Disclaimer: Not my sandbox, I'm just playing in the sand.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2 - Cora's PoV

The warmth of the sun brought me out of my restless sleep. I cracked one eye open and then squeezed them shut as the memories of last night came back with vengeance. The performance had gone wonderfully, and I had gone home to crash. Nowhere in my plans had I intended to be kidnapped and taken to the middle of nowhere. Right now, the worst part was that I had seen him before. I had gone to the park like I normally did between my shift at the diner and working with the company. I loved to read beneath the trees, hidden from the world, but I hadn't been hidden from him. He had seen me from across the park and I had noticed him after feeling as if someone was staring at me.

He was the most attractive man I had ever laid eyes on, even if I could not see him as clearly as I wished. Tall, muscular but with slim hips - a swimmer's build or a runner. He was blonde, his curly hair brushed his jaw, but I could not see his face clearly. I had smiled at him.

Now, I wished that I had never laid eyes on him. I wondered if that moment had sealed my fate. If, when we locked eyes from across the park, that was the moment he chose to kidnap me. Had that instant sealed my fate?

I felt the tear leak from my eye and I buried my face into the pillow and screamed.

The door flew open and in rushed the pretty little blonde woman who had introduced herself as Charlotte. In the doorway stood my kidnapper, Jasper, and the other man Peter.

"You alright, sugar?" Charlotte asked.

"I'm fine," I all but growled before burying my face back into the pillow. "Please leave now."

"You hungry?" the woman asked.

"No. Leave me alone, please." I kept my face buried until I heard the door close behind me. I lifted my head and scanned the room. They had left as I asked and closed the door behind them.

Flopping back down into the bed, I sighed. There was no way to escape, I had learned that last night. I had been as quiet as possible and still Jasper had heard me open the window. His eyes had changed so quickly from that eerie red to sinister black in an instant when I had made the comment about being his pet. I was more than curious to know what he was, because I was did not think he was normal, but I was too nervous and scared to ask anything of them. Besides, monsters weren't real. I knew that, but I had never seen eyes like Jasper's.

I scrubbed my face with my hands and tried hard not to cry again. I had done enough of that last night, and did not feel like having a pity party about my situation. Monster, demon, or human - it did not matter what Jasper and his two companions were, I was stuck here with them. Throwing the sheets off to the side, I climbed out of the bed and walked into the bathroom. I took my time stripping my clothes off and then turned on the water to the shower. After the water turned hot I stepped in and let the water pour down my body.

I used the shampoo and soap that was on the built in shelves. They both smelt like apples and I sighed in pleasure as the tension left my shoulders as I rubbed my neck, shoulders, and all down my body. Once I rinsed my hair I shut the water off. The towels were large and soft and I wondered why my kidnapper was treating me so well. Anything I had ever read or heard about girls or women being kidnapped were true horror stories. The women were used, tortured, or sold into trafficking, but mine had promised several times that I was safe, had promised me that this space, this room, was my own. My small sanctuary amidst my nightmare. Could I trust their promises, or was it just a facade before they killed me?

Wrapping the towel around me I walked back to the bedroom and into the walk-in-closet. I had glanced at the contents of the closet last night, but took the time now to really examine the clothes. I had no idea how he or they had known what sizes and styles to buy, but this closet was filled with pants, skirts, shirts, and dresses that were all my size.

Along the back of the closet was a rack of dresses, both formal and casual, that hung from the bar to the floor. On the left was two racks. The top held short and long sleeve shirts in a variety of styles and colors. The bottom rack was filled with jeans, dress pants, and khakis. On the right side built in between the two double racks of more clothes were three drawers. On the left of the drawers were shorts and skirts, and on the right were sweatpants, tank tops, and pajamas.

I opened the top of the three drawers in search for underclothes. It held an assortment of panties in varying styles and colors. I rifled through it until I found a decent pair of normal, cotton bikini panties, and pushed aside the massive amount of thongs and g-strings, lace, satin, and silk.

