Chapter 6.

Dua's eyes shot open. As soon as her eyes registered Alexander, she gasped, scrambling up. "You...are you gonna take my blood too?"

Alexander leaned forward, his eyes locked to hers.

Dua flinched, folding up herself together as she moved backwards, trying to escape from but the more she moved, the closer Alexander moved to her.

She moved until she reached the edge of the bed unknowingly to her. Alexander moved too, like a predator hellbent on feasting on his prey.

Dua moved again, and she slipped off the bed. She let out a gasp, bracing herself for the fall, but she came in contact with something warm instead. Something alive.

She opened his eyes to find Alexander only a breath away from her, his dark orbs looking deep into her hazel ones, his one hand holding her hand, and the other around her back, bracing her from reaching the floor.

For a moment, Dua forgot about the danger she was in, her entire attention glued to the figure supposedly dangerous to her.

"Not now," Alexander finally spoke.

"What?" Dua responded absentmindedly, still in a daze.

But then it dawned on her, and her eyes widened. "What?!"

Alexander pulled her back onto the bed with ease, like she weighed nothing.

Dua barely had time to react before she was seated again, her breath uneven, her heart still racing from the sudden closeness.

She immediately tried to put distance between them, pushing herself backward on the mattress. "Don’t touch me," she snapped, though her voice trembled slightly.

Alexander didn’t move away. He stood there, watching her, calm, and unbothered as if her fear meant nothing.

Dua swallowed hard. "You said… ‘not now,’" she repeated, her brows knitting together. "What does that mean?"

For a response, she got silence.

"I asked you a question," she pressed, her voice gaining a little strength. Fear was still there, but now frustration began to creep in.

His gaze shifted slightly, studying her like she was something unfamiliar, something he was trying to understand.

"You are alive," he said finally.

Dua blinked. "What kind of statement is that?"

His eyes flickered briefly to her neck... then back to her face.

"You were nearly drained," he added. "Yet you woke this quickly."

Dua’s hand instinctively flew to her neck, even though she knew the maid hadn’t actually bitten her.

"I didn’t get bitten," she muttered. "Thanks to you."

She paused, something occuring to her. More cautiously she raised her eyes. "Why did you stop her?"

Alexander tilted his head slightly, as if the question itself was unnecessary.

"Because you are not hers to take," he replied.

The words sent a chill down her spine. "Not hers?" she echoed. "So I belong to you now?"

He didn’t answer immediately, and somehow, that silence felt worse.

Dua let out a dry, disbelieving laugh. "Wow. That’s comforting."

She shook her head, running a hand through her hair. "First I get kidnapped, then almost killed, and now I’m apparently… property?"

Alexander’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes darkened slightly. "You speak too freely," he said.

"And you don’t speak enough," she shot back instantly.

That seemed to catch his attention. For a brief second, something almost like interest flickered across his face. Dua noticed and immediately regretted opening her mouth.

"Great. Now he’s looking at me like I’m some kind of experiment," she huffed under her breath.

She shifted uncomfortably. "Look, I don’t know what kind of place this is, or what kind of twisted system you all run here, but I’m human. I have a life outside this place."

Alexander took a step closer, and Dua stiffened instantly.

"I know what you are," he said quietly, and her breath hitched.

"Then act like it!" she snapped. "Humans don’t get dragged into castles and told they’re going to die for some… whatever thrash you people are planning!"

At that, his expression changed just slightly, but not with anger. It was something else, something heavier.

"You will not die today," he said.

Dua froze. "…Today?" she repeated slowly.

Her stomach dropped.

"That’s not reassuring," she whispered.

A heavy, uncomfortable silence settled between them again. Dua hugged her arms around herself, shrinking slightly despite trying not to.

"Why me?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "Out of everyone… why me?"

Alexander’s gaze shifted to her arm, to the mark. "The answer lies with that," he said.

Dua followed his gaze, her fingers instinctively brushing over the tattoo. "This?" she frowned. "It’s just ink."

Alexander’s eyes hardened slightly. "No," he said. "It is not."

A chill ran through her, but before she could respond, he straightened, stepping back just enough to put space between them again.

"Rest," he ordered.

Dua blinked. "Rest? Are you serious right now?"

"You will need your strength," he replied.

"For what?" she demanded but he was already turning away.

Dua’s chest tightened. "Hey!"

He stopped at the door, and for a brief second, he glanced back at her with the same unreadable look.

"You will understand soon enough," he said, and left.

The door shut behind him with a soft, final click.

Dua clutched her chest, a sharp pain cutting through her heart, her eyes stinging with tears. "How did I get myself into this?"

The door opened and Dua looked up to find a young woman walking in. A woman as young as her.

"My lady," the young woman bowed politely.

"What? You're also here to take my blood?" Dua questioned.

"As much as I want to, I can't." The young woman replied, her voice soft.

Dua scoffed, "what?"

The young woman gave a gentle smile, walking towards Dua who moved backwards. "I'm Belle, your handmaid. My life is to your service."

Confusion splattered on Dua's face. "What?" She asked again.

"It's time for your bath, my lady." Belle said.

"What?" Dua asked once more. "And why do you keep calling me 'my lady'?"

"Because you're now my mistress, and I'm your personal handmaid," Belle replied.

"Why?" Dua questioned.

"Because it's His Majesty's order," Belle answered.

"Oh," Dua nodded in realization. "No, thank you, I can take care of myself and why should I even trust you?"

"Because my life is in your hands now," Belle replied with a slight bow.

Dua scoffed, "why does this look like a story?"

She paused, her eyes widening in fear as a realization hit her. "No...no, it can't be..."

"... right?" she looked at Belle, asking for a reply like Belle understood her.