Liyah’s POV


    I felt like I had only just shut my eyes to sleep when I felt someone shake me awake. I opened my eyes weakly to see one of the guards looming above me.


    “Get up,” He ordered, pulling me up at the same time. As I stood to my feet I sucked in a sharp breath. My ankle was swollen and it looked even worse than yesterday. The guard didn’t look like he cared as he pushed me forward, toward the door. I wobbled to the floor, wondering why the much friendlier guard wasn’t here instead.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    As though he could read my thoughts, he walked in, taking in the sight before him and ring at his colleague before gently holding onto my arm and helping me up. I murmured my thanks, grateful that at least one person didn’t want me dead.


    I took shaky breaths in anticipation as they led me out of the dungeon. Getting out the dungeon wasn’t an achievement, but I was thankful that I at least got to leave. As we got through thest wooden door, I instinctively shielded my eyes from the bright light that filled the room we had just entered. My painful reactionsted for a few moments until I began to adjust to the light. Being in the dark for so long certainly had its effects.


    The guard who held onto my arm gave me a concerned look. “You good?”


    I nodded. I froze when we walked into the room fully, my jaw dropping. It was the most exquisite ce I had everid eyes on. The intricate patterns of the paint, the walls, the furniture. It matched the luxury back home too. I couldn’t stop my eyes from roaming, surprise coating my features. Whoever owned this ce was obviously very well of. Initially I had included abduction for ransom in the possible reasons why I had been kidnapped. But now, I knew it couldn’t be it. The upants of this ce obviously didn’tck money. So what was it? My fear deepened. If they weren’t nning to ask for ransom then why? A thousand thoughts floated through my head all at once.


    I let them as they led me outside. When the cool breeze hit my face, in inhaled my first real breath since I had been here. My chest began to hurt and I began to dawn on me just how bad it was for me down in that dungeon.


    Grateful, I fell to my knees, filling my lungs with the clean air. The other guard hissed, walking to my side and pulling me up. Roughly, he pulled me towards the corner of the house anding to a stop in front of a wall.


    “Up there,” He growled when I gave him a questioning look.


    I looked up to see the chimneys lining the more vintage houses lined up outside.


    “You’ll be cleaning them,” The guard announced before I could ask. I had cleaned chimneys back home but never four in one day. And with how exhausted I felt, I feared that I would copse. But I knew it would be asking for trouble if I began to protest, so I rolled the sleeves of my dress up and asked, “Where’s the entrance?”


    The two of them started at me in surprise but quickly hid it. Apparently, one was supposed to guard me to make sure I didn’t do anything stupid. I almost cried with joy when the friendly guard began to lead me to my work station, handing me a steel bucket and a broom.


    He led me to the roof and I almost gasped at how thick the soot was. Without wasting time I began to brush it all down with the broom, pausing at intervals to catching my breath. I could feel his eyes burning my back as he watched me work.


    “Elyan,” I heard him say all of a sudden. I stopped working, turning to him in confusion.


    “What?”


    “That’s my name,” He replied. “Now, back to work.”


    I nodded. Atst the friendly guard had a name to his face. I wasn’t sure what his motive of being nice to me were, or if he even had a motive to begin with, but I epted it all without a word.


    After long minutes of furiously brushing, I faced him. “Now I have to sweep up the firece before we proceed to the next one.”


    I saw the same glint of surprise sh in his eyes again, but still he said nothing, leading me down the roof instead.


    I caught sight of a group of young children ying a few feet away from where I stood and my heart leaped. Finally, people doing normal activities. I wondered where they came from. If these people were a pack then possibly the children were kids of some of the members or so. A smile creeped onto my face when one of the kids turned in my direction, waving at me excitedly. Without thinking, I waved back confused. A nudge from Elyan prompted me to move forward, which I did.


    I eyed the luxurious living room as I walked in. Every room in this house was better than thest, it was crazy. Suddenly getting an idea, I faced Elyan. “Nice ce,” Imented, focusing on my work. I needed to make him think I was only trying to make small talk.


    “Mm hmm,” He agreed.


    I nodded, thinking of the best way to phrase my question. “If your boss is so wealthy then what does he want with someone like m-”


    “Shut the fuck up!” Elyan surprised me by yelling. He sounded so much like the man that had tried to strangle me that I shrunk back in fear. “Don’t try to cross your boundaries,” He added sternly.


    I nodded quickly turning to my work. Maybe they were all the same? Why did I think I would get anything from Elyan, I wondered pping my forehead for being so stupid.


    I would have to find another way to get information.