The second drawer contained more bras than I had ever owned in my life, and of course they were my size. I wanted to scream again, or to break down in some sort of ugly cry. How the fuck did he know my damn bra size? Filled with both nerves and curiosity I opened the bottom drawer, and let out a deranged cackle. More satin, silk, and lace filled this drawer in the form of nighties and lingerie. Fat chance of me wearing any of those... ever.

I put on the panties and a matching light pink bra, pulled a pair of dark blue sweatpants and a grey t-shirt and closed the blasted closet door with a bang. My stomach grumbled, but I ignored my hunger and sat on the bed.

The room was a pale pine with navy curtains and light honey hardwood floors. The bed, which had a heavy wooden headboard, was positioned on the far wall of the bedroom with the closet and bathroom doors on the same wall as the door to the bedroom. To my right, which was the also the wall that was across from the door, were three windows that let in the, what I thought, was the early afternoon sun. In the corner by the window was an oversized dark grey upholstered chair next to a tall bookshelf and a small desk.

My stomach growled again, but I refused to leave the sanctuary of this room to find the kitchen and food. I would not attempt an escape again anytime soon, but that did not mean that I would willingly roam the house and be friends with the people that were holding me hostage. Curling up in a ball and clutching a pillow to my chest, I tried to go back to sleep hoping beyond hope that this was all a freakishly real nightmare and would end when I opened my eyes again.

It was dark when I woke up from my growing hunger. Looking out the window I saw that the moon was high in the sky, so I carefully cracked open the door to my room and peaked out. The hallway was dark and the house was quiet. I slipped out the door and down the hallway. The hall opened to the foyer, a staircase, and the large living room. The living room had an island bar that was connected to the kitchen. I quietly continued down the hallway, past the living room, and into the kitchen. The light above the sink was on, giving the room a little light and me the ability to move around easier. The kitchen had a massive rectangular island in the middle, a gas range and oven with ample counter space on either side. The pantry was in the far corner and the fridge closest to the entry I had come from the hallway.

A bowl of fruit sat on the island, so I grabbed an apple and turned to go back to my room. I let out a startled cry and jumped when I saw Jasper leaned casually against the doorframe to the hallway, blocking my exit.

"You haven't eaten in over twenty-four hours. One little apple won't be enough," he said.

He had a thick southern accent, and even though I could not stand him - I hated him for what he had done - I could not help but find him attractive still. He was tall, taller than most men I had met, with an athletic but not overly bulky build. His hair was honey blond and was long enough to brush against his jaw. He was handsome, with a strong jaw, full lips, and a straight nose, but his eyes - those red glowing eyes - were unnerving and inhuman. He screamed danger as much as he did sex appeal, and I wanted nothing to do with my kidnapper.

"I'm fine. I just wanted a snack. I'm not that hungry," I replied, but did not move toward the doorway. I didn't want to be any closer to him than I already was, and I didn't know the layout of the house to go any direction than the one I came from.

"I know you're hungrier than that. I told you, Cora, to make yourself at home, so please find something more to eat than an apple."

"No."

Mustering up as much courage as I had, I slipped past him quickly and walked briskly back to my room, shutting the door behind me. I finished the apple quickly, and tossed the core into the bathroom trashcan. I hated to admit that Jasper was right, but one apple had not done enough to satisfy my hunger. The little silver clock on the nightstand showed that it was three in the morning. Fighting the urge to venture back to the kitchen, I slipped under the covers and tried to go back to sleep.

I tossed and turned, alternating between staring at my closed eyelids and staring at the ceiling. A glance at the clock told me it was five in the morning when someone knocked on my door.

"Sugar?" Charlotte called softly as she opened the door. She entered only far enough to shut the door behind her and then stood with a tray in her hands. "Jasper said you came out to get something to eat last night, but didn't get anything but an apple. So, I made you some breakfast."

I sat up in the bed and looked at the only other woman in the house who was holding a tray of food. I wanted to tell her I wasn't hungry, like I had told Jasper, but the smell of food was overpowering. I started to open my mouth to turn her down... I didn't want anything from them.

