A DEN ALSO HAVE BEAUTIFUL LIONS.

✓ Riya

“She's waking up!” A distant voice called as I regained consciousness, my head banging and my throat parched. I slowly opened my eyes, my blurry sight sharpening into a very handsome man with dark wavy hair, the most beautiful grey eyes, and the most perfect features I've ever seen.

And, also a woman with an almost identical features hovering over me.

My eyes darted around the room, my breathing quickening. There was no escape. Brandon's men had caught me. I was in his den now, and I was doomed. I stiffened, my body turning cold.

I started to sit, but winced and gripped the sheet tightly due a sharp pain that shot through my body.

“Stay back! You'll worsen your wounds!” The man shouted, and I was surprised at his outburst. But, perhaps he was a nice one.

“Please, can you let me go?! I'll give you anything you want. Please, huh?” With tears threatening to fall, I wriggled up into a sitting position, ignoring the pain this time.

The man glanced at the woman, shock etched on both of their faces.

He cleared his throat and smiled at me, perching on the bed, and taking my hands, which I wrung free immediately. “Calm down, Riya."

"How did you know my name?!"

He suddenly seemed disoriented and cleared his throat awkwardly, but just continued without answering, "We are not going to hurt you, Riya. You are safe here. All we want to do is help you. Right, Maria?”

Maria nodded, clearly uninterested. How were they going to help me, when they're only going to devour every piece of me at last?!

The man stood up to lean against a wall, crossing his arms on his chest. “I know this is not the right time, but I think it may help you relax. I'm Nathaniel, and she is Maria, my sister. And, I'm also your—”

“Nonsense! Who cares?!” I snapped at him and immediately regretted it. Why did I?! What if I had worsened the situation?! How on earth is knowing them my business, anyways?!

I turned my gaze towards Maria, who had left to sit on a couch, near the door. All I have to do is grab onto any last straw, right?

“Please, Maria! Help me! You seem like a feminist.” No, she doesn't. “And, you wouldn't want Brandon to hurt a fellow woman, would you?!”

Maria grunted as she twitched in her seat, her expression as cold as ever. “I have no idea what you're talking about.” She looked sincerely confused, but all I could think about was that it was also a facade.

“I'm begging you! Please, Maria!” I shifted in my position and the wound on my side strained, which caused me to wince loudly.

Nathaniel rushed over and climbed onto the bed again. “Hey, take a break! You'll kill yourself at this rate you're going.”

“Seems as though she's trying so hard.” Maria snorted.

“I'd be better off dead than become Brandon's play toy, and that's why I'm begging you, Maria! Let me go, please!” I pleaded, my chest tightening at my helplessness. Couldn't they at least heed my plea.

Maria arched her eyebrows, and glanced at Nathaniel, raising both of her hands in the air as a gesture of surrender. “Nathaniel, save me here. I know nothing of what you- know-who is talking about. I mean, Brandon's not—” A call interrupted her, and she stood up hurriedly, leaving her words hanging in the air as she left.

Since I couldn't get a chance with Maria, hence I returned my attention to Nathaniel. “Please, Nathaniel! You seem like a good person! Can you help me?! I'll pay you back! I promise!”

“With what?!” He asked, glancing over me.

“Whatever you want, I promise you!" My skin curled at this flirtatious looks, but I needed to find a way out before Brandon arrived, and I could only do that by convincing the duo.

Nathaniel chuckled and cleared his throat, then he bent over me, tousling my hair, before he started to leave.

He reached the entrance, and then he paused. “Don't be too scared, and calm your nerves. You're not going to be here for too long, Riya. Trust me.” He winked, grinning mischievously.

“You're in good hands.” He added, and a quick shiver ran through my spine.

I need to find a way out of here! I could lose anything, but not the only good thing that I have left!

As soon as he was out of the door, I heaved a relieved sigh, and sprang up. I pulled out the IV passed through my veins, and wiped off the blood slowly dripping down my arm, with my wrist.

A slight dizziness enveloped me and I staggered to the back a bit, dropping to the floor and holding my throbbing head.

My hand went to my side, for it seemed as though the wound on my side had been ripped open, only to feel that a thick red substance had soaked the fabric on my side.

I pushed myself up, my body aching all over as I waggled like a duck to the door. I peeped out of the door, and the hallway outside was empty. I staggered through the hallway and arrived at a long staircase, not sure what to do next, when suddenly fast footsteps began to make their way up the stairs.

My breathing seized for a passing second, but I quickly catch myself, and bolted back to the hallway and into one of the rooms lining it up on both sides.

I jammed the door shut, turned the door knob locked, and rested my back on it, squeezing shut my eyes, and trying to regulate my racing heart.

“Help me, oh help me, good goddess.” I chanted quietly, like a mantra.

I sighed heavily as the footsteps receded, opening my eyes to a room filled with lots of rare antiques I knew had been collected over decades, placed on different shelves across the room.

Everything in the room felt like royalty, something Brandon couldn't own. Does he steal too?

While I looked around the room, my eyes suddenly caught a figure-

A tall and handsome figure- and I gasped sharply, my hands flying to my mouth.