Chapter 7: The Rules

ELARA'S POV

I stood up from the bed stretching my arms. I didn’t know when I fell asleep the bed feels so soft I didn’t know when i slept off.

I looked around the room again really taking it all in this time.

Everything screamed luxury. The bed was probably worth more than everything I owned back home. The curtains looked like real silk. Even the room smelled good like expensive candles and fresh flowers.

This was my prison. Might as well see what kind of prison it was.

I went to the closet first and pulled the doors open. My jaw dropped.

Holy crap.

The closet was huge. And it was filled with designer clothes. Gucci. Versace. Chanel. Names I'd only dreamed about.

I pulled out a black dress and held it up. It looked like it would fit perfectly.

Wait how did he even know my exact size?

I checked the tag. Size 4. That was my size. Exactly my size.

I grabbed a pair of jeans. Same thing. A blouse. My size. Everything in here would fit me perfectly.

Creepy. So creepy.

I went to the bathroom next. I got my head stuck like an idiot but I didn't really look around properly.

I opened the door and turned on the light.

Oh my god it looks like a spa.

The bathtub was massive. White marble with gold taps. Separate shower with a million different shower heads.

The counter had fancy bottles everywhere. Lotions. Perfumes. Bath salts. Everything had French or Italian names I couldn't pronounce.

I picked up a bottle. It smelled like vanilla I put it back quickly.

No. I wasn't going to get comfortable here. This wasn't my home no matter how nice it looked.

I walked back into the bedroom and that's when I saw the bookshelf. A whole wall of books. How did I miss that ? Oh right I was too busy having a mental breakdown.

I walked over and looked at the titles. Jane Eyre. Wuthering Heights. Beauty and the Beast. Phantom of the Opera. Rebecca.

These all looked familiar. I pulled out Jane Eyre and a piece of paper fell out. Fancy handwriting on expensive paper.

"To educate you on your new archetype."

What the hell?

I looked at all the books again. And it hit me.

These were all stories about girls who got taken. Girls who fell for their captors. Beauty trapped in the Beast's castle. Jane Eyre with creepy Rochester. Christine with the Phantom.

He thinks I'm going to fall in love with him. He actually thinks this is some kind of love story.

"You're insane!" I yelled throwing the book across the floor. "I'm not a character in your sick fantasy!"

The door suddenly unlocked. I jumped and spun around.

A lady walked in.

"Good evening miss," she said. Her voice was flat

"What do you want?" I asked crossing my arms.

"Master Thorne expects you for dinner at eight tonight."

"Well Master Thorne can…"

"The maid will come at seven to dress you," she continued ignoring me. "Do not be late."

"Dress me? I can dress myself!"

"It is a very important dinner. Important people will be here. Master Thorne expects you to be ready."

"I don't care what he expects."

She just stared at me. Then she turned and walked out. The door locked behind her with a click.

Great. Just great.

The rest of the day dragged. I had nothing to do. No phone.Just me and those creepy books and my thoughts. I tried the door a hundred times. Locked. I tried the windows again. Still sealed.

By seven o'clock I was going crazy from boredom. The lock clicked and a young maid walked in. She looked young maybe twenty.

"Good evening miss. I'm here to help you get ready."

"I don't need help."

"Master Thorne's orders miss. Your bath is ready."

I groaned. Fine. Whatever. I followed her to the bathroom.

The tub was already full. Hot water with bubbles that smelled like roses.

After the bath she wrapped me in a huge fluffy towel and led me back to the bedroom. She went to the closet and came back holding a dress.

A red dress. covered in sequins. And short. Really really short.

"Master Thorne specifically chose this dress for you," the maid said.

"What?!" I yelled. "Isn't this too short? Will it even cover my butt?"

The maid smiled. "That's what he wants miss."

"Of course it is," I muttered. "The pervert."

But what choice did I have? I couldn't go to dinner in a towel.

I grabbed the dress and turned my back. "Don't look."

I dropped the towel and pulled the dress on. It was tight.It hugged every single curve. And it was short. So short I could barely believe it. It ended at mid thigh showing way too much leg.

The maid came over with makeup and hair stuff. She curled my hair in big loose waves. Then she did my makeup. Red lipstick to match the dress.

When she finished she stepped back. "You look beautiful miss."

I looked at myself in the mirror. I did look good. The dress was gorgeous even if it was way too short. My hair looked amazing. The makeup was perfect.

But I hated it. I looked like a doll. Like something he dressed up to show off.

"Come miss. I'll take you to the dining room."

We left the room and walked down the hallway. I looked at everything trying to remember it all. The hallway was long with fancy paintings everywhere. We passed other maids working.

Then I saw the guards. Big guys in black suits. They all had earpieces. They all looked serious and dangerous.

How can I ever escape here? The security is so tight. Guards everywhere.

We stopped at a big door at the end of the hall. The maid knocked.

"Enter," Kieran's voice came from inside.

My heart was pounding so hard I thought everyone could hear it.

I walked in. The door closed behind me with a soft click.

The room was huge. A dining room with a long fancy table. Candles everywhere. Crystal glasses. Everything screamed money.

Kieran Thorne was sitting at the head of the table. He stood up when I walked in. He wore a Black suit. His Hair was perfectly styled. He looked like he belonged in a magazine.

But he wasn't alone.

Five other men were sitting at the table. All in expensive suits. All looking dangerous.

"Elara," Kieran said. His voice was smooth. "You look absolutely stunning."

I didn't say anything. I just stood there feeling all their eyes on me.

One of the men whistled. "Wow. Now who is this beauty?"

He stood up and walked over to me. Shorter than Kieran but built big. Muscles everywhere. Dark hair and a scar across his cheek. He grabbed my hand before I could pull away.

"Pleasure to meet you gorgeous," he said. Then he kissed my hand. His lips felt gross on my skin.

I tried to pull my hand back but he held on tight. He was grinning showing too many teeth.

"Let go," I said quietly.

"Come on sweetheart don't be shy," he said. He put his other hand on my shoulder. "Don't we look good together?"

He turned to face the other men still holding me. And grinning.

Then everything happened so fast I barely processed it.

BANG!!

The sound was so loud I screamed.The man next to me jerked backward like someone pushed him hard. Then he fell and collapsed on the floor.

There was blood everywhere. Spreading across the expensive carpet.

My eyes went wide. I looked at the man on the ground. His eyes were still open.

I looked up at Kieran.

He was holding a gun. A black gun. Smoke was coming from the barrel. His face was calm. Completely calm. Like he'd just swatted a fly instead of killing a person.

Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no. He just killed someone. He shot that man right in front of me.

"No one," Kieran said. His voice was cold as ice “No one is allowed to touch what's mine."