Chapter 98 Liza #2
I had a nagging feeling I was being watched. I scanned the room for any sign of cameras. It didn’t take long for me to spot the small, unassuming devices tucked away in the corners of the room.
“Great, just great,” I said under my breath. I was a bird in a cage, trapped and monitored every second of the day.
The large bookshelves lining the walls caught my attention. I went back to looking at the books. One stood out among the rest: The Dark History of Sex Toys. Curiosity piqued, I pulled it from the shelf and started flipping through the pages.
Holy fucking shit. I couldn’t believe a book like this even existed. My gaze stayed glued to the detailed illustrations and descriptions as I imagined Ty and me using some of these toys. After the dream I had, I was still horny, and this book wasn’t helping at all.
“Focus,” I admonished myself, forcing my thoughts back to the task at hand. I couldn’t afford to get distracted by my stupid sex drive right now. There was too much at stake.
Footsteps approached the door, and I quickly shoved the book back onto the shelf, trying to act casual as the lock clicked and the door opened.
“Here’s your lunch,” a female voice said, cutting through my anxious thoughts.
I turned to see the same woman from before—the one I’d bowled over in the hallway. She looked even smaller and more fragile up close. Darn it. I didn’t want to feel guilty on top of everything else.
“Thank you. I’m sorry about yesterday, by the way. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She gave me a small smile and nodded, setting the tray down on a nearby table. “It’s okay. I understand. I just hope that one day you’ll see the master is a good man.”
Her words caught me off guard. The master? Did she really believe that? Was she a captive too, or was there something more going on here?
My curiosity got the better of me. “Are you a captive as well?”
She looked genuinely shocked at my question. “No. The master saved my life. I owe him a great debt.”
My eyebrows knitted together as I tried to make sense of her words. Was she truly happy to be here, serving this man who was holding me against my will?
“Can I ask your name?” I asked, hoping to learn more about her.
She gave me a hesitant smile. “It's Anna,”
“Nice to meet you, Anna. I’m Liza.”
“Likewise.” Her eyes softened. “I hope you enjoy your lunch.”
The word master echoed in my mind as Anna motioned to leave the room. It didn’t sit well with me, and I couldn’t shake my unease. Why would someone insist on being called that? What kind of power did he hold over people like Anna?
“How did he save your life?” I asked before she could disappear through the door.
Anna hesitated and bit her lip. “I was in a bad situation before I came here. The master found me, took me in, and gave me a purpose. I can never repay him for that.”
I studied her face, searching for any hint of deception or fear. I found none. Her words seemed genuine. Heartfelt, even. How could that be? How could the man who kidnapped me also be a savior to this girl?
“I understand why you’re afraid,” Anna said softly. “Please, trust me when I say the master is a good man. He has his reasons for doing what he does, even if they don’t always make sense.”
If he was such a good man, why did he kidnap people and lock them up? There had to be more to the story.
“Enjoy your lunch.” Anna gave me one last reassuring smile before she left and closed the door behind her.
Alone again, I stared down at the food, my appetite momentarily forgotten as I pondered Anna’s words. Who was this mysterious master? What had he done to earn such loyalty from her?
I picked up my fork, hesitating for a moment before taking a bite of the tender chicken.
The rich flavors exploded on my taste buds as I ate, though I was reluctant to admit it was delicious.
In front of me lay a salad mixed with fresh vegetables topped with a tangy dressing, a heavenly piece of grilled chicken cooked to perfection, and a side of creamy mashed potatoes that melted in my mouth.
The aromas wafting from the plate were irresistible, but still, I kept reminding myself that I shouldn’t be enjoying this, no matter how delicious it was.
“Ugh.” I took another bite. “It’s not fair that the food is so good when I’m stuck in this situation.”
Sometime later, long after my meal had settled, the door to the study opened, revealing the same guard who had brought me here. He stood tall and imposing, his arms crossed over his broad chest like usual. I studied him carefully, trying to gauge his intentions.
“Time to go back to your room,” he said gruffly and motioned for me to follow him. I hesitated only for a moment before deciding to comply, figuring I’d use this opportunity to learn more about this master and his motivations.
“Can I ask you something?” I blurted as we walked down the elegant hallway, our footsteps echoing softly on the polished marble floors. The guard glanced at me, his expression unreadable.
“Sure. Shoot.” He sounded almost bored.
