Fifteen

The drive was slow as they sat in the holocraft and as more time passed she only felt more sickly. Her skin was coated with a light sweat to compensate for the bundle of nerves building in her stomach. Ever since she met this man her head had been throbbing and she didn't know why. His eyes were so familiar and whenever she tried to recall anything the ache in her head only got worse. With the extra stress she had been under it became more and more apparent how straining her previous movements were to her already weak body.

The past few days had worn on her and missing multiple meals wasn't helping.

Before they would go to the upper ring, the travel would take time, and apparently he had to sort things out and things to get ready for her presence at his estate. So they were to stay at a luxury building he owned for a week or two. At least until everything was sorted. Pulling up after a lengthy drive, she gazed upon the colossal building in front of her. She felt so tiny and insignificant standing in front of it. It was a hotel of sorts, with a casino, bars, and restaurants. The place was crazy intimidating yet interesting. Soon a valet came to collect the keys from the driver and once she too exited he wrapped his arm around her tightly. Pulling her to him much to her dismay.

Inside the building, was a large reception, the lights and color scheme a dark red and black. It seemed as if everyone's eyes were on them. Most likely due to how much they stood out. The people there all seemed to wear expensive designer clothes while she wore cheap clothes. The only one of them that remotely blended in was the man glued to her side.

Silla had half a mind to just start screaming at everyone. But if she had started causing a fuss she would just get into trouble; he was a wealthy man and what was she?

She was just a lowly woman from the dank alleyways of the lower ring.

They would just drag her out of the building or even worse the man who had brought her here would get angry and do only gods know what. As much as she hated it, she had to swallow her pride and just follow along.

Five ladies that looked almost identical greeted them, and she wasn't just saying that because they were all blonde. No way, they all had to be sisters. Not to mention the clothes, they wore, of black and gray, with the exact same hairstyle in a bun, manicured clear nails with white at the top and standing in the same, straight position behind a long, semi-circle desk.

After checking in all he had to do was show the woman at the desk his sealed ring and she seemingly already knew what to do. Phanes turned to look at servant near the elevator who was short in stature stature, and used his hand in

a come hither motion before saying loudly, "Take the lady to her assigned room."

Silla would have gone against him, but she knew better. She was still in shock from the last few hours that she had temporarily lost speech. She looked at

Phanes who gave her a smile, "See to it that she is well attended in the attention of the maids."

Heading to the elevator, a man in black awaited Silla politely. He gave a quick greeting and led her to an elevator. At first she thought the exterior of the building was luxurious but even the multiple pod like elevators seemed out of this world. The amazing transportation was completely glass and you could see all the floors ahead of them. It just went on and on like a space less void and bright blue lights illuminated the insides. Gazing at the elevator button panel her breathing became uneven as she comprehended the amount of floors while looking at the elevator buttons.

Fifty thousand floors.

They started to pass floor by floor at speeds so fast Silla's eyes couldn't keep up making her already unsteady heart explode. She had to lock her knees and clench her chest in order to not fall over. Tipsily following the servant man off the elevator, she stepped into the parts of the building she had never been or seen before. A part of her worried how she could ever find her way if she got lost in a place like this.

"Nigael," the man called a maid who was walking past the corridor carrying clothes in her hand, "Take the lady to the West Wing of the tower."

"Which room would you like me to take her to?" asked the maid, her eyes falling on the girl who stood behind him who was looking at the walls and creepers that crept up the walls.

"The one with the top city view. The bed chamber that falls at the right," the man informed the maid who gave another look at the girl. That room barely had any guests in there even when the owner had many quests in the tower, it was always left unavailable as it came in the same quarters as the Kaiserreich chamber, "Lead the way to our guest." said the man who bowed his head and left.

By the quick glance of the girl's clothes, the maid could tell she was a poor girl. What was she doing here? With the malnourished pitiful appearance and haggard look on her face, she wondered if she was a rich man's new conquest because in no sense did she look like a lady.

"Please follow me," said the maid, turning around and starting to walk.

Silla felt out of place when she started to follow the maid. Even though the floor she was on was huge and spacious, she felt as if this place had already begun to suffocate her. This was a place where her no one could reach her. She had no friends here, and she was left all alone.

