It was dusk when Elle finally got off work and was heading home. Her legs ached, but she walked steadily, motivated by thoughts of soaking in the bath and then curling up in bed with a good book.

Within a few blocks of her apartment, uneasiness began creeping up upon her. It felt like she was being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up despite the warm night air. While only half convinced her mind was tired, she quickened her pace anyway.

The faster she walked, the more the street lights illuminating her path seemed to flicker. Then all at once they darkened completely. The moon's soft blue glow took over casting shadows over the street as Elle broke into a run. Soon though, even the moon was overtaken by a passing dark cloud and she found herself running in darkness.

Suddenly her legs felt as if she were trying to run through water. Though she poured all her strength into trying to move her legs, they barely responded to her mind's urgent need to flee. The sensation crawled up the rest of her body until Elle found herself almost completely paralyzed. She opened her mouth to scream, but even her voice no longer obeyed her.

Wide eyes starred into the darkness as she heard the light rustling of clothing. As her vision adjusted, she saw the silhouette of a black figure approaching her. Chills ran down her spine as fear grabbed a hold of her senses. The night had turned ominous and Elle felt entirely helpless.

The clouds finally freed the moonlight as they drifted past the sky, but the street was now minus one young woman. The other people on the street went about their business, blind to the fact anything mysterious had just happened. The street lights lit up once again and the air stood still, without so much a breath of wind.

Elle felt her body being pulled swiftly through nothingness by an unseen force. Still unable to scream, the only sound she heard was her own heart beating wildly. A blast of air halted the pulling sensation and before she knew it, her bottom came to rest on something soft.

The veil of blackness lifted as her surrounding came into focus. She looked down to find herself seated on the edge of a king sized mattress complete with a four post bed frame, canopy, and matching curtains. Several large pillows lay in front of the headboard and gladly welcomed Elle's spinning head as she collapsed backward.

To the right side of the bed was a white marble table adorned with a decorative vase filled with fresh roses. She could tell they had only recently been picked from the sweet scent they wafted into the room. It was a welcoming and calming scent that soothed her jumbled mind.

To the left was a large window that let it bright starlight and moonlight alike. The sky itself was a velvety dark blue and each celestial body sparkled so clearly against the dark backdrop, like tiny gems sewn onto the night goddess's cloak. It held the sort of beauty that wasn't visible from the streets of a bustling city.

As for the rest of the room's decor, a large trunk lay at the foot of the bed, against the wall in front of the trunk stood a wardrobe, and covering the floor was a large, intricately woven area rug. Everything in the room had an air of refinement, each piece boasting its master craftsmanship in a way nothing from Elle's dinky one bedroom apartment could.

Elle found it strange to be surrounded by such well cared for antiques. She hadn't recalled any shops or museums near her apartment that carried such furniture, so she doubted she had accidentally wandered into such a place. Still, it was the only probable conclusion she arrived at.

She crawled off the bed and approached the door. She pressed down on the old fashioned handle and in vain tried to open it. It was locked.

Disheartened, but not defeated, she left the door and approached the window. She unlatched the two panes and opened them. A warm breeze fluttered the curtains behind her and blew her hair back as Elle placed her hands on the sill and leaned her head outside. Spread out in front of her was a vast sea of greenery; well attended gardens surrounded the building and out further a dense forest encased the castle-like abode.

Now the looming fear in her chest that she wasn't anywhere near home sunk in. She couldn't see the glow of city lights from any direction.

"Oh…" Her voice trembled and tears welled in her blue eyes as they gazed out toward the horizon. Even if she could escape, she had absolutely no idea where to run.

Needing a moment to think, she stepped back from the window and let the wind soothe her cheeks and hair. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing the air to calm her until her eyes dried and her spirit calmed. There was no use in getting upset, it would only weaken her and in a situation like this, she knew she had to remain strong.

"Have you had enough time to acclimate yourself my dear?" A deep voice interrupted Elle's thoughts.

She whirled around quickly and stared wide-eyed on the figure that had entered the room without making a sound.

A man stood before her clad in elegant black clothing and wearing a devilish grin across his face. His raven black hair was swept neatly back and his dark eyes watched her intently.

"Who are you?" She asked nervously, slightly wary of anyone who wore all their clothing in the same color regardless of how good they looked it in.

"Mias," he said as he continued grinning at her. "And you?"

"Elle," she responded.

His mouth widened even further, delighted by the sound of her name.

Elle gathered her courage and stepped forward with more questions. "Where am I? Are you the one who brought me here?"

