The sun was setting, plunging the dungeon into an even colder darkness.
Marix marched down the steps, squinting his eyes slightly. Despite the torchlight, it was still a contrast to his lit up estate.
He went straight for Eilownia's cell, the bag in his hands jingled with each step.
"Sir." The guards greeted, bowing one by one as he walked past them.
The one stationed next to her cell, grabbed his keys as Marix stood in front of the iron barred door, unlocking it in a hurry. His keys clanked loudly as he fumbled with them, causing Eilownia to look up.
His eyes were beginning to adjust and he saw her there on the floor, ankles crossed and knees pulled up to her chest. She was still wearing his jacket.
When the guard finished unlocking the door and swung it open for him, Marix needed only one, commanding step to enter.
"Next time, I expect the door to be opened faster and with much less noise." Marix instructed. His head barely turned and his eyes glanced towards the guard who bowed in apology.
"My apologies, Sir."
Marix's eyes darted back to Eilownia.
"Stand."
She did as he said without hesitation.
"Marix will you li-"
"Shush." His voice left no room for protest as he patted her down.
Her mind raced. This touch...…it was different than before. It was harder, stricter, but not unkind.
'Does this mean he does love me? He's just mad at me? Did I do something wrong? What does this mean? Does he want to do that thing again?'
When he completed his pat down, he took a step back, examining her from head to toe.
"Such an innocent looking thing, who would have thought." His tone was dripping with intrigue.
She sucked on her bottom lip, as he stood there, then took a deep breath.
"Are you...going to do the thing you did last night again?" Her fingers clasped in front of her and she played with her thumb nails, "It felt really good I'd li-"
He held up his hand to stop her, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and eyes shut.
"No need to continue with that thought. Your seduction will not work on me."
She stared at him confused, "Seduction? What...does that mean? I don't understand what you are saying."
'Seduction? Suction? Did he mean suction? Like those fish they had at the Evans Estate fish pond?'
Just as she was about to 'correct' him, he shook his head.
"Don't try to feign innocence with me. It's a fool's errand."
She continued to stare at him, her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes blinking rapidly.
'What is he saying? I feign? Innocence? Fool's Errand? Does he mean frame sense? Why would I lie about my senses? Whose errand? I don't know any Fool…..'
"I wouldn't lie about my senses, I have no need to do that. I can see and hear and smell just fine. I don't know how to prove it to you. Is that what this is about? You think I'm lying about my senses? I meant it when I said it felt good- Oh! But I don't know any Fool either…..Whose errand? Are you sure you got the name right? Although, I don't know anyone on an errand to begin with….."
Marix scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Playing stupid won't work either. I can see right through you, Little Flower, and believe me, you WILL wilt as I command."
Despite the harsh sound of his words and the commanding tone of his voice, there was something else hidden beneath, but she couldn't quite place it. It was something unfamiliar to her.
As she stood there, her eyes on the ground, trying desperately to figure out what was going on, he pulled out an old bag.
It jingled with the motion. The brown fabric was old and fraying on the ends, it looked like it had a few grass and oil stains on it as well.
Despite the fact that it looked like it could disintegrate at any second, it held strong, its body full and its contents pulling it towards the floor.
Marix shook the bag, causing it to jingle louder.
"My bag! You found it! Thank you!"
Eilownia reached out to grab it, her body pressing against his, but he held it up out of her reach.
"Not so fast. While you are under investigation, all of your belongings are under my control. Including this. Tell me. Where did you get all of this coin?"
She pouted but made no move to step away from him.
Marix also made no move as he looked down at her with a smirk, a quick tilt of his head and an eyebrow lift as if to say 'Gotcha.'
"I got it by selling off some of my mother's jewelry. Is that bad? She left it to me! I didn't take it!"
She suddenly held up her hands and shook her head.
'Is this what he's upset about? They think I stole them? They are mine, it's okay for me to sell them, isn't it?'
Marix narrowed his eyes and opened the bag. He reached his hand in and grabbed a handful of coins.
With his thumb, he sifted through the coins in his palm until a few that looked completely different were prominent.
"These. I mean where did you get these? I don't recognize this currency from anywhere. So what is it and where did you get it?"
Eilownia looked at the coins and tilted her head, her eyebrows knitted.
"Oh. Those ones were already in the box from my mother. I just took them with me for the festival. Are they bad?"
The coins fell to the floor with a clatter as his hand shot out and grasped her chin. He tilted her head up and examined her closely.
Her eyes widened slightly and she blinked up at him, her long lashes batting innocently.
"You're part Solan, that much is sure." He tilted her chin left and right, "But what else?"
"What….else?" She repeated, searching his eyes, "Marix, why are you asking me all of these questions. I don't understand. Can't you just let me go ba-"
He pressed his thumb against her lips, tilting her head up further as he did so.
"You are mixed. You are part Solan, and something else. It's no use hiding it from me, I'll find out sooner or later, let's not delay the inevitable. Don't waste my time, Little Flower."
"I'm mixed? What does that mean? Mixed?"
Marix inhaled sharply and gritted his teeth.
"It means you are not fully one race. You are mixed race. Solan. And what else?"
His explanation was laced with irritation, his voice a low grumble.
"What else? I don't know. I only ever knew my father. My mother....I never met her, never knew her." She shook her head, "All I know of her is that she left me with some items. I don't know anything about her other than..." She nodded, "She's my mother."
Marix closed his eyes and took a deep breath from his nostrils.
"My patience is wearing thing, Little Flower. I'm not here to play any games. I am here to interrogate you. Play time is over."
His grip on her chin tightened.
"I'm not playing any games. I'm just answering your questions." Her eyebrow furrowed and her bottom lip jutted out as air filled her cheeks.
"Mhm. I'm sure. Now, back to the coins. They were left to you by your mother? And you're sure about that?"
She thought for a moment, and shrugged her shoulders, "I was told they were from her. No one else has ever left me anything. It's a secret I even have them..."
'Secret?' His eyebrow ticked.
He slid closer to her, not that there was much room left between them anyways, and leaned in, searching her eyes.
"Just who are you?"
His breath washed over her face and she had to blink a few times to stop her eyes from drying out. She leaned back slightly but maintained eye contact with him.
"I told you, my name is Eilownia."
"I mean. Who are you. Where do you come from? Who is your family? You're not from Viraaz. I can tell."
Her eyes widened and she frantically shook her head, "I-I can't...tell you."
Marix let go of her chin and took a step back, standing up tall, his chin up. His eyes stared down at her.
"You can't, or you won't?"
She continued to frantically shake her head, "I can't! But please know tha-"
"Very well." He interrupted, "Guards!"
Marix shoved her backwards and marched out of the cell, leaving her to fall back onto her butt.
The guards clamored over, awaiting his instructions.
"W-Wait!" She called out after him as she scrambled to her feet.
"Have someone clean all of that up," Marix nodded his head towards the coins that were scattered along the damp, stone floor, glittering in the torchlight, "I want that evidence brought back to my office for further investigation."
Without anymore words to her, he marched back towards the steps, only leaving the final command, "Make sure she has proper prison attire and no food or water for her for the rest of the night!"