The half-breed.
Liana River's POV.
"Am I lost in a dream?" I asked myself as I stared at the fire cracking in the hearth beside the bed.
The moment I woke up, the first thing I felt was softness beneath me, then a silken quilt brushing against my skin, and then the scent of lavender filtering into my nose. I also felt an excruciating one-sided headache and was disoriented, and it seemed my eyelids were heavier than a soaked foam as I rolled to a sitting position.
The room around me was beautiful, painted white. White 3D floor, and a centre table made of glass stand close to the bed.
How did I spend my last few hours and then end up in this mysterious room?
I remembered walking into the bar with Jace Calder, remembered the dizzy feeling and how the world had tilted, and then the overwhelming darkness.
My throat felt parched, my limbs were weak, and I could feel the aftertaste of poison on my tongue.
My drink was spiked!
Just as I was about to leap out of the bed with panic, the door creaked open, and Jace stepped inside, and in his hands was a tray containing two cups of steaming coffee.
"Oh! You are awake."
"What happened? Where am I?"
Jace smiled as he stepped towards me and then placed a cup in my hand. "Take it easy, dear. You passed out on the way out of the bar. I was afraid of taking you to the Anderson mansion in such a condition, so I brought you here instead."
"Where is here?"
"The Calder's fortress. You are in my house."
Somehow, I knew he was lying. Could he be the one who spiked my drink? Is this coffee spiked as well? My eyes darted towards the golden wall clock and let out a silent whistle
God in heaven! A few minutes before 12 Am. I had been unconscious for five hours.
"Where is my phone?"
"It should be inside your bag in my car. I was so worried about you, Liana. I didn't know you had no stomach for liquor."
"Rally?"
"Yeah. I mean, we didn't even finish a bottle of champagne before you began to act weird."
He was truthful about this. I just knew it. But if he wasn't the one who spiked my drink, then who did?
"I have to go," I said, and then placed the coffee on the table. "My people will be sick with worry about me."
"Of course. Immediately, we are done with the coffee," Jace answered back and then sat beside me. "You aren't drinking?"
"Coffee is not just my thing," I said with a pasted smile.
"Oh! Then I will get you a cup of tea."
I was immediately on my feet. "Never mind, Jace. I really need to go now."
"Okay, Liana, " Jace muttered, swallowed the remaining coffee in his cup, and then stood up. "I am sure -."
The door creaked open, and a tall, older man, who looked exactly like Jace, entered. He had broader shoulders and eyes sharper than the tip of a sword. I knew who he was. Hilter Calder. Jace's father. The patriarch of the Calders' family.
"Liana River," Hitler Calder said with a mocking smile. "I am glad to finally meet you."
I stiffened and reluctantly shook his outstretched hand. And I nearly jumped out of my skin when he bent and kissed the back of my palm.
"Thank you, Mr. Hitler Calder. I am about to take my leave when you -."
"Oh no, Miss Liana River. I had heard a lot about you from my love-struck son. Just spared me a few minutes, and I will personally drive you to the end of the world if that's what you want."
I don't want to be driving to the end of the world. Even if I do, I won't trust Hitler Calder as my driver. He was looking at me exactly the way a hungry cat stares at a caged rat.
Hitler waved his arms at us. "Please sit down." He nodded approvingly when we did and then muttered something like," the half-bread," to himself.
"Liana's parents would be -."
"Ish, young one. Didn't I just promise to drive her home now? I just want to ask Liana a few questions and would appreciate your silence until I'm through."
I wasn't fooled by the icy smile. Hitler Calder is a dangerous man. The type that are always ready to sacrifice anything to get what they want.
"What do you want?"
"You have never felt sick, never been admitted to the hospital, and always healed from an injury in a few days. Is there any secret to this, Liana?"
"How... how did you know all these things?" I asked in a shivering voice. Hitler Calder was right. No matter how bad a wound is, it never lasted up to three days on my body.
"Let's just say I had a hint, became suspicious, dug further, and discovered this amazing revelation. "
"I... I don't know what you are talking about, " I stammered back, turned to look at Jace, and then sighed when I saw him staring at the white 3D floor.
"But you do, Liana. A student assaulted you some days ago, right? How come there is not even a scratch on the back of your head when I checked it a few minutes ago?"
I met his gaze with defiance. "You... you have no right to touch me."
"I am sorry, Lady River. Curiosity can drive a man like me to do the unthinkable. Please accept my apology."
Hitler immediately stood up, bowed to me stiffly, and offered that chilling smile, " See you around." He then turned and left.
"I find your father's behaviour queer, Jace. What's going on?"
Jace looked over his shoulder. "I...I think you should leave - ."
His phone rang, and his hands quivered as he accepted the call. And a moment later, I heard Hitler Calder's voice booming out of the phone speaker. "Hey, buddy. See me in my office now."
"It's my dad... I need to go see him. Wait for me here."
"Jace!"
He was gone even before his name was out of my mouth.