Harper's head throbbed, and bile surged in her throat. The world spun around her as she slipped in and out of consciousness. "Put me down," she wanted to shout, but her words came out barely audible.
She wondered where they were taking her. When she tried to move her eyes, the world became blurry. She was being carried over her shoulder out of some kind of dungeon with walls made of the same wet stones as the floor and ceiling. Nara roared orders to whoever was transporting her.
She tried to move her head to see, but the moment she did, she returned to the comforting calm of nothingness.
"Give her the Surgitjuice," she heard someone say, then she felt a hot and bitter liquid slide down her throat.
Her eyes sprang awake, and the world became crystal clear. Aside from a dull ringing in her head and a faint throbbing in her wrist, she was feeling considerably better.
"Are you feeling better?" Nara asked. "Straighten up."
Harper glanced around the room, surprised by what she was seeing. Everything was extravagant, as befitting a nobleman. A man dressed in a red velvet frock coat came to the door. He had graying hair and a thin mustache. "A man with graying hair and a thin mustache, clad in a crimson velvet frock coat, opened the door. "Follow me," he beckoned, and led them into the waiting area, where they took a seat. "Follow me," he said to Nara.
Nara shifted her gaze to one of her men. "Keep an eye on her." She followed the man through another door.
"Don't worry, Master Gillen has a soft spot for humans," whispered one of Nara's men to Harper. "And if you're especially nice, you'll get your own room and will exclusively serve him."
Harper sat there, her hands untied, thinking about Alex and Lucas. Her emotions were torn between fear and anger. A part of her was terrified and wished she could run back to them both. Another did not want to see the two of them again. Except for her time spent working for the Carmichael Group of Companies, she was a happy and contented human. They were both to blame for her ending up in this tremendous mess of a predicament.
Now that she had regained most of her strength, thanks to whatever awful substance they made her drink, she had considered running away, but when she looked down at the shackles on her feet, she realized she wouldn't be able to get very far.
Looking around and seeing men who appeared to be guards, she realized she was unlikely to be able to flee the damn place anytime soon. They needed to become acquainted with the place and devise an effective escape plan.
Nara's men were both ecstatic as they talked jovially about their money and what they planned to do with it. Every day for the next few months, it'll be booze, ladies, and lazy days. Harper scoffs at such rubbish. Why not start a new life? Or start a decent source of income rather than kidnapping people and selling them.
"I'm telling you, this one is special!" Nara reappeared, walking side by side with what Harper assumed was Master Gillen. He looked to be in his mid fifties, with thinning white hair. He was clothed in a long maroon dress coat, but Harper could tell he was above everyone else in the room by the way he observed with his keen eyes and the way he walked.
Nara's men rose up when he entered the room. Harper did the same, with some hesitation.
"Greetings, and welcome to Casa Gillen." Harper was greeted with a friendly smile from the old man. "My name is Lord Gillen, but please call me Master Gillen," he added, without taking his eyes away from Harper.
*Small Fry? He’s a lord too?* Harper thought, remembering what Nara called the lord.
"It's good to see you again, Master Gillen," said Nara's tallest man.
"Nice to see you, too, Tom." Master Gillen shifted his gaze to Nara. "Right this way." He then brought them to his office, which was cozy in comparison to the spacious reception area. He entered the room, sat in the master chair behind the desk, and gestured for everyone to take their seats. "Do you want anything to drink?" he asked.
Nara looked at her men and politely declined.
"And what about her?" He nodded at Harper.
Harper quickly shook her head.
"Okay, then. What is your name, human?"
"Harper."
"Harper, you look like shit. But, from what I understand, you've been running around Moorland with two lycans and a vampiress."
"She'll make a good *sitter*," Nara suggested. "She's fierce and strong enough to do the job."
Slowly, Master Gillen nodded. "You could be right, but I don't think it's a good idea for her to work closely with her boyfriend or her mate."
