"I wonder when I'll get out." he murmurred to himself.
"Well that depends on how fast you please me." replied a voice from behind him.
Will froze for a moment before turning his head towards the counter, stood behind in front of the curtain was a tall man.
He appeared to be around his mid-twenties and had long black hair that came down to his back with red streaks in it, his hair was almost as long as the girl he had been with before and this shocked even more. He had never seen a man with hair longer than his chin, these people were surely strange. His eyes were a deep brown colour, almost gold and were gazing intently at him. His skin was another thing that surprised Will, it was ghostly white and too pale for a normal person.
The man's lips curled into a smile, "You're a quiet one."
Will managed to get his voice back, "I-I was just looking." he stated placing the bottle back on the shelf, he then turned around so he was facing the man.
"And what do you mean by that?"
The man smiled, "All will be explained later."
"Later?" Will repeated, "But I have to get back."
"I think you'll find will be difficult." the man stated, "Now please follow me." he said gesturing behind him to the curtain.
Will stood still, how did he know this man wasn't dangerous?
As if he could read his thoughts the man said, "Don't worry I won't bite."
Will kept in mind that he had a knife strapped to his leg and keeping his eyes on the man at all times made his way around t he counter. As he walked in front of him and just past the curtain he heard the man add, "Much."
Once he was past the curtain he found himself in what appeared as a lounge lit by candles, only small than the one he was use to. It was an average sized room with one sofa and a chair facing opposite one another. Between the two was a coffee table made out of black wood, Will was starting to realise that the people here seemed to like almost everything black.
"Please sit." the man said from behind.
Will glanced back at him to see him smiling warmly at him however that didn't reassure him as the smile seemed forced.
He decided to sit in the armchair as that way the man wouldn't be able to sit besides him. Settling into the armchair he found it rather soft and it was as if it was inviting him to close his eyes and sleep.
The only thing stopping him from doing so was the man sitting in the sofa barely two feet from him.
"So who are you?" Will asked.
The man held up on finger, "One moment." he turned his attention behind him, Will turned his head to find him looking at a doorway with a red curtain in front of it just like the one he had come through. Besides it were some stairs that lead upwards so he confused as to which the man was looking at.
He turned his attention back to the man to find him looking at him again; Will sent him a confused glance.
"Sorry." he apologised, "She's always late."
This only made Will more confused.
"Here." said a familiar voice.
A second later Will found the girl from before walking besides him, crouching down besides the coffee table she placed the tray she had been carrying onto the table. On it was a kettle and two tea cups which had some herbs inside them which Will could not name.
He also realised the girl had now tied her hair back into a ponytail as she poured some steaming water from the kettle and into the two tea cups. She also seemed different from before, when he had been following her it had been as if he couldn't walk away from her but now she no longer seemed to have that effect on him. He began wondering if she had done something to lure him here.
As the water poured over the herbs, the water turned a murky green colour that didn't look at all appetising.
Will looked up at the man who seemed to be watching the girl as she poured the water into his cup. He had been so drawn to his face before that he hadn't noticed what he was wearing. His clothes consisted off a long sleeved white shirt that had the several top buttons undone so part of his pale chest showed, Will noticed that despite his age he had not one hair on it. His legs were covered in some black jeans and Will realised that his fingers were covered in several rings, all of different shapes and sizes. Gems of all different colours glinted in Will's eyes.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts he focused on finding out who these strangers were.
"Who are you people?" he asked.
The man glanced up at him, "Ah, forgive the last introductions. I am named Bade and this here is my assistant Zelda." he said gesturing towards the girl Will had followed when he said her name.
The girl didn't look up as he said her name and merely placed the teapot back on the tray and left, the two teacups were left on the table.
"Please, do try it. It's more delicious that it looks." Bade stated.
Will was still not very positive on drinking strange looking solutions from strangers but didn't want to get risk angering the man. Nodding he picked the teacup up by the handle, despite the steam rising from the cup it was not at all hot. Instead it seemed almost freezing.
Glancing up at Bade he found him smiling warmly at him, smiling weakly back he then brought the cup to his lips and sipped some. At first he found the liquid freezing and shivered as it ran down his throat however when it reached his stomach he found himself filled with warmth. It tasted delicious indeed, so much so that he continued to drink it till all the liquid had gone and all but the herbs remained in the teacup. He gently placed it on the table as he found himself being filled with heat from the strange drink he had just had.
"Thank you." he said.
The man nodded and Bade noticed he had not touched his drink at all but he remained silent about it.
"So..." Will started, "Why am I here? Is there something you want?"
Bade's smile faded and his lips formed into a straight line, he remained silent for so long that Will thought of speaking but when he did Bade beat him to it.
"Tell me Will what is the one thing you want most in the world?"
Will stared at him shocked, "How do you know my name?"
"I have my ways." Bade replied, "Now answer my question."
Will paused thinking of his life, it was a difficult question to answer. He had always wanted to be together with Alice and let them live happily, however with both their parents being enemies it wouldn't be easily. Thinking back again to what Zelda had said on the street he realised she was right in a way.
"Well..." he began, "I guess I want freedom."
Bade's smile reappeared, "And that is exactly what I will give you, but only once you have pleased me with your work."
"Wait, what?" Will asked confused.
"Until you have worked to my expectations you will remain here, once I believe you have done a good enough job you shall have your freedom."
Will stared at him shocked, when he did grasp what he was saying he managed to ask, "W-what do you mean, you can't keep me here!" his voce was unsteady although he meant it to be confident.
Bade seemed unaffected by his outburst, "I'm afraid I can, as soon as you walked in here you became under my control. If you wish to escape you must do what I tell you and only then will you have your freedom."
Will grinded his teeth, he glared at Bade. He thought back to the blade under his jeans but fought to keep calm. He had to first see if there was a way he could get out without violence.
"You can't keep me here! I'm leaving!" he shouted standing up, however as soon as he was on his two feet the room seemed to become dizzy. Stumbling back he fell back down into the arm chair, everything was still out of focus and his head was throbbing.
"I'm afraid..." Bade stated, "That from here on you will be working for me."
As the room around him became blurry to Will he realised why this was happening.
He had been drugged.
He should have known to not have that drink; no wonder Bade hadn't had his.
Just before he lost consciousness he saw the blurred shape of Zelda standing in front of him and leaning towards him.