9
Cold.
That was the first thing she felt as she started to come around.
Amira slowly opened her eyes to see the stone celling above her. She slowly rolled over to her side groaning as her head pounded. A weird clicking noise was heard as she moved.
Amira froze as she noticed some weird cuffs on her wrists. There were chains connected to the cuffs leading to the wall. Sitting up, Amira looked around the room. She was in a stone prison cell with only fire torches by a door across from the room. In the corner was a bucket.
Amira stared in horror as everything came back. She jumped up and tried to get the cuffs off her wrists, but they were too tight to remove. She grabbed the chains and pulled trying to pull the chains from the wall.
"Come on. Come on." Amira begged with hear filling her.
Nothing happened.
"Dammit." She screamed in anger.
A clicking noise behind her caused her whole body to tense up.
She looked over to the door to see the one person she did not want to see walk in.
Illumi Zoldyck stared at her with a blank look carrying a tray, "Good. You are awake."
Amira took a step back glaring in anger at the man. "What's going on? Why am I here?"
He walked over standing across from the girl.
"Hello, Amira. How are you?" He said watching the girl
"WHY AM I HERE?" Amira screamed in anger while glared at the man harshly, "What's going on? Why did your butlers kidnap me?"
Illumi placed the tray in his hand on the ground.
"My father feels I should marry and continue on the Zoldyck name. I am allowed to choose my own bride and I chose you." Illumi said with a tilt of his head.
Amira stared in shock as the color drained from her face. "What?"
"I chose you as my bride. I believe we will have a great life together." Illumi said with a fake smile on his face.
Amira felt anger growing in her chest and filling her body.
"I don't want to marry you." She hissed at him.
"I know. I would be surprised if you did." Illumi stated.
"Surly there are other women who would marry you? Other assassin families who would love to have their crazy daughters married into this family. You should marry them." Amira asked.
"There is but I don't want them. I want you." Illumi said moving closer to the girl.
Amira shook her head in shock. "You're crazy. Why me? This is wrong, Illumi. You can't just kidnap someone and say they are going to marry you. That's ludicrous. Let me go. I want to go home. I want to see my family and friends. I don't want to marry you."
"You do not need your family anymore. You do not need your friends anymore. I will be your whole world. Your friend, your family and your confidant. You need no one but me." Illumi said with a sigh watching her. "I'm an assassin. Every single mission I do has some wrong things done to complete the mission. I'm stronger than you. I'm deadlier than you. I want you and you will marry me."
Before Amira could do anything, he dove forward and grabbed Amira's face in one of his hands while pushing her against the wall behind her. His other hand rested by her head on the wall. "I watched you with Killua during the Hunter Exams. I also looked at your past with your family. You have a good upbringing that would make a good mother. That is why I chose you. I love my mother, but I would like a more stable woman who does not fight me on every decision I make. My wife will not go out on missions. Her sole job is to take care of our children and attend to me while I am home. You will give birth to my children. You will raise them beside me to be the greatest assassins ever lived. You will live on Kokuro mountain till the day you die."
Amira placed her hands on his chest to push him away with her nen giving her strength, but nothing happened.
Illumi laughed. "You won't be able to do that. Those cuffs are special as an associate of mine creates them. It blocks nen from a person. I am the only one who can remove the cuffs."
Amira starred in horror. "No. Get away. GET AWAY FROM ME."
Illumi's hands moved quickly and captured her wrists. He lifted them up and held them against the wall with one hand. The other hand reached forward and brushed a hair that fell into Amira's face behind her ear. "I'm excited for our married life. You will produce many beautiful children. I would like to have more than my parents. They had 5. I would like at least 8 or 9 but am open for more than that."
He moved backward and smirked at the girl before moving toward the door.
"I will never marry you. You can't keep me here forever." Amira said with anger.
Illumi smirked and looked at her. "Forever is a long time. I promise that when I'm done with you I will be the only thing besides our future children that matter to you. I intend to break you down to pieces and build you up into the perfect wife for me."
