Whitney's (POV)
The women rushed over to Ryan....I guess it's his name. She quickly props his head on her lap and touches his face and arms. Oh god, I hope he's okay. She yells for help and looks at me with concern and confusion. I kneel down to look at Ryan and pray he isn't hurt.
"What can I do to help?" I ask hesitantly, she stares at me a moment longer and then seems to snap out of it.
"Nothing...it's not something you can help with." She says grimly, this makes me feel sick.
"Is he going to be okay?" I look at him again, he's breathing steadily but he is so pale and his cheeks are flushed.
"Yes, he will. Getting here just took a lot of energy.... you both must have traveled far." She looks at me again like she wants to ask me a question but before she can a few men enter the room. Both have longer dark hair and wearing dark clothing. They both move to Ryan, one man who looks much older than the other checks Ryan's vitals it seems.
"We need to get him to the sick room." The other man nods at him and without either acknowledging me they both lift Ryan up and out of the room.
"What is your name?" The women look at me with concern. Now that Ryan isn't in the room I can take her in fully. She looks to be in her late 30s or early 40s, but she is stunning. She has an angular face she looks like a runway model. She also has long while hair much like Ryan's, and the same unearthly blue eyes.
I take a deep breath, "My names Whitney, I am sorry for the trouble to have caused you. Ryan saved me back in... well I don't know from where exactly."
I can see from her expression that she has many questions for me but doesn't know where to begin.
"Well my name is Alana I am Ryan's mother, and I want to speak with you more about what occurred. However, from the looks of it, you could use a bath and a change of clothes."
If that wasn't the truth, I have been trying not to smell myself. I have not bathed in....well I don't know how long. I quickly nodded my head, too embarrassed to speak. She stands up and begins to lead me toward the door. Its old and make of wood and iron. It almost looks like a barn door, but smaller. I follow her through the door, and realize quickly that the walls are made of stone and mud. It is also very chilly, I instantly wrap my arms around myself. Alana takes a few turns and after a long corridor I feel the air get warmer and humid. I notice Alana is wear a white dress that is flowy but hugs her figure. All I can think of is, I hope I look that good when I am her age.
She stops just before another large door, and its where all the heat is coming from. She opens it and gestures for me to go in. I hesitate for a moment feeling unsure, "It's okay sweetheart, no one here will hurt you". She sounds so sincere and at this point what do I have to lose, I don't think Ryan would have saved me just to harm me.
I walk through the door and steam hits me. It's a hot spring! The room is large, the floor is covered with river stones, the wall has some other type of rock. Right in the center is a large pool of water with steam coming from the top. I look to Alana a little shocked, "It took us quite a bit to get this set up but the water comes from a natural hot spring and its very relaxing. Why don't you get undressed while I try to find you some clothes? There are some clean towels in the corner over there in that cabinet".
I look in the corner and see the cabinet, turn to thank her but Alana as already leaving. I don't blame her this must be a confusing situation for her as well. My mind is racing with tons of question about where am I. But my body is attracted to the water and needs to get in. I quickly undress and dip my toe into the water. It's hot but not unbearable. I slowly ease into the water and soon it's up to my chin. I close my eyes and breath the steam in, this is the best feeling I've had in a long time. I feel peaceful and sleepy for sure but it is not long before my mind wonders as it always does. I think of Kieran and Will, and desperately want to know if he is okay. Tears prick my eyes and I try desperately not to cry. But it's too hard and a sob escapes me, all I want to do is go home. I wish none of this had happened, why did this happen to me? I've been kidnapped twice and still am not clear as to why. I am in a world were demons and other magical creatures exist. They trade people as slaves for money, goods, and see humans as animals. I just want my life back, I want this to be one big nightmare and for me to wake up soon.
"But you got to meet Will". A thought that emerges. Will is special and I can't lie that I feel something for him. He is so sweet and I would never have survived thus far without all his help. Just thinking about him makes me blush and smile. "You also have feelings for Kieran". That voice in my heads thinks suddenly. I shake my head at that, no I can't like Kieran. He is so rash and brazen plus he can be very creepy. Always wanting to touch me and the looks he gave me sometimes made me feel so.....well I am not sure but feel weird for sure.
Despite this I am hoping is fine as well, I mean they are a part of each other so I need both of them to be okay. I pray those pirates didn't hurt them, but both Will and Kieran are strong they can make it. I have to hold on to hope, no matter how little I have. After moping for a bit longer I finally notice what appears to be soap in a bowl at the edge of the water. I dip my fingers into it and it sure enough it is soap. I use it to wash every inch of me, including my wrecked hair. I run my fingers through it praying it's not a lost cause. There a few things about myself that I like physically but my hair is one of them.
Shortly after rinsing my hair I hear a knock on the door. "I have some clothes for you, I am going to leave them just outside the door. Once your dressed go left and meet me two doors down"
"O-okay I will." As I hear Alana's footsteps leave I get out and fetch a towel. I quickly poke my head out the door and make sure no one is looking. I see a bundle of clothes the left. I dry off and examine the clothes. Its actually a long white night gown, it is silky but thick fairly modest. I worry it won't fit over my curves especially my chest but to my surprise it fits perfectly.
I leave the room and go searching for Alana, it wasn't hard to find the room it was the only one with the lights on. I hesitantly knock on the door trying to be polite. "Come in".
