274 I Would Claim You By Force

At Clive's words, Astrid felt a huge lump go down in her throat. 

She had never wanted to make it obvious till they left but apparently, Jareth's attitude already made it obvious to all and now they do not even think they are together. 

While she was still processing his words in her mind, Clive used his big hands to push the door further open and took a step inside the house. 

His actions had broken her from her reverie and she instinctively took a step backwards away from him. 

"I belong to him." Astrid said out on a bold front as she darted her gaze back to him. 

The look in his eyes told her he did not believe her but she couldn't care less. She was going to take her stand as it was. 

Lovers were allowed to have a fight. Yes, she would say that was what was happening. 

Jareth still loves her unconditionally and would deal with anyone who so much as touch her. 

"You are not welcomed here. Go back." Her soft voice rang out carrying so much authority with it. 

"And who is going to stop me?" Clive asked her mockingly. 

The sinister smile on his face told het it would take a whole lot more than that to actually stop him. 

"He would. I think you haven't forgotten what happened the last time you tried to claim me as yours?"

"How could I possibly forget such an encounter? It is the very reason why I came back more prepared than before."

"Aren't you a coward? You made rules and go against them. Right from time you never played fair."

"Since you know, why expect anything else? Besides, everyone knows I play by thw riles but when I laid my eyes on you, I knew I must have you."

"The mere words coming out of your mouth disgusts me. How can you ever imagine I would wish to he with someone like you?"

"You do not have a choice, my darling. You are mine." As Clive spoke, he took the other step inside the house and two more before closing the door shut. 

With each step he took, Astrid took hers backwards. 

He was caving her and she knew it. She had to play it safe and make a run for it when she found an opportunity. 

"I would never be yours. If you so much want me, then duel with him again and this time, do not expect him to be too merciful ad the last."

She knew she was biting more than she could chew making threats on Jareth's behalf but of course it was her only resort to stall time and hope for Jareth or Snow to come back. 

She knew they were not on speaking terms and maybe not on any terms now but what more could she do? 

The way things were that even Jareth gave up on her and ask her to go for Cari, didn't that mean he won't care if Clive wanted her too? 

Besides, he had calmed down ever since she broke his command of she not being close to another man and left her alone. 

Unknown to her, it was not in the slightest bit true. 

"Merciful you say? Darling, why was he merciful with the merman too? Your lover has gone soft and warm that he could not even drive away a man after his lover and instead let him come between you two."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Isn't it obvious? Don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet?"

"Figure out what?" Astrid was already getting more and more bad vibe emanating from him. 'What does he mean by this?' She asked herself. 

"Since that merman came, he drove a wedge between you two and that only made your lover boyfriend turn soft and heartbroken and good o'le me did not cause a duel for both of them, giving the merman a better edge to go after you. Believe me you, I think I can deal with the mean easily than your elf boyfriend."

"Basically you allowed it all to reap the spoils of war."

"Brilliant. You are as intelligent as your beauty."

'Tsk, any normal being could figure that out you dimwit.' Astrid caused him in her mind and pretended to be lost in thoughts at his words. 

"So you see darling, you belong to me now. All I have do is clear the obstacles now that they are not having a clear mind."

"You conniving bastard!" Astrid cursed him but rather than feel insulted, a sharp laughter tore out of his throat as he trailed his lustful gaze over her entire body.

"Jareth would never let you do anything to me let alone have me as long as he lives."

"Is that what you think? Good. I like that. Then what happens when he is no longer alive, would you be mine then? It isn't like anyone would be able to stop me then."

"And who's going to do it, you? I see he did not engrave his message well in your mind when he said I was HIS! Just wait for his return tonight."

"He won't return." Astrid's eyes widened at the confession but as quickly as it came she masked it with a look of indifference. "Well not alive at least," Clive added, further causing her heart to beat fast at the bad news. 

"What have you done!"

"Do you think I would come without a thorough plan? Haven't noticed his absence all day? I sent him on a message he would never return from."

"You jest."

"Do I? He would not come back alive. I made absolutely sure of that and now it would be easy to dispose off that merman and then no one would be able to fight for you with me."

Astrid could no longer care about pretending, the shock was clearly written on her face. 

She could not believe what her ears was hearing right now. 

'There was no way Jareth would not have known that it was a trap, right?' Astrid questioned herself. She needed to be sure. 

"You would think he would notice it was a trap, but how could he when I placed it in such a way he would never refuse." It was as though he knew her thoughts bit her doubt's and confusion as well as fear was evident on her face and eyes right now. 

"It is the seventh day, the test."

"I said you were brilliant. You would make for such a fine lady to rule by my side."

"Not in my life."

"No matter what you say, I own you now. Your elf boyfriend was a goner before he even entered the forest to hunt."

"You intended for him to be killed by wild beasts?" Her eyes widened from the shock of what she just heard.

Ignoring her obvious question, Clive continued. "You see in this life, with careful planning and intelligence, victory can go to the weakest while the powerful ones are used as a pawn piece on the chest board. I never did anything, I simply controlled it all. His blood would not be on my hands when he dies."

Her heart began to ache at the possibility of Jareth dying. Her eyes darted to and fro in their sockets as various thoughts ran through her mind. 

Unbestknown to her, Clive was watching her every reaction and he was more than pleased at her devastation. 

'That's right, feel bad. Feel bitter. Let the news of his death break you and from there I can remould you and make you mine.' Clive thought to himself. 

'No, no, no. Jareth please be okay. You cannot die on me now. We still have a lot of things to do together. He is just jesting. That's right, do not believe him.' Astrid changed various words of encouragement in her mind as she tried to calm he worry thoughts. 

After a minute, she lifted her head to look at him in the eyes. 

"You are a despicable, arrogant, inhuman, wicked bastard!" Astrid hollered at him in rage. 

She was so angry at how wicked he was that her eyes never failed to show him how disgusted and angry she was.

'Humans are never to be trusted.' She thoughts to herself as though she was setting a reminder in place.

She could not understand the wickedness man would go to in there to get what he wants.

How could he waste lives like that?

"No matter how much you curse, your fate has been sealed with me. Your elf lover was already dead the moment he left this village. Be obedient and come to me."

"NEVER! Not in this life time and not in the next would I subject myself to the likes of you."

"If you won't come to me willingly, I would claim you by force."