Amira watched as he walked out of the room. The lock of the door made her shudder. What was she going to do now?
One week later
Amira sat with her head against the wall. She was not sure how much time had passed. She was not sure how to mark the passage of time. Meals only came when she was asleep. No matter how much she screamed at the door, no one came into the room. She had refused to eat, not trusting that they wouldn't drug her. She had not seen anyone since Illumi came in.
Tears ran down her face as she fell asleep most nights and when she woke up one morning food was sitting there along with a notebook, a pencil and a note.
Amira,
I thought you would like something to record your thoughts. I am sure this refection period will make you see how much we belong together. I should be back in a month. I have a mission that will take some time. The butlers will keep you fed. I suggest you stop with the hunger strike and eat or else there will be consequences for your actions.
Illumi
Amira glared and tore up the note.
"FUCK YOU, ILLUMI." Amira screamed. "LET ME OUT. I WANT TO GO HOME."
Nothing happened and no one came. She grabbed the food and threw it at the door in anger. "FUCK ALL OF YOU. I HATE YOU. I HATE ALL OF YOU. CURSE THE ZOLDYCK FAMILY AND THE BUTLERS. GON AND KILLUA WILL COME AND FUCK ALL OF YOU UP. THEY WILL GET ME OUT OF HERE AND DESTROY THIS WHOLE MANSION."
Tears ran down her face as she burst into tears. An hour went by with Amira laying there staring at the ruined food.
A door opened a crack, and a cylinder tube was tossed into a room.
"What is that?" Amira said confused looking at the cylinder.
A hissing noise escaped the tube and Amira's eyes widened as she could see the air shift as gas filled the air.
Her eyes widened in shock as she tried to move away but had no choice to breath the gas in. She started coughing harshly. She collapsed on the ground unconscious a few minutes later.
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.
Amira slowly opened her eyes as she came to consciousness. The first thing she noticed was the coldness in the air. Looking down, she realized she had been placed in an ugly scratchy shift dress. Shifting a sharp pain pounded in her shoulder muscles. Looking up she realized was being held up by her arms in chains that were hooked up to a ceiling she couldn't see from how much darkness there was. She tried to pull up to release the pain in her arms but the chains on her ankles were keeping her stuck in an x position.
"LET ME DOWN" she screamed in anger as she swung around trying to get free from the chains. "LET ME DOWN YOU BASTARDS."
Amira didn't know how long she was held there but without the food coming in, she had no idea how much time passed.
Every once in a while an IV bag with fluid appeared and was injected in her arm. The chains were tightened at that time so she could not move at all. Randomly her chains were loosened, and a single loaf of bread would be left. At first she ignored it but soon the pain became too much. That loaf was so rare that Amira felt the hunger pains more than she felt full.
One day or night, she woke up to see a voice recorder set up. Amira could feel something on her head that ran down her back, but she couldn't see what it was.
"What the hell is this?" Amira asked in confusion. "What's going on?"
It started on its own and Illumi's voice could be heard.
"I only need Illumi. I can depend on Illumi. Illumi will take cares for my need." The voice said.
"FUCK YOU ILLUMI. I WILL NEVER NEED YOU." Amira screamed ignoring the rest of the recording.
A sudden flash of pain hit her at her temples. She screamed as it felt like electricity was running through her veins. It hurt so bad.
Gasping for breath, tears ran down her face.
"I only need Illumi. I can depend on Illumi. Illumi will take care of all my needs. I need no friends. I need no other family. I only need Illumi."
Amira raised her head. "They will come for me. Killua and Gon will come to rescue me. They won't abandon me."
Amira screamed as another round of pain shot through her head as she was electrocuted again. She passed out from the pain.
The tape recorder stopped running as she passed out.