I go in and I see the room is a living room of sorts, there are red couches with a warm fur rug and fireplace in the middle. It was rustic looking but still modern. Alana was sitting on the smaller couch sipping from a cup.
"Please come take a seat and warm up, I have tea or coffee I was not sure what you liked."
"Oh thank you, you didn't have too". I go to sit on the couch opposite of her and feel the heat of the fire, it's so comforting.
"What would you like?"
"Um tea would be nice." I look at her expectantly.
"All I have is mint at the moment, but it is very good. It can be hard for me to get leaves at this time of year." She hands me a cup and I inhale the aroma. It smells minty but not in a strong way it very refreshing. It helps me relax further. There is an awkward silence, both of us snuck glances at each other. Maybe I should say something.
"Do you feel comfortable telling me who you are and how you met my son?"
I think for a moment not sure where to begin. "It's a long story actually."
"Well I have the time and there is no need to rush." She looks at me with pity, she must know what ever happened to me must not be good.
I should still cautious, can I tell her everything? What if she isn't as nice as she seems, I assume she is a demon as well if she is Ryan's mother. I decide to tell her about being separated from my friend how I was taken by Eitan for his master. I told her how he wouldn't tell me why or what it was about. I also told her he had be following Will and I for days. I told her about the train ride and how I got away from him and finally running into Ryan and him saving me.
"Then Ryan told me to close my eyes and count, before I knew it we were here and he.... Oh gosh, how is he?!" I should have asked sooner, I feel slightly guilty.
Alana break out of thought and looks me in the eyes, "he is fine he just needs some rest."
That's a relief, I sigh and look Alana. I have many questions of my own. But Alana asks me some more.
"Where are you and your friend come from, where do you live?" I hesitate, what can I tell her that I am from a different world.
"Whitney did come from a human garden?" I look at her confused, what the heck is that?
She notices my confusion and continues on. "Human gardens are where people are put... well female humans are put to breed more babies...." she trails off.
My stomach lurches at that thought, what on earth is going on in this world.
"No, I was never in anything like that... I mean I was in a lab or something....." Oh no I said too much. Alana looks surprised and then understanding dawned on her.
"Were you sold at this lab place as well?" I just nod my head, there is no use lying now. Honestly, I am not sure it would hurt for her to know. Maybe she can help me get home too, hope rises in me and I tell Alana about the night I was kidnapped and that I was not born of this world. She looks at me and is listening taking in once I am saying. She looks shocked but also sympathetic.
After I finish she shakes her head, "I cannot believe the rumors are true, we heard they were taking humans from different worlds but I hoped it to be untrue." She whispers to herself.
I look at her confused and very concerned what cant she believes. She continues" we had heard there was groups, well organizations that might be transferring to otherworld's with the sole purpose of collection humans."
"Why would they do that?"
"Well the number one reason is money, human trafficking in this world is a lucrative business. Because humans are used for many things like slave labor, that could be something from serving as a maid or running a farm. Then there's the women who are taken to produce more humans for resale or...." She trails off and bites her lip, she avoids looking at me directly.
"Or what?" I lean closer trying to catch her gaze, this doesn't sound good.
She takes a deep breath, "or well it can be a long story also and it is getting late." I look at her about to protest, I want to know what else it could be.
"I know you want more answers but it is getting late and its clear you've been through hell and back. I want to continue our conversation more tomorrow." She stands and looks down at me, I look back and want to argue and beg for her to tell me what's going one but I can feel the exhaustion in my bones. I do need rest, actual rest not the few naps here and there that I have been getting.
"Okay we can talk more later." Alana steps toward me and grabs my hand gently, motherly.
"Thank you for sharing your story with me. I can imagine it must be hard to trust my kind after what you have been through. But I promise you my family and I are not like them and will not harm you. You are safe with us."
I want to cry at her reassuring words, I haven't felt save in days and being here all clean and cozy I realize I do feel safe. Like I felt safe with Ryan in the woods in this moment too I feel safe with Alana.
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Kieran's (POV)
I am getting close. I can smell it, well I can smell him more like it. And her... my peach my perfect Whitney. I inhale deeper, finding the stronger bitter sent of the demon who took her from me. Well from that idiot Will, he screwed everything up and failed to protect Whitney. I should have fought harder to stay in control but I wanted to respect what Whitney wanted too and she wanted Will then. What a mistake, I should remember she is just a young woman who is not thinking straight with all the stress. She'll soon realize that I am superior to Will and the one who deserves her. I move swiftly through the trees, I caught up with their scents and fallowed it to a train station which is leading me deep in the forest toward the center land if I am not mistaken. Whitney's scent is fainter than the demons, this concerns me but I am sure if I keep following his I can find her as well. After what feels like hours I track his scent to a denser part of the forest but soon I am catching other scents, other people's scents and demons. I slow my pace and begin to move in the other direction, see some rock formations and head that way. I climb up them to get a better view of my surrounds. I look closely and, in the distance, I see a house, a huge house more like a mansion. It is an off white and stands out with the green backdrop of the forest.
The wind picks up and I get another whiff of bitterness he must be in there and so is Whitney.
"I'm coming my peach."
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Authors Note
I know its been literally foever since I have updated. With all that is happening in the world I finally have time to destress by writing. This story has always been in my head/heart and has been with me since I was a teen. I am determined to finish it. I know I may not have many readers still with me but if your out there I would appreciate the support and motivation.
Please Comment, star, and follow me for updates. There will be another chapter out soon.