"Sugar, I can hear your stomach growling from here, so don't try to tell me you're not hungry. You might be able to bat them pretty blue eyes and make Jasper back down, but I know you must be starvin'." She crossed the room and set the tray beside me on the bed and pulled off the white cotton napkin that was covering it. The smell of bacon, pancakes and syrup, scrambled eggs, and coffee were too enticing to turn down.

"Thank you... I..." I didn't know what to say, but I certainly didn't want her to think that this made us friends. "This doesn't make us friends. You're still one of them."

She frowned and looked down at the floor. Charlotte was just a beautiful and intimidating as Jasper was with her perfectly curled long blonde hair and red eyes. She was a little shorter than I was, with a thick southern accent like Jasper's. She was petite, but with more than ample curves. Her breasts practically poured out of the top of her low cut shirt. Woman she might have been, but she had the same eyes and pale skin that Jasper did, giving them that inhuman and dangerous air.

A small part of me wanted a friend... needed someone that I could talk to, confide in, but she was Jasper's friend and that meant she was loyal to him. Woman she was, but she was not on my side.

Charlotte looked up at me finally and smiled. "I know you don't think we are good people, but I swear you are safe with us, and maybe one day you and I can be friends. I've been stuck with my husband, Peter, and Jasper for a long time, just the three of us, and it would be mighty nice to have another woman to talk to. I hope you enjoy your breakfast, Cora."

She didn't wait for me to reply before leaving and closing the door behind her. I was curious what she meant by being stuck with her husband and Jasper for a long time. She couldn't have been more than a few years older than me, if even that, and they all looked to be in their mid-twenties like me. Even if she had met them when she was a young girl, they would couldn't have been living together alone for all that long.

Every time I came in contact with one of my three captors I grew slightly more curious about their strange, perfect looks and red eyes. I had not seen Peter but from a distance and that's how I hoped it would stay. Somehow I doubted that it would, but if only for a little longer, I hoped to be left alone.

Curious I might be, but I didn't want to get friendly with them either. Jasper had kidnapped me and lord only knew what my family and friends thought happened to me. I knew from experience that Jasper was faster than me, and obviously stronger, and I had no desire to see his eyes change from that eerie red to monstrous black again. I had made him angry for trying to escape, I knew, and I did not want to make him angry again. For now, I would have to be strong and deal with being forced to stay here. I would have time to plan my escape eventually, but I had to be smart and not anger my kidnapper. He had promised not to harm me, so I hoped that as long as I did not make him angry then I would remain safe. Captive, but safe.

I examined the tray of cooling food in front of me, and my stomach grumbled loudly. The plate was filled with three pancakes, four strips of bacon, and a large helping of scrambled eggs. A tiny pitcher of syrup sat on a small plate with butter and a butter knife. Beside the large cup of coffee was a small bowl of sugar and a matching pitcher of creamer. A small salt and pepper shaker also sat on the tray.

"Yeah, whatever, surely if they were really going to kill me, it wouldn't be food poisoning," I muttered to myself. I fixed my coffee and then buttered my pancakes before pouring syrup over them. I dug into my food and sighed with happiness. However sucky this captivity was going to be, Charlotte could cook like a damn pro, or maybe I was just really hungry.

After I finished most of the food, I slid out of the bed and went to the bathroom. Once I was done with my business I debated taking the tray to the kitchen. I was curious enough to want to explore the house I was being kept hostage in, and they had said they would not hurt me. I didn't want to trust them, but somehow it was if it I could feel that they would not hurt me, Jasper was not going to hurt me.

I shook my head and picked up the tray. If they were going to try and torture or kill me then I would fight when the time came, until then I refused to be kept inside of my room because of my own fear. The door across from mine was open when I opened mine, which meant that Jasper was potentially out of his room, but I continued on my path to the kitchen. I hated the fact that he had placed me in a room directly across from his, even if he had said that he would not enter the room without my permission.

