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I was hungry but I was also locked so there was no way I could march downstairs and demand them for food.

It's not like I am dying for it or something. I just need energy if I want to escape from here.

I wonder what dad and Dane are doing...are they searching for me? I bet dad wants to kill me at this moment and I can't blame him.

My mind drifted off to Nikolas and I felt like crying again. Zale said he didn't kill him, I don't believe him but if what he is saying is true, then who killed Nikolas? And why?

No. I am sure he only killed him but why lie? It's not like he is trying to portray himself as a good man infront of me.

I paced back and forth in the room, thinking of some ways to escape this place or to find some weapon to use against them. I know how to fight without any weapon too but it won't end well, not enough for me to escape.

Suddenly I heard the door being unlocked and I stood in an attacking position in case they try something. The door opened and Maverick walked in with a plate of food in his hand looking like he would be anywhere but here.

He held the plate in front of me, eggs and bacon. And I rolled my eyes. "So, you are being a servant to your brother now? Tell him I won't eat anything until he comes here and give it to me himself."

Okay, now I am being a brat. I was being offered food but I declined it but at the same time I know they won't deprive me of food and water cause they want me alive. If I die or something, their chance of getting Alaska diminishes not that they have any chance to begin with.

Maverick didn't say anything just turned around and left the room taking away the food.

And as expected, a minute later the door to the room was slammed opened and an angry looking Zale barged in, the plate in his hand.

"The fuck is wrong with you?" He demanded.

"I don't know. You fucking kidnapped me!"

"Exactly! You don't get to order me around!"

My lips twitched. "Then why did you come here with food doing exactly what I ordered you to do?"

If looks could kill, I would have been dead. It took everything in him to not kill me on the spot.

He stalked to the bed and placed the plate down on the nightstand and walked out of the door, slamming it shut.

I grinned feeling satisfied after irritating the hell out of him and I sat down on the bed to eat whatever he brought me.

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Once I was done with the food, I once again paced around the room. I walked closer to the door, studying it. If only I had some tools to open the lock. Alas, I have nothing at the moment.

Oh, how I wish I could just grab its handle and it will swing open. With all those thoughts, I grabbed the handle and to my surprise it actually opened when I gave it a little push.

What the hell?!

Hoping no one noticed I closed it gently. It's open?! Then I realised that when he left he was literally fuming with anger and he might have forgot to lock the door cause now I remember that I didn't hear the door get locked.

Okay, so I am done with food and have some energy in me, now all I need to do is be very careful and find my way out of here.

I can't wait till night to leave because as far as I know someone will be coming here till that time and once they notice the unlocked door, they will lock it obviously so I have to leave right now when I have the opportunity.

I cautiously opened the door and making sure no one was in the corridor, I stepped out and very carefully started to make my way to the staircase while checking my surroundings every few seconds. This big house and no one even lives in it... what's the point of it then?

Our house is big but we have a lot of people living there besides me, dad and Dane we have our guards and maids.

I peeked down from the top of the staircase. No one was there in the living room, so I started to climb down, taking one step at a time and checking the downstairs for any threat.

All clear. I thought as I reached down and sighed in relief. My eyes darted to the open kitchen behind the living room and I went to it and started to open the drawers looking for a knife and I did a mental victory dance having found some; I grabbed two of them and made my way to the front door.

To my relief, the door opened as soon as I pushed it and I ran out in the open. Fucking finally!

"Going somewhere, princess?" Just as I took a few steps away from the house, I heard him.

My blood ran cold at his voice. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Slowly, very slowly I looked over my shoulder and found him standing right next to the door, his back against the wall, hands folded across his chest and lips curled up in a smirk.

He pushed himself off the wall and walked towards me as I turned around. "Get back inside, right now."

I gripped the knife firmly and trying to calm down my heart I tried to aim and threw the knife at him. At least it will stab him somewhere but that bastard stepped away just in time as the knife brushed past him.

He rolled his eyes. "You wanna do this again? Fine." And he pulled out his dagger. I didn't miss the way his nose slightly scrunched up in pain as he lifted his right hand so he quickly switched to his left one.

He took predatory steps towards me and I stood there confidently trying not to show him that I was a little afraid of him because all the trainings I have done over the years look like nothing infront of him.

I charged towards him but he caught my wrist stopping me, the knife hovering just above his heart. I brought my other hand up and grabbed his wrist trying to yank out of his grip. "Let. Me. Go. You want Alaska then go talk to my dad, negotiate not like we are going to give you but still stop hiding like a fucking coward behind your brother."

He twisted my wrist, a cry escaping my mouth as the knife fell down. He leaned down, his eyes blazing with rage. "I am doing you a favor by not meeting your father. The moment I see him I am going to shoot him in the heart and watch him bleed to death."

"Why do you hate him so much?! What did he do to you?!"

"Don't act like you don't know."

"I don't!"

He turned me around in his hold, pressing my back to his front and holding both my hand against my front.

His lips found my ear. "I am not supposed to answer to you. Now stop being a brat and go back inside. Don't force me to lock you in the dungeon."

I wiggled trying to loosen myself from him. "But why the fuck did you kill Nikolas?!"

His grip around my wrist tightened even more and he pressed himself to me even more if possible, I could feel his muscles. "For the hundredth time, princess, I didn't kill him! Now stop accusing me of something I didn't do."

"Then who did if not you?!"

"The fuck am I supposed to know?" And he loosened his hold around my wrist and pushed me forward.

And that fucking bastard, I don't know if he did it on purpose or not but he was still holding his dagger pointing forwards and I don't know how but as I turned around to face him, I fucking sliced my forearm on it.

I whimpered loudly and clutched my forearm as blood started to trickle down. Fuck, it pained like hell.

Even with the excruciating pain I lifted my head to glare at him and for a moment something akin to guilt flashed across his face before he masked his emotions again.

"That's what happens when you don't obey me."

All the pent up emotions surged forward and tears welled up in my eyes. No. I won't cry in front of him. Never.

When he took a step forward I stepped back afraid he is going to attack considering he was still holding the dagger in his hand. He noticed that and he tucked it away immediately.

And then his hand shot forward and he grabbed my uninjured hand and started to drag me inside the house.

I had lost the energy to fight anymore. All I could care about was how much it was paining.

And I don't think so he is going to do something about it.

Chapter completion on: 8/6/22
Published on: 25/6/22