Planning Escape.

'Wow...'

A woman with a long lavender colored hair, donned with a dark violet, Russex styled dress with beautiful laces on the sleeves and collars, leaving a small portion of her creamy chest open, reflected back from the golden framed, full body sized mirror. That shimmered under the brightly lit room from a crystal powered lamp.

The full moon was already high in the sky, it's lights streaming into the ancient looking room from the two windows.

It was unknown how long it had been built.

This was a different room from the one she woke up in. Which she was certainly grateful for.

She just wasn't ready to see her captor yet.

Hazel stared at herself in the mirror. Inwardly pleased she had evaded one of the most embarrassing moment she had ever come across.

The memory triggered a slight tremor.

She was once again thrown back to the weight of discovering the maids responsible for her bath soaked from their bodily fluids.

Forced into the situation of indulging in the twisted urge of actively dissing them for their ill luck or maintaining misaligned courtesy while acting disinterested.

She constrained herself leaning to the latter leaving after the bath with a distorted smile.

The new two maids incharge of her dressing were nice.

Abigail was a sweetheart as much as she dislike the idea of fancying a human.

A young dark haired girl with an innocent turquoise gaze on a slightly thin face. Who tried to suppress her admiration from her expressive eyes but undoubtedly failed to.

Her movement were hesitant and inexperienced as she chose the jewelry for Hazel but it held a tinge of childish eagerness.

Hazel suspected she was newly employed because most of the work was done by Nana, an older maid who was probably in her late fifties. Her matured gaze was soft. It made Hazel feel warm, seeing the subtle smile from the woman who dressed her as if she were her own.

It made Hazel avoid throwing a tantrum of being dressed like a doll when it was already night. Leaving her to relax and ponder on more important issues.

"Nana, how many days have I been here?"

She cringed a bit at how unnatural her Norsches sounded in her ears. One of the main languages of the human civilization. Sirae taught her before arriving.

How Sirae knew while she was still in her body was baffling but Hazel left the discussion for another day.

That's if Sirae will still come back.

She suddenly felt sick.

The old woman didn't seem to notice her blunder. Instead smiling warmly. Brushing her hair while shifting for Abigail to place a beautiful red sapphire jeweled necklace on her pale, dainty neck. The necklace glimmered under the moonlight richly complimenting her strange eyes.

"Two days, Milady. Not to worry tomorrow you will be leaving for the Russex duchy with the rest of the Duke's men."

Her eyes widened as she inconspicuously drew in a gasp.

"What?"

The brush paused on her hair. The warm brown eyes of Nana stared at her from the mirror. Abigail clasped the necklace's hook soundlessly on her neck. Shifting back a bit to admire her work. Seemingly forgetting she was a maid rather than an artist.

"You were unconscious for two days, Milady. The Duke brought you back covered in blood. So much blood we thought you were dead, Milady. But he placed you in his room. For your recovery. We couldn't attend to you until you woke up. It was his orders. But now you are awake and we'll when the Hunters arrive in the morning of tomorrow you will head to the Duchy's Castle across the border and you can finally be at peace."

That was the longest sentence Nana spoke since she came to dress Hazel.

And it left Hazel with so many insights to her situation. According to the knowledge she possessed from the humans' world.

Firstly, if all the men she saw when coming out from the Paths were the men Nana were talking about.

She was in quandary.

There presence would make it impossible to escape in her weak situation especially when she was in an already difficult situation with her captor.

Who's strength was not to be taken lightly.

Talk more of when she entered his domain.

So for her to escape...

She had to do it this night!

Her eyes drifted to the wall clock by her left.

The time taunting her.

It was ten o'clock in the night.

She was a Night creature she shouldn't be afraid of the darkness.

She gulped subconsciously.

"We are done, Milady."

Hazel smiled. Not wanting to show them her discomfort.

She waved her hand looking back at the mirror.

For a moment, the beautiful dress she wore felt like a cage.

A restriction for her movement to be unable to glide and flee in the night's territory.

She looked no more than a beautiful bird trapped in a cage.

"Milady, if it interests you, I believe that you've found favor in Master's eyes. His eyes always trails you wherever you go and he asks for your well-being while watching over you without rest or food for a whole two days."

Abigail gushed out carried away by her childish fanatics of princesses and charming princes with a white horse, falling in love.

Nana covered her mouth, twisting her ears while bowing lower, apologetic.

"Please do forgive her, Milady. She is rather extremely childish and untrained. It won't repeat again. She indulges in fairytaled books filling her head with immature knowledge. I will discipline her. Please do forgive her."

Nana rushed her words, frightened.

Hazel sighed, her surprised gaze shrouded with disappointment before melting away.

When Nana lovingly cared for her she was only doing her job with no attachment, whatsoever. To make her feel at ease and avoid punishing her. Not because she felt a motherly affection for her.

Losing her mother before she really got to know her, made her fall into this trap.

She was a monster.

Her mother didn't deem her important to stay alive for when her father and brothers died. So it wasn't a surprise no one will either.

She waved her hand, wearisomely.

Relaxing her back to the comfy chair.

Her mind moving to the words Abigail said.

Favor? More like a tool to be used.

His eyes trailing at her? Probably scared she would flee.

Asking for her well-being? Definitely afraid she would die from how weak she was in his eyes.

Her eyes crinkled at the sides. A brilliant smile on her kissable lips.

She wondered how white his hair would turn out to be when she escaped this night.

That would be a beautiful sight.

Him losing his composure.

She stood up abruptly, but her movement effortlessly graceful.

Her pink sapphire eyes shone in the light of the ancient room. The blue moonlight illuminating behind her back. The light exquisite a contrast to her dark thoughts.

The two maids stared at her. Lost in the beauty in front of their eyes. Unable to speak again. Suddenly feeling self-conscious in her presence.

"Is the Duke ready for our dinner? Am quite famished."

Her beautiful, stern gaze sharp. A subtle smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Her demeanor that of any natural born aristocrat. She fluttered the fan in her hands. Her aura suffocating however accommodating.

Inwardly, pissed off why she had to doll herself at this time of the night.

She felt so constricted. Resisting the urge to rip off her dress.

"Erehmn.. I forgot to inform you.. Milady. The Duke is waiting..."

Hazel toke a step forward, Each movement fluidly, elegant and unhurried.

She adapted to the role she gave herself easily.

Afterall, in the barbarian she was now. There was once a princess who would soon be Queen.

Heading down the small stairway of the inn.

'Its time to treat her Mate a painful lesson on weakness.'