Whispers of Affection

Sera’s POV

I watched the heat from outside, my only amusement, its fury matched the rage within me. Here on this forsaken island, I am shackled to my bed as I stare out the window. It has been a week since he brought me here since I woke up in this unfamiliar room. A week since I got lost in that forest, a week since he once again deprived me of my liberty. I glanced at the food he had prepared for me on the bedside table, untouched.

The sight of it made me want to puke, for many it would be a blessing. But for me, it is merely a reminder that I am held captive by an unknown man. I smiled bitterly at my ridiculous state, as I thought. How long would this imprisonment last? And what twisted game was he playing now?

I couldn’t possibly guess what he wanted when he only entered this room whenever he tried to feed me or converse with me as if I was not his prisoner. With a heavy sigh, I turned away from the window, the relentless storm of heat echoing the screams of my soul. In this mental pit of isolation and despair, I could only cling to the hope that someday, somehow, I would break free from this nightmare and reclaim my life again.

I was about to drift to sleep once more when I heard the door open. I lay frozen, every muscle tensed, as the anticipation of his presence washed over me like a suffocating smoke. He slowly approached me, I didn’t dare move. I was contemplating whether I should even acknowledge his presence.

Then, a soft voice broke the eerie stillness. "Aurel," he murmured, his tone filled with an unfamiliar tenderness. My gaze suddenly went sharp as I turned to him, it took me all I had to stop myself from retaliating and screaming my silenced defiance. “Do not dare call me Aurel. You are not Atlas, I refuse to believe that the man who encased my freedom in this hell disguised as a paradise, is the boy who made me feel most loved when I was only 5.” I bitterly said, making sure he felt the angst in my words.

His eyes widened at my sharp reply, a glimpse of sadness quickly crossing his gentle eyes before he quickly masked it. The tension between us filled the air, thick with unspoken resentment. "I know you don't trust me," he said, his voice soft but tinged with a hint of desperation. "But please, Aurel, try to understand. I never wanted this for you. I never wanted any of this. But I needed to, I can’t keep on doing things you’d resent me for just because I needed you." He continued to confuse me more. He slowly went near me and sat on the bed.

As he spoke, his words cut through my anger, leaving me feeling all mixed up. Could there be more to what he's doing than I thought? Despite my doubts, I started to wonder if there was more to his facade. Maybe he's not just a bad guy after all. But I couldn't shake off my suspicions completely. Something is going on here, and I need to figure it out. Maybe this will be the key to my freedom.

Slowly, he reached out, his hand hovering uncertainly before coming to rest on my hand. His touch was slightly shaking, a silent plea for understanding amidst the chaos of our situation. “Please join me on the beach Aurel, let me make it up to you.” He asked so gently, he held my hand so carefully like any moment I would break. I pulled my hand away from his grasp as I avoided his mesmerizing eyes. “I don’t want to. Leave.” I harshly said, my tone filled with defiance.

But as he stood there, his expression a mix of hurt and resignation, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. “But you loved the beach, Aurel?”

His words struck a vein within me, stirring memories of happier times, of laughter and sunshine, of carefree days spent by the shore, a small part of me yearned for the solace of the beach, for the familiar embrace of the waves. But then I remembered where I was and who I was with. “I used to, but how can I love it now when I perceive it as the bars to my prison?" I retorted, my voice tinged with bitterness.

His gaze faltered, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes before he masked it once more. "I understand, I’m sorry." he replied softly, though his words felt hollow in the uncomfortable silence of the room. As he turned away, a mix of feelings hit me hard. Despite being stubborn, a part of me wanted to say yes to his beach offer. But, I couldn't shake off the fact that the beach felt more like a trap than a getaway.

Another week has passed and I’m still shackled in this wretched room. I stared at the wall, counting the cracks I could see trying to pass the time when he suddenly barged into my room. I jerked in surprise, my heart pounding in my chest as he barged into the room, his expression unreadable. “What do you want now? A piece of my soul?” I sarcastically said. But he only smiled. Well, that was certainly weird, I’ve never seen this guy this excited.

“We’re leaving Aurel.” He declared, his words causing me to jump to my feet in disbelief. “What?” I asked, shocked at his sudden change of heart. “I’ve decided to relocate us.” With his remark, I sat back down. Relocate? The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. It meant he still planned on keeping me captive, dragging me further into this nightmare with no end in sight.

……………………

My feet sunk on the pristine white sand as we left this place with a small yacht. Curiosity got the best of me and I couldn’t contain my question anymore. I tapped his shoulder to grab his attention, and he turned too quickly. “Before we leave, where exactly are we?” I asked.

“Greece Aurel, it’s a private island my family owns. It’s just a few miles away from Santorini.” He replied like a kid sharing his newfound information. I couldn't help but glance back at the shrinking view of the island as we rode on the yacht. It was undeniably picturesque, with its clear waters and white sands stretching out into the horizon. Yet, despite its outward beauty, it felt more like a prison than a paradise, a cage from which I desperately wanted to escape.

We reached a port, and my silence troubled him I suppose. I would often catch him stealing glances at me the whole ride. As we stepped into another vehicle, his hesitance hung heavy in the air, I felt his contemplation, whether to talk to me or stay silent. Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, he gently opened a conversation. “Um, Aurel? Are you okay?” I threw him a sharp glare. I felt a surge of anger rise within me at the sheer absurdity of his question.