Time passed, and Amira grew quieter and quieter as she remained in the dark hole without seeing a single person. The tapes continued to come, and Amira suffered from being shocked so many times that her head had started to hurt when she felt the pads on her forehead. She was only let down for food. That was also the only time she could use the bucket in the room to use the bathroom. The food came so randomly that she usually had to use the bathroom where she hung. She was soon covered in feces and urine. It was also so cold there. She could see her breath. Her body shook from the cold.
Days did not matter. Time didn't matter. Amira had no idea how much time had passed. All she knew was that her arms had gone numb long ago from the treatment and she was so tired.
"please. Please let me down." She whispered staring down at the ground in a daze. "please."
A creak of the door and a silver canister entered the room filling the air with gas. Amira breathed it in and passed out.
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Amira opened her eyes to see herself staring up at the celling. Pain shot through her shoulders as she pushed herself up to look around the room. She was back in the original cell.
Her eyes widened when she realized someone had washed and changed her into some different clothes. She sniffed only to freeze as she smelled something. Turning to look, her eyes widened at the bowl sitting by two cups of water with a straw.
Amira shifted forward to get to the food and water. She leaned forward and sipped the water from one glass until it was all gone. It felt like the greatest drink she had ever had.
She glanced at the soup. She slowly moved her hand to the spoon and tried to lift it up. A sharp pain went through her arm. A tear went down her face as she dropped the spoon.
Amira pushed herself closer and lifted the spoon carefully as it shook in her hand. It was a beef stew with vegetables in it. It was the best food ever. She was only able to eat less than half before she became tired.
She curled up grabbing the blanket and curling up into a ball. It was so cold she could see her breath. Tears ran down her face as she fell asleep from the warm soup.
The next time she woke up, the food was gone replaced with more water, another bowl of soup and the notebook from before with a pencil. There was also a blanket that had been placed on her.
Amira moved forward and ate the soup. It was chicken noodle soup. It was not her favorite soup, but she was so hungry. Looking at the notebook, Amira sighed before grabbing it.
Day 1 of using the diary
Dear Diary,
I don't know what day it is. I don't know how long I have been here. I've been taken prisoner by my friend's older brother. He wants to marry me but I don't want to marry him. I have nen suppression cuffs on so I can't use it to escape. I tried to fight back by throwing food at the door hoping I could attack whoever came in. it didn't work out like I planned. They knocked me out with gas. I woke up in another room chained up. I don't know how long I was there. I was given no food or water. They finally let me down and back in my original room. They washed and changed me into different clothes when I was unconscious. I haven't spoken to anyone since seeing Illumi at the beginning. I want to go home. I want to see Killua, Gon, Leorio, Kuraika, my dad and other friends back home. I don't know how much more I can handle. I need to get out. I don't understand why my friends haven't rescued me yet. What are they waiting for. I want to go home.
Amira's day consisted of sleeping, daydreaming and writing in her diary. Some days the recordings from the dark room would play from an unknown speaker. All she could do is lay there and listen to it.
Day 11
Dear Diary,
I have tried to break the chains by pulling on them again, but it didn't work again. I'm not surprised. I feel like the room is getting smaller. I have started trying to keep myself entertained by singing or making up stories. I'm afraid I'm losing my mind. I'm not sure what day it is. Food comes at what I believe are different times during the day to disorient me. I haven't spoken to another person in so long. I'm not sure how much I can handle this. I wonder if anyone has realized I am missing. Are my friends missing me as much as I miss them? Why have they not come and rescued me? Don't they care? I wonder what illumi is doing. He brought me here and he doesn't even come to taunt me. When am I going to get out of here?
One point, Amira woke up to see a book sitting beside her notebook and the food left. She ate the food slowly before picking up the book. It was a pink book with a woman being held by a man. The title was Be the perfect wife for a hardworking man by Alexo Horboto. Amira scoffed and refused to read it. Days went by with the book just sitting there. Out of boredom, she picked it up and began to read it. It was interesting but Amira didn't know anyone who could live like this.
Day 31
I have gone through several books left for me to read. The titles range from how to be a perfect wife, how to run a perfect home, Child rearing for smart and well thinking children, Dressing like a proper wife, Be silent and speaking when given permission.
