Chapter 7
Chapter 7
AVERY’S POV:
32%
+5
Sea’s small voice, full of vulnerability, tugged at memories I hadn’t let myself touch in years. Hearing her admit she was afraid of the dark was like looking in a mirror back to my own childhood. I remembered lying in bed, hiding under covers, watching shadows stretch across the walls, and waiting for the sound of my father’s footsteps. He’d read me a story every night, staying until I drifted off. If he left even a second too soon, I’d call out for him, sure that the monsters would sneak in the moment he was gone.
I glanced down at Sea, curled up tightly, hugging her teddy bear. Her eyes peeked over its fuzzy head, watching me warily, not trusting but not sending me away either. Slowly, I stepped closer to her bed and lowered myself down, one hand gently resting on her back. Her shoulders were stiff, defensive, but she didn’t pull away.
My eyes locked onto the phone nestled next to her pillow, and I knew I had to act. I paused for a moment, collecting my thoughts.
“Would it be okay if I sat?” I asked, keeping my voice soft.
She blinked, considering, then shifted forward a little, making just enough room for me. I sank down beside her, feeling the mattress dip under my weight. Sea’s face remained expressionless, but she held her teddy closer. I cleared my throat, the words almost catching. “Would you like to hear a story? I know one about a brave princess who fought off the night demon.”
Her eyes darted up to mine, doubtful. “If it’s boring, don’t bother. I’m not really a fan of bedtime stories.”
Something in her tone made me wonder if she hadn’t ever been read one. Had Axel ever sat here beside her, calming her fears? Had anyone? I pushed the thought away, determined to stay gentle but steady. “Tell you what–give this one a chance. If it doesn’t hold your attention, you can tell me to stop anytime you like. Deal?”
She gave a small, reluctant nod and turned slightly toward me, her face half–buried in the bear’s ear.
1began softly, weaving the words the way my father had. “Once upon a time, there was a brave princess who ruled over a peaceful kingdom. Every night, the night demon came, darkening the skies, sending chills across the land. The people cowered in their homes, afraid to even look out their windows..
Sea’s eyes softened, her guard lowering just a bit, and I saw her lips press together, caught by curiosity despite herself. I continued, putting my heart into every detail. The story had kept me sane through long, sleepless nights in prison, repeating the lines to myself, letting that brave princess be the hero I needed to believe in.
Midway through, her head drooped, and her breaths evened out, slipping into sleep. Her tiny hand somehow found its way to mine, her fingers warm and trusting. For a moment, I held still, afraid that even breathing might break this fragile trust she’d given me.
After a minute, I gently untangled my hand, smoothing her blankets and brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. She looked so peaceful like this, and I couldn’t help the ache that built in my chest. I didn’t know her story, but I had a feeling she’d never had much of a childhood, not the way she
deserved.
Carefully, I stood, gently sliding my hand under her pillow, careful not to disturb her, and retrieved the phone. My heart racing with anticipation, I discreetly y tucked it into my bra, the soft fabric cradling it securely against my chest. I held my breath, ensuring it was safe and hidden.
Walking toward the door, I switched off the light and tiptoed out,
In the hall, I collided with something solid. I gasped/heart leaping as I realized it was Axel, leaning against the wall, his gaze sharp and unreadable. His presence was so sudden and imposing that I almost forgot to breathe, and my thoughts went in a dozen different directions. Was he waiting to drag me back to my room to punish me for some unspoken rule I’d broken? Was he angry? If he was here to touch me, that means Axel would find the phone in no time.
Fear gripped me, and I struggled to come up with a plan to avert the catastrophe.
He didn’t say a word. He just watched me, that dark, unwavering gaze holding me in place, like he was daring me to break the silence first. But then, without a word, he straightened, slid his hands into his pockets, and walked away. The tension in the air dissipated as he left, but the cold that remained sent a shiver through me. How much of Kis control was for show, and how much of it hid something darker?
1/2
2124 Wed 16 Apr
52%
+5
eco felt like both a warning and a mystery, as it he were inviting me to test his limits–but only if I was prepared for the consequences. And yet, I Kundeyse wanting to know more. Who was this man, my new husband, who carried shadows as if they were part of him? He could afford to have anyone by bude bize any caregiver for his daughter, and find any wife who would love him without the complications of resentment or rebellion.
So why did No choose me? I wasn’t a woman looking to be saved or seeking a fairy tale. If he thought he’d gotten a willing, obedient wife, he was wrong. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew exactly what he was getting–and that I was here for a reason I hadn’t even begun to understand.
My eyes darted around, wide and searching, like a stray puppy in a strange new world. What was I supposed to do here? Where was I expected to go? I felt indiculous, pacing through a maze of luxury, opening door after door as I wandered, hoping one might offer answers–or an exit.
The first door led to a library. Floor–to–ceiling shelves covered in thick, leather–bound books, a chandelier illuminating the space, the faint smell of aged paper driting through the air. Every wall seemed to hold some piece of knowledge or mystery. I stood in awe for a moment, running my hand along the spine of one book, but I had to leave. There was no time to get distracted.
I tried the next door. A guest room with white sheets tucked tightly on a king–size bed, curtains drawn back to reveal a view of sprawling gardens. No trace of personal belongings, just empty, cold elegance. I moved on quickly.
Another door opened to a music room. My gaze fell on a grand piano gleaming under dim light, its polished black surface nearly reflective. There were guitars, violins, even a harp–all arranged like an art piece, as if they were only for show, untouched by anyone’s hands. The silence here was haunting, the instruments almost daring me to break it, but I forced myself to keep going.
To my surprise, every door opened easily. Not a single one was locked, no guards stationed at the entrances, no signs warning me away. It felt…strange. I’d expected something different–maybe chains, padlocks, or a trail of armed men ready to restrict my every move. But instead, it seemed I had a kind of freedom in this place, the freedom to move, to explore, to…escape.
A