“You kidnapped me, held me captive in your little Island for 2 weeks. I am handcuffed to your wrist, cut off from my family and the world I know. I am with a stranger who claims to be my childhood best friend. Do you honestly think I'd be fine?” I angrily said, with a tinge of utter sarcasm. Anger burned within me, a fire that threatened to consume us both as I confronted him with the harsh reality of his actions.

I stared flatly at the mansion in front of us. Really? After enduring two weeks of captivity on a remote island, the last thing I expected was to find myself in the secluded countryside, surrounded by hills. He stood beside me as I stared at the mansion. As he leaned closer, I met his gaze with a glare,  “First you surround me with water, now you surround me with hills. What’s next, fire?”I spat the words out bitterly as I tried to remove the handcuff on my wrist.

“Can you get this off of me?” I demanded, my tone laced with annoyance as I struggled against the metal restraint. “It's not like I can run away. If I did, I'd be dead before I could see any signs of civilization.” He only smiled and grabbed the key from his pocket.

The handcuffs clicked and for the first time in 2 weeks, I felt like I was free again. As I rubbed my wrist, feeling the rawness of the skin where the metal had chafed against it, he reached out to soothe the irritated flesh. His touch was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to the chains that had bound us together. He held my hand after rubbing my wrist as he pulled me towards the mansion.

“Where are we now?” I questioned, my eyes lingering on the intricate architectural design of the mansion. It was giving a blend of Victorian elegance with hints of Greek influence, perhaps even a touch of medieval charm. Despite my captivity, I couldn't help but be captivated by the beauty of the surroundings. He placed our bags on the table, still covered with cloth before he answered. “Butterflies Valley, Northwest of Rhodes Island. We’re still in Greece.” He said as he watched me still enthralled by the beauty my prison holds.

My gaze brought me back to him and for a moment I thought. His words sank in, and I couldn't help but marvel at the irony of it all. How could he imprison me in places that held the potential for romance and enchantment, rather than the dread and despair I had come to associate with my confinement?

…………………

4 days had passed since he brought me here and in utter disappointment, Butterfly Valley didn’t seem like it had butterflies. I went down the stairs and as I made my descent to reach the bottom, I found him engrossed with a basket while preparing certain meals in cute little containers. The sight brought a bitter smile to my lips as I approached him, my voice was heavy with sarcasm.

"Is it my last meal that you're fussing about?" I quipped, the words dripping with irony as I watched him work.

His gaze flicked up to meet mine, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes despite the gravity of our situation. "Not at all, my Queen." he replied smoothly. "Just thought I'd try being a culinary artist. After all, even prisoners deserve a taste of luxury, don't they?" he playfully said which only fueled my annoyance.

How could he speak so lightly of our situation, as if my detention were nothing? The bitterness of my captivity lingered within me like a wretched aftertaste. As he finished his unconventional task of placing sliced strawberries in a pink glass container, he smiled at me. “Come with me, Aurel. I want to show you something," he said, his voice soft as he extended his hand toward me, the basket of food in his other hand. But unlike an ordinary day, I did not dare move.

“I don’t want to come with you.” I said as I tried to stand my ground. But this time he did not waver, his smile stayed intact. "Let me make it up to you, Aurel," he implored, his tone laced with a hint of desperation. "I promise to let you go after a month. But please, let me make it up to you before I do that." The promise of freedom shimmered like a distant beacon, a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of my imprisonment.

I glanced at his hand trying to weigh my decision and in the end, I found myself holding his hand while we walked the vast hills of Butterfly Valley. The hills stretched out before us, a patchwork of vibrant colors and gentle slopes painted in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. As we ascended a small hill, the scent of apple blossoms filled the air, mingling with the soft rustle of leaves.

We stopped in the shade of an apple tree, its branches offering a nice spot from the midday heat. From our spot, we overlooked a sea of flowers like orchids, tulips, and poppies swaying gently in the breeze, their vibrant hues a dazzling spectacle against the backdrop of bright green hills.

And then, with a sudden burst of excitement, I broke free from his grasp and raced down the hillside, my laughter blending with the soft hum of the breeze. But as I reached the sea of flowers I was surprised as I was welcomed with a kaleidoscope of colors. Butterflies flew before me, their delicate beauty dancing in the air like a wonderful dream. Like a child set free, I danced with the butterflies and giggled every time they touched me. It was like a reminder that beauty can flourish anywhere, it only needed to be sought. It is only waiting for those who are brave enough to seek it.

I was happily looking at the butterflies that flew in the air, sitting down on a checkered blanket he had laid. He gave me a container full of strawberries and gently added chocolate syrup to some of it. I smiled a little to show him my gratitude.

⁤ "Thank you," I whispered, my voice laced with gratitude as I accepted the offering. ⁤⁤But as I glanced up at him, a sudden realization hit me, we had never been formally introduced. ⁤⁤I had never asked his name. ⁤

⁤"Um," I said with embarrassment. ⁤⁤"I don't know your name." ⁤⁤He paused for a moment, his gaze with a hint of uncertainty. ⁤⁤"Atlas, Aurel," he replied, his voice filled with hope. ⁤⁤"Call me Atlas, just like before." ⁤But I only found myself unable to speak it aloud. ⁤⁤It felt too intimate, too familiar. With a sense of regret, I shook my head. ⁤

"I-I'm sorry, I can't," I admitted, my voice barely audible as I bowed my head in shame. ⁤

⁤ His expression softened, a gentle understanding in his eyes as he reached out to hold my hand. ⁤⁤"Then, call me Cameron instead," he suggested, his voice tender and reassuring. ⁤⁤"My Queen." ⁤

His hold on my hand felt so gentle, it truly felt like I was his queen, not his prisoner.

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