AVALYNN'S POV

            "How's her condition?" I ask.

            "Don't you want to meet her first?" Alice asks me back.

            I shake my head no. "I want to hear it from your own mouth first. I don't want my brain to do unnecessary speculation."

            She sighs before leading us to the sitting area. "It's bad. Half of her upper torso was burned really badly including her face. She's almost unrecognizable. For now, I can't promise anything or  I can fix her because I need proper tools to determine her real situation. But, she's not in critical condition like she was when she arrived here."

            "What do you mean by burn?" Rina asks.

            "Acid Burn. She was suffering from acid attacking. She was stabbed and beaten all over her body, but that was not fatal. I've just never experienced treating someone with an acid burn. And for her to endure such torture and still be alive, she's one heck of a woman to be honest."

            "Acid burn ...." I manage to catch Rina's body before she goes weak in the knees.

            "That's why I told you to sit down, Lady Rina." Alice turns around to fetch a piece of paper. "I did a rape kit test. It's negative." Alice tilts her head as I read the report. "You look very calm, Ava. I'm proud of you."

            I look up with a smile, but that makes her surprised. "Trust me. I am not calm at all." I stand up from the couch together with Rina.

            Alice does, too, and leads us towards Nicole's room. She opens the door and lets us in. Rina turns away from the sight of Nicole because she can't keep herself strong enough for her.

            I let her go and go towards Nicole's bed with tears in my eyes.

            "She's sleeping now. I guess she needs the rest since she was tortured overnight."

            I turn to Alice. "Tortured?"

            Alice nods. "That's what Mira told me. The kidnapper told her himself."

            The kidnapper ... Looking at the state Nicole's in now, only God knows what she's feeling. How will she react to the fact that her face is half gone and her body will be this way for life? Will she be able to handle it?

            "Alice, do stay with Rina while I'm out. I'm going to meet someone before coming back to Astor." I am walking towards the door when Rina takes my wrist.

            "Where are you going? Don't leave her like this. What if she wakes up and doesn't see you there? She will be sad."

            I smile. "It won't take that long. I promise." I give her a kiss on the forehead before leaning into her ear.

"I have some unfinished business to attend to. Take care of Nicole for me." I let go of Rina's body and go out to find Kelly. "Kelly," I call out as I walk across the villa towards the front entrance.

            Kelly stands beside me waiting for my orders.

            "Where are they?" I ask.

            "Mira, Vera and Mika are having fun with him in the basement."

            I can't believe they started without me.

            "Don't kill them here. I don't want to handle another national scandal like before." Kelly smiles.

            "Yes, ma'am. Umm, where are we going? I thought we're going to meet the one we captured."

            We go to a car, and I ask the driver to go to the address stated on a paper that I gave him. "Not yet. I want to meet someone rather important." I smile. I remember something. "Will you be able to prepare the suitable transportation for our guest, the kidnapper? I want them all in Astor. Not Maestropolitan. Also, prepare a plane for Nicole as well. I want her to be treated in Astor. Alice should be able to use the best medical team we can muster up. Money is not a problem."

            Kelly nods while taking notes. "I must say, ma'am, you look quite calm. I've never seen this side of you."

            I give her the same smile I gave Alice before, and it makes Kelly surprised as well. "Trust me. I am not calm at all. I am furious if you must know. But, I promised Rina I won't act hastily."

            The car stops, and I look outside. It's deserted, but I see an abandoned house not far from where we are. I get out and wait for Kelly.

            "Where are we, ma'am?" She asks.

            "A hideout I guess." I tap on the driver's window, and he opens the back boot for me.

            Kelly follows my footsteps, and she gasps when she sees what I had asked the driver to provide me with. "Are we going hunting? I don't think the government will authorize this, Milady. Who knows there might be an endangered animal that's on the verge of extinction. We need a special permit for that."

            Is she seriously thinking I'm going hunting for some animal?

