Chapter Songs: Interlude-Hollow Coves

Idea 10- Gibran Alcocer
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I followed behind the man; I did not know his name and I truly did not care.

We kept walking until we reached a place, I only thought could be real in storybooks and fairytales. I didn't even realize I stopped until the man turned to give me a questioning look. This was a floating island of sorts, there were waterfalls falling from the edges into what I'm sure must be a magnificent garden when there isn't so much snow. We walked over a small wooden bridge and to the space underneath the island. There was a small platform in the middle of the space that led to a large, very detailed staircase. The railings almost seemed to glow a beautiful shade of silver.

"Come on." He spoke motioning for me to follow him.

"W-What is this place?" I breathed. He glanced back at me and his eyes softened.

"This is our home." I froze and debated turning the other way.

"I-I...N-No." I started taking steps the other way.

"Stop. No one is going to harm you; you have my word." He spoke seeming sincere, but I didn't trust this for one second. He was planning something. He had to be.

Against my better judgement I followed behind him, leaving a decent amount of space between us. We made it up to a large door that seemed to be made entirely of an iridescent crystal. He pushed the door open and held it open for me to walk through. My jaw fell to the floor as I looked at the massive foyer. There was a large crystal chandelier illuminating the space, paintings lined the white painted walls, and I noticed a space with a handful of shoes scattered about, the only thing that seemed out of place yet normal.

We walked through the archway and into a living room, it appeared cozy and warm, large windows filled the entirety of the furthest wall overlooking the large mountainous and snow-covered territory. I let out an audible gasp at the sight as I soaked it all in.

"Oren." I jumped as an unfamiliar man walked over. He was ridiculously tall, and his muscles seemed to strain against his tight fitted black shirt. His hair was longer than Oren's and a complete mess. Oren. His name was Oren.

"Milo." Oren nodded back.

"You must be Eleia." He spoke weirdly calm. He must have noticed my defensive posture.

I just nodded my head.

"You look terrible." He sighed, like it was my fucking fault I was locked in a dungeon for who knows how long.

"Come." Oren spoke quietly. "We have a room for you." I raised a questioning brow.

"We were wrong about you; we want to get to know you better." I felt like there was an underlying threat. Like they wanted me here just so they could keep a closer eye on me. I didn't trust it, not for one second.

I followed behind him, nearly crashing into his back as he came to an abrupt halt.

"Axel." He bowed his head in greeting. I peeked around him only to see the same annoying face of the other man in the cell.

"Y-You." I snapped; my voice laced with hatred as I went to storm towards him but was yanked into a hard chest.

"Bad idea." Oren whispered, but I couldn't miss the amusement laced in his tone.

"Things are about to get a lot more fun aren't they." Milo laughed walking forward to stand beside us.

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I sat in a bathtub too large for anyone to be in. I had to keep gripping the edges to keep myself from going under as I scrubbed my skin raw. Steam filled the room as the water grew darker with all the grime that had accumulated on my skin.

Once I was done, I wrapped myself in a large fluffy towel and entered the bedroom they said would be mine for the time being. I still didn't trust them. I don't think I ever will fully.

I walked out and saw a beautiful dress laid out on the large king-sized bed. I walked over and traced my fingers over the soft lilac colored fabric. This dress was far too beautiful for someone like me.

I walked over to the dressers and sorted through them, looking for anything else. But everything was empty, or the fabric was too long and pooled in heaps around my feet.

I glanced at the dress on the bed one more time before sighing in frustration. I undid the laces and slowly stepped into it. My fingers trembled slightly as I pulled them together. I pulled the strings of the white corset attached to it tight enough that I knew it would stay where it was meant to. My breasts were accentuated in this dress making me hesitant to even leave this room.

I missed sweatshirts.

After several minutes of convincing myself that I can and should leave this room I finally turned the doorknob. I twisted the cool metal and walked out. My hair curled slightly from still being slightly damp. I walked down the hallway heading for the staircase Oren had showed me before walking down it. I could hear chatter coming from one of the rooms, and against my better judgement decided to follow it.

I walked into one of the sitting rooms and saw that the men were all sitting there with the woman. I think her name was Evelyn. As well as another one that I did not recognize.

I froze in the doorframe when they all turned to look at me.

"I'm so glad the dress fits. You look wonderful." Evelyn spoke walking towards me. I took a hesitant step back as she got closer.

"I'm sorry." She spoke softly taking a step back herself. "I never intended on harming you."

I still didn't say anything as she gestured for me to follow her to the couch. Part of me was screaming to turn around and go somewhere alone, but if I was going to go back home, they were unfortunately my only shot.

I sat a cushion away from Oren, pressing myself close to the armrest of the soft, comfortable couch. I nearly sighed in relief at the feeling but tried my best to suppress any emotion from showing on my face.

"You must be Eleia." A woman I haven't met yet spoke, her eyes betrayed the soft sound of her voice. I didn't know if it was disgust or hatred. I just nodded at her, looking around the room, when a child ran in clutching a toy to his chest.

