Chapter Three

Chapter Three.

                    Mirah

The danger…

As the days passed by, I could feel it. It was so thick that it bore into my being. I hadn't been allowed out of his room in days.

And I still didn't know his name. I curled the duvet around my body, ignoring the rumble of my stomach.

I didn't want to admit it, but I was already regretting my impulse of asking a stranger for help. Clearly, this place wasn't normal. As someone who'd been born into a bustling environment and wealth, I didn't do well with gothic architecture.

I hadn't even gone on social media for days. But without checking, I knew the news of what'd happened would be plastered everywhere on the internet.

The daughter of CEO Aurel who'd escaped on her own wedding day? The headlines were sure to be a hit.

But then a little part of me- the Mirah who thrived in adrenaline inducing situations, loved every single bit of what was happening. The fear, and strangeness.

The door opened at that moment. I adjusted my position on the bed, looking at him with a startled expression.

In his characteristic black shirt and equally black pants, he- whatever his name was, gave off the vibe of a cold icy king. Dashing as always.

He was holding a tray on which different dishes were balanced. I began smiling, but it wiped off, before it could spread on my face.

“Thank you.” I muttered in a soft voice. But I knew he heard, even though he gave no reaction.

I lifted the tray and placed it on my lap. It was a bit hot and looked freshly cooked. A piece of freshly baked bread was halfway to my mouth, when he interrupted me.

“I'd be away tonight.” He simply said, going over to sit on the sofa a few meters away from the bed. He crossed his long legs, and looked at me directly.

I arched my brow in confusion. What did it matter?

“You'd be coming with me. We have a royal ball here, at the castle.” He continued, flicking his fingers gently.

I placed the bread on the plate. “Why should I come with you? Didn't you say I wasn't allowed to go out?” I asked.

Ever since he'd brought me here, which was six days since I'd gotten away from my own wedding, I hadn't stepped foot outside his room. Neither had I set eyes on any other person aside from him.

That was aside from the time that a weird looking handsome man had looked at me like he'd wanted to bite my neck. I felt my soul leave my body.

“You'd be coming with me, as my plus one.” He said, and my eyes went wide as saucers.

“But-” I began saying, when he clapped his hands. It was three short precise moves. The door pushed open, and two women walked in. They held a package in their hands, and bowed as they came in.

“They'd get you ready.” He gestured towards the women.

I swallowed, afraid of being left alone with them.

As if reading my thoughts, he added, "I'd be here.”

Maybe I'd been hallucinating, but I thought I saw a brief smile cross his face.

“I don't care if you are.” I said, observing the women without appearing to. They gawked at me in a strange manner, and I felt a nauseous feeling envelope me.

He rose to his feet. “I'd be back. Let them dress you up.” He walked towards the door.

“Hold on,” I called out. He halted, but didn't turn to look at me.

“What?” 

Just a single word of his was enough to send the butterflies in my belly dancing. “Can I get a phone, please? I left everything at home, including my-” I didn't complete my words, but I knew he got the drift.

I'd been making use of his clothes ever since I got here. And since I didn't see him that much, I couldn't ask him for some female clothes.

He was always out of the room before I woke up, and he didn't come back until it was late at night. By that time I'd already slept.

Oddly enough, breakfast, lunch and dinner were always served dutifully. By someone unknown of course. I'd never gotten to see who the person was.

I waited for his reply, subconsciously holding my breath. He finally turned to look at me, with an unreadable expression on his face.

“What do you need a phone for?” He asked, calmly.

I gulped. “I just want one.” That wasn't the reply I'd intended to give. But my mouth and mind were the antithesis of each other. 

I almost thought he was going to refuse. 

“After the party.” He said, and I sighed in relief.

“Wait up, didn't you say the party was tonight? Why-” He was out of the room, before I could get the last words out.

                      ***

I walked into the ballroom alongside- for the sake of my sanity, I decided to call him Cold eyes. It turned out the party was mask themed.

The golden mask I wore matched my golden dress. The women had surely done a lot of work, and when I'd stared into the mirror earlier on, I hadn't recognized myself.

When Cold eyes had come to pick me from the room, his expression had given nothing away. But I thought I saw a brief dark look cross his eyes.

I wasn't sure though, since he always had a dark look on his face. An icy king, indeed.

At the moment, as I clung to his arm, my heart raced. There were many guests scattered around. Occasionally, I felt their stares on me, and it wasn't your normal I-admire-you kinda look. It was a stare you gave a stranger.