I pushed away thoughts of my abductor and admired the kitchen in the early light of day. It was a beautiful space with the same rich, caramel colored hardwood floors that ran through the foyer, hallway, and living room. The cabinets were stained slightly darker than the floors. The counters were a light sand color with flecks of gold and black. The backsplash and sides of the island were covered in a dark grey stone and the ceiling and walls were the same wooden paneling and beams that ran throughout the living room. The appliances in the kitchen were stainless steel. Across from the kitchen, and the entryway I had come through was a breakfast nook area that had a large picture window that showed the deck, a wrought iron table and chairs, and the view of the gently rolling hills and forests beyond the main yard that was well kept. From my view I could also see the large pool and covered patio area that looked like it had an outdoor kitchen and several tables and chairs.

A set of wood and glass double doors were to my right and another pocket door behind the kitchen area. The pocket door revealed a rather large laundry room that had slate tile flooring, a large farmhouse sink, and a stainless steel washer and dryer. I closed that door and looked through the window panes of the rustic wooden doors into a bright sunlit room. I opened the right door and walked into the unoccupied room. There was a large sandy colored stone fireplace to my left and assorted potted plants in every corner. The same caramel colored wood floors covered this space as well. The walls were paneled wood a few shades lighter than the floor. I walked toward the right of the room and ran my hand across the back of the L-shaped, red suede couch. Two chairs, upholstered in a red, green, and brown plaid, sat diagonal across from the couch, near the fireplace. A small round table with ornately carved feet that looked like wolves' paws, complete with claws, sat between the two chairs. The table's much larger twin sat about two feet from the bend of the couch.

I looked up at the open ceiling. Large wooden beams crisscrossed the ceiling, creating twelve squares where thick panes of glass let the morning sunlight. A single door, in the same style as the double doors, stood across from the fireplace and led to an outdoor grilling area and patio that was covered. I could see that across from the covered patio was another section of the house, most likely the garage since my room, and Jasper's - I thought bitterly - was across the house.

Closing the double door behind me, I wandered back through the breakfast dining area into a second, more casual living room than the one I was in the night before. The two living rooms were separated by a see-through, glass fireplace with a stone chimney, that was in the middle of the divide, and a single stair that stretched the space. This room was twice the size of the other room. The far wall was all floor to ceiling windows with one more window on either side of the corners. The wooden floor was the same color, but had been laid in a diagonal parquet pattern. Several chairs and two couches all upholstered in rich brown leather filled the space, along with a large wood and glass coffee table. A large Spanish patterned area rug sat in the middle of the room. Above the fireplace was a large flat screen T.V.

Leaving the living room, I crossed through the formal living room that housed a couch, love seat, and the bar with four chairs that looked into the kitchen. You had to step up into the main hallway. The hallway had three columns that were medium sized tree trunks that stretched from the staircase to the corner of the kitchen entry. The pair of double doors that were in front of me led to what Charlotte had said was the library. Next to the library was the open entry to the large formal dining room. The dining room had a built in china cabinet at the far back beneath three windows. The heavy looking carved wooden table seated twelve.

The two pairs of double doors were carved creating a picture of a forest, complete with stream, a family of deer, and other woodland animals. I could spot a fox, hawk, rabbit, and beaver among the intricate carvings. Pushing open the two doors on the right hand side, I entered the library.

Even if I was forced to stay here, I could tell that this would be my favorite room. The sunroom would be a close second.

Wood floors seemed to cover almost every square foot of the house, and the white ceiling had two wooden beams running the length of the room with two more crossing from side to side. Built in wooden bookcases ran the length of the left side of the room. Two built in shelves were on either side of the right hand wall where the middle of the wall jutted out. A large landscape painting covering most of the space of upper part of the wall, a gas fireplace the lower half. In the middle of the room was a bearskin rug that had four, matching, oversized chairs around it. A large circular ottoman sat in the middle of the chairs. Square wooden coffee tables sat between each pair of chairs. The back wall housed three windows that looked out onto the front lawn and roundabout driveway.