She had to keep up with the maid's

footsteps as they were quick on the floor, which was hard with her drained state. They took many turns before Silla was led to the quarters where she could see a decent size of a garden and fountains of water built in the middle of the corridor. There were beautiful flowers and plants that decorated the garden. The room was unlocked, and the maid pushed the doors for Silla to step into the luxurious room that contained a bed that could fit in more than four people in it. There was an artificial fireplace in the room, the fake logs of woods waiting to be lit and burnt. A table with chairs around and another room which was to be used for a bathroom.

"Is there anything else I would be of service to you?" asked the maid.

Silla gave some thought before she asked, "Do you deliver letters?"

"L-Letters?" The maid asked confused. Paper was usually a thing of the past unless used for some sort of art form or collection.

Taking some ink and parchment that was available at a desk, Silla used it to write something before folding it and handing it to the maid who had been waiting at the door, "You can deliver it to this address," said Silla. The maid bowed her head and left.

"Now... How do I get out of here?" Silla asked to herself.

She couldn't just live with this man in the upper ring, but she couldn't escape either, she was too weak at the moment. She didn't have to step outside the room to know how far the gates were that surrounded the building. Walking towards the window, she stood there looking at the city below and other scenery when she caught sight of the inner wall. This was the closest she had ever been to it and now it looked much bigger in person. The wall looked as if it touched the ends of the horizon like a never-ending scenery.

She then heard the sharp sound of shoes walking that made it into the room, and she turned around to see Phanes step inside the room, walking towards her, "I v'as busy, v'hen I received z'is," he said pulling up the envelope from his pocket. It was the same envelope that she had written and sent through the maid. He opened the paper and read the words she wrote. "Keeping me against my will, doesn't change the fact that you're an ass," he said, reading the letter before throwing it on the ground. How bold of her.

His lips pulled up to a smile, "You were testing to see if z'e letter would reach me or z'e assigned address. You are as smart as I presumed you to be," and he was right. She wanted to make sure her letters and messages wouldn't be read and would be sent to the address she had written to. Not to Phanes, but it seemed that letters would not reach the people she wanted to have contact with.

"You cannot keep me in here,"

said Silla holding her grown despite her sickly state, her blue eyes looking at him stubbornly and furious for keeping her here.

"V'hy not?" he cocked his head to the side. He closed the large distance between them by walking and standing in front of her. "Because I am not yours to keep," she kept calm, although Silla wanted to yell and shout, she knew her limits. Especially after seeing how cruel and cold he could be. Sweat continuously dripped down her pale face but she still managed to rebel against her captor.

Silla saw Phanes smile, a smugness in his eyes since he had stepped into the room. He took a step further towards her, stepping as close as to be in her breathing space, "Oh? But you are mine to keep, and I will keep you for the rest of our lives. Perhaps it is a little misunderstanding, wrong foot perhaps? You will come to care and love me one day, Silla," he whispered her name.

She had to hold her breath not to move as he was too close, and she said, "Never." While most of her form looked normal and calm, he could see the unknowns linger in her unsteady blue eyes. He could also see her weary state, she was getting paler by the minute.

"Don't look so scared; I v'on't do anything you don't like," he said bringing up his hand to push a piece of hair behind her ear.

Phanes could see the fear lingering in her eyes, the fear that was carried from when he first saw her, to now. With it was the anger of him having her confined to this room.

"Will I ever get to see my friends? Those closest to me," asked Silla, "Are you going to keep me away from the things I care and love?"

"Once I know v'e have made some

progress I v'ill arrange for you to meet your beloved companions. Though I v'ill not permit your family to visit you. After today z'is is z'e last you v' ill ever hear or see of z'em. Something tells me you v'on't mind that," replied Phanes to take a step back away from her.

"You must be delusional to think there will be progress. I am not an animal for your amusement," Silla just wanted to go back home, and the thought of staying here alone was pushing her to a corner.

"I know. You are far from it," a shiver ran down her spine as he said those words. A smile appeared on his handsome face that made Silla question if he meant it or not, "Z'e cupboards are filled v'ith dresses and jewellery. Z'e maids v'ill help you to get ready. You v'on't have to lift a finger to move or do anything."

"I am perfectly capable of doing those things myself."

His green eyes twinkled, "V'ell, at least you are v'illing to use it by yourself. Zat's some progress." His smile then died down on his lips to say, "In my presence, you v'ill be treated z'e way I z'ink you deserve to be treated. Don't try your trickery here like v'hat you just did v'ith z'e letter, though I must say I v'as very amused. I am not very patient, but you must know z'at already. Have some rest. I v'ill see you at breakfast." She saw Phanes head for the door, and her shoulder sank.

