The Tribrid's Mate

#2 Lunasia

Their vehicle was now on a muddy road. It was bumpy, yet the killer had no conscience to drive it slower. He was in a murderous rage. Milena screamed for help, but nothing was going to change her abductor's mind.

Milena tried to escape. But the doors of the car wouldn't open. The kidnapper held her tightly with one hand before speeding between two huge trees. The path between them was so narrow that the probability of an accident was more than making through it.

Milena pleaded with him to stop. But the only thing he did was smirk at her. She closed her eyes, believing it was the end of her sad life. Maybe she will be born again and live a decent life the next time.

But when nothing happened, and she opened her eyes, she realized that her kidnapper had driven off from the edge of a cliff and they were falling down. She screamed as loud as her lungs allowed, contrary to the calm and serene look on her abductor's face. And then her eyes widened in confusion and bewilderment. Was she dreaming? What she was witnessing was definitely an illusion. Or was she dead?

Blue, purple, violet, pink translucent layers appeared before her eyes. It was the most beautiful thing she had seen. Perhaps it was the door to the afterlife. She let that moment slip inside her mind before passing out.

"You should have stayed awake a little longer! We welcome here not many humans." The killer smirked at her. It was the first time he was looking at her face. She was beautiful, even if in basic clothes and not one layer of makeup. For a brief second, something came over him as he brushed the hair that had fallen on her face. But when she moved her hands out of reflex, the reality dawned on him, and he looked ahead of him.

The sun was glowing as bright as it could. The summer was already here, and more and more vampires were going to complain about it. He let out a deep sigh, speeding his vehicle.

It was his world. Lunasia.

*****

Milena POV

"Wake up, sleepyhead! We are almost here, " I heard when I felt someone yanking me.

The first thing that sipped in was the vivid dream of me dying and the colorful layer. Of course, it was a bad dream. I had many after the accident. It was just more livid. But then fear slithered inside me as I blinked my eyes to adjust the morning light passing through a glass window. I was afraid that I had overslept and missed my morning chores. Miss Benett wouldn't be kind enough to understand anything if she was awake and had not found breakfast on the table.

But when the yanking did not stop, and the voice became clearer with each passing second, I realized I was not in my bed back at Darzing. A different kind of sensation washed over me. I wasn't sure if it was relief or worry. For a second, my mind couldn't make out if Miss Benett or my kidnapper terrified me more.

As the reality of my new situation settled in, I decided not to show my kidnapper that I was afraid of him. I was going to keep up my stance and act fearlessly. I was a stubborn girl when I was living with my parents. I remember some voice complaining that I was a spoilt child.

One fateful day, my parents died in an accident, and I woke up days after in a hospital. Since I had no one who wanted to take me, they left me in a foster home. I had to stay with Miss Benett. I lost the kid inside me soon after that terrible day. I had to be the grown-up for Trixie, my foster sister, who was several years younger than me.

Before this moment, I didn't even know that I still had it in me to be stubborn and fearless. I am going to call it survival instincts. I am a survivor, and there is no doubt about it.

I chose not to answer my kidnapper, whose brooding eyes were fixated on me. I fluttered my eyes and looked elsewhere in apprehension. His potent gaze was burning holes inside me. Was he looking into my soul or something? He was terrifying. I swallowed hard and decided to ignore his glare.

Honestly, I had not planned on sleeping. I had thought of staying awake and noting all possible gas stations, shops, towns so that I could escape when the opportunity would come before me. But the last thing I remember was a small shop he stopped to buy some bottled water. And it was in the middle of nowhere and was not much of help. I cursed myself for dozing off. But then I reasoned with myself that it might have been from the side effects of drugs. Or who knows if he had drugged me again. The killer-c*m-kidnapper was not someone she could trust.

I adjusted to my position and looked outside, avoiding him entirely. We were passing through a small town. As we passed through some billboards, I found that this place is called Lumen, the capital of Lunasia.

It suddenly clicked that I knew about this place. It was there in one of Trixie's storybooks. I don't remember much since it was ages back, but from what I could recall, this magical place was popular for its healers. In the book, there was a healer who helped cure people through ancient ways. From what I can remember, these people call themselves children of the moon. They believe in the magic and power of nature. Believers come here to get treated in their way. I certainly am more inclined to modern methods of medicine. So, it was natural for me to have found it absurd. Hence I did not remember most of it. I regret this now.

I realized we were entering a place bounded by tall walls as if it was some kind of fort. It was over a cliff. For a second, I was worried that my dream from the morning was about to come true, but when I saw a few passersby, I was more relieved. The idea of being on a cliff put a genuine smile on my face once I relaxed. I always dreamed of being in one such place.

I could see through the corner of my eyes that the killer looked amused after seeing me smile genuinely for the first time. To him, I was some clown. That's when I realized I should not focus on him and note all details to prepare an escape plan.

As we entered inside a towering gate, a big mansion welcomed my sight. It was breathtaking.

