A week had passed in the mansion...
The entire time Silla had pretty much stayed in bed and had the occasional strolls in the gardens. Of course she was allowed to do whatever she wanted, but Declan had made it clear that she wasn't allowed outside the perimeter of the mansion.
Silla knew even if she had succeeded in escaping he would eventually catch her so all her work had become fruitless...
But that didn't mean she had given up. No, the only enjoyment she had in this place was pissing him off and the best way to do that was playing a little hide and seek. Nothing brought her more joy than to see his nostrils flare as he threw a shit fit much to Portio's dismay.
Originally she had feared making him mad as she thought it would end in her death but turns out he did in fact have a soft spot for her. Even if she had no idea why. How does one even make a cold blooded killer their friend?
Maybe he was just lonely?
Nah.
That can't be it.
"Good morning, Madam!" One of the maids said as Silla entered the room. Ever since she came here rumors spread to all the staff like wildfire. Every time she passed by the hallway; she was greeted with warm stares and gazes as she walked by. Luckily, Silla didn't have anymore confrontations with Portio because Cain had been busy terrorizing him. Even more hilariously every few minutes she could hear the poor butler chase Cain down the halls cursing.
"I was told by his excellency to prepare food," a maid holding a tray spoke snapping Silla out of her thoughts. Looking down at the food, she was amazed. There were scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, chocolate chip pancakes, and to top it off a slice of cheesecake. All with a glass of milk.
If she could eat such delicious food everyday, it might not be so bad to live here...
Especially since she was pampered twenty four seven under Declan's orders.
After she had finished eating, the maid took the tray. "Now, you must get washed for his excellency and choose an outfit. I'll prepare the bath." She said pointing to the rooms closet.
She was shocked.
"W-What did you s-say?!"
What?
Opening the closet doors Silla let out a gasp. It was huge! Walking in Silla saw two sides to the wardrobe. One with women's clothes and one with mens.
When did Declan have the time to buy all this?
At her shock the elderly maid spoke again, "It's a gift from his excellency!"
"His excellency can just stick it up his ass," she mumbled.
"What was that dear?" The maid questioned not hearing her.
"N-Nothing!" Silla replied back nervously.
Looking closer at the fancy material, she was amazed and a bit creeped out when she found that they were all the right size. She better not think of how he knows her measurements...
The dress she picked out was soft silky and elegant. It's white lace falling all the way to the floor and the train long enough to cover her bare feet and drag behind her. The sleeves being long bell styled.
In a beautiful, moon shaped tub was steaming water covered in blood red rose petals. Surrounding the bathtub was maids.
What were they planning to do to her?
She turned around awkwardly towards Samantha; the head maids attendant. She was the one who dragged her here. "Um, is this necessary?"
Samantha continued to give her a cool smile. Nodded her head firmly and holding onto her shoulders. "You are going to be a new bride and our madam soon. Keeping you in tip top shape is our duty."
"No... I mean, it's not necessary... Gyaaa!" Samantha and the maids took off all her clothes suddenly. She was naked before she even realized it. These maids were professionally trained; they could rip off clothes stealthily in a split second. Silla wanted to say something, but it would have been strange to reprimand someone naked and Samantha seemed determined to get this done.
Before she could stop them the maids had dragged her towards the water and heaved her over the basin. However determined she had spread out like a starfish and held onto the rim of the bath keeping herself from falling in the water just below her. Silla was butt naked but at the moment she didn't seem to care.
"Please get into the bath Madam." Samantha smiled as she rather forcefully pushed her into the tub with a splash. There was no way she could stop her. Instead of a maid, Samantha acted like an overbearing mother.
Though she did have to admit the bath was rather nice.
In the water her long silky raven locks pooled around her and a maid poured a bit of lavender soap into the warm water to create bubbles. The feeling was absolutely heavenly as the maid gently brushed her long hair and massaged her scalp with lavender.
The maids worked so quickly. There was nothing for her to do but lay still.
It felt great. This was a luxury she had never experienced.
To be honest life wasn't so bad. Of course Declan could be really annoying and creepy. He loves to strike without any warning, which makes him extremely unpredictable.
She didn't really like how he would randomly sneak up on her to kiss the back of her neck. It always gave her a fright because he's so silent. It's like living with a ghost that gives you endless jump scares. She can never tell where he is. He'll only appear when needed or... when he's craving to touch her.
Silla shuttered at the memory of his fingers caressing her face in the middle of the night when she was sleeping, but whenever she was brave enough to open her eyes, he's wasn't there. Thankfully she was somewhat used to that now.
All the staff had worked so efficiently, and she was half asleep. By the time she became aware, had already been lying down on the bed the maids in the room around her.
