The only thing I felt was the smell of pancakes.

I woke up, woke up from what?

For that, I had to sit up which was kind of impossible as I was laying on a soft mattress, eyes shut, unable to open due to tiredness occupying each and every nerve of my body. But still, I managed to sit up. I picked my body up, and woke up properly with eyes wide opened to the sight to people.

You know what terrifies me the most? Always did? It was...crowd of people. By crowd I mean, more than four people. Except Nathan's club because I worked there, I was getting money so who cared.

Shrugging off all of the thoughts and I noticed those people, three women and two men were inside my room and walking, talking, adjusting the place, without noticing my awaken existence. The thing is, it was not my room. Last night I woke up to that sight too, right? Sight of someone else's room? Was it last night? Or morning? What time was it?

I was gaping at the tall, blonde, blue eyed perfect Barbie doll setting up a dish beside me, on the side table. Then there was another woman, her long coal black hair were touching her lower back and I was in awe of that, her back was facing me and I saw that she was hanging some clothes inside the cupboard. Then there was a man, he was a cute Chinese I guess, he and the other woman, were sitting on the sofa, swapping pages and giving hard looks to each other. The one guy, who was not in the usual black and grey uniform that the others were wearing but he was in dark blue jeans with fawn colored blazer. As his back was facing me and he was peering outside the window, I could still feel the stiffened aura that surrounded him.

"What is happening?" I asked, no response. Not that I expected with that voice as silent as a grave.

"I know I'm kidnapped so anyone please bother to tell me what is this shit?" That time, I hopped off the bed, not caring about the sizzling pain rushing in my veins, cracking my bones and clenching my heart. My voice was shrill, enough to get their attention.

He, the blazer guy also turned around, he looked familiar but I couldn't guess. Before I could have been more confused, he spoke up, "Hey, Beauty."

I remembered that voice, the voice that was at least low and calm towards me when I was being kidnapped by him and his friends. He was 'Dean' and his friend who slapped me with his gun was 'Ben'. With that realization, pictures of the previous horrific night were playing in a slideshow in front of my eyes. I kept my firm and stern gaze on him but I could also feel the tension, panic and pain of the moment when I was kidnapped. It all played like a horror movie in front of me.

"Where am I?" I asked him, expecting an answer, looked around him and me, saw those remaining people stopped as if it was a mannequin challenge. Suddenly, they moved from their places and one by one went outside. I looked towards Dean, his clear eyes were not clear at all, they held a secret. Not even one but so many. He was the one whose eyes made the rest of them move out of the room. "What are you hiding? Why did you kidnap me?" I asked, calmly.

Why was I calm and serene in that situation?

I should have broken things, not that that pathetic tasteless room had any things. I should have yelled, I should have tried to run away not that my legs were going to support me in running. I should have been crying, beating him but I was not doing that. I wondered why?

With that calm voice tone, I intrigued him I guess, he took his steps towards me, I kept pulling my steps back but then I stopped as I hit the bed. I stood straightly, in front of him, my eyes trying their best to shoot glares at him. He froze in front of me, leaving a few inches gap between us. His eyes trailed from my hair to my lips to my chest to my waist to my feet. His eyes made sure to stop for a second on certain places. Though, there wasn't any hint of lust in his eyes.

Out of all people, I should have been the better judge in that due to my experiences.

There was curiosity in his eyes, but finally he spoke up, "What does he want from you? You don't particularly stand out. I mean no offense because you don't know what I truly mean. You're beautiful, exotic, almost perfect but that is not the reason he wants you. He would have never wanted any girl for that reason. There is something about you? What is it that he wants? Tell me?"

I had my mouth slightly parted, too many theories, too many questions, too many riddles and he thought that I'd have any idea. "I am kidnapped for God's sake, how would I know why?" That time, I snapped, my tone turning from calm to curt in a second, frown deepened on my forehead as he crooked his perfectly shaped brow at my little silent outburst and my reddened face.

"You asked where were you, right? You are in a riddle, you are a riddle, you are lost, you have to be found. But most importantly, you have to find a lot of things, gorgeous." He caressed my cheek, and then came closer and whispered in my ear, "He is a mystery, you have to solve him before he solves and cancels you."

"Is this your pathetic excuse of help? Because it is not working, handsome. It is only making me terrifying, dumbass. First you break into my house, injure me, run after me, kidnap me, then now here, you are giving me unfathomable clues. Please take your helpful ass away from me. Get out!" I pushed him away, my hands hit hard on his hard chest, a wince was heard. Mission accomplished. He was a few steps away from me, his hand was patting his chest and he smirked.

"Don't yell sweetheart, as I said, you have to solve him before he solves you. Rules of this mansion are different for everyone. What if he doesn't like you yelling this much?" he spoke up while patting the wrinkles of his blazer.

"So what? Huh, so what? I am going to yell, because I am fucking taken away from my house. I am not going to solve him to know what kind of rules I have or what kind of person your evil boss is. I am going to kill him, strangle him to death. Fuck him, fuck you! I don't need your non existent help. Get out!" I sat on the bed, my hands clutched my head tightly, even though there was a sensation of pain everywhere but still, I could not stop myself from yelling. Throwing my words like daggers at him brought a little sense of peace to me. It made me a bit encouraged that his boss and my beast wouldn't have the ability to make me his slave.