I felt so out of place, as he pulled me over to a table at an obscure corner of the ballroom. 

“Stay here, and observe if you want to. I'd be back shortly. Don't eat or drink anything.” And then he disappeared.

I rubbed my now clammy hands on my dress, leaning back on the chair. Although I was thirsty, there was no way in hell I was going to ignore his warning not to drink anything.

“A penny for your thoughts.” I heard a soothing voice say a moment later. I almost jumped, before turning to see who it belonged to.

A pleasant looking face met my gaze. He smiled at me, as he sat opposite my chair. He wasn't wearing a mask, and I couldn't help but admire how dashing he looked.

“The party is rocking. What are you doing here, all by yourself?” He asked, grabbing a glass of wine from a passing waiter.

Glad to see someone who didn't stare at me like they wanted to gobble me up, or chop off my neck, I reciprocated his smile. 

“I'm waiting for someone.” I said, blushing a bit as he arched a brow.

“Oh, your partner I guess.” He chuckled. “I'm Alex.” His smile broadened, as he grabbed my hand gently and pulled it up to his mouth.

His gentle kiss on my hand should've induced a reaction from me. I didn't know what, but I wanted to feel something at least.

“So, why don't you dance with me?” He asked with another bright smile, as he pulled away.

Damn, this man was a natural charmer.

I was already parting my lips to agree to his request, when I recalled Cold eyes' warning to stay put.

I shook my head at the last minute. “I'm sorry, but I'm still waiting for my-” 

“Partner.” He finished off.

I nodded, as I looked behind him expecting to catch a glimpse of the all so familiar black hair and pale skin.

“Sure, why don't we wait for whoever it is, together?” He shrugged. 

I chuckled. I wasn't planning to reject his offer of keeping me company. He grabbed another glass of wine, and pushed it towards me.

“Here. I noticed you don't have wine in hand, or on the table.”

A refusal was already on its way out of my mouth, when I pushed the words back. 

What right did Cold eyes have, to tell me what to do?

I gulped down the contents of the glass, and winced at the taste. I couldn't place what it was, but it didn't-

Alex? Was that what he'd told me his name was? 

I heard him saying something, but it sounded distant. My alcoholic tolerance had always been strong, so why would a single glass of wine-

My thoughts turned into shambles, as I felt him drag me away. And even though I wanted to resist, I just couldn't.

I felt weak, nauseous, and faint too. “Alex-” But that was the only word I could get out.

Maybe I was thinking too much into it. He didn't look like a bad guy. He'd been nice to me. 

He pulled me along the dark hallway, which shone from the blue lights above.

“Where are you taking me to?” I managed to ask, just as he pushed me into a room.

It was dark, and quiet. Through my hazy gaze, I stared at his now smiling face.

But at that moment, his smile scared the shit out of me. My heart thumped faster than ever, as I backed against a wall.

“You-” I choked out.

He raised both hands in mock surrender. “Relax, why do you look so afraid?” He drew closer, and gripped my neck.

I felt the blood rush to my face. The smile didn't leave his face, even as he tightened his hold.

“Please…” I was already regretting my impulse of trusting someone I'd just met moment's ago. For heaven's sake, Cold eyes had told me to stay put.

And though I hated to admit it, he'd been right.

He leaned closer to my neck, and my body turned numb. My mind screamed at me to push him away. To kick him, to get away from there.

But pinned against his cold wall, I was helpless.

“You know, ever since I saw you, I'd wanted to taste your blood. I bet you taste as good as your face.” He laughed cynically, brushing his cold hand across my cheek.

His words made no sense. His tongue brushed my neck, and I shuddered. Maybe I'd imagined it, but a fang had touched my neck too.

“Please let me-” I didn't get the words out, when someone pushed him away from me. I raised my gaze abruptly, meeting the gaze of a fuming Cold eyes.

He moved his gaze away from me, over to Alex who was now lying on the floor. But he still had that annoying smile on his face.

“Hey Zeke. Missing your human friend already?” 

Zeke? His name was Zeke?

He wasted no time in dealing Alex a few blows. “I told you to stay the fuck away from her!” he growled, lifting his hand to land one more blow on his now distorted face.

I rushed over to him, and encircled his waist with my arms. “Please, let him go.” I whispered.

I was still feeling hazy, from the wine. As I struggled to remain conscious, I felt him go still, beneath my touch.

“Help-” I whispered, as I fell to the ground with a painful thud.

And all was quiet.