Illyan was terrified, she felt like there were some parts of her memories that were missing, and she spent sometimes hours trying to remember them. But they were like salt in the ocean, they melted and disappeared.

Memories like, how and when did she become a servant to Adrius Caseo? And when did he take her under his wing?

The only memories she has intact were the memories of Mark’s punishment. She still didn’t understand why she was there when he flayed him, she didn’t have any part in the kidnapping. But she can remember that she was being held by an invisible force that made her watch the whole thing and prevented her from even closing her eyes for more than 1 second.

The scene of poor Mark’s body skinless, and his red muscles showing, still haunts her.

She sometimes wakes in the middle of the night sweating and crying like when she was 3 and a storm was happening outside.

Everytime she closes her eyes to sleep she sees the image of Mark. Then when she sleeps she dreams the same dream every damn time.

The dream starts with Mark laughing and eating with her, then his face gets distorted and starts screaming. And suddenly, he is naked. Then his skin starts to peel off, while he screams and begs for mercy.

A knock on her door brought Illyan out of her thoughts. Sighing, she stood up and made it to the door.

Opening it, she was met with a familiar figure, he was tall and had a skin that is like coal, but the most impressive thing about him was his physic. His muscles were like stones. Hadith stood there waiting for her to acknowledge him.

“Hadith, how can I help you?” She asked looking at his scared face. She was trying to hide the lust in her voice and eyes so badly, it has been months since she last fulfilled her needs. And Hadith was just so damn perfect, but she knew that if she touched him, she would lose her hands faster than she can say the words “Fuck me”.

Adrius didn’t like people touching his things, especially his slaves. They were one of his most precious things.

Hadith locked at her with his stony expression then with his normal emotionless tone he said: “Master wants to see you now”

His tone made her certain he meant that he would take her forcefully if it came to it.

They were still in the Trant family estate, but she knew Adrius didn’t care about the Trant family.

Like didn’t want to kill the whole family because there is magus in the family, but from what she understood, he didn’t care about the mortals.

And she honestly doubted that anyone could stop Hadith, who is a Great Knight.

So she got out, closed the door and followed Hadith to his Master’s chambers.

Getting there didn’t take a lot of time, standing outside the door, Hadith knocked at the door. Then a voice came from inside the room.

“Come in”

Hadith opened the door and got out of the way so she could enter, after she entered he closed the door behind her.

In front of her sat the person that summoned her. He wore simple white magus robes, and his face was like usual covered with his mask.

She can remember in the academy that a lot of students gave theories on why Adrius wore masks.

Some say that his eyes weren't the only thing that changed about him, but his face was deformed.

Some say that he hid his face so he can spy on anyone without anyone knowing his identity.

She tended to go with the second theory, she didn’t know why he hid his face but she knew that she won’t be seeing it any time soon.

“You called me, Your Highness” She bowed deeply, she really didn’t want to offend him. He was terrifying enough when he was rank 2 magus apprentice. But now he was rank 3 and could do more things with magic. She shivered at the thought of what he could do with his new powers.

He spoke with his thick and deep voice: “ Yes Illyan, I did summon you. I want you to warn your family to behave themselves around me or they will join Mark. Even if you are my servant, if I heard your brother insult me behind my back again I will flay him in front of you and your mother. Then I would let Hadith handle your mother. She has been widowed for a long time now, and I’m sure she has a lot of needs that need fulfillment. And Hadith will take care of them.”

Illyan was shaking with fear, he heard!

He heard Jon insult him, oh god, oh god. This is bad, she has to warn them, she has to do it fast.

“As you wish, Your Highness. May I go?”

Seeing him wave her off, she immediately turned and partially ran toward the door.

Adrius watched her with clear amusement, he did hear her brother insult him. But it wasn’t really an insult, he just called him a monster. And Adrius is a monster, so it is not. But he found it amusing to make Illyan this afraid that he was angry and he would kill her family.

This was one of the most enjoyable games he has, he called it “psychologically torturing Illyan until she breaks”.

He really felt that he was at the last few levels, he knew that if he used physical torture or if he made Hadith take her t will make it faster. But where is the fun in this?

Also he loves to see Illyan this broken, he loves seeing a whole different person then the heroic girl that faced him 2 months ago.

He already has a plan for her, when she breaks. He will fake her death, and then sell her to a slaver. She will bring him good money. She can’t be a fighter, but maybe a sex slave.

So he will squeeze her dry until he gets everything he wants, then dump her like the trash she really is.

He had a lot of experience, after all in his old world he wasn't just a toxicologist, nope! He was a criminal, and he has worked with human trafficking before, he gave the victims a poison that will not kill them but will trick their brain to make them feel extreme pain.

He has broken some minds in his life, so he thinks that it will not be hard to break Illyan’s mind. But he will take it slowly, because a demon doesn’t eat it’s victim until it is done playing with them. And Adrius is not done playing with Illyan.