Chapter 3: The Shackles
The next morning, as the sun rose over the mansion, Felicia woke up feeling a mix of emotions. She was still trying to process the incident that happened last night. She knew she had to be careful and strategic if she wanted to escape. She regretted what had happened last night, she felt so ashamed of herself.
After getting dressed, Felicia made her way to the dining hall, where breakfast was being served. Nelson was already there, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. He looked up and smiled as Felicia approached.
"Good morning, my dear," he said, his voice dripping with charm. "I trust you slept well?"
Felicia nodded, trying to hide her unease. "Yes, thank you," she replied, taking a seat across from him.
As they ate, Nelson chatted about his plans for the day, mentioning a business meeting and a dinner party that evening. Felicia listened intently, trying to gather any information that might be useful for her escape.
After breakfast, Nelson excused himself, leaving Felicia alone in the dining hall. She took a deep breath and began to think about her next move.
Felicia's mind raced as she tried to process her situation. She was trapped, with no clear escape route. Nelson's words echoed in her mind, "You're mine now, Felicia. You'll do as I say, or suffer the consequences."
She felt a surge of fear and desperation, but she knew she had to keep thinking. She couldn't give up, not yet.
As she sat in the dimly lit room, Felicia began to notice the small details of her surroundings. The way the light filtered through the curtains, the sound of footsteps outside her door, the feel of the cold floor beneath her feet.
She started to think about her past, about the life she had before Nelson. She remembered her family, her friends, her dreams. And she realized that she couldn't let Nelson take that away from her.
With a newfound sense of determination, Felicia started to look for a way out. She examined the door, the windows, the walls. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to try.
As she searched, Felicia stumbled upon a small, hidden compartment in the wall. Inside, she found a piece of paper and a pen. She began to write, pouring out her thoughts and feelings onto the page.
"I won't give up," she wrote. "I won't let him break me. I'll find a way out, no matter what it takes."
As she wrote, Felicia felt a sense of hope rising within her. She knew it was a small spark, but it was enough to keep her going.
Nelson's eyes gazed out the window, his mind lost in thought. He was a man consumed by his own desires, driven by a need for control and power.
As a child, Nelson had been belittled and abused by his father, a cruel man who delighted in making his son feel worthless. He also killed Felicia’s mother. Nelson's mother had been a timid soul, too afraid to stand up for her child.
But Nelson had vowed to never be like them. He would be strong, powerful, and in control. And so, he built his empire, using any means necessary to achieve his goals.
But deep down, Nelson knew he was still that scared, helpless child. And that's why he needed Felicia, to prove to himself that he was the master of his own destiny.
As he turned back to the room, his eyes landed on Felicia, her eyes flashing with defiance. Nelson sneered, his mind racing with ways to break her spirit.
"You'll never escape me, Felicia," he hissed. "You're mine now, forever."
Felicia's eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched in determination. "I'll never be yours, Nelson. Never."
The air was thick with tension as the two engaged in a silent battle of wills. Nelson's eyes gleamed with excitement, eager to crush Felicia's spirit.
But Felicia refused to back down, her eyes burning with a fierce inner strength.
Nelson sneered, his face inches from Felicia's. "You're a foolish girl, Felicia. You think you can defy me? I'll break you, and I'll enjoy every moment of it."
Felicia's eyes flashed with anger, but she refused to back down. "I'll never submit to you, Nelson. You may have power, but I have something you'll never have my self-respect."
Nelson's face twisted in rage, and he raised his hand to strike Felicia. But she didn't flinch, her eyes locked on his, daring him to try.
Just as Nelson's hand was about to make contact, a loud knock at the door interrupted the tense moment. Nelson's assistant, James, entered the room, looking nervous.
"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's an urgent matter that requires your attention," James said, his eyes darting between Nelson and Felicia.
Nelson's anger was palpable, but he knew he had to maintain his composure. "What is it, James?" he growled.
James hesitated before speaking. "It's about the business deal you've been working on, sir. The other party is threatening to back out unless you agree to their terms."
Nelson's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. He knew he couldn't let the deal fall through, not now. He turned to Felicia, his eyes cold and calculating.
"This isn't over, Felicia. But for now, I have more pressing matters to attend to."
With that, Nelson turned and left the room, leaving Felicia to wonder what had just happened.
Nelson, the king, sat on his throne, his advisors gathered around him. They were discussing the terms of a treaty with a neighboring kingdom when, suddenly, a messenger burst into the throne room.
"Your Majesty, an urgent message from the kingdom of Everia!" the messenger exclaimed.
Nelson's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
The messenger bowed. "King Ryker of Timma threatens to invade our kingdom if we do not surrender Felicia to him within a fortnight."
Nelson's grip on his throne tightened. How dare King Ryker make such a demand! He thought of Felicia, the fiery spirit who had captured his attention. He would not let her go without a fight.
"We will not be intimidated," Nelson declared. "Prepare our army for battle. We will defend our kingdom and Felicia at all costs!"
His advisors nodded in agreement, and the throne room erupted into a flurry of activity as preparations for war began.
As the news spread throughout the kingdom, the people rallied behind their king. They knew that Nelson would stop at nothing to protect them and their kingdom.
But little did they know, a darkness was growing within Nelson, a darkness that threatened to consume him and destroy everything in its path.
Nelson knew that his army was no match for King Ryker's forces in a direct battle. So, he decided to focus on training and strategy.
He called upon the wisest generals and trainers in the kingdom to whip his army into shape. For weeks, the soldiers trained tirelessly, honing their skills and learning new tactics.
Nelson himself trained alongside his men, pushing himself to his limits. He knew that he had to be a strong leader and set an example for his army.
As the training progressed, Nelson's army began to transform into a formidable force. They learned how to work together, use their unique skills, and exploit the enemy's weaknesses.
But despite the progress, Nelson couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He began to suspect that there was a traitor in his midst, someone who was secretly working with King Ryker.