Chapter Two: Baron Henshaw

CAMILLA'S POV 

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling. I tried to stand up but I felt very weak. I immediately realised that I hadn't had anything to eat in three days. 

Maybe I shouldn't have rejected that food. If that man wanted he could kill me with his bare hands. He wouldn't waste time using poison. I shuddered at the thought of him and still struggled to stand up.

I gathered all my strength and might and stood up and tried to gain balance. I walked towards the curtains and pulled them open. The light rays from the sun hit my eyes immediately and they burned. I rubbed my ears violently and after a few seconds they adjusted to the light. 

I walked to the wardrobe to get clean clothes. The clothes were okay. They looked like clothes that maids usually wore. I sighed and went into the bathroom to have a bath. 

I washed and rinsed myself thoroughly. Only God knew what Insects or rodents came in contact with me while I was in that dungeon. The mere thought of it almost made me vomit. 

I washed my hair as well. The blonde colour of my hair was almost invisible due to the dirt.

I felt a bit at ease after the long bath. Truly it was a different type of therapy. My stomach grumbled again and I held it tightly. I'd endure it for as long as I could. Made me remember when my mother would bring food to my room all the time after the slightest of complaints. I missed that, I missed her. I felt a tear trickle from my eye down to my cheek. I quickly wiped it away and then heard the sound of the door being unlocked.

It slowly opened and the strange man came in. He had a very cold and emotionless expression on. Did he even have any human emotions?

“I realised that I had not given a formal introduction of myself. My name is Baron Henshaw, the owner of this mansion and your new master”. He said coldly, his baritone voice resounding in the room.

Master? Wtf?

I ignored him and focused my gaze on the floor. That seemed to anger him and he walked over to me and held my chin. 

“Who do you think you are ignoring me when I'm talking to you? Huh?”. He said angrily.

I didn't respond. I had nothing to say to him. I suddenly felt a striking pain on my cheek. He… he had hit me. I held my face tightly trying to hold back my tears. 

“You're the stubborn type I see. With time you'll learn not to anger me.”. He said and left the room.

My cheek ached and I quickly went to the bathroom mirror to check it. It was red as a tomato. It looked like it would swell.

What kind of barbarian would hit a woman?

I took a small cloth and dipped it in the water and pressed it against my cheek.

I needed ice. 

Where would I get it? I was locked in and didn't even know my way around this place. I sat on the floor and cried.

I tried to force myself to sleep again. At this point sleep was like an escape from whatever was going on in my life.

There were so many unanswered questions running through my mind and I knew I wouldn't get any answers to them. The one question that bothered me more was… who was Baron Henshaw and why was I in his mansion?

New master? What was going on?

My thoughts were disrupted by the sound of the door coming unlocked and opening.

Speak of the devil

This man was quite intimidating. I don't know where I found the courage to anger him or be stubborn. He walked towards me and I gulped.

“Ready to submit?”. He asked and I ignored him.

He frowned and left the room. Two security men came in as he left and took me to the dungeon-like room and chained me.

“You'll be left to rot her without food or water till you decide to come to your senses.”. He said and left while the security guards locked the gate.

Why was this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this kind of pain?

I cried all throughout the night and into the morning. I didn't even have the strength to cry anymore. I hadn't eaten or drank anything for almost four days. I felt like I would faint any moment from now.

I heard the gates opening up again. He was here again. I couldn't see him because my vision was blurry but I knew it was him. 

I breathed heavily and reclined myself to the wall with every step he took to get closer to me. 

“Are you ready to submit? Or you prefer to stay here till you die?”. He said with a cold tone.

I could hardly get a word out and just nodded. 

He bent down and held my face with his hand.

“Use your words”

“I…I sub..submit”. I said breathlessly and felt everything spinning around me. Before I knew it everything went blank. 

“Camilla, Camilla wake up.”. I heard a familiar voice calling out to me.

“Huh?”. I said as I slowly opened my eyes.

I looked around and I was in my room back home. How did I get here? 

“Are you okay my love?”

Mom?

I looked forward and my mom was sitting with me on my bed with a bright smile.

Tears immediately started falling from my eyes and I hugged her tightly.

“Mom. You're here, I thought you'd still be in the hospital. I missed you”. I said and she hugged me back.

“I missed you too, my princess. How's college? Are you still doing that science major?”. My face dropped.

“I.. had to drop out and help dad out after you got ill and got admitted to the hospital”. She stroked my cheek.

“I'm sorry Camilla. I really am”. 

“It's not your fault mom. It's more of dad's fault to be honest”. I started having this resentment for my father. He put us in most of the bad situations we were in.

“Please don't leave me. I don't want to go back to that mansion”. I pleaded with her.

“I wish I could stay but I can't”

“What? Why?”. She gave me a faint smile and started fading away slowly.

“Mom please don't go!”. I said as I started crying.

“I'll see you soon milla. Be safe”. She said and a flash of light came.

I woke up and started panting.

“No, please don't go.”. I said as I cried. I wiped my tears and saw that I was still in the mansion. This time I was back in my room. I turned to my left and saw a plate of food and some water. I quickly ate it and drank the water. I felt so relieved.

So I really am stuck here. That was all just a dream?

I heaved a deep sigh. It had dawned on me that there was no escaping this place. Baron was truly my master now. 

There are really worse fates than death after all.