"Yes, I brought you here," he answered calmly. "As to where "here" is, I doubt you'd be able to place yourself even if I told you."

"What do you mean by that?" Elle asked slowly.

Mias chuckled. "Let's just say you're worlds away from the lands you know."

His response brought more dread than comfort to her, and that only annoyed Elle more than it depressed her. She clenched her fists in frustration and scowled at him. "Take me back."

"Hm?" Mias pretended he hadn't heard her.

"Take me back this instant!" Elle demanded.

He raised an eyebrow with intrigue and took a step forward. "You're quite brazen to address me in such a manner."

Elle stood her ground as Mias approached her. Her glare didn't weaken and thankfully neither did her courage. It didn't help that her brain kept imagining the worst case scenario: Mias being the incarnation of Jack the Ripper. He very well could be for all she knew. He had no conscious when it came to kidnapping after all.

"I intend to address you with no manner at all," she retorted. "Take me back and you will have my thanks though."

Mias shook his head. "This isn't up for negotiation my dear Elle," he said as he ensnared her waist with his arms.

Elle raised her clenched hands and hit her fists against his chest as hard as she could. "Let go!"

Slightly annoyed, Mias took one hand off Elle's waist and grabbed both her wrists.

Elle struggled to free herself, but Mias' grip was solid and growing tighter. Her heart beat increased as he pulled her form up against his and ran his one hand up her back until it cradled the back of her head. Her eyes widened in shock as Mias leaned his head down, his mouth hovering just above hers. Her mind was screaming for her to knee him in the crotch and run, yet her body had already begun to accept the seduction.

Mias savored the sweet puff of breath that escaped from Elle's lips before his own enveloped them. His mouth pressed firmly over hers and smiled into the kiss as he tasted her for the first time.

Elle squirmed the very instant their lips came into contact. Shaking away the confusion between her body and mind, she bit down on Mias' lower lip as hard as she could, breaking both the skin and the mood.

The darkly clothed man jumped back and held his lip in shock as drops of blood trickled from the wound. "You bit me," he said in surprise.

"You kissed me!" Elle argued, her voice still sounding startled.

Mias grinned, licking the blood droplet from his hand. His eyes scanned over her for a moment, before he chuckled and turned toward the door. "I shall take my leave then."

"Take me home first," she said as she stubbornly clung to the edge of his cloak. "I'll make you regret keeping me here if you don't."

He just continued grinning. "Good thing I'm not the kind of man who regrets his decisions."

Elle's fingers weakened and let the material fall from her hand. She watched him leave the room looking far more confident in his words than she was in hers. The lock clicked shut and Elle slowly sunk to her knees, having no idea what to do once again.

Hours passed. The stars faded into the sky quietly, allowing the first rays of the dawn sun to creep over the hills. Birds began their morning song and fluttered through the gardens below Elle's open window.

The honey blond lay awake in bed, her eyes staring dully at the canopy. Sleep had come and gone numerous times, teasing her tired mind and body. She felt heavy as she lay listening to the awakening day, her clothes clinging to her form due to perspiration. She longed for a bath and a change of underwear, but did not yet have the strength to get up to seek them. Languidly, she raised a hand up over her eyes and sighed. She realized she was hungry as well.

Knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep on an empty stomach, she forced herself upright and slowly slid her legs off the side of the bed. She pushed herself to her feet and decided to investigate the contents of the wardrobe. Elle opened the door and had her eyes awakened by bright, richly colored dresses in materials of both silk and velvet. While pleasing to the eye, the idea of walking around in anything lavish made her reconsider changing.

Closing the wardrobe's door, she turned her attention to the trunk at the foot of the bed. Kneeling down, she flicked the latch open and lifted the heavy lid. More dresses, and a few light cotton nightgowns decorated with detailed lacework. Elle shut the lid and dropped her head on top of the trunk, discouraged by her findings.

However, Elle knew her mind couldn't afford to remain depressed. Forcing herself upright once again, she turned to the window to see the world in light. The garden's many flowers were still asleep, the sun's rays not yet bright enough for the blooms to open. The forest wrapping around the property's perimeter still seemed dark, no doubt an indication of its density.

The scenery provided her with temporary comfort before it reminded her she was being held hostage in what she could only assume was the middle of no where. So much for trying not to get depressed, she thought.

As Elle retreated from the window, she felt yet another unpleasant bodily urge. Of course she'd have to go to the bathroom on top of everything else. Given her string of luck, she'd probably start her period early too. Things simply weren't inclined to work in her favor it seemed and she groaned out loud in frustration.