I walked farther into the room and scanned the bookcases. They ran from floor to ceiling, a rolling ladder was hooked to the top to allow access to the highest shelves. The wall of books was eight shelves high and six long. The massive collection, which filled almost each shelf entirely, seemed to be organized by genre. It was an eclectic mix of historical, fantasy, romance, biography, poetry, horror, and mystery books.

"I thought I would find you in here," a deep voice said from behind me.

I whipped around to find Jasper standing just inside the doorway. I hadn't even heard his approaching footsteps.

I wanted to tell him that I found his collection of literature both eclectic and interesting, but did not desire to strike up a conversation with him either. He frightened me more than Charlotte did. I hadn't spent any time with Peter, but Charlotte and Jasper moved faster than humans could sometimes, and I swore I heard Jasper growl last night when I had called myself his pet. Whatever that word meant to him, he did not like that I had implied I was his. Other than threatening to move me to a windowless room in the basement, he had not threatened to hurt me. He had done the complete opposite, but I was still freighted to be around them. Maybe it was the speed or the garnet eyes that turned black when he was angry. Promise to keep me alive or not, I did not want to strike up a friendship with him.

"You're welcome to read any book you find. The romance novels are Charlotte's, and the horror and mystery novels are Peter's. I prefer historical non-fiction," Jasper continued to speak, even though I was clearly ignoring him as I continued to scan the shelves that I could reach. "You should see the lower level, it opens to the patio and pool. There is a ballroom, you could dance if you like."

That comment struck a chord somewhere inside of me and I turned to glare at him. My anger bubbled up inside of me and I lost control over my tightly shut mouth. "Why? Why did you follow me, watch me, take me? Why did you do this to me? You know I like to read and to dance. Hell, you even know my bra size! `You studied me! For how long? Before I saw you in the park, or only after? Why? Why me?" I questioned with a frustrated cry, but I refused to actually let my tears fall in front of him.

I stared at him, waiting for him to reply, as he gazed back at me. Jasper walked further into the room and sat on the arm of the chair furthest away from me. Even with him sitting down, he would be able to block any attempt I made to leave the room.

"The first time I saw you was last Tuesday in the park, when you spotted me, too. I wanted to introduce myself to you properly, but did not get the chance. I had no intentions of kidnapping you, taking you against your will when I first saw you, but someone from my past who...he threatened you the night I came to your apartment, so well, I took you to keep you safe. And I don't know your bra size, Charlotte bought your clothes."

I couldn't think of anything to say in response to his story, or about my clothes. How could I trust him and believe it was the truth? He had kidnapped me and was keeping me at his home, somewhere unknown out in the woods of Texas. I had passed out and woken up who knows where in Texas inside Jasper's home.

"I don't believe you. If someone threatened me, why didn't you just call the police?" I snapped.

He chuckled deeply and then smirked at me. "The police cannot protect you from him, but I can, and I will. Believe me or not, I took you to protect you, and I have sworn to not hurt you. You will always be safe with me."

Jasper stood quickly and was by my side before I could take another breath. I jumped, letting out a scream I couldn't contain, and bumped into the bookshelf. His arms came up on either side of my shoulders, not touching me, but keeping me in place with his surrounding presence. "Do not fear me, Cora," he whispered as the fingers of his right hand gently pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear.

I closed my eyes as I felt my fear escalate as he touched me. I inhaled deeply through my nose and snapped my eyes open to look at his. I was not terrified of him, but he intimidated and scared me. I also thought he was an attractive man and he smelled amazing. It was a mixture of the forest, something sweet, and the musky scent of a man.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I looked at his eyes. They were flecked with bits of black throughout the red irises, and rimmed with thick dark blond lashes. It seemed as if his eyes could stare into my soul, as if he could capture me in just his stare and keep me held in his gaze forever. Before I could let that train of thought go any farther, I ducked under his arm and ran out of the library and to the safety of my room.

I slammed the door behind me and leapt onto the bed. I turned over to lay on my back as I tried to steady my breathing. How could I hate someone and be so attracted to them at the same time that I wanted to lose myself in his stare. The same stare that made my heart pound with fear as much as it did anticipation for what he would do next, or when I would see him in the house.