"H-Huh?"
"W-What the hell am I-I wearing?!"
On her body was white lacy nearly shear lingerie! On top went her the white fairy dress that she had previously picked out. The doors to the closet were locked courtesy of Samantha who had thought ahead and kept her from changing.
Looking around the lavish room there was nothing she could use to cover myself. Most would think there would be something, like a piece of cloth, but there was absolutely nothing, not even the curtains, could be used. Frustrated she cried out, "Samantha, how could you!" She purposely set this up, and all the other maids went along with it.
Before Silla could say anything else Samantha, all the maids including her, started to leave the room quickly after bidding her goodnight.
"Wait!" She cried. Only one of the maids, Bella, who she had befriended turned around as the other maids went ahead of her down the hallway.
"Goodbye, Madam. See you tomorrow!" The cheery maid said as she was about to leave.
Finally an opportunity to get out!
Rushing past her Silla pushed her to the ground sprinting barefoot down the hallway carpets she went as fast as possible. "I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!" She regrettably yelled out towards the maid as she screamed about the rare China dish that had broken her fall.
"I have nothing against you, but I just want to be free!" Silla exclaimed.
"Someone-! The madam is-!" She stammered out trying to call for help.
Silla looked to the window and saw a tree outside right next to the mansion. If she jumped out the window and landed on the tree, she could make it to the iron gate!
Flying out the window she was able to grab ahold of one of the branches and pull herself up. "Silla?" A deep voice questioned from below.
Fuck.
Gazing down she saw Declan who was looking at me with an evilly tight lipped smile. His eyes nearly closed however holding a spark of pure rage in them.
"Are you done playing in z'e tree dear?" He smiled with closed eyes. His expression dangerous yet hiding how truest livid he was.
Uh-Oh!
"Or v'ere you perhaps trying to find me from high up but picked z'e v'rong place?" He smiled shrugging his shoulders.
" Th-That's right!" She quickly agreed with him sweating bullets.
"Hmm... And I z'ought you v'e're trying to run a'vay. But I'm glad z'at's not the case.." He trailed a twitch in his green eye.
Silla stood silent in nervousness his dark smile and a look that shown in his eyes making her shutter. "You v'eren't trying to run a'vay again? V'ere you, dear?" He dangerously questioned already knowing the answer. Carefully climbing down he quickly grabbed her and picked her up leading her to the most beautiful part of the gardens. It seemed he already had something planned out and now she has to go through with whatever he was going to do. It was so upsetting if she had almost foiled his plot.
Gently he set her down on the soft grass in silence. Silently enjoying the view together. He knew his angel was completely oblivious to his feelings. His angel, his Silla.
Suddenly he broke the pause.
"You know I v'aited and held back because I didn't want to overwhelm you... I don't exactly know how to take z'ings slow. Though it seems you are completely oblivious to romance so I'll have to be more direct." He breathed out.
"I've v'anted to do z'is for so long but afterwards I became afraid. I was afraid to push you a'vay if I came on too strong." He continued.
What was he talking about?
What did he even mean by 'coming on too strong'?
Where was he going with this?
Silla saw the darkness and madness that had been raging in his forest eyes and shuttered as he came dangerously too close for comfort. His fingers went under her chin, coaxing her to look up at him and as soon as she did her heart started racing again noticing the way his haunted eyes were now trained on her lips as he huskily said two words.
"Forgive me."
Before she could utter a single word the moment those soft, plump lips crashed against her own, moving in a slow, sensual rhythm, that same warm and pleasant vibe made its way throughout Silla's entire body once again, pulling her even closer to him, like a magnetic force. The forced kiss causing warm tears to fall out her eyes and run down her cheeks. Jolts Of electricity pulsed through her entire being, each time his slender fingers caressing her bare skin. They stayed like that for a few moments before he slowly pulled back leaving her speechless.
Curious and frightened her watery ocean eyes looked up to his handsome face and let him continue. "I... I v'ant you to make a deal with you," Declan spoke.
"W-What kind of d-deal?" She asked him fearfully intrigued.
"You could call it a mutual benefit for both of us," he said not clarifying.
"A-nd what do I-I get in exchange?" Silla asked.
"Money, power, luxury, pleasure, anything you v'ant, not having to v'ork or do anything for the rest of your life..." he listed.
"W-What? Why? What do you get f-from this deal?" She asked suspiciously raising a brow, not seeing what he could possibly want from her. They didn't have any type of relationship, and she didn't have any money. He stood in front of her suddenly getting down on one knee.
Shocked she watched him pull out a small box and open it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. "Marry me." He said not even phrasing it as a question.
