Prologue

The door slammed shut with a resonating sound. He heard her pick up the iron bar from the floor to lock the door from the outside. She placed the bar across the door and he thought he would hear her footsteps as she'd run away but instead something hit the door with a thud. Her back. He heard her sliding down the door to be seated on the dirty ground just like he was. Everything became silent again. The constant sound of a drop of water hitting the stone somewhere in the darkness invaded the space again.

But he could still hear her erratic breathing through the door. Her green eyes had held so much fear while transfixed on him only a few seconds ago. Green, like emeralds. It probably wasn't a coincidence if she was here, in his territory, in his mansion, in his home. She obviously hadn't been expecting to find him down here, which meant she hadn't been supposed to be down here. Curious beautiful little creature.

Beautiful. This was an understatement. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes upon. He could still clearly see her long curly dark hair cascading around her pale face. Her full raspberry lips slightly parted, her chest rising up and down at the rhythm of her erratic breathing. Her emerald eyes wide open, frightened. And her scent, he could still smell her through his nostrils.

He was brought back to reality when he heard her standing up and hurriedly walking away. And he was left once more completely alone. He looked at the familiar stoned walls around him. Weak, he was so weak. If only he would have his full strength he would have escaped a long time ago. He slightly moved and the sound of the rings of the chains restraining him hitting each other resonated and ricocheted against the walls. He slowly and painfully stood up, helping himself by holding his weight against the wall behind him. He used the little strength that was left in him to carry his weight and slowly moved around the cell. It was the only thing he could do to try to keep his muscles moving so he wouldn't get any weaker.

He walked toward the wooden door on the opposite wall and stopped when his chains pulled him back. They were long enough for him to move a little around the cell but too short for him to reach the door or the wall facing him. Every step he took caused the chains to ripple noisily. After only a few minutes he sat back down on the ground with a grunt.