Hey hey (: so i hope you guys are liking it so far. If you have any comments don't hesitate to do so and vote as you wish (: much love xx -m

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I was stupid.

So incredibly stupid.

I was stupid for running out to stop that Hunter. I was stupid for thinking that I wouldn't get caught. Stupid for not thinking first.

I was also wrong.

I was wrong about being stupid for saving that little boy. I knew that if I were put in that same situation again I would have done the same thing. No one deserves to be treated like that. No one deserves to be ripped away from their family.

I was a fool for thinking I would make it through this. There was always that 1% chance that I would be caught by the Hunters and with my luck it happened.

I felt hopeless. Shocked. In denial.

Everything that I had mentally prepared myself for was just gone in a blink of an eye and I'm not sure how to handle it. How do you fix yourself when everything you though you knew is taken away from you?

My fingers gripped the cream carpet on the floor where I lay. I was sure the carpet was soaked from my tears.

I let out another choked sob and buried my face into the rug.

"Is the room not to your satisfaction?" I heard the smooth accented voice of the one person I loathed the most right now (besides myself).

I hadn't even heard the door open.

"I can have the room tailored to your liking if you wish." King Blakesley spoke again.

His voice was just a few feet away from my body that was curled on the ground. My head was where he couldn't see my face.

My body stiffened when I heard his footsteps approach me. I held back sobs but that did nothing to stop my flood of tears.

"Eleanor." He said closer to me now.

I still did not reply.

"I'm not going to yell at you or anything. I just wanted us to get to know each other. I'm sorry about earlier." He said convincingly or honestly, I couldn't tell the difference.

I laid there silently crying.

"I'll have a maid bring you some clothes and other necessities." He said once more before walking over towards the door. His footsteps hesitated once he reached the door frame.

"Once you are ready and moving about the castle I'd like for you to come have breakfast with me. Tell Shay and he will escort you to my chambers. Goodnight Eleanor." King Blakesley said before I then heard the door close with a quiet click.

I sighed deeply before pushing myself up, so that I was now just sitting on the ground.

How dare he walk in here all polite and civil after he had just humiliated me and degraded me in front of a room full of people.

How confusing he was!

A knock sounded at the door and I looked up in surprise as a small girl with dark brown hair and tanned skin entered my room.

She held a stack of neatly folded clothes in her hands.

The grey maids dress she wore was orderly as well.

"Hello." She greeted me in a feminine yet mousy tone.

"Hi." I sniffled, realizing that I must look like a mess with my tear stained cheeks and fussed up hair.

She walked over to my dresser with silent footsteps and placed the clothes on top before walking back over to me with silent footsteps.
Slowly she reached out a hand to me and I took it, letting her pull me up gently.

"Thank you." I mumbled.

"Of course. I know today must have been rough. How about a nice shower and then bed?" She smiled, her white teeth flashing.

"That sounds brilliant, thanks." I smiled softly back.

She nodded before walking to the bathroom, pushing open the French doors.

The bathroom was just as regal as the bedroom.

A shower as big as my new bed was in the corner while a massive marble bathtub was placed on the centre of the bathroom. Counters with mirrors were on every single wall.

I had no idea what someone would need so much space for.

The girl went over to the shower and started the water, waiting until steam began to puff out.

"I'll just wait outside." She smiled again before leaving the bathroom and shutting the doors behind her.

I looked in one of the many mirrors that surrounded me and cringed at my appearence. Just as I had assumed. My tear stained cheeks were unusually pink and my hair was creased in odd ways.

Wasting no time, I stripped down and gingerly took a step under the stream of hot water, instantly relaxing as it hit my skin. Oh how I needed this.

A shelf in the shower held an array of soaps, shampoos, and conditioners of all scents and colours.

I selected a strawberry shampoo and conditioner for my hair and a strawberry scrub for my body.

I had a simlilar kind to this at home.

Home.

I should'nt have thought that. Taking a deep breath I continued to wash up as salty tears now mixed with the water on my face.

After a while I turned off the water and took one of the towels that the girl had left on the counter and wrapped it snuggly around my body.

I took a few slippery steps across the floor until I reached the beautiful french doors that led back to my bedroom. When I opened it and entered the main room, the girl was standing at my dresser.

"I have your sleep clothes right here." She gestured towards the stack on the dresser.