When she looked up, she noticed something towards the corner that she hadn't seen in the dimness of the night before. Another door handle. She rushed over to it and turned it with ease, opening up to spacious bath and lavatory.

In the center of the room stood a cast iron tub with clawed feet and a porcelain interior. Tucked in the corner was a toilet that oddly enough looked as modern as she was leaving Elle to wonder if she really was in a land far from home. This certainly wasn't the sort of building she expected to have advanced plumbing, but for her sake, she was grateful it did.

After relieving herself, she drew a bath and stripped out of her clothes. The warm water was a welcome feel on her skin and Elle was all too happy to submerge herself once the tub was filled to the brim. She popped her head up just enough so her nose could breath and pulled her legs up to her chest to rest her chin on her knees.

She wondered if anyone had noticed she was missing. Today would have been her only day off of work in a while and she wasn't particularly close with her neighbors in her apartment complex. Her family certainly wouldn't think it unusual to not hear from her for a while either. Would that mean no one would look for her?

Elle sighed, causing the water near her mouth to bubble a little. Trying to be optimistic, she made the decision to enjoy the bath. A collection of different colored bottles sat on a table on the side wall. Elle leaned out of the tub, her arm reach just long enough to grab a light purple colored bottle. She sunk back into the tub and unplugged the corked top, the scent of lavender and orchids filling the enclosed room.

As good a scent as any, Elle poured a bit of the mixture into the water and swirled it around until soap bubble appeared. After setting the bottle on the floor, she stretched her body out and inhaled the sweet aroma of the flowery bath. She decided for what it was worth, she'd forget she had been kidnapped until she got out and got dressed.

Feeling refreshed, but still in need of nourishment, Elle decided to see if any good fortune still remained with her. She tried the handle just to see if by some miracle it was open. Strangely enough, it was. She stepped out into the corridor and paused to look around. Painted portraits hung neatly spaced down the wall, relatives of Mias no doubt given their dark features and arrogant smiles.

Elle slowly walked down the hall, figuring sooner or later she'd encounter a stairwell. Her eyes glanced every now and then to the side, a part of her paranoid that the eyes of each painting were following her. The whole building gave her that sensation now that she thought about it. The stonework, the décor, even the layout pressured her very mind that she was imprisoned in a world that was not her own, both figuratively and literally.

At last she reached the first step of a grand, Y-shaped staircase. Putting her hand on the rail, she began her descent to the landing. A large portrait center cased itself on the wall, and it didn't surprise Elle that this was Mias' portrait. She had to turn and go down the remaining stairs before she could see the entire work. It was him alright, clad in fine dress and smiling like the confident devil he was. While she would admit he wasn't an entirely unattractive man, the malcontent she had for him made him the most horrid creature she had ever beheld.

"Admiring my fine artwork?" Mias' dark voiced asked.

Elle looked up and saw him standing at the other top of the stairwell, grinning down at her. How is it he always appeared without making any sound, she wondered.

"It's nearly as big as your ego." She replied snidely.

He laughed as he trotted down the stairs and made his way over to her. "Did you sleep well?"

"Not a wink."

"Perhaps you need a bed partner to tire you properly." He smirked.

Elle changed the subject. "Do you intend to starve me or might I have something to eat?"

"But of course. I was on my way to invite you to breakfast in fact."

"I have no intention of eating with you."

"Your options are: you either eat with me or you go without."

At that exact moment, Elle's stomach growled loudly. A clear indication she already had gone without long enough. She cursed her body for being weak while Mias chuckled.

"Come, I can't have you wasting away. You're skin and bones to begin with." He said as he took her hand and dragged her towards the left side corridor.

"Is the food to your liking?" Mias asked as they sat at the end of a long dining table filled with an assortment of foods: different breads, eggs, meat, fresh fruit, and of course tea.

"It's fine," Elle answered, though not in any mood to make polite chit-chat with him. "How long do you intend to keep me here?"

"I have no intention of sending you back. You'll remain here with me." He drank his tea calmly.

Elle set down her silverware and crossed her arms. "Are you that inept at wooing women?"

He looked over at her and smirked. "You won't succeed in upsetting me Elle. If I see something I like, I take it and make it mine. It's that simple."

"You're selfish, that's what you are. Have you no consideration for my own wants?"

"I do."

"Then free me."

"I refuse."

Elle stood up angrily. "What do you want me to do?! Beg?! If that's what it takes, then tell me! I don't want to stay here!"