I can't help but wonder what it would be like as a wife. What would it be like to be a mom? I'm so lonely. I don't know how long it's been since I've seen anyone. I feel like my sanity is slipping away. I'm so lonely. I wonder if I would be less lonely with a child to take care of. Killua and Gon were such sweet kids, and I guess I was a mother hen to them. I miss them and it was nice to feel wanted. Will a son or daughter give that same feeling? I wish I could get out of here. I'm so lonely. My friends still haven't come. Were we really friends or was I wrong? Maybe I was wrong. Maybe we weren't friends after all. Maybe they forgot about me? I didn't forget about them.
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Day 46 I think
I'm so lonely. I bang at the door begging to be let out. I'm so tired of being here. I have walked this room and know it's 10 steps from one side of the room to the other if you stand at the door. It's 9 steps from one wall to the other the other way. There are 465 bricks on the celling, 1200 bricks on every wall except for the one with the door. There are 873 on that door. I'm so lonely. I sleep more than I am awake if I'm not reading a book that's provided for me. The newest book, How to understand your husband's wants without him saying anything, is interesting. It's all about listening to your husband's body language and completing his tasks. I want a family one day with lots of kids.
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Day 72 or maybe 73
I received new books. They are all about how to take care of a home and how to service a husband. I feel drained and don't want to get up. I have been talking out loud for a while but now I'm starting talking out loud and having conversations with myself just to feel like I have someone to talk to. I don't know how much longer I can stand this. I want to leave this room. I want fresh air. I want to feel the breeze on my face. I want to feel clean again and sleep in a real bed. I want fresh clothes that smell clean. I want out.
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Day whenever
I cry all the time. I'm tired of the dark. I'm tired of talking to myself. I feel so cold and alone. I want to get out of this room. I want human contact. I don't care who it is…. even Illumi.
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The door of the cell opened and Illumi walked in. On the bed, Amira was curled up asleep. The smell in here was ripe but that did not bother the assassin.
He walked over and knelt down by the bed observing the sleeping girl on it. A figure appeared and walked to stand beside Illumi's kneeling form.
"Master Illumi, everything has been set up as you requested. Her meal was drugged so she will not wake up till after everything is ready." Goto said while observing them.
"Good, Goto. Make sure there is a bathtub with hot water along with a proper dress when I release her from this place. Remove the chains from the cuffs but leave the cuffs on. I expect two female butlers to guard her at all times." Master Illumi said.
"Of course, sir." Goto said moving to leave.
"One more thing, Goto." Illumi said with a frown toward the man.
Goto turned to him with a frown. "Yes, master Illumi."
"Remember my father's orders. My mother is not to have ANY contact with my fiancé. I will not have her destroying everything I'm doing by opening her mouth." Illumi said.
Goto sighed before nodding his head. "As you wish, master Illumi."
Illumi ran a finger down Amira's face. "It will soon be over. You will be where you belong."
He grabbed all the books off the ground and walked out of the room. It was time for phase two.
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.
Amira opened her eyes and looked around with a frown. The books were gone.
She sat up and leaned against the wall. It was going to be a long day of nothing to do without the books.
A clicking noise was heard. Amira sat up and looked around confused at the noise. Her eyes widened as the door across from her opened and in walked Illumi.
"Hello, Amira." He said.
Amira stared in shock and confusion.
"I…Illumi?" She croaked out staring with wide eyes. "Are you real?"
Illumi walked over and knelt in front of her. He reached out cupping one side of her face. Amira's hands shot up and gripped his arm as if she couldn't believe it. His hand felt warm on her cold face.
"I'm very real." He said with a smile.
Tears filled her eyes as she stared at the man. "Please let me out. Please don't leave me here anymore."
"If you are good, I will get you out. Will you be my good girl?" He said watching her.
Amira nodded her head as tears slipped down. "yes. I will be good. Please let me out."