“Are you indebted to the master, too? Or do you really just not care that you’re helping keeping someone captive who’s done nothing wrong?”
He didn’t break his stride or give any indication that he was bothered by my blunt inquiry. After a moment, he sighed and said, “I do owe him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about your situation.”
“Then, why help him?” I asked, trying not to sound whiny.
“Because he saved my life once,” he replied without hesitation. “In this world, loyalty is everything.”
His words echoed Anna’s earlier statement. What kind of man could inspire such devotion from two completely different people?
“Is what you’re doing worth it, though?” I was genuinely curious. “Keeping someone captive like this?”
“Look.” He stopped in front of the door to my room.
“I won’t pretend to understand everything that’s going on or why you’ve been brought here, but I do know that the master isn’t a cruel man.
He’s got his reasons for doing what he does.
If you give him a chance, maybe you’ll see that, too.
” The guard’s words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
“You’re lucky. If any of the people wanting that bounty on your head had gotten to you, you’d likely be somebody’s fuck toy right now. ”
My stomach twisted at the thought, and bile rose in my throat. The idea of being captured and used like some disposable object made my skin crawl. It didn’t make sense. If that was all this master guy wanted from me, why was I here? Why hadn’t he just done whatever he wanted with me already?
He stepped aside so I could walk into the bedroom, which I did. No point in trying to fight him again.
“Then, why am I here?” I asked defiantly. “Why go through all this trouble if not to use me as an omega?”
He leaned against the doorframe, his arms taking up their usual residence over his broad chest as he regarded me with an unreadable expression. “That’s not for me to say. All I can tell you is that the master has his reasons.”
I recoiled instinctively, clenching my jaw, and doing my best not to let the full impact of his statement show on my face. Even though he was trying to make me feel better, in his own blunt and brutal way, it had the opposite effect.
If anything, the thought of what might have happened if things had gone differently only served to heighten my fear and confusion.
Before I said anything else, a sudden crackle filled the room, followed by the familiar voice that had been haunting me ever since my abduction, this time over the speaker.
“Enough.” The stern tone left no room for argument. “Leave her alone.”
I glanced at the guard, who looked unconcerned. He simply shrugged before turning to leave the room.
On the one hand, I was glad the conversation was over. On the other, I had been cheated out of the answers I so desperately sought.
Once the door clicked shut behind him, I slumped against the wall, momentarily overwhelmed by my situation.
The guard’s words echoed in my head, reminding me just how precarious my position really was.
I didn’t know who the master was or why he had taken me, but I couldn’t afford to waste any more time trying to figure it out.
I pushed away from the wall. “Who are you?” I shouted. I didn’t know if he was still listening, but it was worth a shot.
“Patience,” he said in my head after a moment. “All will be revealed in due time.”
“Due time?” I was getting sick of all this evasiveness. “I’ve been kidnapped, held captive, and now your staff is telling me I’m lucky because I could’ve ended up as someone’s sex toy? Sorry if I don’t find that particularly comforting.”
“Your anger is understandable,” he said, his voice calm. “Your situation is not as hopeless as it seems. You are here for a reason, and that reason has nothing to do with the twisted fantasies of those who seek to harm you.”
“Then, what is it?” My pulse pounded in my ears. “Why am I here?”
“Like I said before, patience.” His infuriatingly calm reply only exasperated me even more. “In time, everything will become clear.”
“Fine.” I wasn’t going to get more answers right now. “Don’t expect me to just sit here quietly and wait for you to decide I’m ready.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said with a hint of amusement. “After all, what would be the fun in that?”
“Who are you?” I asked again, slapping my palm against the wall. “Why don’t you come out and show yourself instead of hiding behind speakers?”
“I promise that tomorrow, over dinner, we will have a proper face-to-face introduction, and I will answer all your questions.”
“Tomorrow?” I couldn’t keep the incredulity from my voice. “You expect me to wait another day just to find out who you are? Why should I trust anything you say?”
“It’s not like you have much of a choice in the matter, but I can assure you that I am a man of my word. Tomorrow, you’ll get your answers. Get some rest.”
How could I rest when I was locked up in a strange place with no idea why I was here or who was keeping me here?
Despite my racing thoughts, the exhaustion from the past few days finally caught up with me. Reluctantly, I crawled into the bed. While I waited for sleep, I tried to focus on anything other than my current predicament, especially since tomorrow promised a confrontation with my mysterious captor.