In The

pulled Elena f

ough the heavy curtains. The bed beneath her was too soft, the sh

her hands, slowly tak

he rea

asn't

th. The memories crashed i

ure. The cold, menacin

s a nightmare, but the bruises on her wrists and

yet firm. Before she could

young,almost like her age or probably more, tall, with caramel skin

" Her voice wa

answer. She

a silver tray on the bedsi

ignored it. Her hands curled into

she asked, her

itated. "The

fear was

t tightened.

ide the bed, moving slowly as if she knew

ma

ds at home too, but none had ever look

y. "Lorenzo asked me

nched at

her last night. The false kindness in hi

to be here,"

pressed into a thin line, but there was some

tood. "Eat. I'll show you

essia, her fingers tig

archways. Expensive chandeliers. Walls lined with

d like a

was a

old and unreadable. Some wore black suits

y. She wasn't a guest.

, the dining hall, the library, the

th

d a grand

e bottom

ria

's mo

onto Elena's, her lips curling

breath

tensed b

oice was smooth, but

gers curled

ate when s

eels clicking against the marble floor.

herself to

t yours. It never will be. You are noth

g more than th

voice calm and gentle "She's

lent

rushing invisible dust off her

he turned and walked away, he

xhaled

shoulder lightly.

too terrified

need to be

~

a guard appear

boss wants

lammed agai

n't wan

ng wasn't

ls lined with bookshelves and the scent of

rs steepled together. A slow, unreadable smile

le

herself to

to the chair acro

ated, the

hung bet

esting his chin on his han

into her palms. "I

hed. "This is

aw cl

wrist. She flinched be

rkened with

d how things work here." His thumb slow

skin c

he murmured. "Bu

omach

eaning back in his chai

idn't h

away as fast as she

ore she reac

," he

fr

ll spend more

arn

rom

he pushed the door open an

er room before collapsing ag

way

esc

s running

hat sorry excuse or amplified replica

ight. Few minute

n bed, exhausted b

n she h

ft c

art st

th, her body going r

sa

as when sh

nt

dressed in black, his sha

breath

as h

jaw tight. His expression was

as a

en, fi

was low,

e touc