The Journey to Groris Kingdom pt.1

The days in the darkroom had stretched endlessly, each hour blending into the next as Akita endured her solitary confinement. The darkness became a suffocating presence, and the silence, a constant torment. She clung to memories of her parents and their teachings, refusing to let the despair break her spirit.

When the door finally opened, Akita blinked against the sudden flood of light. Virgil stood there, his expression inscrutable. He stepped inside a rare look of consideration on his face.

"Get up," he ordered. "We're leaving."

Akita's heart raced. Leaving? Where could he be taking her? She rose slowly, her limbs stiff from the days of inactivity. Virgil's gaze remained fixed on her, cold and calculating.

"We're going to Groris Kingdom," he said, his tone flat. "Emperor Serf resides there. We have business to attend to."

He turned to the door and called out, "Maids, come in." Virgil signaled to two maids, who hurried in and led Akita away. She was taken to a large, ornate bathing chamber, where they stripped her of her tattered tribal attire and washed her thoroughly.

The warm water and gentle hands were a stark contrast to the harsh conditions she'd endured, but Akita couldn't relax. She knew this momentary reprieve was just another facet of Virgil's control. They moved swiftly, their faces expressionless, as they began to clean and dress Akita. The room was filled with the soft rustle of fabric and the quiet murmurs of the maids. Akita felt their hands working with practiced efficiency, their touch impersonal and detached. 

She couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom, he was sending her to a death trap. Her heart pounded in her chest as she wondered what awaited her in Gorris Kingdom. Virgil's presence loomed in her thoughts, his sadistic tendencies always a threat.

When she was finally brought before him, Virgil's eyes roamed over her new attire. He nodded in approval, though a wicked smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. They dressed her in a torn gown, the fabric barely holding together, exposing patches of her skin. It was a reminder of her status and the power Virgil held over her.

"You look much better," he said, stepping closer. "The tribal attire was... distracting. Too revealing for my tastes."

Akita's stomach churned at his words. The way he looked at her, the hunger in his eyes, made her skin crawl. She wanted to recoil, but she stood her ground, refusing to show fear.

"Do you know why I had to change your attire?" he asked, his voice low and intimate.

Akita didn't respond, her eyes fixed on a point just beyond his shoulder. Virgil's hand shot out, gripping her chin and forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes bored into hers, dark and unyielding.

"Because it aroused me," he confessed, his voice a whisper. "Seeing you half-naked in my presence was a constant temptation."

Revulsion surged through Akita, her body stiffening in his grip. She wanted to scream, to claw at his face, but she knew better than to provoke him further. Virgil released her, his smile widening at her obvious disgust.

"Don't worry, my little kitten," he said, his tone mocking. "I won't harm you. Not yet, anyway. You're far too valuable to me. But you will learn to obey."

"Remember," Virgil said, stepping closer to her, his eyes locking onto hers. "You are my property, my slave. You will do as I command, and you will not embarrass me. If you step out of line, even once, I will not hesitate to punish you."

He reached out, his fingers gripping her chin with a cruel intensity. Akita winced, the pressure making her eyes water.

"Do you understand, Akita?" he asked, his voice a dangerous whisper.

"Yes, Master," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Virgil released her chin, his expression softening ever so slightly. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with a surprising gentleness. The gesture was almost tender, a stark contrast to the harshness of his words.

"Good," he murmured, his voice low. "Because I don't want to hurt you, Akita. But if you force my hand, I will."

With that, he turned and led her out of the manor. A grand carriage awaited them, its opulent design a stark contrast to the stark reality of her captivity. Virgil helped her inside, and they set off on the journey to Gorris Kingdom.

As the carriage rumbled along the road, Akita's mind raced with thoughts of escape. But every time she glanced at Virgil, she saw the cold, calculated glint in his eyes. He was watching her closely, waiting for any sign of defiance.

"We're going to see Serf," Virgil said after a long silence. "He's been in poor health, suffering from a great depression since the loss of his human wife, Dixie. Her death has affected him deeply, and he's reverted to his more... sadistic ways. It's a dangerous place for someone like you, Akita, and I expect you to be on your best behavior."

Akita listened, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew little of Emperor Serf, but if he was anything like Virgil, she was in for a nightmare. The thought of being under the control of another sadistic vampire made her blood run cold.

Virgil leaned back in his seat, his eyes never leaving her. "You will behave yourself while we're there," he said, his voice a dangerous whisper. "Serf is not as lenient as I am. Any sign of defiance, and you'll wish you were back in that dark room as punishment"His words were laced with an unspoken threat, a reminder of the consequences of disobedience.

Akita felt a knot form in her stomach, the weight of his expectations pressing down on her.

Akita nodded, her mind racing with plans and counter plans. She would have to be careful, bide her time, and find the right moment to escape.

The journey to Gorris Kingdom was long and silent. The carriage rocked gently as it traveled along the winding roads, the landscape gradually shifting from lush forests to the dark, imposing mountains that marked the borders of the vampire kingdom. Akita sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery. As they traveled through the morning, Akita's thoughts drifted back to her parents. Their strength, their wisdom, their unwavering spirit. She would need all of that and more to survive the days ahead. She would not let Virgil break her. She would endure, she would fight, and one day, she would be free.

Virgil sat across from her, his expression unreadable. He had been quiet since they left, his focus seemingly elsewhere. Akita couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over her, a sense of impending doom that seemed to grow stronger with each passing mile.