For fuck's sake, it had only been a little over twenty-four hours since he had taken me from my apartment. Taken me! I could not under any circumstance have feelings for that man! I refused. I hated him. Hated him for everything he had done so far. I hated him for stealing me away from my friends and my life. I hated him for making me afraid, and most of all I hated him for making me want him, for lusting for him when I was lost in his gaze.

No man should be that attractive in a pair of jeans and black t-shirt, and definitely not the one who was an evil kidnapper.

Except he has sworn several times not to hurt you, I thought, but then he did also growl at me last night.

I let out a frustrated noise and decided I would not let our encounter keep me from exploring the rest of the large house I was being kept in... even if I had turned tail and ran to the safety of my room. Opening the door, I walked barefoot quietly to the stairs and to the upstairs.

The second floor of the house was almost as large as the first floor. It had the same floors and wood paneled walls as the main floor. The stairs opened to a large living room with a stone fireplace on the left and a six-sided card table and mini bar in the space directly in front of the landing. Three bedrooms were at the far end of the second floor. Charlotte and Peter's room was where she had said it would be. To the left of the stairs and up two small steps were the double doors of their room. Another small sitting area and bedroom was across from the stairs to their room. I ventured back to the main floor and then walked down the stairs to the basement of the house.

For a basement it was a bright and open space. A huge curved bar with a black granite counter, that could seat twelve people, was to the left of the stairs. A wall about eight feet long completed the bar area. It was stone and had wooden shelves filled with assorted bottles of liquor, wine, mixers, and glasses. In front of the stairs was another card table like the one on the second floor along with a black leather couch and pool table. On the opposite side of the bar wall was another stone fireplace and a large seating area with a massive leather u-shaped couch which was positioned in front of folding glass doors that opened to the patio, pool, and outdoor grilling area. There was also a door to the theater on the wall to the right of the stairs and an extra bedroom down the hall to the left, but what caught my eye was the ballroom that was across the enormous open space.

The wall that ran the length of the bar and poker table area across from stairs was made of French windows that were light oak wood and glass. Passing by the poker table revealed the other wall was all French windows as well with two matching doors that were already open, pushed back flat against the wall. The open room that Jasper called the ballroom had a large window box area with a panel of windows that let the light from the outside patio area into the room. The far right wall was paneled in light oak wood that matched the French doors and windows, and held a complex stereo system in the corner. Light and dark stained wood was patterned in the floor to create a large starburst in the center of the room. The rest of the floor was done in a medium stained wood. Two enormous crystal chandeliers hung from the white and wood beamed ceiling. The room was beautiful. Further exploration revealed the basement also had a storage area and a wine cellar.

When I went back upstairs I could see Jasper sitting on the corner of the couch in the far back living room. It looked like he was reading a book. Charlotte and Peter were still nowhere to be seen today. I made my way to the kitchen and decided to fix something for lunch. My exploration of the house and encounter with Jasper had taken up most of the morning and I was hungry. The little glowing green numbers on the stove said it was 12:15.

After rummaging through the fridge, cabinets, and pantry I had found all the necessary items needed to make a ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce and tomato. I made my sandwich and then sliced the tomato. I added a few slices to the sandwich and put the rest on the side of the plate along with a pickle spear. I put away the ingredients, made a glass of ice water, and then sat on one of the island stools to eat.

I heard Peter's deep voice greet Jasper in the living room loudly and Charlotte appeared in the kitchen seconds later, and had the decency to put the island between us.

"Hello," she greeted with a cheerful smile, leaning on the counter. "I'm glad to see you out of your room."

I did not reply to her comment and continued eating my food, keeping my eyes down on my plate. My lack of participation did not stop her from trying to continue a conversation.

"I hope you got to explore the house. I just love the basement, but I bet your favorite place was the library."

I almost choked on my bite of pickle, and coughed hard. Jasper appeared in the kitchen, a look of alarm on his face before it quickly went back to his normal, thoughtful and intense gaze. I turned my gaze back to my food.

