02

02

“Are… you going to kill me?” He observed her, his gaze filled with interest as her human scent filled his nose, she smelled like something sweet, something he was ready to possess, her soft feature made her look innocent but she had a different kind of fire in her, his eyes trailed down to the curve of her body, how he wanted to trace it.

Darkness ignored his thoughts, tilted his head back, his gaze filled with interest, like a curious predator. “Why would I do that?” Vanilla struggled to keep standing, anyone in her position would, the man's gaze held no hate nor kindness, just endless depth, depth filled with secrets she might never live to know.

“Because I know you are not human.”

Silence. Darkness's lip curled up. “You are also smart.” He murmured. “Interesting. Tell me, muse, you wandered into the Lost Shroud, left the human world, and entered mine. What is it you want?”

“I am here to find someone.”

“And?” Vanilla hesitated. “Humor me, what will you do when you find who you are here for?”

“I will take her and leave.”

Darkness walked closer to her. “No human leaves the Lost Shroud, the moment you walked into this realm,you were bound to spend the rest of your life here.”

Vanilla eyed him, wheels turning in her mind. “But you make the rule, I will do anything you want as long as you let me go.”

“And why should I do that?”

“I will do anything you want. I learn fast, and I won't get in your way.”

“Are you staying then?”

“No.” Not minding her fear, Vanilla stepped into the light, her eyes filled with desperation. “You don't get it! I have to go back, I can't stay here. What do I have to do to leave? You said you won't kill me, but you can't just keep me here either–.”

“Death.” A chill ran down her spine the moment he spoke, and she stepped back into the dark, her confidence deflated. “Death is the only way to leave here.” He folded his hand behind his back. “ You are neither the first human to walk this land, nor the last. You will do as everyone before you has, you will live in this land, die in this land, and you will do as you are told.”

“I want to go home.” Her voice was soft, almost pleading. Darkness watched her, his gaze filled with the same interest as before.

“Every human here has said the same as you, tell me, what makes you different?”

“I have someone waiting for me.”

“So did they.”

“I am willing to do anything to return home.” Vanilla's gaze was filled with determination, even if she had nothing in the outside world, it was still better than living among these strange creatures. Besides, she indeed had someone waiting for her, and that person didn't have much time left. “You can't tell me no one has ever left this place. Okay, just let me say goodbye… I will say goodbye and come back.”

Darkness watched her, his gaze wasn't like earlier, it now held a subtle emotion, the slight frown on his face was a visible sign of annoyance. He didn't like the way she was desperate to go meet someone else. Vanilla met his gaze, her will visible, without warning, Darkness turned and walked away. “Humans are fickle, you speak as if someone from your realm still remembers you. Tell me, is it your body he remembers, your lips? Or your flame.” he leans in, his voice low. “What would he do if another touches you?”

“No one is touching me.” Vanilla countered.

“That is for me to decide.” He leaned back. “This is your home now, and you will stay here until that sinks in.” He said, then the door shut close behind him.

The moment he was gone, Vanilla's knees buckled and her body met with the cold floor, the wound by her side was already almost healed now. This was one strange thing about her, no matter how deep or how large and bloody the wound or cut was, it would heal on its own, way faster than it should. She released a stretched sigh as she laid on the floor and curled up. “ It seems I will have to act like I want to stay here.” She concluded. “As long as I gain darkness's trust, I can get him to send me back, then all of this would be nothing but a bad dream.”

“He won't let you go.” Someone suddenly spoke, startling Vanilla. She jumped to get feet, looking outside the bar.

“Who are you?” The reply she received was silence, her brows furrowed, she was sure she heard someone speak just now. The jingle of metal drew her attention to the wall by her left, she could hear someone shifting, so she walked over and placed her ear on the wall. “Hello? Is someone there.”

“You are the first to ever speak to him among those that have been here.” The man's voice was soft and silky, almost as if he wasn't locked up in an underground dungeon. “You are a special one.” He chuckled.

“You are human.” Vanilla stated. “How long have you been here? How did you get here? Have you tried escaping?”

The man scoffed. “Escape?” A pause, then he continued. “No one can escape Darkness's castle, and even if you do, you will never get to live till the next day.”

“How do you know when you haven't tried.” He went silent. “Hey! Are you still there?” Vanilla urged. “I can't stay here, I need to escape.”

“Well, good luck with that.” She heard him scoff, then he went silent again. Vanilla sighed, and returned to her earlier position.

“I am going to get out of here, it's up to you if you want to come with me or not.” Without waiting for his reply, Vanilla curled up and closed her eyes. The sound of water ripples lulled her to sleep.

~~~

Her eyes fluttered open and she met with the same darkness, disappointment filled her once she realized she was still in that cold and dark dungeon, how hard she had wished it was all just a bad dream. Frowning, she pushed herself into a sitting position, her wound had healed by now, the only pain in her body was what came from sleeping on the hard floor. A familiar scent caught her attention and she quickly stood up and ran to the bar, both in anticipation and dread.

However, who she expected wasn't there. “He came.” The man from earlier suddenly spoke.

“Who?”

“The man who holds our fate in his hand.”

“What did he want?”

“You.” Vanilla had no idea why, but the thought of being wanted by Darkness actually filled her with anticipation. “You are not really planning to escape are you?” He questioned, after some silence.

“I want to, no, I will escape.” The man went silent again.

“Conor.” He mumbled. “My name is Conor.”

“Vanilla.” She paused, biting her lips before she continued. “Are you coming with me?”

“To leave here, we will need a plan.”

“What plan?”

“The one who owns this realm, Darkness, he is our plan.” Vanilla's ear perked up.

“How?” She wondered.

“He wants you, we give him what he wants, let him put his guards down, then we make him let us go.”

“It can't be as simple as that, besides, how can you be sure he wants me?”

Conor shifted to the side. “He would never visit here twice in a day if he didn't.” Vanilla's jaw tightened. “To escape, we have to bid our time, we must not do anything reckless, neither must we give ourselves away or forget our purpose. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

“Then from now, we are on the same side, we are each other's ally.”

“Okay.” Somewhere in her mind, Vanilla pondered if she was trusting Conor too easily, so she made up her mind to create a plan of her own just Incase he fucks up. As she was lost in her thoughts, she heard loud footsteps descending down, this time, she didn't bother going to the bar, as she knew whoever it was wasn't someone who could help her.

A man holding a tray walked over to her dungeon, he was tall, tall and bulky, his frame covered the light entering her cell, and she couldn't see his face. “Darkness says he is willing to give you a chance, you will be released, if you are able to escape on your own, he will let you go, but if you can, then you cannot leave. He said. ‘If you are willing, I should let you go, but if you are unwilling, that is also okay. But it won't be fun.”

The word struck Vanilla at the wrong side, she stood to her feet, her nose flaring, but she drew on a deep breath to calm herself. “Does he see this as interesting?”

“What the Alpha sees as interesting is none of your business.” The bulky man grumbled. “Make your choice.”

“I will take it.” She spoke without hesitation, then she glanced towards the wall. “I want him with me too.”

“He cannot leave this cell, be grateful the Alpha sees you as a plaything, what do you think you are to demand anything of him?”

“Then I will not leave.”

“You are in no position to care for others, or has he promised you something you can't resist, I heard human females are good in bed.” He mocked.

“And you must be frustrated because you can't even get a pussy to fuck.”

“Mind your words human, or I will teach you how to.” He hissed.

Vanilla rolled her eyes, then she retreated to her corner. “I am not leaving without him.”

“ And why is that?” Darkness's voice startled Vanilla.

~P-Lia~