            "Don't worry your little head. I have friends in the embassy. They will allow me to do this. All you have to do now is be my second set of eyes. Because I'm sure I won't be focusing on other things than hunting this ... creature."

            Kelly doesn't have a choice but to agree with me.

            I choose the most suitable weapon available and feel satisfied with my choice.

            "My lady, are you ... it can't be helped. Yes, I'll be your second set of eyes and ears." Kelly chooses a rather cliche weapon for protection.

            "Seriously?"

            Why would she even choose a weapon as little as that?!

"What?! It's cute!"

            Cute huh. I sighed.

            "Let's go inside," I say.

            "Inside that creepy old house? Milady ..." she's having a second thought.

            "Kelly, if you want to stay here, be my guest. Aaron, are you ready?" I ask the driver who's now suited up.

            "Wow Aaron, you look like a SWAT team."

            He smiles at me. I always forget that he's unable to speak.

            We both turn away from Kelly and leave her alone.

            "Wait for me!" Kelly jogs towards us.

            "It's nice to see you joining us." I mock.

            "Please don't leave me here alone! You know I hate the darkness. By the way, who are you searching for?" She asks.

            I stand in front of the front door with a smirk plastered on my face. I use my feet to kick the door down and make eye contact with the person I've been searching for. "Hi, Frederick."

***

KATHARINA'S POV

            "Hi."

            I smile when Nicole finally opens her eyes. She seems disoriented when she reaches for me. "I'm here ... don't worry about anything. We came as soon as We could after Marg informed us."

            She starts to cry, but I'm afraid it might sting her wound. "W-hat ha-ppen-ed to me? I can't move half of my body ... I can't see with my other eye. Rina, what's wrong with me?" Her voice hits me.

            "Nothing is wrong with you. Don't cry, okay? The pain will go away." I press a button on the bed to call for Alice.

            "Ava ... where's Ava?" She asks.

            "She's outside. I'll call her, okay?"

            She immediately grabs my hand. "Don't leave me alone!" She shouts. 

            "I won't. I'm just going to get my phone. I will never leave you alone. Not ever."

            She releases my hand as I go to get my phone.

            I dial up Ava's number and she takes her sweet time to pick it up. "Get your fucking ass here right now! Nicole is looking for you. Take a shower before coming here. I don't want her to see you in bloody clothes." I hang up and go to her side. "Do you want to drink?" I ask.

            She nods.

            I pour a glass of water and take a straw from the tray that the maid prepared earlier. "You need to sip slowly."

            She does as told, and I feel sorry for what had happened to her. This whole thing is my fault. How could I be so careless and let her suffer so much like this?!

            "Rina.."

            "Yes?" I smile.

            "I'm hungry." She says slowly.

"All right. I can ask the maids to prepare the food for you." I reach for the bell that the maid provided earlier and shake it lightly.

            It doesn't take them much time when they appear by the door together with Alice and the nurses.

            "Prepare some food for us. Something she can eat. I'll have the same. Also, please do help to make sure lady Ava is decent enough to see us. Okay?"

            The maids nod.

            By now, they should know what I meant by that.

            I watch as Alice does her routine checkup on Nicole. She seems out of ideas when she looks up at me with a blank expression before sighing.

            "What is it, Alice?" Nicole asks.

            "Nothing, Milady. It's just, what those people did to you. They're evil human beings. I was surprised that you manage to endure everything. If that were me, I would be dead by now."

            "Alice!" I yell at her. "Is that your way of comforting a patient?"

            Alice is panicking.

            "Rina, it's fine." Nicole's hoarse voice stops my rage. I feel sorry as soon as I hear her voice calling my name.

            "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend anyone." Alice apologizes. "From the looks of things, she's stable enough to make the long flight to Astor. But, I need her to rest for a day or two before going back home."

            "Astor? Why Astor?" Nicole asked.

