Twenty One

His eyes were serious, his face taut. He had not touched another woman, another person, in decades. Unless it was to kill them. But he had never touched anyone like this, except her. The filth and darkness that clung to those in the city repulsed him to the point he had never had any contact with others emotionally or physically.

It was obvious he had to viciously try to control himself from the way his eyes sparked. He looked maddening. His breathing sped up. His hold on her tightening. Silla was unable to breath. His hand moved upwards and he softly ran his thumb across the top of Silla's eyes. Then downwards towards her cheek and painfully slowly, it brushed across her lips. A sordid gasp left Silla in a rush.

"Just as I thought." He whispered to himself.

Phanes sighed heavily to himself, "You are afraid of me."

"There's a constant fear in your eyes that's only lukewarm on the surface. Something terrifies you. You're confused, you don't understand what is going on. You think I'm going to hurt you."

Her eyes squeezed together in fear, her body running down with tremors at the thought of him killing her. She had heard how he killed that man lyre with his bare hands and torn him apart with the sheer strength of his body.

Phanes was surprised she was showing such audible fear now, when there had been times that were much more fearful, apparently this was her breaking point. He was impressed. And if there was one thing he knew, Silla was a silly little girl for not listening to a word he had been telling her.

His eyes moved from her neck to look at her face, and he noticed how her blue eyes glistened. When she was looking up at him, one side of his lips pulled up, "Consequences, sweet girl," a small tear slipped from one side of her eye at the thought what he was going to do to her and Phanes bent forward, his tongue catching it. Silla's eyes widened, "W-what are you-?" she asked in shock.

"Not doing v'hat I v'ant to," he stared at her face before moving away from her, "Leave," his voice turning cold. Silla frowned at his words.

It was like his mood had changed with a blink of an eye. But one word was enough from him to have her move out of the bed and make a run towards the door.

Her hands tried to open the door, but the lock appeared to be different as it took her four more seconds before she was able to open it. She turned to see Phanes, who had his back facing her.

When his head moved to the side, without spending another second, she ran out of the room to go to the place she was given in this tower.

When she reached the room, her hands continued to shake, but the tears that had threatened to slip out of her eyes previously at the thought of him biting and killing her had dried up because of the wind.

She locked the door, stepping away while being surrounded in silence until she heard the howl of the wolf that was possibly left out in the open. Going towards the bed, she climbed and pulled the pillow to hold.

Hearing Silla leave the room, he raised his hand to weave it through his thick locks of hair. His hair fell on one side of his face while he stared at the bed where he had held her under him.

His feet made its way to the bath where freshwater was filled until the brim.

Walking down the stairs that led into the bath, he continued to step closer into the cold water with his clothes on. Dipping into the bath, to immerse himself completely, he finally got out of it to cool his head.

He spent enough time in the bath, cooling himself off over the anger and restraint slipping through his fingers like sand.

His clothes were soaked, and drops of water fell on the dried ground of the room. His hair looked darker, and so did his eyes with the water sliding down to the tip of his hair.

When Silla was under him on his bed, looking up at him defenceless with her watery eyes, all he had wanted to do was claim her, roughly, put his seed in her, and the thought had driven him to the edge. Her body was small against him, just a bunch of clothes separating her from his touch.

When Phanes had found that she was nowhere on the grounds of the castle, he was furious that Silla could think that she could run away from him. No matter how many times she would run, he would find her and bring her back to his side. She was being stubborn because her freedom was taken away, but if he returned her freedom to her, she would take less than two seconds to leave again, and it wasn't something he was willing to do; when in truth he wanted to lay her down on the bed and have his way with her.

Silla continued to lay down on the bed, not willing to step outside the room.

When a maid arrived to knock on the door to let her know that dinner was ready, she sent the maid away telling that she had a headache and wanted to sleep. Hearing the footsteps leave, she finally got up, staring at the door with an unhappy face.

Her freedom was right there, in her hand's reach. If not for him, she would have gone somewhere else as she had worn the jewels that were given to her which she could sell. Her room was filled with silence and not a sound heard from outside. When she tried to move, she realised she had hurt herself during her time in the maze when she had tried to climb up the holly plant.

With Phanes who had himself told her to get out of the room, she decided that he wouldn't be speaking to her today.

She started to take her clothes off one after another until she stood in nothing but her underdress. She sat back down on the bed. She raised her leg to place it on the bed to see the dried blood that had trickled down from her calf muscle to her ankle. When her hand reached for it, she winced as the wound felt tender. Getting the towel wet, Silla sat down ready to clean the blood when the doors of the room opened, and she thought she had locked it.