She was grateful it was finally over. She didn't think she could take it much longer. Her vision seemed to fade and her heart felt as if it had stopped beating from the stroke of pain in her chest. All other sounds fell deafly upon her ears while the world seemingly froze for a few moments. The pain just seemed to build up inside her, waiting to burst.

It hurt.

It hurt so bad.

Her lips parted and she gasped loudly and shallowly when it suddenly became harder to breathe. Silla fell to her knees clutching her chest. Behind her she could see a figure out of the corner of her eye run to her as they watched her fall over. She already knew who it was but with her fading vision she couldn't see his figure anymore, though she could feel his arms around her keeping her from hitting the ground when she fell.

She couldn't breathe.

She could hear someone calling her name but even her hearing was failing her. Her throat felt as though it was collapsing as painful knots form in her chest. It was almost impossible to take a proper breath when her throat was clogged up and scratchy like sandpaper. She released rough coughs into her hand and felt a warm liquid shoot up her esophagus and fill her mouth. Her dazed eyes widened when blood slipped past her fingers, sprinkling the floor and carpet with the red liquid. Silla's body hunched over coughing harder with her eyes closed tightly. Her eyes were half lidded and blood dripped out of her soft red lips.

Silla felt herself being placed on a small bed in the center of some sort of room. The blood on her face being wiped off with a warm rag. She could tell by the multiple dark forms now surrounding her bedside that it was no longer just Phanes beside her.

Vision blurred she stared up at the ceiling as a strange device hovered over her head and moved down across her body emanating a blue light as it scanned her. At least that's what they said it was for, there was no telling what they would actually do to her, and the thought made her nervous.

She didn't even realize that she had been moved to another room. It looked to be some kind of medical room, with a table in the middle surrounded by equipment. Silla doesn't know where she is, she doesn't know how to get out and she's surrounded by people she doesn't know. One of which is intent on staying within two feet of her at almost all times.

As she lay on the bed sweat started to coast her skin she had to fight to keep her eyes open. She could feel Phanes hand interlink with her own, holding on tightly to her hand.

"Now rest." A deep voice murmured, hypnotizing green eyes forcing her into submission. Now that she didn't have to fight to keep her eyes open any longer she quickly felt a blackness come over her. Like a blanket of warmth somehow making her eyes feel heavier and heavier. But before she was completely eclipsed by sleep through dazed eyes she saw his dark figure come impossibly closer.

Phanes stared at her sleeping form for minutes as he softly brushed her long hair out of her face. She was too tired to care and merely thought it was nothing but a dream.

The man beside him wore a light grey and sleek uniform. A healer perhaps. "Bruised and cracked ribs, internal injuries, healed skull fracture, scratch that multiple healed fractures..." The man rattled on speaking to the green eyed man.

"How about her overall health? I v'ant a full diagnosis on her and if she has any underlying illnesses, I want results for her physical health, mental health, I want blood tests done and her reproductive system checked."

Setting her down on a table, two female healers and one of his personal medics came into the room. He kept a close eye and stepped back as they moved to her and pulled up a few holograms, scanning her body to get X-rays and vitals. Once they assessed the damage they started cutting off her clothing and put a thin white nightgown on her.

Wheeling her on the table they entered a larger room with cylinder shaped glass tanks filled with a shimmering blue liquid, lining the walls. Ahead of them multiple bodies were already floating in various tanks around them.

The medic activated an empty one and it slid from the wall before opening up in front of them.

"The pod is ready sir." He looked up to see the medical team standing by. Lifting Silla up bridal style he set her down inside of the empty tank. Liquid slowly started filling the bottom, touching her backside. Phanes watched the healing waters rising in the tank as he placed a mask over her mouth and nose. After a few breaths her body started to go lax and her heartbeat slowed. The tank continued to fill with liquid, with her now half submerged inside of it.

Stepping back as the glass door of the tank shut it sealed her inside. The pod raised from the ground and returned to its place on the wall. The medics leaving the room one by one with the nurses after double checking her vitals leaving him alone with her.

Phanes stared in fascination as the female before him now peacefully slept, floating in the tank of shimmering blue liquid. He reached out to touch the glass as if he could touch her.

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to be continued...