"It took a while for Heather to calm down" Danny reminisced. "In the end Amos had to use his hypnotic influence so that she could cooperate. She fell asleep as Professor Romney went into a trance, and then he did his thing"
-0-
It did not take him long to recognize Heather, running and screaming, nor the male figure chasing her.
"You are a criminal, Miss Mattox! How many did you kill for Midler?"
Romney turned towards the man. "So, you are supposed to be John Lawson. It is a good illusion, but an illusion nevertheless. And Illusion is the weapon of the Fae. You do not deceive me. Show me your true face."
There was a ripple running through Lawson's figure and Irina stood in front of him
"I thought so. A fae. A captive fae, using the energy of sleepers escaping their fears to break her own bonds"
"I have to. Please let me escape"
"Not until I know why you were imprisoned. There was a reason for it."
"Amos lied to me! He said that he loved me but he betrayed me. And because of that I became enslaved to this sorcerer!"
Irina poured her story at Romney who listened, amused.
"The sorcerer lied to you. Amos Benchley never loved you. The spell made him believe he did. It was an illusion…same as the illusions you create."
"No! He loved me, but he betrayed me!"
"It was a spell. He thought he loved you, but part of him recognized the truth. And the truth came through. It was a lie. Same as the sorcerer who enslaved you lied. He captured you will lies. You do not owe him loyalty. You can regain your freedom."
"I loved Amos…I love him."
"You love as a fae loves… deeply, truly, until one day you get tired of it and move away… as you would have done if you had not fallen into the sorcerer's trap."
Irina was stubborn, but Romney wore her down. His calm, his cynical outlook could not be denied. The love that she and Amos had once shared was a lie. an illusion, and illusions get dispelled.
"I will be leaving." Romney said, and you will not break free until I I sure that you will not hurt anyone."
-0-
Heather Mattox woke, calm and rested.