It was dark. She could feel a splitting pain in her head and there were numbing pain on her hands. She tried raising her heavy head as she slowly opened her eyes. In front of her, there were metal bars; and there was a pungent smell of ammonia. At her periphery, she could see a person holding a tool as he stood motionless.
"You finally woke up," he said.
She tried speaking, but she couldn't muster the strength.
"You passed out for five minutes, and I am impressed. Your wounds healed… your cut off fingers and toes were instantly regenerated. Even your leg grew back. Heh… interesting. For a second there, you died and suddenly, you came back to life. What are you really, Maajidanashi?"
Her consciousness kept on going blank as she listened to the man. Suddenly, memories of being tortured to death appeared in her mind. The man in front of her was in charge of the torture; not only physically, even mentally. Every time her finger was detached from her hand, she would pass out after an extreme pain and would wake up for another session of cutting her fingers. When she became numb to it, the man decided to cut off her leg and the result satisfied him. However, her concern wasn't with her body. She remembered that she kept on muttering the name of a boy.
They tried running away, but they were found and locked up in a dungeon. In return of that boy's freedom, she would die in his sake. She also had to endure this torture until the end. However, she never knew that the boy himself was already killed the instant he got released and was thrown in the incinerator. Her efforts were all in vain without her knowledge.
"Where is… Arthfael..." she mustered all her strength to speak through her hoarse voice.
The man sneered, "He got released safely."
"Where… is he… now..."
"In Hell."
Maajidanashi's eyes went wide from the realization. "You promised!"
"Do you really think we would let someone who knew us wander the earth freely?"
"Guh… ka… ugh… it's my fault, Arthfael… I'm sorry..." she wept.
The man laughed and slowly tilted her head in the level of his eyes, "I have a proposition, Maajidanashi."
The woman spat at him. However, that didn't make the man seeth in anger and just stared at her jet black eyes that were slowly turning red. "I will never touch anyone connected to you if you worked under me. Serve me until you die."
Maajidanashi's eyes wavered. "Why… do you think.. that I will… trust you… after what you did?"
"I promise under the name of the Boss."
Maajidanashi felt the weight of his words and immediately nodded.
"Maajidanashi, I am Ash. Ashford Wiltshire. From now on, you will throw your old name and be Emersyn, the woman who will rain terror in our enemies for all eternity," from the moment he finished speaking, Maajidanashi --- no, Emersyn let herself succumb to sleep.
Ashford combed his large hand on Emersyn's whitening hair and pulled them roughly, but it didn't make the woman wince in pain. He grinned and crushed Emersyn's hand in his strong grip. However, it didn't elicit a groan of pain and her hand even healed perfectly. His lips stretched into a wide grin as he caressed Emersyn's smooth face. She wasn't an ugly woman, not at all. Rather, her face was enough to topple a country and seduce anyone from anywhere. She was also at the same age as him; 24 years old. She was a useful woman in the mafia; but when there was a little boy that was brought over, she became more caring and wouldn't participate in missions that would kill people. She didn't have an important position, but she was a decoy that would create diversion for the mafia; however, she didn't have great education to back that up. And now, she gained a mysterious power that would serve as a great purpose for the mafia.
He chuckled then left the dungeon.
***
Emersyn woke up in a bed. It wasn't soft and it wasn't hard either. It was perfect for her aching body. The pain in her head still hadn't disappeared and it was getting more annoying the longer it took for it to subside. She vigorously shook her head and it just elevated the pain she felt.
"Madame?"
'Madame? Who?'
"Madame Emersyn, I was sent by Sir Ashford. I was asked to attend to your needs. Since you woke up, would you like a glass of water?"
"I'm sorry, but my head is really aching right now."
"Oh my! Please stay here and I will fetch you some warm water."
"Thanks..."
She couldn't help but curse at the pain. When the maid arrived and settled a warm cloth on her forehead, the pain subsided, though just for a bit until it came back again.
"Madame Emersyn… I will get some medicines. Please wait here."
"Mhm..."
Then, a knock came and a man in a black suit entered the room. He stared at Emersyn and quickly dragged a chair beside her. He said, "There is a mission today, and you are going to cooperate."
"..."
"We need you to act as a decoy before we attack the laboratory."
"Oh, Sir Ashford, good morning," cried the maid.
"Penelope, why are you outside when you should be tending Emersyn?"
"Madame has a terrible headache and I was out to fetch medicine for her. Here it is, Madame Emersyn. I also fetched a glass of lukewarm water for you."
"Thanks, Penelope," she groaned then carefully sat up.
"The meeting would be four hours from now. Do your best to be okay by then," Ashford's monotone voice rang out beside her ear. She had to admit, it was a rather pleasant voice. Then, he stood up and left.
"..."
Penelope also left with a bow.
When Emersyn drank the medicine, she tightly closed her eyes as she felt the pain subsiding. Just as soon as she recovered, she tried standing up and her feet weren't wobbly, thankfully. Her clothes were also changed. The last time she remembered, her attire was made of leather as hard as crocodile skin. But now, she wore an expensive silk nightgown. She lifted the hem and her pale thighs came into view. Even her underwear was changed… she peeked at her chest and her bra was also changed. Her face heated up as she vigorously shook her head in an attempt to shake those impure thoughts out. Her feet took her in front of the mirror and she saw that her black hair turned to white. Also, her black eyes turned into red. She didn't know what really happened after Ashford told her she died, but she was forced to convince herself that she was alive and kicking. But at the guise of an albino.
She checked her body if every limb was working; something caught her attention. She could heavily kick and strike a powerful punch when she couldn't even do it back then. With her palms faced towards her, she opened and closed them, seeing if her body was still hers. It looked like it was still in her control --- nothing strange.
"..."
"Madame?"
She turned to look towards the door, "Yes?"
"I brought you your breakfast," Penelope said as she settled the tray filled with food on the table. Emersyn just noticed the room and it was equipped with a bathroom, a dining table and a refrigerator; but there wasn't any kitchen.
After all, every member of the Voltaire must be dining with each other in turns. It was to build connections and share information as they eat.
"If this is still lacking for you, Madame, I will fetch more in the kitchen."
Emersyn smiled wryly and sat on the comfortable chair then ate her breakfast. This reminded her of the days where she had to dine with all those chaotic buffoons on a wooden chair. She smiled widely from the memory. Once she was done eating, she was directed to go to her walk-in closet. When she entered the huge room, it was filled with new branded clothes. She could tell that every piece of articles here was expensive as heck. Emersyn turned to look at the pliant Penelope.
"Are these clothes… all for me?"
"Yes, Madame. Sir Ashford ordered these all."
Emersyn grabbed a coat and wore them. Surprisingly, it was exactly her size.
"But why would he..." her voice trailed.
"I don't know either, Madame."
"..." she went silent as she went through the variety of clothes. After picking a cyan turtleneck sweater, gray slacks and a black coat; she immediately undressed despite the pair of eyes watching her. She didn't feel uncomfortable at all, like it was natural. She didn't know why, since she never had the experience to have a servant watch her from behind.
"Would you like me to tie your hair up, Madame?"
"Please. Thank you," she smiled.
"Please sit here," Penelope said as she pulled a chair on the carpeted floor.
Emersyn complied and stilled as the maid gently did her hair. When they finished, it was already 8:25; thirty five minutes before the meeting. Now that she realized it, the place where the meeting would be held was null. She turned to look at Penelope and the maid only bowed and escorted her out of her room.
"Do you know where the meeting would be, Madame?" Fortunately, she asked.
"I don't," she scratched her cheek bashfully.
"Well then, please follow me," and they went off.