I let out a scream as I saw a flicker of regret in the handsome stranger's eyes before I am harshly snatched and disappeared from the life I once knew. We reappear in front of a giant mountain. The sense of dread I felt when I entered that house multiplied as I stare at the haunting stone.
"How do you know Feyre? How do you know who I am" The stranger demanded? I am still in a daze, but I straighten my back. I refuse to look weak when I need to be strong for my friend. I look into his eyes and was desperate. "She is my best friend. We are all each other have. I was to late to save her when she was taken and I intend to bring her back. I don't know what games you are playing, but I don't know who you are." He shakes his head before whispering so softly I could barely hear him "She is safe, but she won't be if you don't play along with everything she says."
"What do you mean? I don't understand. Who are you taking me to?" My breath comes out in short pants and I am pulled into the mountain and dragged through the stone. I might be imagining it but I hear him softly whisper an apology before I am thrown in the center of a large room and put on display for all to see. I raise my head and see a striking woman sitting on a throne. She has a sickening grin on her face. "Clare my dear. Welcome to my mountain. I am sure you are going to enjoy your stay." Without missing a beat the red-haired woman grab a spiked whip from her tableside and the burning pain radiated through my face and the sharp pieces of metal dragged through my skin. One caught my right eye. The pain is blinding, physically and mentally. The so vision blurry that I can barely make out the handsome man sitting next to the viper suck in a deep breath.
"You silly little girl thought you could make a High Lord fall in love with you. So embarrassing that he sent you back with no thought about your family. Certainly no thought about his "love." Pitiful that he walked right into my arms after he fell in love with you." I have no idea what she was talking about, but I remember the demand from the man from my dreams. Feyre will be safe if I play along. I will protect her with my dying breath. With strength I did not know I possessed I stood and slowly walked to the handsome man sitting next to the throne.
The hall was silent as I stood in front of a man who she claims "loves" me. I slowly reach out and touch his chest and caress his face. Even with my blurry vision, I can make out a golden glow around his body. I feel sparks all along my body trailing up from where I rested my hands. I have never felt such an instant attraction, and I knew without a doubt no acting was needed on my part to feign love with this man. I silently wonder if he feels the same. I slowly get on my tiptoes and whisper in his ear "I forgive you, my love. I know you will always be mine no matter what that horrid woman says. I will adore you forever and always." I place a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.
My confession sends shockwaves through the crowd. Apparently, I was not as quiet as I thought I was. The queen shouts and pulls me from the golden stranger. I am shoved to the ground and gasp as the whip is brought down again and again. I am in a daze. I don't know how long the torture goes on. My voice is raw by the time the sharp whips stop. I didn't even realize I was screaming until I stopped. My back was on fire, but I couldn't let them realize I was not Feyre. If that man was even telling the truth. However, at this moment it was the only thing holding me together.
"Say it again swine. Say that you adore Tamlin. The man who can't end your pain. The man who does not care for you. The man who came right back into the arms of another woman." She spat at me while I was still crumpled on the floor. I slowly lifted my head and met the eyes of the golden man. Tamlin. That was his name. With the little strength, I still have I speak loud and clear. My voice trembling "When I killed that wolf in the forest, I knew something was coming. As I held him as he took his final breaths he looked so peaceful. He knew that I was made for you. He knew that I would love you no matter what path you chose."
I didn't even fully know the weight of the words I spoke. Tamlin let out a gasp and went to take a step towards me, but fate was not on our side. I was lifted roughly and let out a piercing scream. I was so weak that I couldn't even fight as they pinned my arms behind my back. My vision in my right eye is completely black. My hand was on fire. The red witch walks to me and spits in my face. "He won't even remember your name Clare when I am done with him. Tonight he will be screaming Amarantha in pleasure and you will be wishing you never tried to take what was mine." She turned and left the throne room. Snapping at Tamlin who followed like a faithful servant, he looked back to me with a strange look on his face. Before she left she called back with a smirk on her face "Have fun with her if you want, but make sure she survives. I want to see how long she can suffer before she breaks."
As soon as she left several creatures that I could not even imagine in my darkest nightmares started to advance. Before the can make a mark however I hear the voice that got me in this mess in the first place. "Now friends, I think I want to take her first. I need to see just what has Tamlin strung upon an ugly little thing like this." Gone was the soft man I saw briefly from my dreams. He didn't even give them a chance to respond before he is dragging me through the halls. The sharp groups tore into my shredded back. I am screaming again as the pain comes back full force.
Soon I am pulled into a room and the door slams shut. I am lifted up and tossed into the bed like trash. For a moment I am terrified and brought back to years ago when I was in the same predicament. Except for this time I knew I could not survive. The silence only lasted so long before I heard a soft sigh. Soon I am flipped onto my back and soft hands are tending to my wounds. We sit in silence, but as time goes on I feel myself start to relax. "My real name is Annalise," I say quietly. "I need someone to know who I am before I die under this mountain."
"My name is Rhysand." He whispers just as quietly. "I was the one who gave Amarantha Clare's name. I couldn't let her hurt Feyre. Something about her called to me, and I knew that I could not sentence her to death. Please don't hate me for yours."
I took a shaky breath before slowly sitting up. The pain in my back screamed at me, but I knew that this man meant something to Feyre. He also is the only kindness I foresee in this mountain. "I signed my own fate when I said I was Clare. After what I have gone through I would not wish that on anyone. As much as I grieve for that family I am glad that she does not have to feel what I am feeling now."
"I can take away some of your pain, but they can't know I am helping you. Inside these doors, you will be safe, but out there I can't do anything. Do you understand?" Slowly the pain goes away and I nod my head.