Peter chuckled as he entered the room as well and sat at the bar, leaving one chair space between us.

"We haven't really gotten the chance to meet, I'm Peter."

I just looked at him and then went back to eating. "Well, just 'cause we already know your name doesn't mean you shouldn't introduce yourself, too."

"Just because your brother kidnapped me, doesn't mean I'm going to be your bestie," I stated sarcastically before taking another bite.

Jasper chuckled and I tried hard not to glare at him, keeping my eyes trained hard on my plate and my mouth focused on eating. I had already said more words to Jasper today than I wished to say and did not want to interact anymore with the odd threesome.

"Come on, Pete, we've got work to do. Leave Cora alone for now and let her eat in peace," Jasper said and I saw Peter frown out of the corner of my eye.

Peter grumbled something about not getting to have fun with the little human and then left the room. Jasper gave me a half smile and then followed behind Peter out of the room.

"Don't mind my husband, he's an over eager, big mouthed, man child, but he means well."

"Whatever," I mumbled.

I finished my food and then cleaned my plate, glass, and the knife I had used. Without a word to Charlotte I left the kitchen. Deciding I wanted to actually pick a book to read and occupy my time I went to the library. I pulled several books from their place on the shelves, reading the back covers and returning them before I finally settled on a romantic mystery novel set in the late 1700's in England. I tucked the book close to my chest and made my way back to my room. I started to shut the door, but decided to leave it halfway open, to see if Jasper would really respect my space and his word to stay out of it.

A little past sun set I began to smell the delicious scent of something savory cooking in the kitchen and put down the book. Out of sheer curiosity I left the little space of sanctuary I was given and ventured into territory where I potentially had to interact with my three housemates and captors. Truly, only Jasper had kidnapped me, but Peter and Charlotte were accomplices because of their involvement at the house.

I found Charlotte stirring a large blue enameled skillet that sat over one of the burners on the range. She acknowledged me with a smile and then turned back to cooking. I took a seat at the island and watched as she put a bed of brown rice onto a plate and then scooped a large helping of the contents from the skillet on top.

She set the plate in front of me and then opened a bottle of wine that was sitting on the bar. She poured the white liquid into a glass and then set it in front of the plate.

"I hope it's good," she said as she presented me with a fork.

"Aren't you going to eat, too?" I asked as she continued to stare at me in what appeared to be anticipation from across the island.

She let out a peel of laughter that sounded like bells. "No, Peter and I already ate today. I'm not hungry."

"Jasper?" I questioned with curiosity.

Charlotte shook her head. "It's all yours, sugar."

I looked down at my plate of beef and broccoli stir-fry and then back up at her. "Why? It's been almost two days and I haven't seen any of you eat."

"Ask Jasper," was her only reply before she turned around and started to clean up the kitchen.

I ate while she cleaned, and if I was honest I enjoyed the silent company. Charlotte did not frighten or intimidate me as much as Peter, and neither felt like being near Jasper. Once I was finished she took my plate and refilled my glass of wine.

"You don't have to wait on me, I may be your prisoner, but you don't have to serve me or clean up after me," I said just as she turned to the sink to clean my plate.

"I know, but I don't mind. I like having someone to cook for. It's fun." Charlotte didn't turn around, but started washing the plate and then drained the water.

I took my glass of wine and went back to my room, thinking about my brief conversation.

Each interaction with them left me more curious and with more questions.

Why was I the only one that seemed to eat or drink the past day and a half?

How could they move so fast? Be so beautiful?

Why were their eyes red or sometimes black?

I had more questions and no answers. I shook my head in frustration and then took a sip of the white wine Charlotte had given me. I preferred sweet red wines, but wasn't going to be picky. Grabbing my book from the bed, I curled up in the grey chair in the corner and set my wine glass on the small side table.

Charlotte appeared in my doorway about an hour later. "Would you like a refill?" she asked with a smile, lifting the bottle of wine.

I nodded, putting the book down in my lap.

"Charlotte, how old are you?" I asked after she had poured the glass of wine.

"I'm twenty-seven. You?"

