Author's POV

Egon was in front of the big screen attached to the wall of his study room. His eyes were intense, his posture was still, his feet were rooted on the ground and his hands were curled in pockets.

The screen's light was burning his eyes, but it wasn't strong enough to compete with the burn in his chest, and no burning can distract his eyes from Emerald's face.

She was caged on his screen, and the camera was capturing the smallest detail of her. She was still in the same position he had put her in. Thick hair was sprawled on the mat, hands were resting near the head, long lashes were covering eyes like curtains, milky skin was looking radiant, her rosy lips were parted slightly, and he was struggling to take his eyes away from them.

The beauty is ethereal, would melt the stone, innocence was sprawled like gems on a necklace, but it's all a facade, nothing is real. This innocence is deceiving; this woman doesn't know the meaning of innocence. Egon is now secured from her spell, he knows her true self and he is always ready to handle her.

Destroying her has become the sole motive of his life. No matter how badly he hurts her, it's not satisfying him. He wants to do worse, something which will leave her shaken.

He tried so many things, he made her his captive, took over her empire, killed her loyals, confiscated her residence and property, killed her family member one by one in front of her yet this woman is still in her stable mind. He wants her to lose her sanity, she will be living life, but she won't be alive. Killing her would be too merciful; she deserves worse, and she accepts it herself.

He watched her sleeping, but he could tell that it wasn't peaceful; he was haunting her dreams, and he was going to make it worse. The dark world's eyes are on him, everyone wants to see what he does to this dangerous woman. She had shaken the dark world just with her mere presence once, and many are relieved that she is a captive now, the mad energy is locked inside, letting them thrive.

Egon saw her waking up, her curtains of eyes opened slowly and lazily. Those Emerald orbs looked around lost until her hands touched her sore neck.

He is still confused about how this beautiful woman can be so evil. Those Emerald gems make it hard for him to believe that she is the same woman who has destroyed everything for him.

Denial is no longer the reality.

Layla came and stood at the open door. She saw that Egon was ready in his black suit. She didn't miss how he was watching the woman on his screen.

Layla always feels that Egon has more than just hate for that woman. If he had just hated her, then she should have been dead by now, but no, she is still alive.

Egon has become obsessed with her, now it's hard to decide if it's because he wants to make her suffer or it's hard for him to kill her. No one knows what he really wants.

She knocked on the door to grab his attention. Egon turned his head towards her and nodded, giving her permission to come inside. She handed him the gun.

"This is not for me but for you, Layla."

He pushed back the tray in her hands.

Layla gulped and looked at him in panic.

"Why, Master?"

"She is out now and you will be staying around her. This will protect you."

He answered while grabbing his keys.

Layla grabbed the gun with her shaky hands. She knows how to use guns for her protection, but will it work against the woman she will be dealing with?

"I am scared"

She confessed.

"You are going out and I'll be alone with her in the castle... Only you can handle her."

"You are safe, don't worry... Just don't mess with her..."

He was dismissive with his tone.

"Did you feed her?"

She gulped.

"After this, I'll do it."

"She needs to recover, don't let her skip meals."

He warned and she nodded. He noticed how nervous Layla was but it's normal, everyone is scared around her except Egon.

Emerald was sitting by the window, that's the only thing she can do in the empty room, which is locked from the outside. She was watching trees, fresh air was calming her down.

Her head snapped back when she heard someone trying to open the door. She didn't want to see Egon again after whatever happened. She fears that he will come back to punish her.

But she sighed in relief when Layla entered with food.

She knelt down and placed the food tray in front of her.

Emerald saw how nervous Layla was; she didn't feel satisfied or anything from her fear. She was just staring at her blankly. Layla didn't even make eye contact with Emerald.

"Layla!"

She called her softly.

Layla froze but hesitantly looked at her.

"Do you have permission to keep a water bottle in my room?"

Layla wasn't expecting her to talk to her.

"I'll ask Master... There are no clear instructions on this."

Emerald smiled bitterly, never thinking that she would need to take permission for drinking water.

"What is the time?"

Layla looked at her confused and Emerald noticed it.

"You are confused why I am talking to you?"

She asked bitterly and Layla nodded.

"I am just making sure that I can still talk... It's been so long since I have talked to someone. I don't remember when was the last time I heard myself speaking like a normal person."

"It's 9.30 pm"

Layla answered while serving her food. She wants to sympathise with her, but she can't.

Emerald nodded and grabbed her plate. She was finally getting normal food and was eating without any tantrums. It was easy after starving for days.

"What did he inject in me?"

She asked Layla, she knows that she knows.

Layla gulped. She knew that she was coming to that question and considering that she was alone in the house, it was better not to mess with her. Egon never keep guards around him, he likes isolation.

"I don't have a clear idea, but what I have understood is that it was a drug which would cure your malnutrition. You won't lose your hair or teeth, it will cure your skin and will maintain a healthy weight..."

Emerald understood how she recovered within a week, it was because of this drug.

She ate silently after that, and Layla was relieved that she didn't ask anything else.

Emerald was still thinking why Egon wanted her to recover; she wanted to find out.

Layla grabbed her empty plate once she was done and turned around to leave.

Emerald watched her walk out and smirked when the door didn't make the click sound it usually does. It won't be that hard to understand that she has messed with the locks.

Layla checked the door once again, and it didn't open, but she forgot who was sitting inside. The woman inside knows how to play tricks.

Emerald had seen Egon leaving before she started eating, now her path was clear. She opened the door and walked out. She is well aware that Egon don't keep the guards around.

She got out of the castle, ignoring the feeling that someone was watching her.