The first thing she felt was the weight in her chest.
Heavy. Sharp. As if something had caved in while she slept.
Lia blinked slowly. Her eyes struggled against the light. The ceiling above her wasn't grey or dirty like the dungeon. It was smooth, carved with golden swirls. She turned her head.
Silk drapes flowed down from the walls. Gold furniture stood in each corner, polished and clean. The air smelled like burning incense. Sweet, smoky, and strange. A soft mattress held her body. Pillows. Sheets. Everything felt soft… too soft.
Her heart raced.
She moved her arm.
No chains.
She moved her leg.
Still sore. Still swollen. But not tied.
Her breath caught. Something didn't feel right.
She sat up slowly, her ankle throbbing. A white cloth was wrapped tightly around it, clean, neat, even stitched. Someone had treated her.
She moved again, and that's when she felt it. A sharp burning pain. She winced, glanced down to check. That was when she saw it.
A mark.
Just beneath her collarbone, close to her left shoulder. A small black symbol, burned into her skin, rough, uneven, and still red around the edges.
Her eyes widened in realization. She was branded. Like property.
Her chest tightened. Her stomach twisted with nausea.
What does that even mean?
Suddenly the door clicked, startling her. She looked up fast. Heart pounding.
Then a young woman stepped inside, holding a bowl. She wore a plain linen dress, her dark hair tied back. When she saw Lia, she gasped, a little smile curling at her lips.
"Oh! You're awake!" she said, quickly walking over. "Don't move too much. Your ankle's still healing."
Lia scooted back, terrified and confused.
"Who… who are you? Where… where am I?" Her voice came out thin and weak.
The maid set the bowl on a table and looked her over with quick eyes, like she was checking if anything had come undone.
"You're in the west wing of Dawson Madhav's palace" she said. "Room seven."
Lia stared blankly. The words didn't make sense. Her mind was still foggy. "Dawson?"
The maid nodded.
And then the memories hit her like a wave.
The auction.
The voices. The shouting. The blood.
The man at the far end who hadn't laughed. Who watched her like he already owned her.
Her chest collapsed again. Her fingers curled the bedsheets tightly. It felt like she was suffocating. She had passed out. Didn't know anything that happened after that.
"Tomie..." she whispered, turning sharply to the maid. "Do you know where Tomie is?"
The maid frowned. "Tomie?"
Lia's voice cracked. "Tall. Strong. He… he was bought before me."
The girl shook her head slowly, looking honestly confused. "I haven't seen him."
Lia's lips quivered. "Please. He's my best friend. I just want to know if he's alive."
"I'm sorry." The maid softened. "We're not told much. I just clean and serve."
Lia's heart tightened.
The thought of losing her friends hurt her deeply.
Roy was gone. Anna was dead. And now Tomie… disappeared. Sold off like cattle.
It was supposed to be an unforgettable trip to a beautiful island.
This wasn't the vacation they planned for.
Lia broke.
The sob came up from her throat so fast she couldn't hold it. Her hands covered her face as the tears poured out. Her body shook with each breath. She didn't care if the girl saw. She didn't care about anything.
"I'm sorry," the maid said awkwardly. She glanced toward the door, then lowered her voice. "But I have to clean you now."
She dampened a towel in the water and walked over to Lia. She grabbed Lia's hand and began cleaning her palm.
"How long…" Lia whispered through tears. "How long have I been here?"
"Two days" the maid answered. "You had a fever. Passed out again after the mark. He let the healer treat you."
Lia's eyes fell on the brand again. She gently touched it. Her skin still throbbed there.
Two whole days of being unconscious in this stranger's room?
Everything fell silent as the maid continued cleaning her. After a while, she was done. She stood straight. The towel settled back in the bowl. Then she turned to Lia.
Her tone changed, more controlled now. "You should know the rules before he arrives."
Lia looked up slowly.
Rules?
"You're not allowed to leave your room without permission" the maid said. "You don't speak unless you're spoken to. You don't run. You don't disobey his orders. If you do, you'll be punished."
"Punished how?" Lia asked, her voice small. Terrified.
The maid hesitated. "Some disappear. Others... get sold. If he spares you, he'll keep you alive. But no one stays long."
Lia's throat burned. The last part hit her harder than any wave could.
She looked down at her wrists. The mark from the chain was still visible and red.
So all of this, to still die here?
Her tears streamed uncontrollably. She shook her head, trying to breathe.
"You said… no one stays long?" Lia asked, her voice barely there.
The maid nodded once, quietly. "He doesn't keep people."
Lia blinked, confused. "Not even…?"
"No. Not men. Not women." The girl looked toward the door. "You're the first I've seen in this wing."
Lia's throat dried.
Her mind spun. Her thoughts were a mess.
Why had he taken her?
Why brand her? Heal her?
Keep her locked in silk and gold instead of killing her like the others?
Why?
A sharp knock came at the door, startling both Lia and the maid.
A guard's voice followed: "The master is on his way."
The maid's eyes widened.
She quickly reached for a comb from the table, rushing to Lia's side.
"Please" she whispered, "let me fix your hair. You don't want him to see you like this."
Lia didn't speak. She sat frozen as the girl brushed through her tangled strands, fast but careful. Her hands trembled the whole time. Even the maid was scared.
When she was done, the maid stepped back.
Lia could hear footsteps now. Getting closer.
The sound of leather boots against tile. Steady. Heavy.
Her heart raced.
The door handle turned.
The air shifted.
It swung open.
And he walked in.