"Twenty-five."

She giggled.

"What?" I asked, unable to stop my lips curling up into a smile that matched hers.

"You don't look a day over sixteen."

"Yeah, I always get that, but I guess it's a good thing. When I'm forty, I'll still look twenty."

She gave another laugh and nodded. "That's very true," she stated with a smirk and lift of her brow that led me to believe that she took more out of my statement than I had meant.

"What about Jasper?" I asked.

"You'll have to ask him yourself, sugar," she replied with a smirk and a wink. "I'm going to go find Peter. Enjoy your book and wine."

She left the room and I picked my book back up. After reading the same page three times, I decided I wasn't going to be able to concentrate on the plot and set it down on the side table, open to keep my place. I picked up my glass of wine and left the room. Venturing downstairs, I crossed the room and went outside through the door on the left side of the large sitting area.

The night sky was lit up with stars, and the constant glow of city lights that I was so accustomed to was nowhere to be seen on the horizon. I was certain now Jasper had taken me far from the main city of Houston and ever farther than the surrounding suburbs and city outskirts.

Trying not to worry about how far out of Houston Jasper had taken me, I set my wine glass down carefully and then rolled up the legs of my pants to just above my knee. I stood carefully on one foot and bent to swish my other through the water to test its temperature. It was luke warm, not cold like I expected, so I sat down and put both of my feet in the water. I took a sip of the wine as I moved my legs in the water in circles.

I wanted to escape, to go back home, away from whatever Jasper was - what all three of them were. They each had the same blood red eyes, but the other two didn't lure me into their gaze like Jasper's did. I knew Jasper would not let me go without a fight, and he had made it clear that he would win if I tried to leave. He scared me, but at the same time he didn't. There was something about him, that I hated to admit to myself almost as much as I hated him, that I was attracted to. Maybe it was his damn good looks, but no matter how attractive I thought he was there was no way that I was going do anything other than be nice to the man who took me.

I looked back at the massive stone, wood, and metal log mansion that was my prison and held up my middle finger at the structure, and turned back around to admire the stars. Fuck this place. Fuck Jasper. Fuck my life. I downed the rest of my glass and wished Charlotte had opened a bottle of whiskey instead of wine.

There weren't many options available for my happy ending. As far as I had figured out, in my almost forty-eight hours of captivity, Jasper would never let me return to my home, to my life. I was stuck here unless I could devise a way to escape, and I had no clue how far into the expansive and dangerous Texan countryside Jasper had brought me and I was not stupid or desperately crazy enough risk running away.

Jasper made me feel both a strong dose of apprehension and fear and attraction, which made me nervous and curious at the same time. I felt both safe and in danger around him and that caused a massive spike in my curiosity and wariness.

What kind of threat had been made against me that would force Jasper, I complete stranger, to kidnap me and bring me to his home? I wanted to know who had made the threat and what it was. I wanted to know who Jasper was and why he felt the need to protect me, to rip me from my life.

Colin and my dance company would be worried sick about me. My boss at the cafe and his wife who treated me like a daughter since I began working there to help pay for college, starting as a freshman in high school. My dad left my mom when I was an infant, and my mom had died when I was thirteen, and my grandparents were gone now too, so I had no living blood relatives, but I had friends who were like my family, and I missed them. I worried what they thought happened to me. Most of all I wondered if they were looking for me. I still had hope to get away, but I doubted my friends would find me on their own. A strange feeling told me that Jasper hadn't left any evidence behind when he had snuck into my apartment. He wouldn't have left any trace that would lead authorities back to his home.

I twisted around, pulling my feet out of the water, and stood up. I shook each leg, trying to dry off before unrolling my pant legs and picking up my empty glass. Going back in the house, I made my way to the kitchen to deposit the cup before going to my room.

Jasper was coming out of his room as I went to open my door. "Cora, I.."

I shut the door behind me before he could say anything else. I took off all but my shirt and pants and climbed into the queen sized bed. Curling up with one pillow hugged against my chest, I laid my head on another and tried to go to sleep.