Illumi took her hands and pulled her up. He wrapped and arm around her pulling her close to him. "I have a surprise for you."
The girl stumbled and looked at the cuffs in shock. The chains were gone. She looked up at him confused but all Illumi did was smile.
"Come. See the surprise I have for you." He said.
He led the girl out into the hallway. Two female butlers stood there. Amira stared at them in confusion while they looked at her with blank looks.
"Tessa, Canary. Follow." Illumi said while he tightened his arm around Amira.
The two girls followed behind their master and his fiancé. Amira was shaking by the time she got to the end of the hallway. This was the most exercise she had done for who knows how long.
Illumi lifted her up bridal style and walked up the stairs.
Amira clutched her eyes shut when sunlight filled the air as they made it to the top of the stairs. She kept her head tucked into Illumi's shoulder trying to block the light out. It hurt so bad.
Illumi walked through the house ignoring the butlers who turned to stare. Walking to his wing, he headed to the end of the hall to a set of lavender doors.
"Canary, the door." Illumi ordered.
"Yes, Master Illumi." The girl said and opened the door.
The room had a sitting room area and to the left was where the bedroom was.
"Follow." He ordered leading to the bedroom.
The two female butlers followed without complaint.
Goto was waiting by the door of the bathroom.
"Everything is prepared, Master Illumi." Goto said looking at the girl in his arms.
"Good. Leave. Tessa, inner curtain." Illumi ordered.
The man bowed and walked out. Tessa walked over and closed the sheer curtain blocking the harshest part of the sun from the room.
"Amira, I know your eyes hurt but try and open them now." He said calmly watching the shaking girl.
Amira opened her eyes slowly. It was very bright but not to the point she was blinked. There was enough light coming in for her to see the room she was in. Looking around she was in a bedroom that was decorated with lavender and spring green colors.
"This is your new room. I picked out everything in here just for you." Illumi said watching her face as she stared at the stuff around her. "I will take care of all your needs."
The girl's eyes widened when she was the two female butlers standing there. Her body started to shake in fear.
"Shush, Amira. They will not hurt you." Illumi said glancing at the butlers before turning his eyes back to the shaking girl. "The one on the left is Tessa and the other is Canary. They are your butlers and are here to protect you."
His eyes went to Canary. "Do you recognize them?"
Amira's eyes went from one to the other before shaking her head.
Illumi smirked and lowered the girl down to the ground holding her close. "Do you want to see the surprise I have for you?"
Amira slowly nodded her head while biting her lip in worry.
Illumi led her to the bathroom door and opened it. Inside was a giant bathtub filled with hot water.
"Tessa and Canary are going to help you bathe and dress in a new outfit. Wouldn't you like that?" Illumi said.
Amira nodded staring longingly at the hot water.
"Good girl." Illumi said before glancing at Tessa.
The girl walked forward and offered her arm to Amira. "Mistress, let me help you into the bathroom."
Amira shrunk into Illumi's body staring at the butler with fear before her eyes went to Illumi.
He brushed his fingers across her face with a smile. "Good girl. Asking me for permission is exactly what a fiancé should do. You can go. Tessa works for us and she would never hurt you."
Amira blushed before reaching out for Tessa's arm allowing the butler to hold most of her weight. The two disappeared into the bathroom leaving Canary and Illumi.
He turned and looked at the girl. "My father, grandfather and Gotoh may have forgiven your actions, but I have not. If you allow anything to happen to your mistress or try to undo what I have done, I will make you regret it. If you contact Killua or his friends and tell them about Amira being here, I will bring you to the brink of death only to bring you back to full health just so I can repeat the cycle again and again. You will be begging for death, but I will not give it to you until I decide you deserve to die. Is that understood?"
Canary bowed. "Yes, Master Illumi. I understand."
"Good. Help Tessa get her cleaned up and dressed. Bring her to the lounge area when you are done." Illumi said with a glare at the girl.
He walked out and saw Goto waiting for him.