I nodded and walked over, taking the clothes from the counter. She stood there just looking at me. Wait, did she expect me to change clothes in front of her?

She must have noticed my wide eyed look.

"Oh!" She gasped. "Sorry, i'll just be in there while you change." She blushed embarassed and then skittered into the bathroom.

I dried off quickly and took the grey cotton shirt from the top of the dresser and pulled it over. The next item was a pair of underwear and then grey cotton shorts followed.

Once I was dressed I used the hairbrush that was placed next to the clothes and ran it through my damp hair, fighting off the tangles.

"You can come in." I called out when I was done and the girl scurried back in.

"Alright, let's get you to bed." She placed a hand on my back and led me over to the bed.

I flipped back the blankets myself and placed one knee on the bed, pushing myself up and then rolling onto my back.

The girl pulled the blankets back over me and when she leaned down that when I noticed her startling green eyes.

"Your eyes are beautiful." I whispered, mesmerized by them.

"Thank you." She smiled softly. "Now get some rest."

"Wait, what's your name?" I asked as she began to turn away.

"Lux." She raised the corners of her lips in another smile.

"Eleanor." I introduced myself.

"I know." She let out a breathy laugh.

"You do?" I asked, curious now.

"Well of course, you are the King's new personal servant, everyone has heard about you." She shrugged lightly.

"Oh." I nodded once, still a little confused but I decided not to ask. "Well thank you again, Lux."

"Of course. Good night and sweet dreams." Lux beamed and then left, closing the door behind her, dimming the lights as she left.

Now I was alone again and left to wallow in my own self misery.

I sighed into the dark and let my head hit the pillow, but before I could even begin to brood over the past events I fell into a dreamless sleep.

What felt like minutes but was actually hours later, I woke up to light streaming through the massive window.

I hated sunlight. I had chosen my flat because of the lack of windows and dreary location.

Slowly, I manuevered myself out of bed and padded across the expanse of carpet to the window. Squinting, I unlooped the rope that drew the curtains back and let it fall over the glass, blocking half of the sun. I did the same to the other side and then tortted back over to the bed.

There was no clock on the little table next to the bed or on the wall so I had absolutley no idea what time it was.

I looked like maybe mid-morning but I couldnt be for sure.

Now I was wide awake. Glancing around the room I noticed several lamps with regal shades and elegant stands. I decided to take advantage of being alone and walked around the room, turning on the different lamps. There was something very peacful and beautiful about artificial light in a dark room. It always seemed to relax me.

After all of the lamps were turned on I chose to explore the closet that was next to the dresser.

I opened the door and my jaw droped to the floor. The closet was as big as the bathroom, with a sitting area in the middle and rack and shelves covering every inch of the walls. A crystal chandelier hung over the sitting area.

"Wow." I breathed.

I slowly stepped inisde and began to walk around the racks, flipping through the different clothes hanging there, .my eyes widening at some of the selections.

"Found anything you like?" A sweet voice asked from behind me and I jumped a foot in the air. I whipped around and was met with a startled expression from Lux who was peeking her head around the corner.

"Oh, sorry. I was just curious." I said nervously and hurried to exit the closet.

"It's fine, this is your closet." She said reassuringly. "So did you see anything?" She asked again.

"I was just browsing." I admitted.

Lux nodded. "Well I'm here to get you ready for breakfast."

"Oh, alright." I nodded.

"Let's go find an outfit." She prodded me along into the closet again.

"Now I noticed that you liked things dark." She moved her head in the direction that the windows would be, even though we could'nt see them. "So lets keep you comfortable and stick with what you know." She smiled.

Lux walked back towards a rack in the back where pants hung on a silver, polished rod. She flicked through the hangers until she found a pair and turned back to show them to me.

"These?" She raised an eyebrow.

The pants were black and got skinny at the ankle. A black leather stripe ran down the length of the jeans on the side.

"They should be your size." She added.

I nodded in agreement and then watched as the moved onto the shirts.

Lux selected a dark grey v-necked , short-sleeved, top that was tight fitting.

"This?" She asked.

I nodded.

I followed her as she went over to a section with undergarments and I selected one before she left for me to change. I dressed quickly and then called her back in.

"Okay, so lets find some shoes and then we can move on to your hair." She instructed me.

