Stench of Darkness.

The masked captor of hers dropped her gently on the ground leaving a fuzzy, deep impression on her. Which she immediately slapped away. She felt the warm moist texture of the white marbled floor that was slippery beneath her. Instinctively gaining her footing to avoid falling butt-faced down.

"Be done with kitten, quickly. I am expecting you early for supper or you can forget your meal."

His abstruse amber eyes twinkled with mischief under the luminous blue lights of the waterfall. Hazel ignored the inkling she felt of him hearing her the first notes of hunger pangs. Enjoying the peaceful feeling of her environment, even for a moment. Because faith was unpredictable and she might never enjoy again. Gone were the days she would live as if she controlled faith.

Life was a mystery. It twisted and turned, bending it's strings of fate to the path it chose.

The rhythmic downpour of the waterfall was soothing and calm. Hazel was lured to push her captor out just to jump into the waterfall for a refreshing bath that she so desperately needed. But on second thought the subtle glare she received were getting harsher.

She wasn't afraid of tearing those humans apart apart. Even though her powers were snuffed out at the moment. Her combat skills was devastatingly brutal enough to harm, if not kill them.

It was just that how could she hit them knowing fully well that it was just a mere misunderstanding about something that was so insignificant and can be straightened out so easily?

Though her possessive nature wanted her to display him being her rightful property with no thought of sharing. Especially how they were openly ogling his shirtless body. Something she hadn't dare to do yet. She decided against it and only felt the need to avoid them, fast.

"Wait..."

She called out. Her hand subconsciously gripping his toned, strong forearm. Before she visibly flinched. Recoiling her hands as if she had been scalded.

"What kitten? Need help?"

She bit her lips from hurling curses at him. Especially when the look in his eyes showed he knew exactly the situation he shoved her into.

" I can take care of myself. Please order them away, human"

Her sweet voice held an underlying threat which was easily missed by the unsuspecting women that actively engaged themselves in driving holes at the back of her skull.

"You don't need pampering, kitten? Just relaxing in the warm bath while you are served with a soothing massage and skincare women apparently enjoys?"

His voice held a low, sultry quality to it. Visibly enjoying her hesistance beneath his mask. His eyes were darker under the insufficient lighting of the waterfalls.

"I.."

Tempted by the offer. Hazel was shaken up a bit in her decision. Lured by being pampered after a year of horrid experiences. That sounded like a luxury she didn't want to miss.

Coughing a bit, she steeled her resolve though her heart was bleeding, to decline.

"Oh kitten... Don't tell me you want my help?"

Hazel choked on her saliva along with the hushed gasps of the maids beside them. Her pink sapphire eyes widened in horror. Subconsciously stepping back, crossing her arms over her white enormous gown that made her look rounder and plumper than normal.

"No way! Do you want to die, human?"

The harsh glares on her increased in tenfold. Her captor stalked towards her. Invading the gap she gave between them, lowering his head sightly to meet hers.

The sudden powerful stride he made stole Hazel's gaze on the place she had been trying to avoid. Her gaze leisurely strolling from his Adam's apple that had sheen of sweat slowly gliding down his masculine neck to his chiselled collarbones gently pooling at the slight depth before the drop slides out to his defined chest. Slowly moving to those well-defined abs that seemed to be sculpted by the gods before disappearing into the v-line of his trousers.

The simple quick movement was all slowed down in her shocked gaze.

"Terraheim to kitten... Might as well give me a penny for your thoughts?"

"I...Why...I "

Struggling for words. Hazel's face turned red. Her instincts informed her that her actions signed an eternal hatred collection award. Any meaningful relationship she might have harbored for these maids to gain information of her bearings were shattered and the glean in his eyes made her wonder whether it was his plan all along and he played her to it.

Bastard.

"You should try to be careful about cursing at me infront of them. You see it is treason from where I am. It will be hard trying to stop a stupid brawl."

He softly whispered into her left ear. Retaining her string of oafish cusses leaning on a glare filled with savagery that could make an ordinary human dream of nightmares.

Lifting his head up, " Too bad... I really would enjoy the soothing pleasure of the bath with you, kitten. But I would like you to rest more. You are weirdly fragile in the limbs, I fear you will break. Be quick so we can feed you. Maybe then will you stop being a feral, unfed kitten to a fat,nice one, See you later, Kitten."

He sighed in regret. For a moment sounding so sincere and heartfelt. But Hazel knew they were all lies.

She calmly interjected with a similar fake smile, her next words dripping with sarcasm. " Thank you for your undeserving concern for me. I am indepted to you."

Unmoving shadows that coexisted with the light. Stretched themselves circling around him before engulfing him in, like a black hole...

Shadow manipulation.

Hazel was slightly alarmed. Not only because of this discovery but...

Rather the stench of decay and...

Darkness.

Dual powers? Shadow and Darkness.

Never in the recorded history of Elvidia had a phenomenon like that existed. A person can only have one of the other. It was an unspoken rule in all the texts of Elvidia she still remembered. Darkness ability itself was an extreme rarity.

Her eyes widened.

The only shady sect that possessed the ability and was the primary cause of her Kingdom's imminent doom was the Dark Foxes according to Sirae.

Did her mate have a hand in all this directly or indirectly? Before she could ask.

He was gone.

Leaving her with the women who were surprisingly cowering in fear.

'Is it because of his powers? Wasn't he their master? It was supposed to be a normal occurance.... Unless he never does such things and was only luring her interest.'

But why?

'So you can be a willing captive.'

Her subconscious gnawed at her.

Whether it was intentional or not.

Something was certain...

He had indeed succeeded in piquing her interest.

While she was assorbed in her thoughts. The three women were shaking in terrifying fear. Gasping to take in air greedily. They felt uncomfortably wet on their clothes from the pungent smell of urine that escaped as they fought an unseen battle for their lives.

A question ringing in each of their minds.

'Did the Duke just direct his murderous aura at me?'

"What is that smell?"

Then the question from the woman who caused it all, startled them.