The rain crashed on the windows of the small house in Manila of Anaya Priya Santos, and made the world outside to be engulfed in a never-ending grey cloud. She sat in her little room alone, the pages of an old, battered book shaking a little beneath her fingers but her mind was elsewhere -- wild, wild, with the feeling of something black creeping up upon it.
Life had never been noisy with her. Childish aspirations of completing school, embrace of her childhood friend Leila, and the promise of a future that she would be able to make with her own hands. However, peace was something but an illusion.
There came a great knock which broke the silence. The door flew open before she had time to move. Three men had walked in whose faces were formidable, whose presence was chilling. He was the tallest, the best dressed in black and his stern glittering eyes resembled cold steel.
The man said, ruthlessly final, we are here after Anaya Priya Santos. Your family debts have overtaken you. You are the guaranty."
Her words had hit her as though they had been slapped. Collateral. Property. Traded, given out.
Her heart beat rapidly and her voice was calm. What is your name?
The lips of the man twisted in a mock smile. I appear in behalf of Adrian Kane Williams. The rules have been provided. Now you belong to him.
The name followed her like a shadow -- whispered in horror on the other side of the world. Adrian Kane Williams, the dreaded mafia successor, cold blooded to the extreme.
Behind her she could see her mother, whose eyes were filled with tears, and whose voice was not much louder than a whisper. Anaya please, there is no other way we can save ourselves.
but the spirit of Anaya rose in protest. I shall not be the property of anyone. I shall not be given away as an object.
The eyes of the man grew steel. Deny, and the repercussions will be even more than you can ever think. At midnight tomorrow you will be at Adrian at his estate. Be there. Or fade away.
It rained that night and Anaya stared out her window as the rain tapped lightly to warn her like a heart beat. Black shadows danced along her walls and they were the very depiction of storm within her.
She lost her old life.
Before them was dark, a place of strength, mysteries, and threat.
And there in the middle of all was a man whose frozen empire was as cruel as this destiny now thrust upon herself.
Anaya was not aware of the future.
But this much she promised herself,--she was going to live--by hook or crook, by fair means or foul means, by the strength of every breath, the throb of every heartbeat, she was going to live.