Chapter 88: Elyra and Her Pet

Chapter 88: Elyra and Her Pet

Submerged in the plush embrace of the mattress, the silver-haired maiden shifted subtly, letting out a lazy yawn. The remnants of pain had faded, her physique free from the clutches of fatigue. Yet she kept her eyes closed, nestling deeper beneath the velvety cover.

'Too much... too much of it all...' The relentless skirmishes, the constant danger, the painher soul ached for solace.

"Rest, if that's your desire." The voice, unmistakably familiar, made her eyes snap wide open, irises dilating with sudden trepidation. Beside her, the red-eye took a seat, leading Tia to the startling revelation that she wasn't in familiar surroundings.

Elevated ceilings, the stern demeanor of granite walls, and the opulence of a shimmering chandelierall seemed foreign.

'This isn't the federation's design.'

Seeing her puzzlement, the red-eye softly spoke. "Uhh, this is my flagship. We are on the orbit of that stinky planet you called home."

Without warning, the red-eye leaned in, her face dangerously close, peering intently into Tia's eyes. "You know the saying that eyes are windows to the soul?"

Tia's breath caught in her throat. Every instinct told her to pull away, but the girls's gaze held her captive. She felt exposed and vulnerable.

Not this again...' Internal sirens blared within Tia, but she could only stiffly lay in bed, knowing there was no path to escape. 'Trapped with this maniac on a spaceship.'

"It isn't just a myth. I can see your soul."

Tia's heart raced at the threat implicit in the girl's words. The idea of being kept as a pet, a trophy, was repulsive, but Tia knew she couldn't give up. She had to find a way out of this nightmare.

As Tia tried to regain her composure, the red-eyed girl suddenly approached the bed once more. Slowly, deliberately, she extended a slender hand, the fingers brushing Tia's cheek in a feather-light caress. The unexpected touch was strangely gentle, contrasting starkly with the dire situation.

"Do not worry. I am not one of those monsters that bully and torture their pets."

The girl's fingers traced a path down to Tia's chin, lifting it slightly, ensuring their eyes met. The depth of emotion in those crimson irises was unnerving. There was amusement, curiosity, and perhaps something else Tia couldn't quite decipher.

"Well, go dress up; as my knight, you have duties to attend."

Drawing back, she added, "Address me as Lady Elyra."

As the red-eyed Elyra stood up, Tia spoke a question that was on her mind. "Where is my cousin?"

"Her? She is safely locked away."

"Why?" Tia couldn't help but feel puzzled. To her knowledge, her cousin helped with their invasion and cooperated. Lady Elyra shook her head, her long raven hair waving behind her.

"So you truly don't know who she was beneath her sweet facade. She was too dangerous to be left free. She was a manipulator who used her psychic power to control others. Look at what she did to you." The red-eye's tone turned quietalmost a whisper: "It was her who sent you to the hospital. It was also her who tried to kill you."