"Do I need to threatens you everyday before you finally come to dinner on your own?" Asked the aristocrat who hadn't noticed the towel she had dropped on the ground along with her leg which she quickly placed down.

"I am not hungry. And didn't you ask me to leave?" asked Silla.

She had to crane her neck up when he walked forward. to stand in front of her. When he leaned towards her, Silla leaned back to have him place both of his hands on either side of her. He stared into her eyes, "You v'ill come v'hen I call you, v'here I call you. You v'ill be obedient, you v'ill not refuse me. A zhena will submit to her muzhu."

"I am not hungry." Silla said and it was the truth. She had lost her appetite. All she wanted to do was crawl back into the bed and sleep.

"If you v'on't eat, I know how to feed you myself. Don't try to test me Silla, not today v'hen you have tried to defy my v'ords," he lowly threatened her and Silla felt trapped. This was no courtship. All he was doing was forcing her to come to his terms. Phanes had meant every word, and those were not empty threats. His eyes then caught sight of the wet towel, and he remembered how she had her one leg placed on the bed when he had entered the room.

"Did something happen to your leg?" he asked her, sitting down on the bed before she could protest, he pushed her garments up until her knees without any shame.

When Silla felt his large hands pick up both her legs to place it on the surface of the bed she hadn't expected him to push her underdress up to her knee like it was nothing. She tried to stop his hand, but she had forgotten how strong he was. Pushing him away was like dealing with a rock.

"V'hen did you get hurt?" he asked her, his eyes moving from the wound and then looking at her. The blood had dried which was why he couldn't smell it. Not to forget the blood of the man that had been spilt by his own hands which made him not notice it earlier in the holocraft and his room, "Speak," he demanded.

"In the maze," she muttered under her breath, "I can take care of myself."

"I can see z'at. How v'ell you take care of yourself. Jumping at night, into a strangers vehicle," he responded with a glare in his eyes so that she wouldn't be any more defiant than she had already displayed for the day, "Ha... Trying to climb the v'alls of z'e holly plant?" he looked back at the wound before picking up the wet towel that was on the ground.

He had placed one hand gripping her ankle and the other that was placed on the hem of her petticoat near her knee.

And when Silla tried to move away, his grip on her ankle tightened. Bringing the towel forward, he wiped the dried blood from her ankle, his movements gentler compared to his hold on her ankle.

Her body had turned stiff with every touch of his hand along with the towel that was made on her skin. Unable to look at Phanes who had his hands on her leg, she looked at one of the bedposts. She hadn't expected him to be gentle, not with the way he spoke and demanded her attention.

"V'hat v'ere you z'inking trying to climb inside z'e maze?" he asked her. His lips twitching at the thought of how she would have felt when she realised there was no exit to the maze.

"I don't mind you joining me like z'is for dinner. It would be a treat to my mouth and eyes," he commented on her sheer under garment, and Silla quickly got up from the bed to reach out for a dress to wear. When she turned around, she saw him looking at her brazenly.

"Can you please not look," she asked. It was like he was hellbent in making her feel uncomfortable. He had a crooked smile on his face as he turned his head as he sat on the bed with his legs crossed leisurely.

"People don't need eyes to see, Silla." she heard Phanes say, the smile still playing on his lips, "Imagination is enough to see and feel things."

Silla had quickly slipped into her dress and she shut her eyes, praying to the gods hoping she would somehow one day get out of this tower and away from this crazy aristocrat. She didn't explore her thoughts on what he said as she knew she would only turn more embarrassed and that was what he wanted.

As she was done tying the lace around her back, Phanes finally pushed himself forward to get up from the bed, "I forgot to ask you. How do you like your room?"

"Just like a prison."

Hearing this Phanes smiled, "A pretty one, isn't it? If you don't like z'is one, z'e offer to my room still holds."

Silla quickly replied, "I am fine."

"Z'at's v'hat I thought. Let's have some food. I am starving," Phanes started to walk towards the door, and Silla followed him.

This time it seemed that they were not having their dinner in his room as he led her through other corridors, taking turns every now and then. She wondered how long it would be until she would come to memorize the path as most of them looked the same. And as the thought passed her mind, she cursed herself that she was thinking about memorizing the place.

Was it because deep down she knew there was no escape from Phanes?

The aristocrat laid her down on a loveseat over looking the garden and then gently placed a dinner tray filled with dishes over her legs. She watched Phanes scoop up a nice portion of stew and some rice. He hovered his palm under it as he brought it towards her lips.

"I can feed mysel-"

"You have no place to argue, you disobeyed me." He hissed.

"...Sorry." Silla murmured as she opened her mouth. He smiled, loving this compliant side of her very much.

