Stranded

Nyra's pov.

TWO DAYS LATER.

The journey to Winston cost me two days and all the money I had saved up. When I stumbled onto the pavement from the bus, I stopped to admire the looming gates of the grand college. 

The same college where great wolves and leaders were made… I wondered how I even got in, and more importantly, how I was going to survive. 

Taking a deep breath, I dragged my luggage along with me into the gates, stiffening at the amount of students that trooped in and out. However, none of them noticed me or spared me a glance… exactly what I wanted.

Using the map on my cracked phone as a guide, I navigated through the long halls and vast fields in search of the admissions building. According to the letter, all I needed was to provide my ID to the admissions officer and the acceptance letter, everything would be taken care of. 

I couldn't wait to start school there, away from all the oppression I had ever known. My chest tightened at the thought of what happened two days ago, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook it off. 

Not today. This was my fresh start, and even though the piercing pain did not disappear instantly, I would try my best to get over it. 

“Hi.” I offered the brightest smile I could muster up and placed the letter on the front desk of the admissions officer, a woman in her fifties.

She peered at me through the top of her glasses, pity flashing in her eyes before she picked up the letter to glance through it. 

“Nyra Meyers.” She muttered, digging a stamp out of her drawer and stabbing the letter with it. “Welcome to Winston college.” 

My smile broadened. “Thank you ma'am.” 

“I will give you a list of your classes, and a map to your faculty.” She scampered around for some documents on her desk. “I hope you have already made preparations for your accommodation because hostel spaces are filled up.” 

I pushed back, my face falling completely. “What? I.. I didn't make any arrangements.. I thought the scholarship covered everything.” 

“Unfortunately,” she breathed out heavily. “It doesn't. It only covers tuition.” 

My heart skipped. How was I supposed to start afresh with no place to stay? Where would I sleep? What would I eat? 

Panic set in, my fingers grazed against one another and my feet curled violently. 

“Look, calm down. We'll figure something out, okay?” She opened her drawer again and picked out a crumpled flyer that looked like it had been stuffed inside there for ages.

“There is a private residence off campus in need of a live-in maid. I don't know if you'll be interested, no one ever is.” She almost scoffed, pushing the flyer over to me. 

I stared at it, the words blurring because of the tears in my eyes. 

“Maid needed. Accommodation guaranteed, high pay.” 

It was tempting, but the boldly inscribed text in the far left caught my attention. 

“Must be obedient, must never question orders.” 

It sounded like an invitation into danger, the same thing I was running away from. 

I blinked at the officer. “Why is no one ever interested?” I questioned and she shrugged, already busy with some other paperwork on her desk.

“I have no idea, the maids just never last.” 

That caused a shiver to run down my spine. Was the owner that dangerous? I shook my head, deciding that I wasn't going to get myself into that. I would find a better option, one that didn't require me to become a maid after running away from my life as a servant. 

I folded the paper into my pocket and left the office. It was already getting dark, and I needed somewhere to sleep. 

I decided to check for cheap off campus housing, but I was rejected almost everywhere I went because of my low finances.

Exhausted from the search, I settled on a bench next to one of the houses I had checked out. As if being homeless wasn't enough, thunder roared in the sky, followed by small drops of rain that soon graduated into a heavy downpour.

“Oh great!” I groaned heavily, watching my body soak from the rain. Now I was going to die from the cold! 

“Hey!” A light flashed from the distance, causing me to shield my eyes with my arm. “This is private property! Beggars are not entertained here, get out!” The heavy male voice echoed and I sluggishly rose to my feet, pulling my bag along. 

“What now?” I asked no one in particular as I trembled under the rain, feeling the pulse of my own heartbeat vibrating through my body. My body was slowing down, my head was starting to spin. 

I thought about the live-in maid opportunity again and bit down hard on my lip. Maybe there was really no other way. 

“I'll take it.” I said, pulling out the flyer to check the address. “I'll just work there long enough to save some money to afford my own place. Then I'll leave.” 

A shiver ran up my spine. “I'm sure it can't be that hard.” 

I took a sharp turn towards the address, it wasn't that far away, and if I was lucky, I would get there before passing out from the cold. 

…….

I don't know what I expected from an owner who wanted a live-in maid while offering a high pay, but it definitely wasn't a four storey palace with tall, glass windows that reflected the moon's glow in an almost ethereal manner. 

Whoever owned this property had to be a millionaire of some sort, and the intimidating building made me gulp twice before approaching the large front door. 

It was wide open, and looked like an entrance into the abyss. I looked around, saw no one, and decided to proceed. The mixed scent of sandalwood and mint hit my nostrils first, followed by a strange chill that made me wrap my arms around myself. 

“Hello?” I whispered, stepping into the cold, dark palace, unaware of where I had entered. And then, I heard it.. low, guttural growls that made my heart fall into the pit of my stomach. 

“One more step, and your head will be separated from the rest of your body.” A voice came, chilling and mirthless, forcing me to a halt. 

I turned my head slowly to where the voice came from, and that was when I saw the shirtless, majestic men all focused on me. Not one, not two, three of them… and they looked at me like they already knew who I was. 

My whole body screamed to run, but something shifted inside me… something wrong, too familiar, and way too dangerous.