Mias faced her and sighed. "Regardless of how adamant you are, it takes a lot of time and preparation to perform the level of sorcery I used to bring you here in the first place. It takes so much energy in fact I don't think I'll be able to summon that level of power for a month at least. So you have no choice my dear."

Elle was dumbfounded. Both by the revelation of sorcery being the means that brought her here and the fact she was stuck here for at least a month. She was so distracted by thoughts, she didn't notice Mias had stood up and was now standing in front of her.

"Elle," he said rather gently. "You have no reason to fear being here. I'll take care of you."

"I can take care of myself."

"That's not what I meant. I want to take care of you." He placed his hands on both her cheeks and lifted her head up to face him. "So smile for me."

"Never." She glared.

"Suit yourself then," he said just before pulling her face up against his and kissing her passionately on the lips.

Elle gasped and used all her strength to push him away. "What the hell?!"

He grinned and cocked his head to the side. "You're a very interesting woman Elle."

She cursed him using the worse explicit word in her dictionary before stomping off to her room. She slammed the door as hard as she could and threw herself on top of the bed, tears welling in her eyes. She didn't want to remain here with the likes of him. Maybe she couldn't back home, but she certainly thought it feasible to escape from Mias.

The clear morning transitioned into a cloudy grey afternoon with a chill wind that held a distant promise of rain. Elle sat in a chair looking out the window, her thoughts focused on just how she should make her escape. While it would be in her advantage to wait until nightfall, she didn't know these lands and not being able to see properly would surely get her lost.

Instead, she'd wait until it started raining so any tracks she made would be washed away. She'd repel down the side of the building using the bed sheets tied together and then run as fast as she could away from this place. Not an entirely complicated plan, but simplicity often proved to be far more useful. Now all Elle needed was nature's cooperation.

"Elle," she heard from outside her door before it opened and Mias leaned his head in. "Might you be interested in a tour of my lovely abode?"

"No."

"Come now, staring out a window for hours on end is hardly entertaining." He strode into the room and approached her side. "Avoiding me isn't going to make me disappear you know."

"Forgive me if I keep trying," she said to herself.

Mias frowned and leaned down in front of her, placing both his hands on the chair's arms to box her in. "Elle, look at me."

Elle refused to make eye contact with him. The freedom that lay beyond the glass was far more alluring. Besides, talking back to him gave her some satisfaction, but was ultimately useless since Mias didn't seem to care. The best way to deal with Mias and his ego was to ignore his very existence. If she did that, maybe he'd give up on her.

Mias was indeed bothered by the fact Elle wasn't paying him any attention, but it didn't detour his determination from getting it. He slipped a hand into her hair and tilted her head to face his. No more holding back, he decided. To Mias, silence meant she had resigned herself to the fate he had chosen for her.

Not about to give in, Elle stretched her arms out nonchalantly and just so happened to push Mias' off of her. She stretched out her legs as well and pushed the rest of him away.

This time Mias was offended. "You still refuse me? What more do I need to do to before you give yourself to me?"

Elle's eyes widened. "What…?"

"I can obtain anything you desire. All I ask for in return is to have you."

"Are you daft?! You can't buy affection! And even if you could, I'd never ever sell myself, especially to a scoundrel like you!" She said sharply.

"A scoundrel? Me?" He chuckled darkly. "And here I've been nothing but a gentleman and a gracious host to a most ungrateful woman."

"Gentlemen don't kidnap and force themselves upon women!"

"Heh, it actually doesn't require that much force to—"

Elle slapped him hard across the cheek as she stood up from the chair. "Get out."

"You're in no position to order—"

"I said get out!" She shouted, shoving him backward. Elle was squeezing her fists tightly, the pain of her nails were digging into her skin keeping her from assaulting him.

Mias adjusted his posture and turned his back on her without another word.

After he left the room, Elle took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Raindrops now fell against the window panes and Elle remembered her plan. She quickly stripped the bed of its sheets and twisted and tied them together into a makeshift rope. She tied one end to one of the bed posts and opened up the window. Wind and rain blew in on her, but their cold sting only fueled Elle's desire to escape.

She flung the sheets out the window and looked down to see how far it went. She'd have to jump about a yard and a half, but it wasn't a drop that concerned her. She tugged the line to make sure it was tied tightly, and then crawled out the window clinging to the white sheets. She repelled down the side of the manor hastily, the rain quickly causing the sheets to slicken. She reached the end and let go without hesitation.

The instant her feet touched the grass, she broke out into a run. Her legs carried her through the gardens at a pace Elle had never known herself to be capable of. Her adrenaline was racing as fast as her heart as she cleared the edge of the property and ducked into the woods that outlined the pathway.

