Chapter 219

"Stand up." A man instructed. Erik had been sitting there for days, only allowed to use the bathroom in the corner of the room, still blindfolded and given water and meager bits of food, merely for the purpose of keeping him alive. He was sure this was the fifth day, but he had no way of knowing how long he was unconscious. It could be longer. His thoughts went to Pearl, almost every moment he sat there, wondering if she was ok or if they had taken her as well. If she thought he had abandoned her like all the other men before him. All he wanted to do was get out of there and get back to her. To hold her in his arms.

"Get the fuck up, I said! Now!" The man commanded. Erik was weak, but managed to stand while his arms were tied behind him to the post. The man removed Erik's blindfold and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the light and figures in front of him.

"Where is Charles? Is he ok?" Erik asked. The man's face came into view and Erik didn't recognize him. The other man, whose voice sounded familiar, wasn't there. There was a folding table set up in front of Erik. On it, were photographs and paperwork spread out. Erik adjusted his eyes and looked closer. My god, he thought. Laid out before him were years of photographs of him, during various sexual encounters with women he had been with. Some were of him naked with them, some where he was tying them up, whipping them, gagging them. They were not what the crown prince of a country wanted to see of himself, ever. He felt physically ill looking at them. He hated who he was then. He looked over and saw several confidentiality agreements. It was all there, in photo and in writing. His past. His ugly, sordid and mortifying past. How did this man have them?

"Where did you get these?" Erik asked.

"I don't think that's of any importance. You should be concerned more so that I have them, not where I acquired them." He sneered.

"Who are you? And what do want? These are obviously for some sort of blackmail. Is it money you want?" Erik asked.

"We will get into that later. For now, I wanted you to take a nice trip down memory lane. I'm sure if these were to get out your family wouldn't know what to do. And your hot little rock star piece of ass probably wouldn't like it much, either. Wouldn't want to scare her away before the big day." He said.

"Leave her out of this. Don't even mention her name. Ever." Erik said.

"That will be difficult. She's so sexy. And so easily watched and accessible. We could bring her to this party here anytime we wanted." He said.

Erik saw red. He spat at the man's face. "You'll have to kill me first. I'll never allow you to put your hands on her. If it's money you want, you better make sure she remains safe and away from you, or I will take my own life and you will lose your ransom and blackmail ticket." He said.

The man smiled. "Now now Erik. Relax. We wouldn't want anything to come to that. Yet." He said. He pulled the blindfold back down and pushed him to the ground.

Who was this man and what did he want from him? He needed to find out fast. His strength was fading, Pearl had been brought up and he knew time wasn't his friend. He had to figure this out.

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"Thanks for having dinner with me. I think we pulled it off well." Sebastian said.

"You're welcome." Pearl said.

He walked her to her room in the palace. He kissed her hand and bowed, turning to leave.

"Wait." Pearl said.

He turned back and looked at her, not sure why she called him back.

"I don't want to be alone tonight." She said. He took a step towards her and searched her eyes.

"Pearl, I..." he began to say.

"Let's change out of these clothes. Go back to the study and work more. Or let's just talk. We could watch a movie or something. Please. The thought of lying in bed, alone, not knowing where Erik is or if he is even alive will eat me up inside. I can't be left alone with my thoughts. I won't be able to sleep." She said. Sebastian let out a sigh of relief. For a moment, he thought she might be asking him to betray his cousin. His family. His honor and hers. And for the first time in his life, he considered doing it.