Ava remained seated on Damon's bed, her mind filled with different thoughts swirling around. What was his plan? Would he touch me just as he did in my dreams? Did I even want his hands on my body? What if he were to assault me? Was he capable of such actions?
Feeling tension creeping through her entire body, Ava took a deep breath. Confusion was evident in her eyes, visible to anyone who would look at her at that moment. Soon, Alex would climb through my window and not find me. Would he wait?
Why am I still sitting here, waiting for my potential demise to emerge from the bathroom? I knew deep down that whatever was about to happen would not be for my good, and it terrified me. Maybe I should just leave.
The bathroom door swung open, revealing Damon with a towel wrapped around his waist, his wet hair dripping water. "Hmm, I was expecting you to have run away," he said with a smile. He walked confidently towards his closet, causing me to lower my head as he removed the towel.
This man is shameless, Ava thought to herself.
"Master," I mumbled softly, struggling to find my voice. "Can I go now? My mother will be worried."
"Hmmm," he responded nonchalantly, staying still for three minutes without saying a word. Conflicted, I decided to lift my head, only to meet his intense gaze. His face was just inches away from mine, and a single movement would result in a kiss.
Paralyzed by shock, I found myself unable to move. His lips curled into a smile. "Don't worry, Ava. I have no intention of touching you or hurting you," he reassured me, reaching out to hold my hand. "Come," he said, gently pulling me along with him. As he guided me, I finally noticed what he was wearing... yet again, the same black trousers and shirt as before. Why doesn't he wear anything else?
"Master, where are we going?" I asked, but he didn't answer. The entire mansion was quiet, indicating that the maids must have gone home. We made our way to the backyard where a door stood, a door that Lady Martha had specifically instructed us never to open.
Damon opened the door, and a bright light immediately blinded my vision, though Damon seemed unaffected. Confusion filled me as I still didn't understand what we were doing here. "Master," I questioned, seeking answers.
"Close your eyes," he instructed. Following his command, I tightened my grip around his hand and allowed him to guide me. The sound of the door closing behind us made me flinch. "Open," he said, prompting me to open my eyes. However, upon doing so, I quickly closed them again, blinked, and cautiously tried to open them once more. This time, my mouth dropped open in disbelief.
The place before me was horrifying.
Horses were devouring each other, humans were locked in a savage battle to prove their strength, and some were even feasting on the vulnerable. Hearts, lungs, every grotesque detail you could imagine was on display. "What is this?" I managed to utter, my voice filled with shock and disgust.
Damon chuckled, which only served to confuse me further. How could he smile in the face of such brutality? My gaze shifted, and I noticed his whistle. Suddenly, a white horse swiftly appeared by his side. He held me around the waist, gently placing me on the horse's back before settling in behind me. "Let me show you something, Ava," he said, his voice filled with a mix of fascination and something darker. "This is what humans truly are when granted strength, or rather, cursed with it."
"No, I don't want to see any more of this," I growled, feeling anger boiling within me. "How could you orchestrate something like this? A war taking place right behind your house!"
"Don't be absurd," he growled back, his voice laced with annoyance. "A war cannot take place behind my mansion; the lands aren't vast enough for that. What we just passed through is a portal, a gateway leading to one of the many wars my men have fought."
Confused and overwhelmed, I stuttered, "What do you mean?"
"Grant did mention that girls love seeing something special," Damon smiled. "You were expecting flowers or a serene den, a beautiful environment." He chuckled softly. "All those are shallow desires. Here, I'm showing you something rare, something that humans rarely get to witness."
"What do you mean?" I asked, still trying to process the horrific scene unfolding before my eyes.
"An ancient war," Damon explained. As I looked around, I could see the intensity with which these people fought, putting their lives on the line with every move.
"Why?" I turned to look at him, my voice filled with genuine concern. "Why would you let these people die just to fulfill your curiosity? These people have families, lives."
"Foolish girl," he gently tapped the back of my head, causing a slight sting. "They are fighting for their families, for their loved ones. Haven't you studied history correctly? This is the great war of Hang." My eyes widened in astonishment as he uttered those words. I had read about it, the accounts of Victorians fighting like savage animals, tearing at each other's skin when they had no hands left to lift their swords.
"The great war of Hang? The warriors became legends," I murmured, realizing that I was now experiencing a glimpse of what had happened in the past. "But how? All this took place years before I was even born."
"Is that so?" Damon chuckled, turning his head from side to side. "Of course, you would not understand the use of magic."
"What are you saying?" I asked, trying to comprehend his words.
"We are going back," he declared, turning around and deep in thought. "Don't push yourself, Ava." He dismounted the horse and helped me down gently. "You won't ever solve the puzzle."
"What puzzle? There are no puzzles," I growled as we passed through the door once again. "Why did you show me something so awful? Is that what you enjoy? Fighting? Killing people?"
"Yes," he moved toward the wolf's cage, bending down and staring at them. "That is what is special to me, killing. My life is filled with killing." His face turned desolate once again. "My life is filled with darkness, Ava."
"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked, struggling to understand his intentions. What was he trying to convey? Why show me such a thing when he knew it would only push me further away, make me want to run from darkness, which I could never stand?
"Because you will soon be a part of my life, Ava," he tilted his head in my direction. "I like you, Ava, and I want you to know who I am... though I won't allow you to run, even if you want to." Standing up, he moved towards me, placing both hands on my waist, leaning in close, and whispering, "I am human." He chuckled softly. "A dead one," and continued laughing.
My confusion deepened. Did he find this amusing? Did he find killing people entertaining? As I lifted my hand to slap him, he caught it mid-air, leaving me even more bewildered as to when he had moved his hand from my waist.
"Do you think you can change me, Ava?" Damon furrowed his brows. "Do you think you have what it takes? Do you think you have it in you to change me, or will I change you?"
"Why would I want to change you when all you deserve is death?" I growled, but his expression remained unchanged. "For all the people you have killed, you need to die. You need to feel death."
"And you think I haven't felt death?" His expression went blank. "Do you think I haven't experienced something even worse than death?" He let go of my hand. "As I said earlier, Ava, you are mine. Today was fun... it was the first time in centuries I smiled so freely, but that doesn't change who I am." He shot me a glance. "You can't run from me, Ava. You are mine, and you have to accept it. I will never let someone else touch what's mine, not now, not ever." And with that, he walked away.
"You said you would spank me," I blurted out, my words filled with confusion and frustration. What was I even saying? Did I secretly wish to be spanked? "Have you lost the nerve, Master?" This, however, made him stop, and he chuckled loudly.
"Lose my nerve?" he flashed me a smile. "Oh, I plan on spanking you, Ava, but not tonight. You have a lot to think about before I touch you again. Take your time, and believe me when I say none of your actions will be forgiven." His voice remained calm. "I will spank you, alright, and trust me, you won't enjoy it. Go home for now."
I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and disappointment. What a difficult person to deal with.