Wake Up

-----Fabian's POV

Ellen: "Keep holding on."

I hear voices of my sister, encouraging me to hold on. I find it funny that she's encouraging me since she's never really done that, but it does fill me with just the little more strength to survive.

Ellen: "Good, you're doing great."

Thanks sis. Thank you for helping me out even if I know you're not here. But somehow, I see a crack of light starting to appear in the darkness. I push on harder with the help of my sister's words as the crack begins to open wider.

All of a sudden, I found my eyes had now opened, but my vision was unbelievably blurry.

White: "Ah! There you are."

My vision quickly sharpened at the familiar voice as the white haired monster's face is right in front of me. I try to move away, but almost immediately, the pain around my ankles come straight back as I grit my teeth through it.

White: "You're quite strong having endured that. What's your name?"

I can't find it in me to answer as I'm still focusing all of my efforts on trying to bear through this pain.

White: "Hmmm."

Suddenly, all of the pain just vanished from my body, almost like all that pain was just an illusion. I quickly try to sit up to check on my ankles, but what I see is my legs still burnt to a crisp and the area where the shackles were are now covered in web, although it doesn't feel painful like the webbing Leon and I tried to cut away from the king.

It was then that I finally took in my surroundings and where exactly I was. The room was filled with luxury items with gold framed pictures hanging on the walls, a table with plates and cutlery on top of it lined with gold, not to mention how spacious this room is, let alone this bed I'm on. Wait, am I in the king's chambers? Of course I've never seen the king's chambers or most of the rooms in the castle, but after taking everything in, this is the only conclusion I can draw.

White: "Feeling better?"

That was when I turned my sight to the monster at the side of the bed. She had her eye's closed with a bright smile on her face, but it doesn't fool me one bit. I still remember what these monsters did... Killing so many teachers and students, and... Lucien.

White: "Come on~ I just took away the pain for you and you're still not saying anything?"

Fabian: "What is it you want?"

White: "Oh? Don't speak so coldly like that. I only wanted to help."

Help? Help with what? Sure this monster took away the pain by some sort of magic, but in turn, I can't seem to feel anything as it feels like I'm gripping nothing as I clench my hands on the bedsheets.

Fabian: "...Why am I even alive?"

White: "I sensed something in you. A normal human would've died to those injures you have, yet you've survived for this long."

It wasn't because of me, if it weren't for Leon I'm sure I really would've died before I even set foot in Oakvale. But what is this monster even saying? Sense something in me? It's as if she's trying to coax me in to join their side. Like hell I'd-

White: "You're Yui's brother, right?"

Fabian: "What?"

How does this monster know that name? I forgot about the name, but after this monster said that name, I immediately remember that it was Ellen's adventurer name.

White: "Fufu. She's pretty close with that vampire, so it'd be a waste to just kill you. I wouldn't want to get on her bad side after all."

So this bitch is just letting me live purely because of my relation to my sister? Does she think that if she kills me here, Ellen will somehow find out, making Kaede pissed off? But isn't Kaede the one that's out to harm Ellen? Just how much does this monster know then? Her smile only fills me with anxiety as her eyes slowly open up, revealing her bright red eyes to me once more.

White: "So, in the meantime you'll obey my every command. I would say for you not to run, but I don't think you're in too good of a condition to try something like that, fufu~"

Fabian: "You say you need to keep me alive, so then what happen if I don't? Then what?"

White: "Fufu~ Don't underestimate me. If you don't do as I say, then I'll kill your friend."

Fabian: "..."

She means Leon, right? Fuck... So not only am I stuck here, but I have to follow her orders? I didn't even think monsters were capable of devising such plans like this.

White: "Ah~ I like that look."

Fabian: "Shut up."

White: "Now, tell me your name?"

I guess this counts as an order? In most cases I'd refrain from giving my name to a monster like her, but is she already knows of my sister-

Fabian: "...Fabian."

White: "Nice to meet you Fabian, my name's Ilfa."

God, her smile is unbearable to look at. I can only imagine how twisted this monster's brain must be hidden behind that sweet, innocent looking smile.

