Sabir awoke startled, his body jerking upright as his eyes snapped open. Disorientated, Sabir struggled to recall what happened. The plushy softness that he laid on was a dramatic change to what he knew all his life. The usual cold, hard floors he had grown used to in The Limbo felt so far away from where he was now.

Wait. Where is he right now?

Panic surged through Sabir as he tried to make sense of his environment. Even as he swung his torso upwards, the soft mattress he lay in engulfed his hands. Thick, lavish blankets covered his body. The bed beneath was huge, yet it cradled his form, providing comfort. Comfort that was entirely alien to him.

Sabir expected to be greeted by darkness, a damp stench that reeked of neglect, or at least the rattling weight of chains against his skinny frame. Instead, he found himself in a large, warm bedroom, with minimal decorations and neat. The only sign of color were the unique books that littered the desk in the corner.

He could barely remember the last time he had slept in an actual bed, let alone one as luxurious as this. From the ornate furnishings to the delicate scent of lavender in the air, everything about the room screamed opulence, a stark contrast to the squalor he had endured for days.

A voice interrupted Sabir’s thoughts, soft but firm. “Easy there,” Warren said, stepping into view. He moved closer to the bed, his hands raised in a gesture of reassurance. “Don’t push yourself too hard. You’ve been through a lot.”

Locking eyes with Warren with a narrowed gaze, Sabir’s face flashed with confusion. Instinctively, Sabir wrapped the blankets tighter around himself, as if the fabric could shield him from the uncertainty that gnawed at his insides. “Where am I?” he demanded, his voice hoarse. His throat felt dry, his words rasping out with an edge of desperation.

“You’re safe,” Warren replied, his tone as gentle as he could manage. “This is my bedroom. You’ve been unconscious for a while, and I wanted to make sure you were comfortable when you woke up.”

The words did little to soothe Sabir’s racing thoughts. “Safe?” he repeated, disbelief clear in his tone. “In your bedroom?” His gaze narrowed, suspicion hardening his features. “Why should I trust you? No offense, but even with those scared little eyes. You’re one of the people who tortured me, who left me to rot in that chair. How do I know this isn’t just another trick? I can tell you get used by those siblings of yours. This could be a new plan to make me vulnerable.”

Warren flinched at the accusation, guilt written plainly on his face. He had known this moment would come, had dreaded it even, but hearing the raw anger and fear in Sabir’s voice cut deeper than he had expected. He took a deep breath, steeling himself before he spoke. “I don’t expect you to trust me,” he said, his voice heavy with regret. “Not after everything that’s happened. But I’m asking you to try. I got you out of there, Sabir. I’m trying to make things right.”

Sabir’s eyes bore into him, searching for any hint of deceit. “And what if I don’t want to be here?” he asked, his voice sharp. “What if I want to leave, to go back home?”

Warren hesitated before he spoke. “You can’t go back,” he finally said, laced with regret. “My family has deemed your life forfeit. They want you dead, Sabir. If you leave this estate, there’s no guarantee you’ll survive. The only reason you’re still alive is because… because you’ve become an afterthought to them. They have more important things to attend to.”

Sabir should’ve known. Ever since he lay forgotten in that iron chair, he knew no one cared about him. Sabir viewed the Voltaires as his greatest enemies, but to them, he was just a bug, a bug not worth killing. Yet this realization didn’t stop his stomach from twisting at Warren’s words, the reality of his situation settling over him like a leaden cloak. He had known that his chances of escape were slim, but to hear that his life was forfeit… It was almost too much to bear.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

His death was inevitable.

It was belittling that they lacked the energy to even kill him. With a firm grip on the blankets, his knuckles turned white as he applied pressure. “So what now?” he asked bitterly. “Am I just supposed to sit here and wait for them to change their minds? To finally decide to kill me?”

“No,” Warren said quickly, shaking his head. “I can keep you alive here. You’re safest here in this estate. The only person who would ever think about you is Elektra. But she won’t be bugging you anymore. As long as my father doesn’t notice, you can stay here, live here and then, when the time is right, we get you out of here.”