            "Astor has the best medical facility in the world. Alice will be taking care of your every need easily once we're there."

            "How's Mary doing?" She asks.

            "She's fine. If I recall correctly, she will come to visit you tonight."

            She nods and tries to smile, but she suddenly screams in pain. "My face ... it hurts so much! What happened to my face? Why is it all bandaged up?" She starts to feel her face with her free hand.

            I try to calm her down by grabbing her hand. "Don't worry. It's just a little wound. Nicky, you believe me right?"

            "Nicole!" Ava barges in and immediately goes to her side. "I'm sorry for not being there when you woke up." She apologizes.

            "At least, dry your hair before coming here." Alice hands a clean towel to her.

            "I came as quickly as I could. How is she?" Ava needs to chill!

            I look up to Ava and tap on her shoulder.

            "What is it?" She asks before I slap her across the face.

            "Will you calm down! You'll make her feel more nervous than she already is!"

            Everyone didn't expect me to slap Ava, and they just stare at me.

            "Well .. Umm ... yes. After a day or two of rest, she will be able to go onto a flight back to Astor. Of course, my nurse and I will be accompanying her for safety reasons."

            "Good, I'll ask Kelly to prepare the transportation." Ava smiles.

            I watch as Ava finally makes her smile like she always does.

            "Lady Rina, please come with me. I have something to tell you." Alice whispers in my ear.

            I excuse myself and mention the food I asked the maids to prepare.

            Ava nods, and I followed Alice outside of the room before closing the door behind me.

            "What is it, Alice?"

            She stops dead in her tracks and faces me. "There's a huge chance she won't have her old face anymore. She might have to live like that her whole life. Being reminded of what had happened to her. There's also a possibility she might not want to accept the changes in her life." Alice starts to say.

            "What are you trying to say here, Alice?"

            "All I'm saying is that she might not be your old Nicky after she looks at herself in the mirror. I'm sorry that I can't save her left eye."

            She's half blind?

            "But you will be able to help her right?"

            Alice seems to have a second thought. "I am good in my line of work, but I am not great. There's one person who might know what to do." She suggests.

            "Who?" I ask.

            "My former mentor, Vanessa. Vanessa Christ. She's the world's top surgeon."

            I remember her. She's the one who successfully replaced every bone inside Irina Volin's body.

            "I want her. Find her and bring her to Astor. Like I said before, only the best for Nicole."

            Alice nods before leaving me alone.

***

*Astor*

            "Milady, I think you should get some rest. It was a long flight back. Even lady Ava went to bed." Kelly says as she follows me.

            "I'm not tired. I had my fair share of rest on the plane. I assume that the prisoners are placed inside the dungeon?" I ask.

            "Yes, Milady. The guards made sure of it."

            I remove my jacket and give it to one of the maids who's standing by the door that leads to the dungeon.

            "I have a guest who's coming for Lady Nicole. Her name is Vanessa Christ. When she comes, lead her to where Alice is. I have some business to attend to in the dungeon." I inform my maids.

            "Yes, Milady." One of them opens the door for me.

            I hear Kelly sigh when I walk down the stairs. "If you wish to follow me, be my guest," I say loud enough for her to hear.

            She is reluctant, but I hear her footsteps following me down.

When we both arrive at the very foot of the stairs, one of the guards opens the door that leads us to a hallway where the old jail cell is located.

            My ancestor was one of the most important nobilities in Astor, and if I recall correctly, my great great grandfather used to be a knight for the king. This jail cell was built for those who attacked the estate.

            "This is where the prisoners are held, Milady." One of the guards informs me before opening another door. Once I'm inside, he closes the door behind us.

            "Oh look, the devil herself." Even after being tortured by Ava, he has the audacity to be sarcastic.

            "Hi there, Frederick. Long time no see." I smile at him.

            "Keep your smile, Duchess. We don't need it. For you to be here yourself, you must be the one who punishes us for what we had done to your wife."

