dimming. There was no hope left.
Then light came flooding into the room. Turning her head instantly she saw the figure come into focus.
"Aidan?"
Aidan come up and knelt down beside her, "Maeve! I..." He make out the words. Staring in to her eyes he could see the hate clouding them. She spit in his face before turning her head away in disgust.
"Maeve, please.." He moved to face her. "I'm here to apologize. This is all my fault. I never meant for you to die. I just wanted you to feel...pain."
Maeve made no more. She hardly believed the traitor.
"I swear, Maeve. This is not a jest. She has Dermott. My friend." Maeve still made no attempt to move. "Maeve I will prove it to you."
As he spoke these words, Aidan moved to grab the necklace that adorned Maeve.
Simultaneously, Maeve saw where his hands were heading. She tried to cry out, "No!" But it was too late. Aidan's hands were firmly gripped around the necklace. His hands burned as he pulled it off her. Pain seared through his body. The necklace fell from his hands as he collapsed to the floor. Maeve lunged herself forward on top of Aidan. He violently convulsed on the floor until he lay still. His breathing was jagged and his words slurred.
"Mae..."
She looked into his eyes, "Why?! Your a fool!" Aidan tried to speak.
"For you.." His breathing slowed. Maeve shook her head. "Aidan..." Tears slipped down her face dripping onto Aidan's chest.
"Maeve, "
Maeve's brow furrowed, "What?" He still loved her? After all these years. Now Maeve understood why. She brought her lips to his. Giving him one last kiss, she felt his last breath escape through her mouth. Maeve squeezed her eyes shut hoping he wouldn't be there. Maybe he would still be alive. She opened them. He was still there. Maeve said a last goodbye to her somewhat estranged, dear friend. She then moved towards the stone grasping it with her hands which were still chained.
Rubbing the stone softly in her hands she chanted some old words. She hoped they were the right words she remembered. As she rubbed harder the stone began to light up. Winds began to swirl around her as she chanted. Heat began to grow from the stone. It crept up her arms and back enveloping her. Then the stone turned cold and icy. She opened her eyes. Dropping the stone, Maeve looked around the room seeing Aidan's body still there. She began to chant a small spell. The chains that bound her became soft and rubbery and fell away from her. She pulled her hands to her chest rubbing her wrists. Maeve got up from the floor and went up to Aidan's stiff body. Maeve touched his face. Then with one last goodbye, she turned on heel and went to the door intent on killing Rumina once and for all and hopefully saving Sinbad and the rest of the crew if they were still alive.