Sabir’s jaw became tight as he contemplated what Warren had said. Everything seemed precarious. His life hung by a thread, dependent on the whims of a family that had already proven their capacity for cruelty. And now he had to put his trust in a Voltaire, who had taken part in his torment. Sabir could sense the kindness and empathy in his eyes. Eyes that people would’ve used and taken advantage of in The Limbo. The very idea of trusting him was stupid. A decision a gullible child would make.

But what choice did he have? Where could he go? Helplessness weighed heavily on Sabir, trapped, his fate inextricably tied to the very people who had brought him to this point. He had to have faith in this young kid, who was the most isolated among his family. Was Warren capable of helping him?

It was better than nothing. Beggars can’t be choosers, as Mrs Norris would say. “What now then?” The fight seemed to drain out of him as he slumped back against the pillows. There was no escaping this, no simple way out. He was a prisoner, even in this gilded cage.

Warren allowed himself a small, almost relieved smile. “Now,” he said, “I’m going to put you to work.” He saw the way Sabir’s eyes flickered with confusion, and quickly clarified. “From today onward, you’ll be my personal manservant. It’s not much, I know, but it’s a way to keep you close, keep you safe. You won’t bring attention to you or me this way. And it’ll give you something to do, something to focus on.”

Sabir stared at him, his expression unreadable. Was this kid stupid? Sabir didn’t know how to serve anyone, hell he can’t even serve himself. He was a wild man from The Limbo. Max and Samantha would mock him for his lack of manners and etiquette. And Warren wanted him to be a manservant!

He had gone from being a free man to a prisoner, and now… a servant to a noble? It was a fate he had never imagined, never wanted, and yet, here he was. “So that’s it then,” Sabir muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness. “I’m going to be a slave to a noble. How great.”

Warren’s smile faltered slightly at Sabir’s tone, but he nodded. “It’s not ideal,” he admitted, “but it’s the best I can offer right now. And it’s better than the alternative.”

Sabir didn’t give an immediate response. He reclined, his head sinking into the pillows, while his eyes remained fixed on the elaborate ceiling above. The comfort of the bed, once so alien, now felt like a mocking reminder of his situation. This was his life, constantly on edge, living a life of servitude, forever anticipating the Voltaires’ judgment day.

But as much as he despised it, Sabir knew he couldn’t afford to reject Warren’s offer. His survival depended on it. Exhausted, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh, feeling the toll of everything, his captivity, his injuries, the emotional turmoil, catching up to him. “Fine,” he muttered, barely above a whisper. “I’ll be your manservant.”

Warren watched him, relief and regret warring within him. He had known that Sabir would never truly forgive him. The past would always taint their relationship. But this was a start. A very fragile start.

“Great, then-” Warren excitedly was ready to get Sabir in a suit and that unruly hair needed to be cut, but just as he spoke, the sound of light snoring cut him off. He stood there for a moment longer, watching as Sabir’s breathing slowed, his body relaxing into the bed as sleep took hold.

Warren edged closer to the bed and pulled the blanket up slightly, covering Sabir’s body completely. As Warren saw the small smile, while Sabir slept, it reminded him that Sabir’s survival had become his responsibility. Warren let out a sigh as he quietly left the bedroom, closing the door slowly behind him.

As he stood by the hallway, Warren couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease. While he had taken the initial step towards redemption, the guilt of what he had done remained a heavy weight on his mind. He knew that Sabir’s presence in the estate was a ticking time bomb, one that could explode at any moment if they weren’t careful.

But for now, Sabir was safe. And that was all that mattered.

Warren walked through the dimly lit corridor, his mind burdened with thoughts, plotting his next moves. Sabir’s survival was more than just a way to ease his own guilt. It was a promise to himself that he wouldn’t let the Voltaires’ cruelty define him. He promised to himself he’d keep Sabir safe, to give him a life worth living, even if it’s behind the shadow of the Voltaire family.

And maybe, just maybe, he would redeem himself.