            So they know why I'm here huh.

            "You're wrong. I am here because I want to hear the reasons you kidnapped my wife. Why did you hurt her so much? What did she ever do to you? If you have a grudge against me, or Ava, why not attack us directly? Why Nicole? She's innocent!" I try to take a few deep breaths before coming back to my senses. I need to keep a calm mind to handle this situation. Not everything will be solved with violence.

            A small laugh comes out from Gerard's mouth. "You want to know why we decided to hurt her? Why bother? You saw for yourself what we did to her. Why not torture us to death!" He shouts.

            "Because I am a human being. I do have a mind to think everything over. Unlike some of us here who don't have a brain since they're an animal." I mock. I turn my attention to Natania. "You should know that your sister begged for your freedom. Even her husband did, too. For that, you'll be off the hook. I'm sure these two 'men' forced you to do what they asked you to do. But, I am also sure you have grudges against me for what I did to your family. Am I right?"

            Natania keeps her head low.

            I walk towards her and lift her chin up. Our eyes meet. "But, hear this, Natania Shinjuku. You'll never be a human ever again. You will have to follow whatever I say even if I tell you to jump off a building. I own you ... both your body and soul." I lean into her ear.  "Like I own your sister, I own you as well. You'll know what kind of plans I have for you soon enough." I chuckle before letting her chin go. "Release her from her binds. A limousine will be waiting for her outside. Make sure to give her a nice long scrub. I don't want her new partner to see her in this state. She's going to be marrying a crown princess after all."

            Her eyes widen as the guards drag her away.

            "LET HER GO! WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S MARRYING A PRINCESS?! SHES NOT A DYKE!" Gerrard screams at the top of his lungs.

            Kelly uses her own fist to shut him up. "The Lady is currently speaking. Don't be so rude to the Duchess, vermin!" Kelly warns him.

            "Now Kelly, don't be so mean to our guest. He doesn't know how to act like a loyal dog yet. Release their binds." Kelly and the guards seem reluctant. "Trust me, release them." I smile.

            Kelly sighs heavily before motioning the guards to do as I said.

            I watch as both Gerrard and Frederick rub their wrists and look up at me. "You wish for freedom?" I ask them both.

            They look at each other.

            "If you wish for freedom from this hell hole, fight me, two on one."

            When Kelly suddenly pulls my shoulder and forces me to face her, I chuckle at her expression. It's almost comical. "Are you losing your mind! You don't have the strength to do such a thing! You are not healthy enough!" She shouts at me. When she realizes what she has done, she apologizes.

            "Well, come on, boys. Have some fun with me. Will you?" I invite them to attack me.

            Gerrard seems ready but Frederick holds him down by the shoulder. "I suggest that you don't even think about getting that close to her. She might look like a fragile-looking woman, but trust me. She's not. She's far from what she lets people think of her true self." Frederick warns him.

            I just keep smiling at them.

            "What? She looks so weak to me. I mean you heard what she said." He refers to Kelly. "She's weak! Not healthy!" He tries to lunge towards me, but Frederick manages to grab his wrist.

            "Come on. Let him have it." I usher him.

            "Let me go, Fred! I want to have a taste of this Duchess." He forcefully releases himself from Frederick's hold and lunges towards me, fist at the ready.

            Just before he swung his fist towards me, I take a side step and watch him almost fall over.

            "Stay still. Will you!" He says when he tries to come at me again.

            I stick my leg out and watch him fall on his front. I chuckle as he gets up from the ground.

            "Now I'm pissed!" He says angrily. He tries to do a spinning kick, but I manage to grab his leg.

            I laugh as he's hopping while I keep his leg up. "What a nice view you're giving me now. It's almost comical." I snicker. "Now, shall I end this fight?" I turn to Frederick. "Do you wish to help him?" I ask.

            He shakes his head no vigorously.

            That's a wise decision.