As I rouse from a heavy slumber, heaving a terrible headache, I was first aware of the coolness of the air and the stiff fragrance. So, I burrowed myself into the warm, soft sheets that I had been wrapped with. After taking in the smell of the fresh covers, I froze in place. It didn't immediately occur to me that I was lying in an unknown place.

I was now fully awake, perhaps more than I had ever been before.

I rose into a half-sited position and stared around the room. It was quite spacious, and it was like the colors were carefully chosen as well as the priceless looking furniture. Everything in here screamed of luxury and extravagance.

Then I turned to the window. I quickly stood up and bear footed stepped to the windowsill. I drew back the curtains only to see a bright scenery in front of me. I had blinked a couple of times before my eyes adjusted to the light. I tried opening it, but it seemed that the handle was stuck. My second attempt failed miserably, the same went for the third one. A felling of anxiety creeped inside me as I was now forcefully pulling the handle and meanwhile cursing.

At that moment the door opened, and a middle-aged woman appeared. I wouldn't have noticed her if she didn't cough to gain my attention. I immediately stopped with what I was doing and directed my thoughts to her.

She then slightly bowed and looked at me from under her bangs. "Good morning, miss. I hope you slept well." she politely addressed me. "My name is Heidi, and today I will take care of your needs."

I noticed some clothes under her arms. Her gaze followed mine. She hastily continued. "Of course, I brought you some spare clothes, so you won't walk in the nightgown."

I then realized that my drenched clothing was replaced by a soft, pink fabric that perfectly hugged my torso. I blushed.

"Of course. But..." I composed myself a bit. "Can I ask you where I am? You see, I'm a bit confused. I can't remember anything from last night." I scratched my neck. "I really hope I didn't intrude or something."

The lady-I mean Heidi, gave the impression of someone flustered as she stuttered: "Hmm, well miss..."

I gave her a mild smile: "You can drop the 'miss' thing. I'm Y/n."

"Yes...so Y/n you were brought here by the master." She clutched the long, covering dress at the hips and fiercely bowed: "I'm really sorry but I can't say more than this." Her face formed a painfully grimace. "I truly am sorry! But if you dress now, I think you will be able to meet the master."

She made another step into the room and then looked at me as if she was waiting for my permission. I nodded and she suddenly appeared by my side.

"Y/n, do you need help with changing? Anything at all?"

"No." I said in a hoarse voice. "No, thank you. I can do it."

"Of course. " she left the clothes on the fresh sheets. As she was turning on her hells and seized the doorknob, she slightly turned towards my direction. With a timid but concerned voice she uttered: "When you visit him, please be careful." And with that she left me all alone with my confused thoughts in the gigantic room.

I scanned the clothes that were lying on the end of my bed as I released a desperate sigh. There was no helping it.

______________________________________________________________________________

The clothes fitted me perfectly. I was pretty sure she would have given me some oversized wardrobe. But it was the total opposite.

I peeked outside to make sure the coast was clear and then stepped outside. The hall was long, from both sides covered with slide doors. The floor was overlaid with wooden desks and the entire decoration just shouted Japanese style. This was my first time seeing the real deal. I continued viewing my surrounding as I walked down the hall. It took me quite some time before I saw a freely opened slide door. Without hesitation I stepped inside.

I gasped.

The room was lit with candles and some barely sensed nature light. The ceiling reached high above and in the center of the room a semi large table was placed, a bit low to the ground and decorated around with sitting pillows.

A silent snicker filled the room. I quickly glanced up to the sit opposite the table. My heart started beating fast. That part of the room was covered in a thick layer of darkness, so I tried narrowing my eyes to see better.

It was blurry, but I was able to see a man, casually leaning on the large chair, as if he was bored and now, he had found something interesting to entertain him. He slowly stood-up so his kimono rustled within the movements.

When he finally stepped outside of the black fog, I was frankly overwhelmed.