He chuckled, ruthless bastard, how did he have an audacity to chuckle on that serious matter. "You're speaking of strangling him because you haven't met him, princess. When you do, when you know him a bit, you will shiver by the thought of hurting him. Because the consequences will tear you apart. And no one likes to be torn into pieces right?" He crouched down in front of me and sent a warm smile.

I felt his hand over my knee, I immediately kept my hands away from my face and by them, I pushed him away again, he laughed as he gathered his fallen self and sent a wicked grin at me. I gulped and found my courage to respond back, with the same intensity that he had in his voice. I wanted to show him that I could not get scared. I spoke up, that time, my voice was like a whisper, there was no yelling. "You think that I'll shiver? You think that I will be scared of consequences? You are wrong, because I am tougher than I look. I have faced the worst of the worst. If by any chance this is worse than that, then I'll give birth to my new courage to fight this. You don't know me, your boss doesn't know and when both of you do, you both will shiver by the thought of hurting me. And yes, you are right, no one likes to be torn but can someone be torn into pieces after being crushed into pieces?"

"As you wish, love? So tell me is your 'worst of the worst' is someone you expected when we knocked at your door? You told me about this before Ben shut you up with the anesthesia." He asked.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Tell me the name, address and anything that will help me to locate him." He stood up from the ground, his hands patting his blazer again, cleaning it from never present visible dust.

I got up from the bed, walked up to him, I found myself too close to him again, I had to look up and strain my neck to peer at his tall figure. "Does your boss know that you're helping me? Does he know that you have somehow grown a soft spot for me and want to kill my previous sufferings?"

"He has cameras on every corner of this mansion, every means every. He trusts me a lot but still, he keeps his eyes on me. So he knows both of the things but he doesn't consider this my betrayal but my curiosity and my humanity that he never minds. As long as I don't betray him, he is fine with me trying to help you to figure him out or being curious about why he has demanded you." With a huge smile, he responded. Seemed like a loyal service towards his boss.

"Then go away and please him, tail of your boss, I get it." I snapped. He turned away and walked out of the door, he didn't forget to close it. Thank God. Why was I there? That question wasn't really important as soon as reality hit me and I realized that who was here with me was the one question that I should have asked. I should have never underestimated him.

There was no point in staying in that stranger room, there was no point in waiting for someone to help, all I had to do and all I could so was to confront the beast himself. Before I could go to see him, a knock on the door startled me, "Come In,"

A man, probably in his late thirties came inside, pushing the cloth hanger stand having different sort of clothes. Unique designs, fresh colors, seemed expensive. "Madam, we were ordered to bring these to you, hope you can choose from them and if you don't like any of these, please call me. I will arrange anything of your specific preference. And there is everything you need present in you cupboard, washroom and there," he gives me a box, "it is a phone but boss has clearly said that you shouldn't call if you love and value the life of your loved ones. And please finish your food or else we will be punished. Thank you."

"Why are you bringing these clothes to me, someone already set some in this cupboard, and what is the point of this cellphone if I am not allowed to call or talk?" I asked, frowning at that man who seemed scared and confused. His wrinkled face had tiredness shown very vividly, his weary brown eyes couldn't keep contact with mine so he kept them down.

"Your name is the password of WiFi, you can always browse stuff, watch movies, listen to songs and everything but not use it for your help . Like to call a friend, police or anyone. And I suggest you to not too because that is for your own good, madam." I was fuming, I wanted to yell.

I did. I yelled at that poor man who was basically doing his duty, "I don't want this. What the hell is all of this? Huh? Fancy clothes, brand new latest cellphone? Comforts? But no freedom? What the fuck is this?" I walked towards him, my voice probably was haunting him as he still didn't look up to meet my eyes, I held his hand and put that boxed cellphone on his palm and yelled again, "Tell your boss to shove it up his ass."

"But madam," He was still frozen on his spot, his eyes downwards, his body stiffened like spear, I could see sweat on his forehead.

"Fuck off, all of you just get the hell out of my life!" I held his forearm and threw him outside my so called room, he stood outside the room and then before I could hear anymore of his bullshit from his pathetic boss, I shut the door on his face.

I heaved a sigh, my back was stuck on the door and I slipped down, crouched against the door, tears threatening to fall again but no, I wasn't ready to give their boss that pleasure. What did he think that he could insult me like by offering me so many things but no freedom? No, he had no right.

No one has right to take away my life from me. My life was mine, but he dared to take it away from me, he partially did but I wanted to take away his, to make him feel the agony of that. Maybe I did. Maybe I actually took away everything from the beast.

But tears fueled me, to be strong, so I let myself cry. That was not a sin, tears made me realize my humanity, my potential and I just let them flow out and warm me up, made me a girl of steel who could bear every cruel tactic of that beast. In that part of my life, I didn't want to be weak.

I didn't know exactly what was I doing and why was I doing but whatever it was, it was for my life.

