Page 58 of Captive Union
The only comfort I have is my sketch pad, where I draw picture after picture of myself being outside, experiencing life. I know technically I’m allowed to leave the penthouse, just under the watchful eye of a guard or Maxim, but I’m not ready to face Maxim again. His utter dismissal of my feelings hurts beyond imagining. Why won’t someone listen to me and hear me when I say that Erik didn’t hurt me and I’m happy with him? But no—my brother’s pride would never allow him to believe me.
I avoid my mom at all costs. Her critical comments are of no help to me right now.
So I just draw and draw and draw, pouring all my emotion onto my sketch pad.
Elena knocks on my door. It’s her first try today. She usually checks on me multiple times, and I know she’ll be back at least five more times. I appreciate her concern, but I’m still angry with her.
“Kira, please talk to me,” she says from the doorway.
“No.”
“Why not?” I can see out of the corner of my eye as she places her hands on her hips. Classic Elena.
“Because I’m mad at you.”
“What?” She storms into the room and sits on my bed, ripping my sketch pad out of my hands. I just stare at her. “Why are you mad at me?”
“Because I didn’t want your help,” I spit out.
She sits back, hurt written on her face. When she speaks, her voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it. “What are you talking about?”
“You tricked me by putting your phone in my purse.You’rethe reason Maxim was able to find Erik and me. Why would you do that?”
“Because I wanted to save you!”
Now it’s my turn to jerk away.
Elena sighs. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. I just don’t understand, Kira. Didn’t you want to be saved?”
“No!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Elena.” I grip her hands. “Listen to me,please. And please don’t tell me I’m brainwashed because I know I’m not. Can you please listen to me? Can you do that?”
She meets my gaze steadily before nodding slowly. “I can listen.”
“When Erik first took me, I was terrified. Of course, I was. But then … in time, I got to learn more about him and see all the different sides to him. Elena, he never hurt me. Not once. He showed me that I don’t always have to be the shy girl. That I can be brave and speak my mind and stand up for myself.Hetaught me that. I was flourishing with him. I was … happy.”
Elena is silent for a moment, staring at our clasped hands. “Really?”
I nod. “Elena, I … love him.” And I know the minute I say those words just how true they are. “I love him. And I’m not brainwashed. This isn’t Stockholm Syndrome. Erik didn’t beat me into submission into falling for him. He treated me with kindness. He gave me the wedding of my dreams.”
“He did?”
“Yes.” I squeezed her hands. “He did. Elena, Erik has shown me love. At first, I was conflicted. Of course, I was. I thought, how can I fall for this man when he’s keeping me from my family? But then I realized - I was always a prisoner here. To Mom, to our dad. To Maxim, in some ways. I know he loves me and wants to protect me, but his protection means I never get to live a life.”
“I know that feeling,” she mutters.
“So you get it. But with Erik, I can live a life I’ve always wanted. I can be brave and bold and not shy. I can be happy with the man I love. And if Maxim and Alexei put aside their hate for him, I can promise that Erik would stop trying to tear our family down. He just wants to be with me, too. We could put aside all this drama and fear and just be a happy family. I would get to be with my husband and my siblings. And I wouldn’t be a prisoner. I’d have more freedom than I’ve ever had before.”
“How can you know that?”
“Because Erik always trusted me enough never to lock me in. I always had the choice to leave, but I stayed. Initially, it was out of fear, but as I got to know him, I didn’t want to leave because I didn’t want to leavehim. Erik doesn’t want me as a prisoner any longer. He just wants to be with me. And I just want to be with him.” I finally suck in a deep breath. It isn’t until I finish speaking that I realize just how out of breath I am.
Elena is quiet for a moment before she nods and says, “Kira, I didn’t know. If I had, I never would have helped Maxim find you. I know what it’s like to have no choices. What it’s like to be forced to live your life under the strict guidance of a man. Our father did that to me. Maxim tried to do that to me, but by then, I was married to Nik and had him for support. I convinced Maxim to back off, and he did.”
“How can I do that?”
