Beginning of an unknown journey

Audrey stood over the grave of her grandmother all by herself wondering what went wrong.

She was more than devastated that the blazing hope she was clinging to had bursted right on her face.

Audrey was hurting deeply but had ran out of tears to express how she was feeling.

She wondered what she was going to do with her life henceforth. No family, no lover, no friend. Her world was indeed lonely and dark.

A man stood few meters away from Audrey. It is time for her to fulfill her part of the bargain. He knew how tenacious Lord Adonis was and Audrey might never make it back alive once she started working for him so he allowed her a moment to grieve her family.

After a while that seemed like forever Audrey slowly turned around to go back to empty house when she noticed the presence of someone.

"Maybe he is here to pay respect to his loved one too" she thought within herself. She could relate to his pain but she wasn't in any position to sympathize with anyone so she walked past him.

"Audrey" the voice called out.

Audrey paused not sure she heard him right.

"Did you just called my name?" She asked curiously, wondering how the man knew her.

"Yes Audrey, I did" the man responded raising his face up so she could see him properly.

"Azrail is that you?" Audrey took a few steps towards him. "I lost her Azrail!"

"She is gone" Audrey continued.

Azrail was quiet and had a frosty aura around him. Audrey touched his hands but they were very cold. Audrey instantly felt a sense of deja vu.

"Have we met before Azrail?" Audrey had a lot of questions to ask. The events at the bridge came rushing.

"Yes we have Audrey " Azrail replied in a manner that shows his patience was running out fast.

"We met at the hospital remember!" His eyes flashed a crimson red in a twinkle of an eye.

Audrey was frightened for a moment but quickly comported herself.

"I mean before our encounter at the hospital?" She further enquired

"Enough questions Audrey, it's time for you to fulfill your part of the deal." Azrail groaned as he couldn't suppress his displeasure this time.

He had a time target and had no time to play words with her. He must deliver the human maids that night otherwise he might get into trouble with Lord Adonis.

Audrey knew in as much as she had lost her grandmother. A promise was a debt that had to be paid. She couldn't bear to be ungrateful to the man who fed her when she was hungry and treated her well but she couldn't understand why he had to bring that up when he obviously knew she was grieving.

Just then, it hit Audrey. Azrail didn't know her house or the way to the cemetery, how then did he find her? She opened her mouth to ask Azrail how he found her but she was met by cold faced Azrail gesturing to her to keep quiet.

"No more questions Audrey, let's go" commanded Azrail.

"Where are we going?"

There was no response from Azrail.

"I need to get my clothes too" Audrey added walking behind Azrail.

Azrail stopped on his tracks and walked back to Audrey.

"I know you have a lot of questions Audrey but unfortunately I don't intend answering them." Time is not on our side, let's join others, our master is not so patient" Azrail added.

To say Audrey was confused was an understatement.

"Who are the others? And who do Azrail refers to as master?" She was puzzled.

If anything, Azrail had only succeeded in confusing her more. She knew she agreed that to work for him but not knowing the specifics of the job was weird.

Moreover, she does not understand this cold aura around him or was it because they were at the cemetery. The Azrail she knew was kind hearted or so she thought. She only knew him for few hours, even Desmond that she knew for days eventually betrayed her.

"Audrey, you're lagging behind" Azrail reminded her without looking back.

Audrey knew she had nothing to return to. if Azrail needed her, she might as well just go with him. What could be more terrifying than what she had gone through anyways?

She quickened her pace and caught up with Azrail. Outside the cemetery, she found two luxurious buses waiting for them.

Azrail told Audrey to get into the bus, after she did. She met other young girls who were blindfolded. She took a seat and Azrail walked up to her stretching his arm. This bought another deja vu to Audrey. She recalled the smiling face that had offered her a bottle of water at the hospital.

"Take this and blindfold yourself" Azrail said in a cold tone.

Audrey did as she was told and soon the bus started moving.

Audrey sat besides a girl who was apparently shivering. Audrey held her hand to calm her down.

"Don't be scared" Audrey whispered to the shivering girl.

"Keep your mouth if you want to live another day" Azrail voice could be heard from the front seat.

There was a deafening silence as the journey to the unknown continued.

Audrey knew if Azrail wanted to kill them, he would've done it earlier but seeing he is taking them to a place means he has a plan for them.

But why young girls? She pounder. Was Azrail going to trick them into prostitution?

One thing Audrey was sure of is that Azrail was a mysterious man and to get answers to all of the questions in her heart. She had to play it by the ear.

The bus eventually stopped after a long ride notifying the passengers that they have reached their destination.

The girls were instructed to take out their blinds and step out. A total of sixteen girls came out of the two buses. They stood before a hefty and dark mansion. There was no light and most importantly it had a gruesome aura attached to it.

The girls were panicking except for Audrey.

At this point, she had nothing to lose and knew what is to come will eventually come.

"I welcome you all to the Palace of Ice and soul." You have one mission here and that is to serve Lord Adonis diligently. No mistake or sluggishness will be condoned. Let me also sound this notice of warning, as we had come through for you in your desperate times, your very best is expected. Anything short of this will lead you to your death. Lord Adonis is death himself and leaves no stone unturned when it comes to discipline. You have been sternly warned."

The girls panicked.

"The good thing is your wages will be paid at when due and every other things you'll be needing will be provided!! Is that understood? Azrail shouted.

"Yes sir" the girls chorused.

They filed up on a single line and was lead into the mansion.

As Audrey stepped into the frosty mansion, she had a premonition that her previous experiences were just the tip of the iceberg. The real deal lies here in this unfamiliar and cold place that housed uncertainty and fear.