Elle and Mias: Chapter 1

Elle felt her body being pulled swiftly through nothingness by an unseen force. Still unable to scream, the only sound she heard was her own heart beating wildly. A blast of air halted the pulling sensation and before she knew it, her bottom came to rest on something soft.

The veil of blackness lifted as her surrounding came into focus. She looked down to find herself seated on the edge of a king sized mattress complete with a four post bed frame, canopy, and matching curtains. Several large pillows lay in front of the headboard and gladly welcomed Elle's spinning head as she collapsed backward.

To the right side of the bed was a white marble table adorned with a decorative vase filled with fresh roses. She could tell they had only recently been picked from the sweet scent they wafted into the room. It was a welcoming and calming scent that soothed her jumbled mind.

To the left was a large window that let it bright starlight and moonlight alike. The sky itself was a velvety dark blue and each celestial body sparkled so clearly against the dark backdrop, like tiny gems sewn onto the night goddess's cloak. It held the sort of beauty that wasn't visible from the streets of a bustling city.

As for the rest of the room's decor, a large trunk lay at the foot of the bed, against the wall in front of the trunk stood a wardrobe, and covering the floor was a large, intricately woven area rug. Everything in the room had an air of refinement, each piece boasting its master craftsmanship in a way nothing from Elle's dinky one bedroom apartment could.

Elle found it strange to be surrounded by such well cared for antiques. She hadn't recalled any shops or museums near her apartment that carried such furniture, so she doubted she had accidentally wandered into such a place. Still, it was the only probable conclusion she arrived at.

She crawled off the bed and approached the door. She pressed down on the old fashioned handle and in vain tried to open it. It was locked.

Disheartened, but not defeated, she left the door and approached the window. She unlatched the two panes and opened them. A warm breeze fluttered the curtains behind her and blew her hair back as Elle placed her hands on the sill and leaned her head outside. Spread out in front of her was a vast sea of greenery; well attended gardens surrounded the building and out further a dense forest encased the castle-like abode.

Now the looming fear in her chest that she wasn't anywhere near home sunk in. She couldn't see the glow of city lights from any direction.

"Oh…" Her voice trembled and tears welled in her blue eyes as they gazed out toward the horizon. Even if she could escape, she had absolutely no idea where to run.

Needing a moment to think, she stepped back from the window and let the wind soothe her cheeks and hair. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing the air to calm her until her eyes dried and her spirit calmed. There was no use in getting upset, it would only weaken her and in a situation like this, she knew she had to remain strong.

"Have you had enough time to acclimate yourself my dear?" A deep voice interrupted Elle's thoughts.

She whirled around quickly and stared wide-eyed on the figure that had entered the room without making a sound.

A man stood before her clad in elegant black clothing and wearing a devilish grin across his face. His raven black hair was swept neatly back and his dark eyes watched her intently.

"Who are you?" She asked nervously, slightly wary of anyone who wore all their clothing in the same color regardless of how good they looked it in.

"Mias," he said as he continued grinning at her. "And you?"

"Elle," she responded.

His mouth widened even further, delighted by the sound of her name.

Elle gathered her courage and stepped forward with more questions. "Where am I? Are you the one who brought me here?"

"Yes, I brought you here," he answered calmly. "As to where "here" is, I doubt you'd be able to place yourself even if I told you."

"What do you mean by that?" Elle asked slowly.

Mias chuckled. "Let's just say you're worlds away from the lands you know."

His response brought more dread than comfort to her, and that only annoyed Elle more than it depressed her. She clenched her fists in frustration and scowled at him. "Take me back."

"Hm?" Mias pretended he hadn't heard her.

"Take me back this instant!" Elle demanded.

He raised an eyebrow with intrigue and took a step forward. "You're quite brazen to address me in such a manner."

Elle stood her ground as Mias approached her. Her glare didn't weaken and thankfully neither did her courage. It didn't help that her brain kept imagining the worst case scenario: Mias being the incarnation of Jack the Ripper. He very well could be for all she knew. He had no conscious when it came to kidnapping after all.

"I intend to address you with no manner at all," she retorted. "Take me back and you will have my thanks though."

Mias shook his head. "This isn't up for negotiation my dear Elle," he said as he ensnared her waist with his arms.

Elle raised her clenched hands and hit her fists against his chest as hard as she could. "Let go!"

Slightly annoyed, Mias took one hand off Elle's waist and grabbed both her wrists.

Elle struggled to free herself, but Mias' grip was solid and growing tighter. Her heart beat increased as he pulled her form up against his and ran his one hand up her back until it cradled the back of her head. Her eyes widened in shock as Mias leaned his head down, his mouth hovering just above hers. Her mind was screaming for her to knee him in the crotch and run, yet her body had already begun to accept the seduction.

Mias savored the sweet puff of breath that escaped from Elle's lips before his own enveloped them. His mouth pressed firmly over hers and smiled into the kiss as he tasted her for the first time.

Elle squirmed the very instant their lips came into contact. Shaking away the confusion between her body and mind, she bit down on Mias' lower lip as hard as she could, breaking both the skin and the mood.

The darkly clothed man jumped back and held his lip in shock as drops of blood trickled from the wound. "You bit me," he said in surprise.

"You kissed me!" Elle argued, her voice still sounding startled.

Mias grinned, licking the blood droplet from his hand. His eyes scanned over her for a moment, before he chuckled and turned toward the door. "I shall take my leave then."

"Take me home first," she said as she stubbornly clung to the edge of his cloak. "I'll make you regret keeping me here if you don't."

He just continued grinning. "Good thing I'm not the kind of man who regrets his decisions."

Elle's fingers weakened and let the material fall from her hand. She watched him leave the room looking far more confident in his words than she was in hers. The lock clicked shut and Elle slowly sunk to her knees, having no idea what to do once again.