His Dangerous Embrace

Truth

Chapter 9

"In a world where power is the predator and mercy a distant dream, survival demands respect for the lion who rules the jungle."

Esme couldn't hold back her curiosity. "How long has this been going on?" she asked, her voice a mixture of fear and confusion.

Elsa sighed, realizing she had no choice but to tell her everything now. "I don't know exactly when it all began," she admitted, "but the day he saved me from that brothel, along with other women, I realized the power he holds over the entire underworld."

Esme's eyes widened, her mind grappling with the word brothel. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her hand still clutching Elsa's arm as if it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

Elsa took a deep breath, her gaze distant as she recalled the horrors of her past. "I was born and raised in a brothel," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I never knew my father, and my mother... she was everything to me. I watched her get assaulted and beaten every day, but she always protected me, as long as she was alive. That place was nightmare...."

Elsa's voice was thick with emotions by now as she began to speak "But the worst day was when I saw my mother getting brutally raped and killed by seven men's in front of me" Elsa continued tears welling up in her eyes.

"I was seven years old I thought I would be the next... until he came. Kai Arsenyev the notorious men whose name is known by everyone underworld he attacked the place, killing all the men and freeing all of us from that hell"

Esme's breath hitched. The men who saved her who killed tonight was the same men who rescued Elsa from unimaginable suffering. The world she had been pulled into was far then darker then she had ever imagined.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Esme asked quietly.

Elsa wiped her tears as she sadly smiled at her "I didn't wanted to scare you or disturb you further then you already was."

Esme was at a loss for words after Elsa's revelation. The gravity of the situation settled heavily on her shoulders. Elsa, sensing Esme's confusion, continued with a serious tone, "Kai gave us shelter, provided us with food and facilities. I couldn't be more thankful to him. Everyone here respects him deeply. Some even consider him a deity. So you must be careful not to disrespect him or cause trouble here," she warned, her gaze firm yet sympathetic.

Esme nodded, understanding the weight of Elsa's words, though her heart ached with the moral dilemma of Kai's actions. Elsa's next words struck a chord, "And about what you saw... that's the reality here. It's a daily occurrence. That's why we're forbidden from leaving the premises at night. As long as you stay here, it's best to adhere to the rules."

Despite Elsa's clear warning, Esme couldn't reconcile with the idea of accepting such brutality without question. "But why haven't you informed the police?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. "It would be better to involve the authorities."

Elsa looked at her, incredulous. "That would be pointless, and frankly, naïve," she replied with a mixture of pity and irritation. "Esme, this world is a vast and ruthless jungle where Kai is the lion, the king. We are mere ants whose existence doesn't even matter. He could obliterate us without a second thought."

Esme stared at Elsa, the gravity of her words sinking in. She felt a shiver run down her spine. The realization that she was entangled in a world where power and cruelty reigned supreme was overwhelming. The choices she faced were more complex and dangerous than she had ever imagined.

-----

In morning, Elsa was serving breakfast to Kai when he out of blue asked "Where is she?" Elsa knew immediately that he meant Esme, the only person missing here.

"She's not feeling well, so I suggested her to rest today," Elsa quickly replied, hoping her excuse was convincing. Kai's gaze lingered on her for a moment, assessing, before he gave a small nod.

As Elsa turned to head back to the kitchen breath in relief, his voice stopped her in her tracks. "She must not be well after last night's scene." A cold shiver ran down Elsa's spine as she stood there, frozen.

"I trust you've made her understand the rules here," he added, his tone carrying a subtle edge. With that, he left the room, leaving Elsa standing there, her heart pounding as the weight of his words settled in.

Elsa knew instantly that nothing could be hidden from him, especially within his own domain. The very walls seemed to carry his awareness, making it clear that every secret, every whisper, was within his reach.

___________________________________________________

Hey everyone!

Hope you liked the chapter. What do you all think about Kai? Let me know in comments. Do follow me on instagram for more details.

Thanks for reading ❤️