"W-Wha?! E-Excuse me?!" She stuttered.
"I love you...
I fucking... Adore you, Silla...
"I v'ant you," he smiled widely, looking her straight in her big blue doe eyes.
"To be mine for the rest of our lives." He said as her soul practically left her body.
"V'hen you try to leave me it drives me insane and it makes me v'ant to do horrible z'ings to make you stay."
"Y-You... W-Want me to m-marry -you?" She mumbled quivering pointing to herself then him.
He's out of his mind...!
"N-No way! G-Goodbye!" Silla stood up straight about to walk away.
"Wait!" He yelled grabbing onto her legs like a small child while he was still kneeling on the ground.
"WHOA! GAAAH! LET GOOO!" She yelled toppling over.
"I need you to answer me," He said impatiently as they both laid in the grass together. Silla just wasn't sure what to say she was still too shocked at his confession.
"W-What i-if I say n-no? There's a-a catch, isn't t-there? W-What is it?" Her eyes narrowed as he laughs.
"Smart girl. If you decline I v"ill kill everyone and make you mine anyway. It's up to you if you come v'illingly or kicking and screaming."
Silla wasn't sure if it was an empty threat... He always joked about such things, but the serious look on his face said otherwise. Well, nowadays it was rare to marry with both participants being in love and not something else.
Sighing she looked at him. Strangely there was one more thing bothering her. She had one more thing to say before she made her decision. "Del I-I always thought that marriage was sacred, a bond that connected people's souls. So marrying someone I don't love is against everything I believe in." She explained to him.
"You might not love me now, Sil, but I can assure you things v'ill change. Remember, I have a lifetime to change your mind, little dove." He smirked. It seemed he was hell bent on putting his ring on her finger. A chill ran up her spine. Deep down she already knew this was how he felt but now she couldn't naively deny it anymore as difficult as it was to accept as the tears filling spilt over.
"Does my love frighten you? Please.... Don't cry. You had to have known I'd do this at some point." He wiped the tears from under both her eyes.
"O-Okay... I-I'll marry yo-" She spoke before she was cut off by Declan smashing his lips onto her own in a passionate kiss. Attempting to push him away when he started to pepper wet kisses all over her cheeks.
"D-Del!" She shouted getting his attention.
"B-Before I agree to this there are a two things. O-One... I'm not thing; I'm a person. We must be considered equal," She exclaimed.
"Oh trust me I know darling. You v'ere never an object for me to call my possession. You are a woman, a woman that I consider as a gift." He spoke lovingly.
"And two. What about your girlfriend?" She suddenly questioned. The woman did show up to his mansion only to get dragged out.
"You mean my whore?" He spoke shocking her as she gasped.
"B-But I-I feel b-bad your girlfriend... She thinks you are romantically involved. You need to explain to her that it was a no strings attached relationship." Silla chided him.
"If I hear the v'ord girlfriend from z'at mouth once more. I'll catch her and kill her," he blankly spoke his arms crossed.
"Huh? W-Why would you kill her?!" Silla spoke shocked and worried for her wellbeing now.
"Because she's annoying," he said simply suddenly flinging her into his chest causing her to bump straight into him. Embracing his arms around her waist, feeling his soft, warm breath tickle her countenance as he leaned over to look her dead in the eye, just barely an inch apart. He clenched her security in his clutches whilst his pale hand gently tilted her head back revealing her smooth skin.
Soon feeling a warm sensation as she looked up to the sky, unable to move. Silla felt a warm wet muscle drag itself across her neck; soft live bites being places all over her. Struggling against his grip, she could barely move as her head was forced to love upwards, straight towards the moon that shone like a spot light on her. "This mark should make it clear." He says between hot breaths.
"V'ho you belong to. You're luck you are so young and v'e are not married yet or else I v'ould go even further. One day you v'ill love me too, Silla. Stop trying to distance yourself from me. I shall be v'ith you forever." He says, planting gentle kisses.
"N-No..."
As soon as those words were spoken, his lips parted with her skin but she could still feel him on her neck. "You're lucky I have the ability to control myself. In all honesty I'm so in love v'ith you. Please stop denying it. I have never v'anted anything this much before. I have been craving for you for so long, and yet I still stop when you v'ant me to. Let this be a warning alright? You aren't leaving me not ever. Not in a million years. Even in death I v'ill be standing behind you," He purrs into her ear before softening his grasp on her strands of hair. Her head falling forward once again, resting on his broad chest helplessly even with him bending over she barely made it to his chest.
It really was a shame.
Because Declan,
Was a very handsome...
Nutcase.
To Be Continued...