I told myself if I learned everything there was to know about Illidan that I would move on. It was true I hadn't learned everything, but what made me most anxious was that I knew for sure I would see him again. We didn't end things kindly. In fact, he was quite forceful when handling me. I wondered if my interest in him even held any merit. I never would subject myself to the abuse he gave, though if it were consensual I would have enjoyed it.
I wondered what the man meant when he said Illidan would return when I needed him most. It could be years for all I knew. That thought scared me. I decided to look for him myself. Were he not to come back soon, our town might certainly fall into darkness. The mayor even refused to acknowledge how high the crime had become, and from what I heard around town he was the one who sought out Illidan to contain it. That way he could hide his knowledge and didn't have to do anything himself. It made me sick, but it also led to our meeting so I was conflicted.
Tonight was the night. After we closed the bakery, I would search around town for him.
The sun fell in the sky and the moon awakened, as I bundled up in my sweater and searched down the streets. Main street was still full of people at this hour. I searched every rooftop on my walk yet saw him on none. That didn't stop me. I walked past the town square where my friends and I played games. I didn't find him there. I checked the bank where he was atop before; he wasn't there either. I heard fragments of conversations as I passed others, who spoke of the bounty hunter not being seen in a while. I suppose I wasn't the only one to notice him after all. Did he meet with others in town as well? Was I not... special? The thoughts depressed me. Perhaps I meant nothing to him. That was what my brain was telling me at least. I didn't want to believe it. I felt something for him that I had never felt for another.
It was getting too late for my liking. Even the cold weather seemed to soak through my sweater and leggings at this point. My search was pointless after all. Illidan wasn't here. He ran away to do who knows what. I could only fathom where he went or what he was doing. I wasn't even sure what exactly happened to cause him to leave. I knew only that I needed to find him. Tonight just wasn't the night, I guess.
I began heading towards home. There were quite fewer people on the street now, almost none in some places. I picked up my speed hoping to be safe at home sooner. I was stupid and went alone. I was out too late. If Illidan were here, he would scold me so hard for doing it. My heart got the better of me I guess. It led me where my brain dared to go. It was making me nervous though, imagining what his reaction would be to me being out here. The thought made me walk even faster and take a few short cuts. I had walked quite far from home, if I could make up lost time that would be best. My parents were likely already asleep. They didn't mind when I went out as long as I was with someone, which I told them I would be. It was a dangerous lie though. I couldn't help but think, what if something happened to me?
As I walked I noticed men lurking in the shadows of alleyways, which I tried to avoid. Unfortunately for me, I turned into one and stumbled upon a group of them. I quickly went back the way I came, but one of them noticed me. I heard him shout most likely at me but I ran in the opposite direction. This guy was much faster than me though, and as I suspected he was coming after me. I heard the pounding of footsteps behind me but I didn't turn back. I tried to duck into another side street and get him off my tail, but I wasn't fast enough. I felt a sharp yank on my hair as I ran and it pulled me back so hard, I fell backwards to the ground. I'm doing so, I slammed my head on the concrete. My vision went black and I didn't see who captured me, but I knew I was terrified.
My head was pounding as if I had been hit with a hammer even though I had only fallen. It terrified me what could happen were I not to go to a hospital. I could have gotten a concussion or have a brain injury, was my first thought. After I patted my head a few times and felt a bit calmer, I realized what happened. I quickly look around and find myself in a strange room with other girls beside me. It was larger than the living room in any home I had seen, but was almost completely empty of furniture except one blue couch a few feet away from us.
There were three other girls with me, one was still passed out on the floor and the others were looking around scared out of their minds. They all seemed younger than me, one much so. She could've been no more than ten. I dared not to imagine what this place was or what would become of us. I only prayed for a miracle.
—
After his confrontation with Sargeras, Illidan looked upon Azeroth from the Seat of the Pantheon. He felt a bit sorrowful looking at the land he once called home. It had been a long time since then and much had changed. He knew at this point he could probably never return, but that land was the key to immortal magic. There was none on Earth, which is why he brought a vial he still held with the water from the original Well of Eternity, including a vial from the new well. He couldn't recreate one on Earth because who knew what destruction it could cause. Instead, after he found Earth he returned to Azeroth and mixed the two waters together in a jar the he would then bring with him. He had returned only briefly, and made sure he didn't see anyone. He knew his presence was unwanted there. That jar traveled with him to Earth, where it still maintained its magical properties from being combined on Azeroth. He then put the water into a fountain which he kept in an apartment in the city. It was his own personal magic well that could sustain him enough, for now. He knew one day he might need to return to Azeroth to replenish it.
He spent several days after the encounter alone at the Pantheon looking down upon Azeroth. He thought about how his brother, Malfurion was. Mostly he wondered about Tyrande and whether they both survived the last thousand years. He had no idea what had befallen Azeroth during the time, but he didn't really care. They never deserved him in the first place. Illidan was so prideful and selfish that even if Azeroth was doomed he couldn't face them again. He never regretted his actions and only wished others had seen him for his true intentions. It didn't matter anymore though. When he finally let go again, he knew the only thing left to do was return to Earth.
