Sit

Anela's resolve cracks. She retracts in fear, bending back further onto the desk, confused about how she knew what he had spoken. Her heart rate increases when his words sink in. 'He is letting me go?' she thought. In the next second, relief fills her body. She felt weightless, forgetting the exhaustion and pain she is holding. She could not help but think about her future and the successes she still had to gain. A sweet, gentle smile bloomed on her face as she gazed with gratitude toward the commander. He crooks an eyebrow, his eyes flashing, widening slightly towards the naive creature. She nods in triumph and turns towards the exit. Before she had taken a single step, a large palm rises to face her torso blocking her escape. She frowns at her surrounding to find the strangers in the room already left. She slowly cranes her neck as she peers at the man who had just given her 'freedom' standing over her. He goes on to say in a low domineering voice.

"You will stay." Narrowing his eyes at the silly kitten.

Her eyes widen in shock as she let out a small gasp. Dread dawned on Anela. Time felt like it had slowed down. Her mind echoed the word 'Stay.' Reality had come and slapped her in the face shaking her confidence and melting her into a puddle. Her world is shrinking, crumbling at his words. 'I have entered a darker fate than I thought' His hand continues moving towards her as she attempts to move to the side. Dazed, she finally removes her gaze from this man letting her head drop. His face darkened at that moment. Some strange feeling started to bubble in the commander's chest.

Before she could move away from him, he lifted his hand. Using long fingers to glance over her face and gently catches her chin to pull her face back to his focus. Anela looked deeply into perfect almond eyes as she was swiftly brought back to the present. She allowed him to feel her pain, anguish and contempt towards him. She had decided at that moment. She would no longer be scared. She will take what fate has given her. She would continue to stand tall and unshaken. An indescribable feeling gleamed in his eyes. He felt no one had dared look at him this way, and even if they did. It would be the last.

He cautiously paused in his tracks and dropped his hand. Looking at the woman, he proceeds to assess the situation. The commander frowns, growing more irritated by the dramatics. His eyes are burning into her. She takes a deep breath, trying to relax her sore muscles while stepping slowly to her left. They refuse to break eye contact. Daring one another to make the first move.

Once Anela leans her body against the ebony desk for support. She stops to allow her body language to talk for her. She'd like to leave. Go home, see her mother, visit her father and finish her degree. She wants to do it all. She burns to live.

Pleading hazel eyes beg for any moral to come to this man. An eternity passed before she leaned deeper onto the ebony desk to keep her balance. Her strength was slowly fading.

Wrong move.

The obsidian orbs flushed as anger arose in them. Suspicion toward her crept in further. He pinches the bridge of his nose and breathes deeply, practising patience. He decides to walk to a cabinet. Two long-stemmed glasses are picked up by strong, slender fingers as the tall man pours red liquid in. He lifts the glass to observe its movement, tilting it from one side to the other. Nodding to the other glass, motioning for his guest to take it. Anela matches the silence she has been given up until now. She clears her throat, irritated by this behaviour. But her throat feels desiccated.

"Sit" He demands in his own language.

Anela's chin raises, keeping eye contact with the obsidian obscurity. She returns his level of intimidation.

The words came to her as if she had spoken this language her whole life. Horror filled her face as she retorts. "I will do no such thing."

The commander's face was unchanged, composed by the news of her knowledge of the language. He expected as much considering the way he found her. He had yet to express his side of the story. He looked snobbish to Anela. Elitists mixed with a dash of privilege. She couldn't help but hold distaste for the man the longer he was in her presence.

"Sit" He tries again, picking up the second glass. Anela's throat contracts. Gasping for just a sip.

"Tsk" Her tongue kisses her teeth irked by his actions. Anela's eyes are bulging. Despite her stubbornness, she takes the glass without sitting and takes small sips trying desperately not to gulp it down in one sitting. She closes her eyes while her throat fills with moisture it so fiercely craved. She lets out a large sigh, her cheeks regaining some colour. Anela couldn't control her ways as her eyes snapped open. She remembered she was in the middle of a discussion.

"I said I will do no such thing. As I have said before, I ask for peace. Please spare me. Allow me to leave" Her voice is cold. Forgetting her previous request was spoken in a language they did not know. A wicked smirk grew devilishly from the man's deadpan face, amused by her defiance. He looked like he was waiting for an excuse to spill blood. Anela felt like cold water had been poured over her. She cursed. 'I should have just drowned! Why did I meet this devil instead.'

Hazel and obsidian eyes maintain their battle of wits. Unfortunately for Anela, she had no idea who she was dealing with. Anela refused to be intimidated and threatened. She faces the newfound fate thrown at her. However, the heavy fog from unconsciousness pounds in her ears and chest as the red liquid starts to have an effect on her. He continues his interview, unaware.

"Who are you?" The man probes in a cold voice.

"I asked you first" She counters with narrowed eyes. Regrets form on her face the second she realised she had carelessly allowed her thoughts to be spoken. She clutched her head looking down. Anelas's mind was spinning. The fog from before became heavier due to the pain that rolled through her body. The confusion of the strange place she had landed in did not help either.

"Who's your commander?" He ignored her questions as he continued his interrogation.

Her head snapped up, dumbfounded. Her lips curl in confusion. 'My commander?' She repeats the words in her head. In a split second, disorientation becomes her new best friend. It spins her to irrational thoughts. Burning sensations are felt on her fingertips. Her survival instinct is strong, causing the sparks to flourish in her hands all the while being completely unaware. Finally, his face falls, creating three creases on his forehead, his eyes turn darker, anticipating a threat. She smiles at him before falling overexerted back into her unconscious mind.