"Mama! Mama!" The boy giggles charging at Evelyn.  The brightest smile took over her face as she scooped the child up into her arms tickling him as she whispered things I couldn't hear from my seat on the couch.

They were all speaking to each other, clearly being careful with what they were saying since I was here.

Their chatter was cut off by distant shouts. It reminded me of my house.

"You fucking son of a bitch!" I heard a woman shout and something shatter. I jumped, not meaning to earning the eyes of every person in here. I felt myself shrink back into myself as my eyes darted around the room, pausing on Oren. His eyes held pity and something I couldn't understand clearly.

I quietly excused myself as two beautiful people walked into the room, both of their gorgeous face's red with anger. The man was so tall, maybe as tall as Oren and the woman was up to his shoulder. She had to be at least 5'8" or 5'9". She looked like she would be a model.

They both stopped arguing and stared at me with confused eyes.

"This is her?" The man asked raising a brow and looking past me.

"Yes! This is Eleia, this is her home now too, at least for the time being if she would like." I didn't know what to say to that. I didn't want to say anything to that. I just excused myself again and walked back up the steps and towards the room. When I heard someone call my name. I glanced back and saw it was the girl who still does not appear to like me in the slightest.

"I want to show you something." She smiled, surprisingly appearing genuine. I just nodded and followed behind her. She led me up another set of stairs. "I apologize for my behavior earlier, I am not used to change, it would mean a lot to me if we could be friends."

"Sure." I whispered softly giving her a small smile.

We walked down the hallway and reached a large door, with intricate symbols on it. I looked at it with wide eyes, this almost looked like something Miss. Dalaris would have had. I walked behind her as she opened it revealing the most breathtaking view I had ever seen. I walked out, as she stepped to the side, letting me pass her into the space. I think we were on a platform attached to the roof. There were a few boxes up here, but besides that it was just a small open space.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" She spoke calmly. "You are going to get quite familiar with this." She spoke taking a step back. I glanced over at her, ripping my gaze away from the millions of stars, and streaks of color staining the beautiful night sky. She was backing towards the door.

I went to open my mouth to ask what she meant when it hit me. She was going to leave me here. I sprinted as fast as I could towards the door, but I was too slow. I twisted the doorknob and hissed in pain as my skin sizzled from the immense heat emanating from it. I cradled my burned flesh against my chest as I pounded against the door, avoiding the handle.

"Open the door!" I yelled. "Open the door! Please! I'll leave! J-Just open it!" I was pounding on the door, in hopes that my endless screams wouldn't fall upon deaf ears. I backed away as flurries fell onto my hair, my skin already ice cold. I didn't have much time up here, before the cold would have its way with my human body.

"Please!" I screamed. "Somebody!" My voice sank to a whisper as I fell back against the wall falling to my knees. I curled my body like I had in that cell, holding my knees close to my chest. I had fallen for it.

How could I have been so stupid?

I deserved this. I deserved this for thinking someone wanted to be friends with me. I fucking deserved this.

I banged my fists against the door a few more times as I felt tears rush down my cheeks with each tap against the cold metal. I screamed and clutched at my hair in frustration in anger as I let it out for the first time in who knows how long.

Hours passed as I laid curled in a ball, I couldn't feel my hands, face, ears or feet anymore. My tears froze on my face after some time. My lips felt like they were going to fall off with how chapped they must have been. I squeezed my frozen eyelids shut, letting the darkness tempt me. Maybe I should just allow it to take me, just for a moment or two. My thoughts were interrupted by hands, so many hands. On me. I tried to scream to get away. But the sound of Oren's voice stopped me.

"How the fuck did you get out here?" He cursed scooping me up into his arms. "Fuck." He snapped rushing me into the warmth of their mansion they called home.

This wasn't a home.

"Hang in there." He breathed placing me onto a soft bed—my thoughts about the bed were short lived when I felt my shoes get yanked off, followed by several other pieces of clothing. I thrashed trying to get away.

"I won't look at anything, but I need to see where the cold is affecting you. I am unfamiliar with humans." He muttered.

I felt a burning hot washcloth get placed onto my skin. Several of them. My hands were covered and my feet. I was left in nothing but my undergarments.

I felt his burning hot hands, searing my skin as warmth began flowing through my body.

"You're alright." He whispered bringing a hand up to cup my face, so I was forced to look up into his eyes. "Okay?" His eyes were frantic as he looked me over for anywhere else that could be causing me pain.

"Now tell me how you got out there." He snapped, his voice getting dangerously low. I contemplated telling him. Would he even believe me if I did.

"It had to be someone here who gave you access. Tell me who it was. Was it Warren? He left shortly after you did." He asked, his mind had to be moving a mile a minute.

"I don't know her name." I whispered. "She was sitting with us." My voice was so quiet I was surprised he heard it as I watched his eyes simmer with—anger?

"I'm going to fucking kill her." He snapped rising to his feet and slamming the door behind him as he stormed out.