Upon arrival, he landed first on the roof where Eden spent many of her days. He didn't find her there, though. It was quite late at that point, if she wasn't out already then she must've been in bed. Illidan had a weird feeling though, and he didn't know why. Just to make sure, he lifted the panel to her room and peaked inside. It was a bit messy in there, but he found the bed and the room empty. Eden was not there. Illidan became alarmed, not able to imagine where else she could be. He closed the panel and knew the only thing to do was search for her aura in the town. He just prayed he would find her in time before she endangered herself.
—
The men who entered the room forced us to stand in a line in front of the couch. I knew fighting back would not end well, and while we tried to escape earlier the doors were all bolted shut. I stood obediently as a fat older man walked down the line looking at us from head to toe. Especially in the middle. He ogled us and I felt disgusted, more so for the young girls. I knew it was my own fault I was in this situation... but these girls didn't deserve this. I took it though, knowing if I could escape there would be an opportunity but now wasn't it.
The man then briefly explained what exactly this was: a prostitution house. With unwilling workers I guess. So we would be forced to provide services with nothing in return, just the usage and abuse of our bodies. Nothing that could be done to us was off limits except murder. I dreaded to think of what disgusting men around here would do to me. Truly I needed nothing more than Illidan in this moment, but there was no sign of him. I anxiously looked around the room waiting for him to burst in, but he didn't. I grew more and more concerned that I wouldn't be saved. The man must've been wrong in his predictions; Illidan has forsaken me and I would be subject to this life, all because I was stupid.
I watched as they led them one by one to the rooms where they would be 'working' and then I myself was taken. It was a disgusting room that no doubt had been the scene of many crimes. No wonder Illidan was in this town busting perpetrators, being here made me appreciate him riding us of this scum. I was told to sit on the bed and undress, which I didn't. That would be humiliating. I waited anxiously for someone to come in again. When they did, I was shocked to see it was the old man who explained everything to us earlier. Who gave us all seedy looks. He approaches with a look in his eyes I can only describe as frightening.
"I'd prefer undressing you anyway," he says after noticing I didn't follow instructions. Ew. I cringed at the thought of him touching me. I never liked being touched by anyone; Illidan was a different story though.
The man first leaned over me as I sat at the edge of the bed, and with his grimy fingers pulled my sweater up over my head. I closed my eyes and looked away pretending this wasn't happening as I heard the piece of fabric fall beside me. Fortunately I still had an undergarment on, but he reached around me and removed that as well, feeling over my body as he did. I begged for a miracle to come but I knew one wasn't. The man pushed me back onto the middle of the bed and got over top of me. He craned his head down and sniffed my neck, and then moved his face lower. I had never been more disgusted in my life. He reached for my leggings and I tried to squirm out of his grip.
From the room outside, we heard a kind of commotion with voices and the noise of things hitting the ground, the man turns his head away from me and toward the door behind him. It flies open with a smack as it bounces against the wall nearly coming off the hinges. I try to look around but the mans fat head blocked the way. As I tried to get out from underneath him, I heard the sound of flesh being cut and his body crumples to the ground next to me, a sharp blade in his forehead. I scream at the sight of blood spurting out of him; the blade was buried so deep that it caused near instant death or paralyzation, I didn't really care of his fate honestly. At the doorway I see Illidan completely radiating with rage, felfire seeping from his uncovered emerald eyes and tattoos, his hair a bit disheveled, and his face a twisted mess of anger.
"Illidan." His name slips from my mouth. I stood upon seeing him, in disbelief that he was actually there. As I got off the bed though, my legs gave out beneath me and I fell to the ground. All I wanted to do was run into his arms. I didn't care that I was topless and in shock. He looked at nothing except me as he came over and picked me up from the ground, his face that was seconds ago enraged softened at the sight of me.
He helped me stand, but his eyes widened when he touched me. "Oh-" I wondered what caused him pause, but wrapped my arms around him anyway. Sure, he felt my breasts against his torso. Did I care? Not really. I actually kind of enjoyed it. He returned the favor and wrapped his around me as well, the strength of them making me want to melt into the abyss. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. I buried my face against him and didn't let go for what felt like several minutes. Eventually he pulls me away and says, "We need to go."
I mumble in agreement, letting go and retrieving my clothes from the floor, quickly putting them on and following Illidan. As we exited, in the main room, I saw there were several bodies of our captors all completely bloody and very dead. I couldn't believe Illidan had been so violent and yet I was happy. I also noticed several girls leaving through the open door that Illidan left; I was happy we could save some of them from this life.
As we reached the outside, I was about to speak to him but he said "Come," and picked me up into his arms. I almost protested but he jumped into the air and began flying while carrying me. I put my arms around him afraid that I would fall, and kept my face to his chest. I peeked down and saw that we were hundreds of meters in the air, and we weren't heading toward home either. I trusted him, but was curious where he was taking me.
"Where are we going?" the wind drowned part of my voice, but no doubt he heard clearly.
He glanced down at me and said, "Somewhere safe."
Indeed, I liked the thought of that.