Originally, it was her plan to gather enough information to escape, and if it didn't look like she was giving into him, being

complacent enough, it would

be harder to get what she

wanted. She'd seen enough

horror shows to know what

happened to helpless girls

who didn't listen to the

monsters who stole them

away. But when such a good opportunity came up while she was in the maze, she let her emotions take over, her desperation and hope to get back home. It backfired.

"Good girl. Do you like it?" He stroked the side of her face with a finger as she chewed. It tasted heavenly as always. He continued spoon feeding Silla until the dishes are empty

"There. Are you still hungry? Do you v'ant seconds?"

"No, I'm really..." she yawned

"...full."

She didn't know why she wasn't

looking for a new escape route at the moment, why she opened her mouth when he spoon fed her, why she dressed, and did exactly what Phanes

wanted her to do, like the little servant he was probably used to.

It was just his eyes... They hypnotized and persuaded her to go along with him.

"You know as soon as I found you were missing... My heart dropped," he whispered softly, moving closer to her until his lips were resting on her head. He moved his face closer to her neck and inhaled her scent. He carefully moved her hair off her neck and set it aside. She felt warm breath on her neck and his lips on her skin a few seconds later.

At first he couldn't even describe the emotions he felt. It was despair, fear, and even more. He would make sure to find her. But when he did find her. What would he do? He believed that she would eventually choose him and obediently get used to him, but now... He realized how blinded he was when it came to her.

Phanes kept leaving moist kisses on her neck, making her shudder. She closed her eyes, thinking it would soon be done. However, this did not occur.

He grunted and began to kiss her fiercely, tightening his grasp on her waist and gripping her hair. His hands were tracing circles around her waist, while the other was securely grasping her hand to keep her motionless. He raised his hands and caressed her chest. She attempted to take his hands away at the moment, and she didn't stop until she heard him clench his teeth.

Phanes knew what kind of obsessive monster he was.

He should have been more cautious, even if it was by pure luck that she got as far as she did. He had made sure that there was no possibility she would fine her way back home. Since he believed this, he thought he could be patient with her and wait.

But something dark in the back of his mind stirred restlessly whispering things to him.  He needed to have her. To make her his forever. His head filled itself with crazy thoughts. He wanted to make sure she could never run away from him again. He could make it to where she couldn't run, but he didn't want to cut her pretty ankles nor cause her pain.

The monster inside him continued to whisper horrific suggestions, but Phanes ignored them. Silla didn't know that he was an unforgivable beast. That was probably why she dared to run away from him.

How curious she was.

Innocent, yet aware.

Silla's heart was pounding and her breathing turned erratic.

He nuzzled her neck and inhaled deeply. He kissed the crook of her neck, which sent a shiver down her spine. She tried pushing him away, but he didn't even budge as usual.

He glared at her with his bright green eyes as a warning and continued trailing kisses on her neck up till her jaw. It tickled and strangely it wasn't a feeling she totally hated. Ever since she ran, he wasn't as patient or gentle as he was before.

"S-Stop," She breathed out, instead he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, crushing her against his rock hard chest. Silla fisted her hands and started hitting against his chest, in an attempt to free herself, but he tightened his grip and his hands started exploring her back, slowly making their way downwards. She dug her nails into his back and clawed hard enough that it bled. He paused and looked at her, loosening his grip on her waist. He had an amused expression on his face.

"Listen to me carefully, flower. You are mine. You have no right to deny my touch" he growled.

"No." She boldly looked him in the eye.

"No?" he chuckled. His hands moved downwards and he held both of her shoulders. He looked into her eyes and said. "You are a v'oman. Your duty is to serve and submit to your man, to please him and bear his children," he said seriously tucking a strand of raven hair behind her ear.

"Do you seriously believe that?" She looked at him incredulously. It was one of the most misogynistic things she had heard.

"Hmm... No, it just applies to you, and only you, in my eyes."

It was becoming clearer and clearer what he wanted from her. A mistress, someone to birth him an heir and satisfy him, or perhaps, the less likely... A lover?

But why would he choose her?

There were so many other women who were more suited for the role. Perhaps it was because he somehow knew her, even if she didn't remember him. He had alluded to that multiple times but her mind had always denied it as a possibility.

Despite what he said earlier Phanes stopped his touches and just rested his chin on her neck. Her lips trembled and her body shuddered. He'd finally done what he'd been trying to avoid: he'd touched her beautiful soft flesh, which instantly melted beneath his touch. He couldn't fight the sensation any longer. He wished to touch her, to feel her. He tried to ignore it, to forget about it, but he couldn't. The notion of not feeling her touch, of not seeing her filled him with fury; his jaw twitched, and he became enraged at the prospect of not having her.