All roads lead somewhere, if she could get to a town before Mias realized she was gone, he'd be hard pressed to find her again. She'd have to get a change of clothes of course, perhaps even stay on the run, but she was finally away from him. Free.

Elle smiled as she ran and in victory held up her middle finger toward Mias' estate.

Mias paced in front of Elle's door, wondering just how he could win her over. He hadn't done anything wrong, so there was no need for him to apologize. Perhaps Elle, the poor simple thing, had simply misinterpreted him. He was a highly intellectual man after all with good looks and charm. It was easy for women to become confused as their hearts unknowingly surrendered to him. Ah, the price of perfection.

When he had found the right words to use, he cleared his throat and opened the door. "My dear Elle, I think perhaps we've had a slight misunderstanding," he began to say before he noticed the window was open and the room was empty.

He rushed over to the sill and looked out. No sign of her anywhere. She must have escaped right after he left. He pulled the sheets back in and shut the window before cursing and putting a hand to his forehead. He hadn't predicted she'd actually escape. Finding her again would be possible, but the extra effort he'd have to make annoyed him slightly. Why couldn't she just be grateful and stay with him?

Elle had forced herself to run for a good while by the time her legs stopped moving and she leaned against a tree to catch her breath. The air was brisk and constricting her lungs, but she didn't care. She was soaked from head to toe despite trying to stay under the cover of the trees, but it was no good. The wind blew the rain right onto her.

She held her chest as she inhaled deeply and wondered just how long it'd be before she came across someone who could help her. It'd be dark soon, and with the night brought colder temperatures and despite her running, Elle was freezing from the rain. She caught a bit of breath wrong and started coughing, her lungs now feeling like they contained pins and needles.

Her eyes glanced into the forest at the sound of a twig snapping and Elle swore she saw a human figure. "Help," she said weakly. "Please, I need someone's help…"

Another figure appeared and the two seemed to exchange words before one of them approached her. By that time, Elle felt her vision slipping and her knees buckling. She was just about to hit the ground when she felt something warm and soft wrap around her and lift her up. The smell of trees and earth entered her nose and calmed her somewhat as her eyes closed and conscious fell.

"Is she alright?" Elle faintly heard a male voice ask.

"I don't know. She seemed pretty exhausted." A male with a slightly deeper voice said.

"What can I do to help Berenos? Fetch some berries? Boil some water? Find a doctor?"

"Calm down Abernos, I think she just had too much exposure to the elements. Keep her warm and dry and let her rest and she'll be fine."

Curious about the identities of her saviors, Elle willed her eyes to open.

"Hey, she's waking up." Abernos moved toward the bedside and knelt down near her face, his green eyes just barely peaking over the edge of the bed.

Elle tilted her head to look at him and wondered just why this man was wearing antlers on his head. She tilted her head back and saw the other man was wearing antlers too. Not only that, but he had ears like a deer, fur growing from his forearms and shins, and cloven hooves for feet. Concerned she was dreaming, Elle sat up and looked back at the other man. He too had the same features, only his were lighter in color.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Abernos." The green eyed deer-man said, twitching his ears playfully. "That's my elder brother Berenos."

"I'm Elle." She said, still slightly bewildered.

"Just what possessed you to run through the woods in the middle of rain storm?" Berenos asked.

Elle clenched the covers of the bed she sat in. "I had to get as far away from that place as I could… I figured the rain would cover my tracks and make it impossible to track me."

"What happened?" Abernos asked curiously.

"I was being held captive by a despicable man named Mias," she explained.

The mere mention of the name sent chills down the brothers' backs.

Noticing their reaction, Elle asked, "You know about him?"

Berenos nodded. "There's not a single being in this region hasn't heard of him: "Master Mathias." He's a genius sorcerer and head of an old and proud noble family."

"That heartless git is some sort of aristocrat?" Elle thought to herself.

Abernos took a seat next to her on the bed and changed the subject. "How are you feeling Elle?"

"A bit weary, but I think I'll be alright."

"Hmm." Abernos leaned his forehead down against hers. "You feel a bit warm though."

Elle blushed, but didn't mind the innocent temperature check.

"You're free to stay here for a while," Berenos said. "Abernos will look after you, so if you need anything, ask him. He's eager to please."

She smiled. "Thank you, to both of you for saving me."

"It's what any decent creature would do."

Elle kept smiling as she lay back down and closed her eyes, comforted by Abernos petting her hair lightly until she fell asleep.

Originally Written: 2011

Prologue, Chapters 1-3