Taken:Princess Academy Book I(editing/on hold)

Copyright © 2012 by Destine ’a Torres

Chapter Three:

      The elevator stopped. The abruptness sent a wave of nausea through her stomach. She felt her knees go weak. She began to wonder, when was the last time that she had eaten food? Now she was hungry and now she was feeling icky and dirty and she wanted to take a bath. Something told her that none of those needs would be filled anytime soon.

“Follow me now.”

He stepped out of the elevator and into a stark white hallway. The air smelled sanitized. The harsh bleach and ammonia smell began to make her feel weak and gain a headache. She touched the wall lightly to prevent herself from falling on her ass. It was past cool on this floor. She broke out in goose bumps and began to shiver.

For some reason it seemed as if Estefan had been trying to start small talk with her since he slapped her. Maybe he regretted treating her so harshly. Then he would turn around, get into his own mood, and ignore her. That is why she did not respond to his small talk. He seemed bitter and conflicted and she would not help him. He told her not to depend on others to have compassion.

She looked at him. He was not unattractive in looks. He had very beautiful features. He almost looked feminine. His cheekbones were high and pointed. His jaw was square in a rounded sort of way. His lips are pink and full. He has curly dirty blond hair with grey eyes framed with dark thick lashes. His face had a sexy coating of stubble. He even had a beauty mark in the corner of his lip.

The thing that threw off his ‘beauty’ was a strange jagged tribal tattoo that went from his temple to his cheekbone. It was totally out of place and strange. It creped her out, what kind of person gets a tattoo like that. He had to be somewhere around 6’2 or 6’4. His shoulders were broad and he had to weigh a lot because he was thick and muscular.

Right now he was wearing a black tank top. He had on some sort of militant fatigue pants, which were stuffed into some beat combat boots. His left arm was covered by more tribal tattoos. His right eyebrow, the one with the tattoo, had a cut on it and the left side of his lip had a cut. He definitely had gotten into some strange fights. He had the same strange whip marks on his back and his neck.

He did not seem like he was old but something about his eyes did not seem young. She had gotten a good look at him because he stayed staring at her eyes. She continued to avoid his gaze. The more he looked at her the more questions she began to have about him. Was he a guard like Ethan? Did he know Ethan? What was his background? How do you end up working at this place?

Finally, they stopped in front of a silver door that read: PA Examination Room 202. The man had stopped walking and looked at the sign before looking at her. Were they about to enter? This room was an examination for what purpose. What was about to happen to her?

“I leave you here now. Try to not get into any trouble.” He looked at her thoughtfully and began to turn away.

“Wait!” She grabbed his arm as he left. He looked at her and she backed away. “Are you just going to leave me alone now?”

He shook his head. “This is the end of my job. I am supposed to get you to the examination room and that is all.”

“Please don’t let anything happen to me!” she began to beg him. Wait, why was she begging him? He had hurt her himself since they got into contact.

He seemed as if he wanted to laugh but did not. “Alicia, get into the room and just sit there.”

“Estefan...!” She called his name as he tried to walk away.

He came close to her. His breath tickled her lips. “Alicia, get in the room. As long as you do not act foolish you should be fine. Go inside.”

She looked up into his grey eyes. She should not believe him. He had tried to harm her many times. She shook her head. “I don’t want to die.”

His molten silver eyes stared back. For a moment he seemed to look at her warmly and then his eyes turned cold and pale grey. “Go inside Alicia.”

He backed away. He took his warmth with him and she instantly began to shake. She turned before he could see her tears. She put her hand on the doorknob and turned it. What was waiting for her in here? She was about to be completely alone with whatever was on the other side. Turning back, she looked at Estefan. He motioned for her to go in and she did.