I let her lead me along as the found some black combat boots and I shoved them on before sitting in front of the vanity in the corner like she told me to.

I sat down on the baby blue cushioned stool and watched in the mirror as Lux ran a silver handled brush through my hair. My hair was not long enough to do much with so she braided my bangs back and pinned the braid back. My hair was straight and shiny and looked very nice. I smiled at her work.

"Thank you." I recognized her work and she smiled gratefully.

"Of course." She bowed her head and xmiled.

I stood up out of the chair and walked to the bathroom looking for a toothbrush.

I opened a few drawers and dug around but could'nt find one.

"Are you looking for something?" Lux asked from behin me.

"A toothbrush?" I answered.

Lux walked towards a drawer on the opposite side of the bathroom. She came back with a toothrush and paste.

I thanked her and then went to the sink to brush my teeth.

When I was done I turned around to face her.

Lux was standing at attention by the door.

"Are you ready?" She smiled.

"Mhmm." I nodded.

"Wait do you have your identification card?" She looked slightly panicked.

"Yea, it's on the dresser." I shook my head as if to clear the fogginess from it as I went to retrieve the card. Can't believe I had almost forgotten that. Actually I can, I was not the most memorable person in the world.

I followed her out of the bathroom, though my room, and out to the hallway. We walked side by side as she led the way.

"So how old are you?" She asked.

"18." I said monotone.

"What was your classification?" Lux proded.

"Unexceptional. And what do you mean by was?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Well once everyone from The Gathering is transported to the castle for servitude they are ridded of their old lifes, therfore, their old classification, and are simply unclassified." She explained, talking with her hands.

"Oh." Was all I had to say.

I was'nt paying attention to where we were going and ran straight into someone. I apologized thinking it was Lux but then realised that this body was too big to be her and looked up to see a dark haired boy.

Shay.

"Where do you think you're going?" Shay asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Breakfast." I folded my arms across my stomach.

"Are'nt you supposed to be dining with the King?" He asked again and my face fell.

"Oh right. I forgot." I mumbled.

"I'll escort you." Shay took ahold of my upper arm. "Thank you." He dismissed Lux and she bowed her head before scurrying off.

"He would've been pissed if you had skipped his invitation." Shay spoke to me as he turned me around and walked me back the way I had come.

"I forgot, I'm sorry." I shrugged.

"Let's just not tell him about this. I mean he's already been worried enough since you were out for almost a day." Shay sighed at the end.

I gave him a 'what the hell are you talking about look' and he chuckled softly.

"Yea you were alseep for 19 hours. Guess The Gathering really took a toll on ya'." He explained.

I did'nt say anything in reply. Asleep for 19 hours? Wow.

It had only felt like minutes to me.

And worried about me? Why was that physcopathic jerk worried about me? He had no right. But then again, the way he sounded when he walked into my room last night, or I guess the other night, he sounded nice and even apologised.

I was lost in my thought when Shay turned a corner and in front of us was a large dark wooden door.

"This is his majesty's chambers. Only certain people are permitted inside. You are one of those people. Slide your card under the scanner and it will unlock it, just like your door." He instructed me.

With a shaky hand I did as he said and heard the click of the door.

Shay held it open for me because even I knew I was not strong enough to open the heavy looking door.

When I walked in I was greeted with more luxurious decor.

Crystal chandeliers hung gracefully from the ceiling. Rugs covered the marble floors. Furniture of the finest woods, jems, and materials I had ever seen was placed around the room in such a manner that my breath had long gone away.

My eyes widened.

We were in some kind of entry room and beyond it I could see another massive room and to our right was a dining room.

"Have a seat in there." Shay directed me towards the dining room and I did as I was told.

I took a seat in one of the white, satin covered chairs and observed the ornate flower arrangement in the centre of the table.

"My Lord." I heard Shay call and I glanced up slightly. "I've brought miss Belle to see you."

I cringed at the name Shay had just called me.

Footsteps were heard echoing off the marble floors and then another presence entered the room.

"Thank you Shay." I heard King Blakesley say and I immediately looked down.

"Yes your highness." Shay replied and then I heard the sound of the large door opening and then closing again.

I kept my eyes glued to the table top while my hands gripped the seat below me.

"Good morning Eleanor." I heard the King chirp as he walked towards me.

