wo: The D

the bedside tabl

at sunrise. Slee

. W

truly. Not ever. This was a performance. A contract

er finger felt heavi

ed, her body tense with every creak of the old manor's bones. The storm outside had

be

s, lighting the ceiling in gold. Morning had come, and with

bother chan

ere was a soft knock at

o be natural. "Mrs. Ward, breakfast is ready. Mr

e. Even the meals w

in five," sh

y we

hair back, and checked the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot, the skin be

oah. Not for herse

silence. No staff bustled through the corridors. No idle chatter or

was always

re he was-Lucien Ward, sitting at the head of an impossibly long mahogany ta

se he

way. He just nodded toward th

ove. "Where

up, amuse

clenched

gers with you in it? I don't want distracti

hosts," sh

sharpened.

lated-sliced fruit, eggs, warm

kfast," he said,

care," sh

y, fingertips touching. "

ull of t

Comply, and you'll leave with your brother's cure and a clean

f melon with her fork

He sipped his coffee again. "But unl

ietly, "you wear

ble. There was something frightening in his stillness. Like he didn't ne

nly, "what did Ava say a

inked.

d on her. "You and she were close. She mus

Why? Want to know how well

ossed his face. "I want to

etted eve

hed between th

craping quietly against

he

st task a

e her skin crawl. But Isla s

hed ceilings and oil paintings whose eyes seemed to follow her. At last, they entered

ured to

la

owned.

studied at Juill

as year

l reme

yed since Ava's funeral. But something about this moment-the surreal quiet,

lody, soft and familiar, floated into

silently, his

, he said, "You'r

e still ma

d. "You're

o now? Force women into your mansion, ma

said. "

ght her

vading her space. "You think I'm a monster. T

aw cl

hispered, "is far worse tha

y. "If this is

e darkened. "You'll

-

r Th

peared after the piano room incident. She explored the estate cautiously-grand l

inted, flawless, frozen in time. Ava in white, smiling f

broke something

pered to herself. "Seven days. I

-

dn

ic. A low, haunting melody dri

ng the sound. Down the stairs. Past the hall. Tow

ic grew

utside a door

layed earlier. But this time, the music wasn't

't noti

the curve of his mout

aw not the devil, but a man gri

stopped

you're

a f

ollar, sleeves rolled up, eyes shining like wet ob

er mouth but

why I brought yo

ready

tly. "You only kn

liberate. "Go back to bed. Tom

he shut

rridor, breathless and afrai