After composing myself, taking a bath, eating those pancakes, wearing some new clothes, given by him. I vowed to stay strong and not stop fighting. I vowed to face him, no matter what, I stood in front of the mirror, I saw my wound whose bandage I just ripped off, it was healing. My cheekbone's wound was having a faint scar but not really painful. My leg seemed to struggle time to time but I supposed his doctors were good enough to make it that better, I was limping but at least I was able to walk. Isn't that what we always want? Just to be able to move on constantly. Well, it was a fair deal with me that moment, I was not having any dizziness, I could open my mouth and eat and my cheekbone's wound didn't give me a hard time during that. I could walk with no support and had the courage to absorb the pain of my leg. Fair and strong day. A beginning from zero, that was going to end on thousandth.

I walked downstairs, silence of that big haunting mansion was killing me, it felt like daggers were slowly piercing my skin. I walked towards the sofa, even with that short walking I was out of breath. I gulped, my throat was dry, I saw a jug of water and a tray full of glasses beside that. I picked up a glass and pour myself some water. Even the water of that house was not satisfying me, instead of relieving me, it felt like an ocean of pins were passing through my throat. I rolled my eyes at the discomfort, I sat on the sofa, waiting for something. Something to occur, something that could give me hint about the place, the motive of my kidnapping, anything in general. A clue for escaping most of all.

Or maybe someone. Someone except Dean and those servants that have been making my life more miserable since I have opened my eyes there in that mansion. Just no one that wasn't the beast himself. I wanted to see him, only him.

And I guess, finally I could. As I saw a man, clad in all black, walking towards me, I could not see the face clearly, as he was upstairs walking down to me. Finally! But the way he was carrying himself, it just scared me. And I felt myself tremble, in fear, in shock and in pain. I guess Dean was right that I would shiver at the thought of fighting him when I'd know him. But here, I wasn't aware of him but still I shivered. He made my heart stop and my mind numb. He made me his slave without even doing anything. How could he.

There was something about his every step that he took, something so beautiful yet so dangerous. Mary used to warn me about Luciano, that Luciano was beautiful yet dangerous.

But here the beast had beauty and a glint of danger in him. Come close to me, beast. Let me see what and who am I dealing with.

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"Luciano? Wake up!" Hospital bed and Luciano were never really close friends, he hated the feeling of being sick or injured, he hated to be in control of some pathetic low life doctors, he hated the vibe of hospital in general. He was unconscious as the bullet that pierced through his skin was gone but it's essence wasn't gone. He hated the feeling of helplessness but found the rest comforting. But it was short lived as he heard someone shaking him violently, he opened his eyes.

"Luciano?" He had blurry vision, the girl was peering down at him, her face seemed blurred to him, but girl's piercing was very prominent to him so he knew who she was. Mary.

"Luciano, open your eyes and talk to me!" She raised her voice.

"W-what?" His voice seemed gravel, broken yet he still managed to answer.

She shook her head and massaged her temples, but then sat beside him, patted his face and cupped his face, he was shocked by the kind gesture. But that surprise element was also short lived as well, as her stern tone reminded him of his value in her eyes, "You are going to gain your consciousness right now and tell me who took Clarissa, where and who shot you and who were those people? Were those Alfred's men? Why did they tell you? Any hint?"

"Please, Mary, let me process my pain first then you can play detective." He coughed so Mary rolled her eyes and got off the bed.

"I am worried about her, Luciano. Who can take her if it was not your people." She paced around the room, her eyebrows crunched together, there was intense worried look spread across her tough looking face.

"I am also Mary, but I'm sure, they were not my people or Alfred's. They were unknown faces. They were talking about some 'Him'. I didn't get what they meant but we have got to find her before she falls into wrong hands." Though Luciano felt her nerves were being tightly pulled when he spoke, he still continued. His eyes were tired of following Mary who was strolling from one corner of room to another. He just closed his eyes and reminded himself about the sweet face of Clarissa.

"As if your hands are pure and right for her. I am pretty sure it is all because of you. Along with you, Alfred must have someone else behind her .I am sure. I told you to leave her alone but you dragged her into this. You know Alfred's people are not really loyal. God knows what is happening to my innocent girl right now. I am going to kill you if she has any scratch," Mary's voice again raised against him. Though Luciano never liked people raising their voice against him but Mary was always spared but especially that particular moment. Because he could sense the truth in her threats and statements. There was a possibility that he dragged Clarissa in his mess.

"It is someone else, Mary. Not Alfred. Someone having too much influence and power. Someone dangerous and brave enough to take my girl." There was growl in his voice, he was a wounded Alpha in his eyes, and a rogue took away his Luna. So definitely, he was in rage.

"Then man up, own your injuries, get up and find her." Mary squeezed his palm and gave him a curt nod. He sighed.

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Comment down your views about this chapter. What you liked? What you didn't. I'll keep that in mind. What do you think of Luciano and Mary's dynamic? How do they know each other? Will they be able to find Clarissa.

Next chapter: Beauty will meet the beast. I am so excited. Will be posted in ten days.❤

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