"What?" Illumi asked annoyed while taking a seat on the couch. Goto walked over and stood behind a chair that was to the right of Illumi.
"Your father has approved of your next steps to reeducate your bride. Mistress Desabella Rathberry will be here soon to beginning to teach your fiancé how to be the perfect wife in front of guests as well as in the bedroom. He has also warned your mother if she interfered in any way he would have her locked up in isolation with no contact to any of her children for a very long time. The Madam was very upset but has agreed not to interfere." Goto said before adjusting his glasses as if to gather his thoughts before speaking again. "I must say Master Illumi. I am surprised at her condition. She is better off than we thought she would be. I feared her mind had snapped when she started talking to herself. She was in complete Isolation for almost 5 months. Electroshock therapy was also a big help as in breaking her spirit against cursing you, the family and the butlers."
Illumi hummed. "She is strong and I will build her into a strong wife of my design. I was only planning for one month but my mission was delayed by a few weeks and then when you told me about her throwing food like a toddler at the door I felt it would be best to up the time spent in isolation. It seems to have done wonders. The shock therapy was also a bonus on curving that sharp tongue of hers against me. Having the butlers place those books in the room about marriage and kids was ingenious. It should make her training go smoother as she has read all those books."
Goto tilted his head. "Yes. It will be a help to the young mistresses training. However, what about Master Killua? If he finds out, he will be very upset about what you have done to his friend. Master Killua's friend, Gon, will also not be pleased. I fear they will retaliate against you to save their friend."
"By the time they realize the truth, it will be too late. I will have Amira trained to be the perfect bride and wife. My mother is a strong woman but I will not have a wife who questions my decisions or throws tantrums like she does at my father's and grandfather's decisions. Those women my mother wanted to marry are just like her. Beautiful and deadly but troublesome and argumentative. By the time I am done with Amira's training, she won't think to question me. They can come try and take her, but they will not succeed. She is mine and I will ensure that she will never leave my side one way or another." Illumi said with a smile as he looked up to the bedroom door as it opened.
Canary stepped out with a blank look, "May I present your fiancé, Miss. Amira."
The girl stepped out of the way and Illumi had a small smile come up on his face.
Amira stepped out in a gothic Victorian purple dress. The top was a purple corset top with black sheer lace and sparkling silver beads on it. There were two straps that held the dress up. The black sheer lace covering the collar of the dress continued to the shoulders creating lace sleeves that covered all the way to the wrists of her hands. The upper shoulders and collar bone were exposed. The bottom of the dress was a royal purple satin overskirt and underskirt held with a steel boned hoop skirt. Around her neck was a black choker with the Zoldyck chest and her ears held the black pearl earrings. Amira's hair was pulled back with ringlets of hair trailing down her back.
Illumi could see the makeup placed on her by the butlers to finish the perfection. She looked like an angel.
"Beautiful." Illumi said with a smile offering his arm. "I have ordered lunch in our private dining room. It's your favorite, grilled chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy and steamed broccoli. For desert we have Lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream."
Amira's eyes lit up. She had nothing but bread and soup for so long.
Illumi smirked. "I knew you would be excited about this. I will always take care of your needs. Let's eat and I will show you the rooms you are allowed to go in."
Amira quietly placed her hand in the crook of his arm and allowed him to walk her out. Canary and Tessa followed at a respectable distance.
Goto sighed and moved out into the hallway watching the four. The girl before him now was not the one who came here to rescue Master Killua. Those months in complete isolation without human contact and torture had broken the fiery spirit of the girl. She was a shell of herself and, he doubted, she would ever recover from this. Master Illumi had plans for other brainwashing techniques as he built his perfect wife.
When young master Killua found out what has occurred, Goto would do everything in his power to protect the young mistress and any child she bore for Master Illumi. It was his job to protect the family. He swore it when he became a butler here. He could only hope that Master Illumi was ready for the consequences for doing this to the girl. It would either grow or destroy the Zoldyack family forever.