The mansion was a mixture of a palace plus countryside architecture. I immediately took a liking to the building. I could not help but want to explore the place, more to my chagrin. The building was two-storeyed with many Vatican-styled glass windows and balconies. It would be easy to escape with so many exits. But there were many guards and people here and there, protecting this palace, the fort, or doing whatever they were there supposed to do.

I could see him smirk or stare at me with amusement from time to time when he broke the invisible ice settled between us inside the vehicle. "Welcome Milena, I hope you will like your stay here. Don't plan to run because you can not. You are free to do whatever you want. But forget about trying to contact anyone for help. It would be fruitless. Also, you cannot get out of this compound till I say so". His voice was all serious.

I was overwhelmed by that. I was surprised to know that my kidnapper knew my name. I was angry that he had the audacity to trap me here. No matter how beautiful this place is, I am no prisoner. Not to anyone new.

I was angry. I wanted to yell at him. I felt the need to ask him about so many things. But I composed myself and asked the most obvious thing. "How do you know me? As far I know, I am meeting you for the first time."

He calmly said, like he mostly is, "I do not know you, Milena. You happened to carry your backpack when I caught you. You had your identity cards like passport, credit card, driving license inside it. I believe you were a tourist in the wrong place at the wrong time, or you were running away from something."

I suddenly blurted without letting him complete, "Please let me go. I swear I won't tell anyone anything. I am a nobody, and no one has seen me there. They will not look for me."

He coldly replied, "I wish, Milena. It is not possible. The shopkeeper could have seen you. Or there could be another witness where I caught you. Though I made sure there were none, it is always better to take precautions. Until I am sure you mean no harm to me, I truly am sorry, but you have to stay here."

"Keep your f*****g sorry with you, you murderer. You have no humanity. What was I expecting to plea to a person like you? You killed a person. Why should you leave me?" I shouted.

I would have continued shouting at him, but the car came to a standstill, and we were in front of the mansion entrance. He ignored me and my yellings. He simply got out of the car and went inside without bothering for anything, including his hostage. He did not even bother to tell me what I was supposed to do now. Nor did he ask me to follow him as I had expected. Not that he ever did anything that I expected him to do since we met.

I saw a strong-built, tall guy coming towards me with some sort of urgency. He was all dressed up as if he was running some business empire. Who knew he could be. Everyone looked rich here.

From what I am seeing, it would take a lot of money to run this place. Really, a lot. A huge mansion that was clean and shining like it got completed this morning. So many staff and security moved over the place. The man coming towards me could be the boss or some higher-up. They could be some underworld mafia group too.

But as the guy neared, I couldn't ignore his resemblance to the killer. He was a younger version of my captor. A beautifully sculpted face, strong built, tall and tanned skin. But he was leaner than the killer. And he was clean shaved too. His eyes were of the same color. Dark. But he had different hair colors. He had dark brown hair. The killer had dirty blonde hair. I personally thought the killer was more handsome. I suddenly felt guilty to have admired the physical appearances of my captives. I concentrated on what this man was doing rather than how they looked.

Another guy, but a bit shorter, more muscular, and Whittier in complexion, joined him. They both came towards me.

"Hi. The man here is Lucian, and I am Mathew," introduced the second sort guy. "I am the chief of staff, and he is the brother of the Alpha. Lucian here is the second in command."

I scoffed at their introduction. I couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you, military! What kind of s**t hole organization are you running here? What you all think you are, the president or mafia kings?" I whooped.

I don't know from where I gathered this much courage to speak like that. Maybe I have started to realize that my captors have no intention to kill me just yet, or I was becoming bolder and bolder with whatever has happened in these few hours.

I saw Mathew getting furious at my action, but Lucian calmed him down. "Mathew, this young lady here is brought without her consent and has all the right to get confused. She seems more well behaved than what brother had informed".

"Are you complimenting me here! Because I don't want that. All I want is freedom. I promise I will not say anything to anyone." I wasn't sure if my voice was pleading enough, but I could feel the sincerity in my voice.

"It is not our place to release you, Milena. Lucas will release you when it is time. All I can say to you at this moment is, he is not the bad guy. None of us are." Lucian said the most nonsensical words I had ever heard. It was like Miss Benett telling me every day that I should be grateful to her for ruining my life.

"He f*****g shot someone and left him to die. He kidnapped me. You know what he did, and you are still supporting him. How dare you say that to me that you are not the bad guys! I don't understand your logic here," I seethed out of despair and disbelief.

"It's the truth. But we can have the rest of the discussion after you get refreshed and have some food. It was a long journey. Come inside. Mathew will pick your stuff." Lucian was kinder than the kidnapper. But I was not going to soften because of his calm, modest approach.

I wanted to say I don't want to eat. But my stomach growled at hearing about food. The truth is, I had not eaten since yesterday. At least I know it's not been long since that cold, haughty guy kidnapped me. I doubt anyone would be suspicious or would have noticed till now that I am missing.

When I got out of the car, I noticed my luggage that I had checked into my hotel room! I was baffled.

"My luggage! But how!" I whispered to myself, thinking to ask about it later.

I followed Mathew and Lucian, observing this beautiful mansion, trying o remember every intricate detail. I intend to use the knowledge of the place to my advantage when I execute my escape.