His appearance was agitating. His messy red hair, that resembled flames, was slicked back, so that his white face, pale as the moon itself, came more to the foreground.

Still partially in the shadows, like a vigilant cobra that was seeking its prey, his smirked widened when he noticed my unsettlement.

" Like what you see?" his voice purred. It was deep but had a special tune to it.

I was paralyzed in my place. The redhead was tall, muscularly build. He strutted to me, barefooted so his dark reddish-purple colored nails were seen. His red eyes nonchalantly scanned my body before he captured my face. I noticed he didn't have any eyebrows.

"Quiet little mouse, huh?"

"..." I didn't know how to respond to it. Maybe the fact that his upper body was almost fully exposed just confused me.

"Who are you?" Something finally came from my throat. As I asked, I turned my head sideways to avoid staring straight ahead.

He erupted in a laughter. "The girl can speak? I'm impressed. I thought you would be scared shitless." He slid a bit closer, stepping in my circle of privacy. With the close vicinity I could feel my body sending me alarming signals.

"You really want to know." I nodded, wide eyed, shaking uncontrollably. Something about him was so familiar. It was like I saw him somewhere.

And then he gave me a smile that seemed genuinely devilish with just the right touch of arrogance that unexpected fright rushed through me.

"Kid Eustass." he formed his arms. With his towering 6ft 8 he looked down at my 5ft 6.

"The leader of the Red Dragon Clan. But for the more oblivious people-the leader of the strongest yakuza organization. "

I mentally scolded myself to not let any shrieks, so I bit my lower lip to silence myself up.

"..."

"No words mousy? Huh...interesting." his slender fingers reached to my cheeks. I flinched.

"For someone who was so suddenly abducted you seem quite at peace." he licked his lower lip.

"I wonder why?" he asked with a seductive voice.

"What?" then it hit me. Scenes od yesterday's events played in my head, as if in fast motion. My face dawned at recognition.

Before I knew it, I automatically slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" I hissed. "You are the psycho who kidnapped me!"

He clutched his fists. Even if it was pitch dark, I could see his vein pulsating in annoyance. His face darkened for a fraction of a second before a wide smile painted itself on his face, as he before tensed jaw relaxed.

"And? So what? Why should I care?" Kid shifted a bit, I noticed he tried to compose himself before continuing speaking.

"Cause that is wrong!" I stuttered. I didn't know how else to answer him. His morality level was obviously not existing.

" Mousy, you were certainly not brought here to scold anyone, especially not me, but to be put into a good use. So that means, you are mine for the time being."

"I'm not anyone's!"

He tapped his chin. "I can now understand why your bounty is so high. You are a feisty one." he said in a mocking voice.

I just signed. I recalled something about the same topic from the police station.

"Why does everyone know about this high bounty of yours?" I asked, changing the subject.

"You really don't know, do you? To put it simply. That bastard Doflamingo finally found himself a toy... But sadly for him..."
Satisfaction glowed in his eyes. "It is out of his reach."

My jaw dropped open.

Kid totally ignored my reaction, as his face twisted. He went through his hair and examined my face. He tilted his head a bit, chuckled.

"Let's make a deal, shall we? If you stop resisting, I will give you my word to release you after I take care of Doflamingo. And of course, before that, claim the 100,000,000 Beri reward. "

Kid then showed me his poker-face.

"If you will cooperate with me, I will be willing to stretch some of my connections to find you father, Y/n." Eustass used his honeyed voice for the last part.

My lower lip trembled and my eyes watered. I could feel the sensation of my tingling arms and feet, making its way up to my torso.

I swallowed the salvia that gathered up in my throat and almost unnoticeably nodded.

"Fine." I agreed in a low-key manner. I lifted myself so I was now facing him. "We have ourselves a deal."

He released a winning smile. "Then, I officially welcome you to the Red Dragon Clan!"

His face then dropped and said in a taut voice: "And it would be for the best if you don't do anything reckless. The consequences will be...terrifying."

What had I done? I sold my soul to the devil.