Half Way The Prison

The silence in the room was suffocating as Selene sat on the edge of the bed with her fingers pressing into the mattress, testing the fabric beneath her. The sheets were soft and expensive, but they felt like iron against her skin. The walls of the room were smooth, without cracks or weaknesses with each corner carefully designed to ensure there was no escape. She had counted the exits, the thick steel door behind her, the locked cabinets, the speaker embedded in the wall where Lucian had taunted her before, and every part of this place was designed to hold her but no prison was perfect. Selene inhaled slowly, letting her muscles relax as she knew panic would accomplish nothing and fear was a weapon Lucian would use against her, and she refused to give him the satisfaction just then a soft beep broke the silence. Her head snapped toward the door just as it unlocked, the handle turned with a slow, deliberate motion, Selene tensed with every nerve on edge as she prepared for whatever was about to walk through. The door swung open and a woman stepped inside, she was tall and poised, with dark eyes that held too many secrets, her fitted black dress hugged her figure, and her movements were controlled and calculated, telling Selene that she was not just another servant. The woman shut the door behind her and the lock clicked back into place. Selene's breath slowed. 'Who are you?" The woman studied her for a moment before speaking. 'You can call me Eva." Selene didn't move. 'And what exactly do you do here, Eve?" Eve tilted her head slightly, amusement flickering in her expression. 'Let's just say I handle things Lucian doesn't have time for." Selene's stomach twisted because that could mean anything. Eve took a step closer with her heels clicking against the marble floor. 'He asked me to check on you and to make sure you're… adjusting." Selene clenched her jaw. 'I'm not adjusting to anything." Eve exhaled softly as if she had expected that answer. 'I see, then let me offer you some advice." She leaned slightly forward. 'Do not test his patience." Selene's lips curled into a humorless smile. 'Is that a warning?" Eve studied her for a moment, then sighed. 'Lucian doesn't like being defied, he has ways of making people regret it." Selene's heart pounded, but she didn't let it show. 'Is that what happened to you?" Eve's expression flickered just for a second then it was gone, replaced by the same cool mask she had walked in with. 'I'm not the one in chains." Then Selene met her gaze without blinking. 'Not physically, maybe." A small smirk played at the corner of Eve's lips. 'You're bold, I'll give you that." She turned slightly, glancing around the room before fixing her eyes on Selene again. 'You should eat." Selene hadn't even noticed the cart she had brought in, a tray sat on top, filled with carefully plated food; steak, vegetables, and a glass of water, it was meant to look normal and comforting but Selene wasn't stupid. She didn't touch it. 'You expect me to eat something Lucian sent?" Eve's smile didn't falter. 'If he wanted you dead, you'd already be dead." Selene's fingers twitched. 'That's supposed to reassure me?" Eve sighed, stepped toward the cart, picked up the glass of water, and lifted it to her lips, taking a slow sip before setting it back down. 'There. See? No poison." Selene narrowed her eyes. 'Doesn't mean there aren't other ways to break someone."Eve's gaze softened just slightly. 'That's true." And for a brief moment, there was something almost human unreadable in her expression then, just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone. Eve straightened. 'If you change your mind, the food will be here." She turned toward the door, pausing before glancing back at Selene. 'Lucian will see you soon, I suggest you prepare yourself." But Selene didn't respond. Eve gave her one last unreadable look before exiting the room and the door locking behind her. Selene sat still for a long moment, her pulse steady but her mind was racing as she glanced at the tray. The food sat untouched, the scent drifting through the air, and her stomach ached with hunger, but she ignored refusing to give Lucian the satisfaction of controlling even that. Instead, she stood, pacing the room, memorizing every detail then, something caught her eye. Near the edge of the carpet, just beneath the table, a small, thin object glinted under the dim light immediately Selene crouched down, reaching for it and her fingers closed around cold metal, it a hairpin. A rush of adrenaline shot through her veins, it was small, easily overlooked but it was something, she held it and her grip tightened around it. Lucian thought he had her trapped but he had just made his first mistake. Selene stood, tucking the pin into the sleeve of her shirt, her heartbeat steadied, she wasn't in a rush or panic and when the time came, she would remind Lucian that a caged animal was always the most dangerous.