Cleaning House (5)

Thank you, CulturalMan, for the 3 Power Stones!

Thank you, aod_lucifer, for the 1 Power Stone!

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Elizabeth's gaze bore into Ciaran's eyes with a seething, volcanic intensity as he knelt before her. In that moment, she was not just struck by anger but by a raging inferno of pure, unadulterated fury that threatened to consume her. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing the pain and betrayal she felt, reverberating through her entire being.

His words hung heavy in the air as the weight of his betrayal seeped into her soul. With a mix of anger and hurt consuming her, she recoiled at the sight of his hand inching towards her face. The raw emotion in her eyes was almost palpable as she forcefully pushed his hand away, a visceral reaction to the years of deceit and manipulation she had endured. Every fiber of her being cried out in anguish as the realization of his actions washed over her, leaving her wounded and broken.

"Stay away." She demanded. 

Ciaran shook his head, his voice laced with a chilling determination, "You belong to me, and I won't let you go." His words hung in the air, a stark declaration of his perceived dominance over her. 

"You have no control over me." Elizabeth said, "I decide who I want to be with."

"Liz," Ciaran stated firmly, "The moment you entered my life, you lost all control." He paused as he stood up, "I provided you with the resources to enhance your abilities." He turned to face the window, "There has never been a time when you were in control."

Elizabeth's entire body trembled with suppressed anger. Try as she might, she couldn't reject the reality of his accusations. In a sudden burst of rage, she released her magical power, causing the vines outside the window to thrash forward and impale Ciaran in a fraction of a second. Shock and horror seized her as she watched the vines penetrate him, and she struggled to stand upright, only to see him dissolve into a thick, swirling mist.

"Like I said." Came the cold voice behind her. 

She whirled around and caught sight of Ciaran casually leaning against the wall. His arms confidently crossed over his chest.

"At no point in time were you ever in control." He finished as the door burst open, and a few guards charged in. 

"Lord Maxamus!" The guard said as he leveled his weapon at Elizabeth, "Are you injured?"

"I'm fine, Charles." Ciaran said with a wave of his hand, "Just a lover's quarrel, nothing to be alarmed about."

Charles nodded as he lowered his weapon, "Very well, Lord Maxamus. We will be down the hall in case anything happens." He nodded to the other guards, and they quickly left the room, closing the door behind him.

Elizabeth felt her mind racing with despair as she grappled with the realization that the tables had turned. She couldn't help but wonder at what exact moment the switch had occurred. Did he possess prior knowledge that she would ultimately lash out at him? Was this part of his calculated plan right from the very start?

"The moment you knelt on the floor. Is when I made the switch." He said, stepping away from the wall.

Her eyes widened as he answered the questions she had in her mind. 

"I know you are emotional and would lash out in anger, hence why I had my clone walk toward the window. I wanted to see how powerful you had become." He answered her unspoken question as he walked toward her. 

Elizabeth backed away until her back hit the broken window, "Is this the part where you kill me?" She asked in anger.

A look of confusion crossed Ciaran's face, "Kill you? Why would I do that?" He spread his arms, "I've already told you I want you as one of my wives." 

"I refuse." Elizabeth said with a sneer, "How could I love someone who only ever used me? You don't see me as a wife; I am only someone you can use to your advantage."

Ciaran sighed in frustration and ran his hand over his face. "Liz, I know you're not the smartest, but didn't you hear me when I told you that since House Whiteguard had been destroyed, you are no longer useful to me?" 

"I don't believe you." Elizabeth said, "You probably plan on holding me hostage so you can force my father to work for you."

"Your father already works for me." He responded calmly.

"You're probably lying about my magic." Elizabeth countered, "You want it, don't you?"

"I'm planning on conquering the Elven kingdom," Ciaran replied, "There are plenty of nature-based users there who are stronger than you."

"Then what do you want with me?!" She screamed as she unleashed her mana. 

The broken window gave way to multiple thick and thorny vines that extended into the room, moving with purpose and aggression. The vines thrashed about wildly, destroying everything in their path - the bed and dresser were no match for their strength. Meanwhile, a formidable wall of roses enclosed Elizabeth, serving as a temporary barrier of protection.

Ciaran's lips curled into a smirk as Requiem materialized in his hand. With a graceful yet calculated movement, he charged forward, the blade slicing through the thick, coiling vines with an almost effortless ease. As he moved, time seemed to dilate, the verdant tendrils swaying and undulating in a mesmerizing, slow dance.

"Seems my encounter with the Blade Master, or rather, Kristin, has proven to be quite advantageous," Ciaran mused, his thoughts racing as swiftly as his blade. "I've become stronger just from fighting against her."

He put those distracting thoughts aside and focused his full attention on the mesmerizing wall of roses between him and Liz.

"What do I want with you?" Ciaran asked as he delicately sliced through the wall. It withered away, revealing a collapsed and crying Elizabeth. "I want you," he whispered. He paused and knelt in front of her once again. "You are the only person I don't have a use for." Gently, he placed a hand on her cheek. "And for that reason alone, I can be my real self with you."

Elizabeth's defenses began to crumble, and she couldn't hold back the tears as she pulled him into a tight embrace.

"My, Liz," Ciaran whispered as he ran his finger through her hair.