*What is he talking about?*
"As long as they can't tap into their wolves, those two are useless. They could plot their escape, but without their wolves, they wouldn't be able to go anywhere far." Harper's hope of escape or freedom dwindled as she listened to what Nara had just revealed.
"You're right again, Nara," Master Gillen said as he approached Harper, but the vampiress... she doesn't need a wolf to break free."
Harper sat wide-eyed as possibilities unfolded in front of her. But how could they be so forthright? They must have expected her to share this information with them now that she was aware of Francine's potential.
*There’s hope after all.*
Master Gillen then looked at her for a time before stating, "I think I know what to do with her."
Nara’s men looked at Harper with a devilish grin on their faces.
"The two lycans are in the dungeon with the vampire," Nara said.
"Good. And as agreed, 1,500 aurum for the human, 2 lycans, and the vampiress." Master Gillen turned to his deputy.
"Master Gillen, I did some digging, and based on what I found, I'm raising the price to 3,000 aurum," Nara smiled.
Master Gillen shook his head, forcing a smile. "You know how much I dislike renegotiation, Nara."
"The vampiress is Lord Vanklause's niece, a royalty, and one of the lycans is Lord Ramon's son. 3,000 aurum is a reasonable price."
"Oh. You're telling me I have royal prisoners?"
"That's right. Consider how much profit you can make from them. Hundreds of people would pay to watch a royal fight."
For a brief period, Master Gillen remained silent as he considered Nara's proposal. He sighed and looked over at his deputy. "Okay. Prepare for the payment."
The man in the crimson frock left the room right away.
Harper sniffed, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. It made no difference whether she was outside the dungeon or in that prison cell. She was still a prisoner. When she looked up, she noticed they were shaking their hands and nodding to each other.
Then Nara and her men walked out of the office, all smiles on their faces.
"Why are you crying, Harper? You're finally out of that dirty prison," Master Gillen said. He approached her and put his hand on her shoulder, turning her around so his steely dark eyes met hers. "You'll fit in nicely with my personal maids."
Harper sniffed and wiped a single tear off her face.
Master Gillen then straightened up.
"You'll be sharing a room with my other personal maid. She, too, is a human, just like you. Come! Allow me to personally show you to your room. I'm sure you're exhausted."
She didn’t move an inch.
"Come on, come on. I'm not going to bite you, dear." Master Gillen’s tone was tinged with slight annoyance. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm not one of those beasts."
"What?"
"I built my fortune running fighting pits throughout Velaris, which is why those filthy creatures, such as your boyfriend and mate, can't touch me. Wealth, like in your New World, remains the primary source of power in this world, Harper."
Harper couldn't think of anything to say, so she pursed her lips and trailed after him. They left his office and walked down a corridor until they reached the part of the casa where the rooms were lined up.
Master Gillen pushed open the door to reveal a room with flagstone flooring, a bunk bed, a table near the barred window, and a bathtub hidden behind a light sheer curtain. Harper thought that the room was surprisingly decent.
"I hope this room is okay," Master Gillen said proudly. "I'll have one of the servants get you something to eat."
Harper shifted her gaze to his. "What about my friends? They haven't eaten anything in days. Francine, on the other hand, still needs to rest and recover." Her voice was on the verge of breaking.
"My dear Harper," he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "you shouldn't be too concerned about your friends. They have a better chance of surviving than you do in this world. But if it makes you feel better, my men will take them to their own quarters too. As my fighters, they'll be looked after."
"Fighters?"
"I run a fighting pit. Remember? You've probably heard what Nara said."
Harper felt chills going down her spine. Would Alex, Lucas, and Francine have to fight each other?
"Wash up. Libby will bring you your clothes."
"Libby?" The name immediately rang a bell.
"Yes. She is the person you will be sharing this room with."
They heard someone say, "Master Gillen," and then a woman appeared from behind them.
"Oh, here she is."
When Harper glanced around, her eyes widened with shock. "Libby!"