I stayed silent and closed my eyes.

"I hope you had a nice rest." He added and I heard the chair across from me move as he sat down.

Still not answering, the room grew silent for a long minute. I could feel his eyes on me.

"Eleanor, this will be a lot less difficult for both of us if you just answer me." He said in a calm, almost pleading voice.

I bit my lip.

"At least look at me." He sighed and I hesitantly looked up at him through my eyelashes.

"Thank you." He breathed a sigh of relief.

The King was wearing a navy blue sweater over a white button down shirt. The collar was pressed to perfection.

His blonde hair was in a flawlessly styled quiff as always.

"I know you and I got off on the wrong foot, so how about a re-do over breakfast?" He suggested.

I bit my lip and looked away from him for a moment before nodding, my eyes never meeting his.

"Perfect. Let's eat while we chat." He smiled and stood up, pressing a silver button that was on the wall.

Within a minute a man in a chef's uniform entered the room pushing a cart full of food. The chef placed the array of silver covered dishes on the table in front of us, removing the lids to reveal an array of delights.

My eyes widened and I heard the King chuckle at my reaction.

The chef rolled the cart out and left and I was alone again with the King.

"Help yourself." He proded me as he began to place some strawberries on his plate.

I watched him carefully before reaching forward and seizing a glass of orange juice.

Sipping it slowly, I watched him eat.

"You have to eat something besides orange juice." He said after a minute.

I took a roll from a basket and began to nibble on it, hoping that would suffice.

He shook his head and took another bite of eggs before setting his fork down.

"So Eleanor, has anyone told you what being my personal servant entails?" He asked.

I pursed my lips before shaking my head no.

"Well, it means that you will do whatever I ask. If I want something you will get it for me. If I need something done you will do it. And you will do so without any arguments or resistance or else you will be punished." He said it so nonchalantly that I thought he was joking, but then it hit me that he wasn't.

I was his slave. His personal plaything that he could use at his disposal. I was a puppet and he had full control of the strings.

I heard his fork scrape against the plate as he took another bite of his food.

"So tell me about yourself." He moved on to his next subject and I met his gaze with a 'yeah right' look.

"Are you still not going to talk?" He questioned me with a frown.

I shrugged and shook my head before taking another sip of my orange juice.

The King sighed.

"Well, believe what you will Eleanor but I do wish that you enjoy your stay here and I hope we get to know eachother. I've already apologised about the night of The Gathering, what else do you want from me?" He got exasperated at the end.

He knew what I wanted but there was no way in hell he would give it to me.

I wanted my freedom.

Quickly I looked away from him. His defeated expression, although a victory for me, was sad to see.

"You want your freedom, don't you?" He said more like a statement.

My head instantly dropped to look at my twidling fingers in my lap. I did not dare nod.

The King sighed loudly.

"Well, that's not going to happen. So instead, why not make the most of your time here? This is your home now Eleanor, take advantage." He insited.

I hated this man.

He took me away from my home, my life and forced me to be his slave. I couldn't help but hate him.

But I also hated him because I knew he was right.

I wasn't going home. There was no point in spending the rest of my life wallowing in the sadness and longing for my freedom when I knew it would never come to me. I had to make the best of it.

The one thing stopping me from moving on was my stubbourness, and it was holding on to my past life like a child to it's mother. It didn't want to let go and I knew that no matter how happy or comfortable I became here, my stubbourness would always be inside fighting for freedom.

In one fluid motion I looked up and reached out for glass, taking another tiny sip. My eyes met his and I could see confusion, hope, and defeat in his sapphire orbs.

He cleared his throat and I realised we had been staring at each other for awhile now.

"Uh-I'll have Shay take you on a tour of the castle." He stood up from the table and I followed his example.

The King walked over to a wall by the front door and pressed another button. THe door opened in a moment and two people walked in. Shay and Michael.

Shay looked stern and calm, per usual; and Michael rolled his eyes when he saw me.

Quite a greeting.

"Shay, take Eleanor on a tour of the castle." King Blakesley instructed and Shay nodded.

I took a few small steps towards Shay who now held the door open for me to walk out.

But before I could leave I knew I had to do something, anything to give the King a sign that I was willing to be cooperative.

I turned around to face him and his eyes brightened while said the first thing that came to my mind.

"Call me El."