They say if you love someone let them go and if they come back to you it was meant to be.

And she did like a bird.

She flew away with her wings.

Except he knew she wouldn't come back.

Reentering his room at the tower, he walked to his very own dinning area where he offered her tea, which at this point she wouldn't dare turn down. At dinner he had made it clear that she wasn't to disobey him nor deny his touches and after her escape he seemed even more off than before.

Silla silently watched as he put a fancy tea kettle on with water already beginning to boil as she watched until he brought her her tea. He was being strangely docile after what had just happened, and she was confused but acted like everything was fine.

Handing the small cup to her, she looked at it and saw a pretty small purple flower hanging on the corner of it. "What type of flower is this? It's pretty..." She asked curiously as she moved it around with her index finger seeing it spin slowly in the teacup.

"It's a spider lily," Phanes replied smiling looking at her softly.

"It stands for love and innocence in women," he continued.

She tightly gripped the tea cup at this unfamiliar feeling she was getting.

But then...

She stared to feel sleepy.

Phanes watching her with a strange look in his eye as he spoke, "I know you've forgotten me, but I've v'aited long enough." He had long sensed something was wrong with her mind, some kind of damage had happened. Had she not had fucking amnesia; he certainly would have already been married.

"And now z'at I finally found you, I'm never letting go."

"If I'd never lost you, you v'ouldn't be so scared or confused."

"You'd love me."

"Originally, you should

have given me a few children by now, more z'an likely waddling around v'ith another on z'e way." Phanes hand made it's way to her hip as he stands behind her, fear creeping up her spine. Her eyes widening as his hands make their way to her lower stomach, rubbing her gently, she could vividly feel the many embellished rings on his fingers.

"Even if I used to know you, you're insane." She whimpered.

"Originally." he hisses."You v'ere supposed to be next to me and warm my bed every night. A ring should already be on your left hand, and you should have been v'aiting for me in bed every night."

Silla tried to stand up but couldn't and only fell back into her seat. "What did you g-give me?!" she asked weakly confused. She gathered all her strength to try and make it to the door stumbling everywhere. Just fifteen steps felt like a thousand to her at that moment.

She stumbled backwards using the kitchen counter to keep herself up as her hands fumbled for the butcher block. Somehow she manage to knock it over and grab a dull knife.

Hearing lazy footsteps

behind her, she turned to the man that screamed nothing but danger. He was so tall his palm hit the door frame making her scurry to properly grab the knife. He seemed amused at her antics but wasn't, after she knifed him straight in the chest. It was relatively easy for her to do because as soon as he came close enough, he didn't fight back nor move so the target was easy. Knife handle deep in his chest, right where his heart was, she watched as thick black blood poured out the wound.

It wasn't like human blood.

But the strangest part was that despite the fatal wound to his chest, he didn't even blink, his face showed no pain nor anything else. Instead he simply ripped the blade out of his chest and more of his blood dripped down his skin. He was completely unfazed while he should've been dead on the floor.

"It takes a lot more z'an z'at to hurt me." Phanes murmured as the wound seemingly healed up in record timing, not even leaving a mark behind. Shocked and startled she was so disoriented she didn't even notice that she was no longer standing but instead in his arms.

Phanes knew that he couldn't trusted her alone.

He shouldn't have expected

anything less, really, but it

still made his blood boil like

molten lava, fueled by hurt

and anger. He'd at least thought she'd have been a little more trusting of him after he nursed her back to health for several days.

How could she try and leave when he was trying to protect her from the cruelties of the world. to shelter her and keep her safe?

She would have to learn.

Or maybe that was how he tried to justify his obsession.

"Hah... In my own way...

I tried to respect your feelings...

But...

If you try to run away from me, that changes everything.

I'll have to...

Do whatever necessary to keep you." He leaned down and whispered darkly into her ear causing shivers to go up Silla's spine.

She was trying to shout out but he silenced her, "Shh... Shh~ Just breathe love just breathe~"

"Z'at's it~ You're finally coming back home v'ith me love."

Her vision started to go black, but she was so tired that she didn't seem to care. Silla was beginning to lose consciousness. "You're finally here... V'ith me... Back in my arms safe and sound." The last thing she saw was his bright green eyes that resembled those of a beast, not a man. His pupils looking almost snake like and slitted.

Staring above her unconscious form he brushed his fingers through her silky hair. This was an unexpected set back. He knew he had to make her feel safe around him, that was why he hid his claws and acted gently in front of her. Now she was ready, ready to leave the tower. With her health stable she could travel.

He didn't want to resort to such a thing as drugging her but he knew if he didn't she would try to escape again.

But this time though she would be in a new place and escape would be impossible...

______________

to be continued...