Ilfa: "Now rest up, I'll be back-"

As she stands up I notice that the hole in her chest from when Lucien stabbed her was completely gone and even her black clothes seemed to have been repaired. Actually now that I'm taking a closer look, I'm not really sure you can even call those clothes, it's almost like its a part of her body as the black parts around her body cover up very little of her white skin.

Ilfa: "Don't bother trying to leave, so just wait patiently for me~"

She closes the door behind her, leaving me in the room to myself. I honestly could've tried to attack her as she was right beside me, but after everything I've seen her do, I don't think I had much of a chance to begin with, even with a surprise attack like that.

I rest my head back down on the pillow, but I struggle to feel any sense of comfort as it feels like I'm just floating, unable to feel the softness of the pillow or the bed. But I guess in a way, this is a good trade to not having to bear the pain in my legs...

Suddenly, my stomach begins to grumble in pain, causing me lift myself back up as I clench onto my stomach. Huh... I thought I could no longer feel pain, but I guess hunger is still a thing. I look around the room, specifically the table, but the plates only seems to have crumbs left over, not enough to fuel my stomach. I end up slumping back down onto the bed, trying to distract myself from my sudden hunger.

Fabian: "Hah~ Why me."

Everything was going so well until father came to me, talking about what my mom was up to. It soured my relationship with my sister who I thought we were finally getting along. Of course Ellen would want to run off with mom after all that had happened, but I still followed father, believing in his words. It was only after that letter from Ellen that I began to question it, but by then it was already too late.

Fabian: "I'm sorry, sis. Sorry mom."

Perhaps this is my punishment for what I've done. But it doesn't mean I should just give up, I still have a chance. Maybe if I bide my time and let my legs heal enough, I can maybe find Leon and make our escape. But after blacking out before I didn't get a chance to see where they have taken him.

Ilfa: "I'm back~"

Bursting into the room, the white haired monster returns. But I notice in her hands is a platter filled with food. At a glace I can tell the roast is hot as I can see the steam coming off from it as the monster approaches the bedside. The smell of it piercing through my nostrils as my stomach grumbles even more.

Ilfa: "You're hungry, right? Here."

Is this some kind of a trick? This monster is capable of altering my perception of pain, so she could easily have altered my perception of smell and even sight. But my mind and stomach refuse to communicate with each other as my stomach grumbles heavier than before. I watch as one of her fingers shapes itself into a dark, razor sharp blade as she effortlessly slices off a piece of the roast meat before moving it over to my mouth.

Ilfa: "Open wide~"

I end up doing as she says as she feeds me the large piece of juicy meat. The flavor was what I'd expect, but what I didn't expect was the meat to just melt in my mouth as the insides of my mouth fill up with it's juices. Wait... Maybe she wants to fatten me up before eating me?

Ilfa: "How does it taste?"

I keep my mouth shut, not wanting to play these games with her.

Ilfa: "That's too bad, I thought you humans would like this."

But just as she was about to get up and leave with the food, my mouth opens by itself combined with my stomach continuing to grumble.

Fabian: "I-it's good!"

Ilfa: "Fufu~ Good boy."

She sits back down on the bedside before cutting off another slice of meat. I can already feel my mouth beginning to water at the sight of the meat, but just as she was moving it towards me, she pulls it back before taking a bite for herself.

Ilfa: "Mmmm~ Not bad, but it's lacking in flavor."

Before I could even react to her words, I was suddenly pushed down onto the bed before my lips were sealed. I felt like I couldn't breathe, but as I opened my eyes, those glowing red eyes were staring right into my soul. I don't understand why, but my mouth opened by itself as I felt something enter my mouth. Wait, is this her tongue? I immediately go to bite it off upon realizing it, but for some reason by mouth feels like it's being held in place, almost as if it's paralyzed. I feel her tongue attacking my own as I try my best to escape, but I'm completely at a loss as now I can't even more my arms. But it was then that she finally pulled away from me, allowing me to finally catch my breath as movement returned to my body.

Ilfa: "Thank you for the meal~"

Fabian: "...You- you're sick."

Ilfa: "It's only fair. I give you this meat so I should have something as well. Now here, another slice."

She slices off another piece of meat before feeding it to me once again. The juiciness of the meat revigorated my mouth from what happened to it just before.

Fabian: "What are you?"

Ilfa: "Fufu~ Don't ask silly questions. Eat."

I need to get out of here...