Megan was surprised when Gabriel grabbed her hand and started pulling her after him through the garden. He was moving so fast she was nearly jogging to keep up. Only after Megan had stumbled for the second time did Gabriel realize he was walking too fast and slowed slightly for her benefit. Her father caught up with them just as they reached Gabriel's car.
Ryan Steele grasped his daughter's wrist pulling the pair to a stop as the driver of Gabriel's car opened the door.
Gabriel huffed, "Mr. Steele you will receive payment as promised in the next hour. We are concluded here. I must take my wife home now." Megan glared at both men.
Ryan turned his attention to his eldest daughter. "Be good Megan. In thirty days, you can come home, and we will put this all behind us."
"So that you can sell me to the next highest bidder, father. No matter what happens, I will never come back here. Do not try to assuage your guilty conscience now. If I survive this, I will have earned my freedom from you as well." Megan turned, yanking her arm free from her father's grasp and climbed into the car without a backward glance.
Once inside she stared at the home she had known her entire life. Megan couldn't believe it had ended like this. She tried not to see her father standing there speaking to Mr. North. She couldn't believe he had turned on her to this magnitude. Now Megan was property and as far as she had heard, North's property didn't survive very long. Megan was devastated that her own blood could toss her aside so callously and to someone that would cause her harm. What was her death worth to her father anyway.
Gabriel got into the car, and now they were alone as he slid over to sit beside her. Megan's bravado fled her, and a slight tremor overtook her body. Gabriel took her hand and rubbed small circles on the back of it. The gesture was meant to be soothing but the tingling sensation was freaking her out as was his proximity to her.
"Calm yourself, Megan. I mean you no harm." Gabriel told her his voice was low and deep.
The car drove deep into the woods climbing high into the mountains above the harbor city. Megan watched as civilization faded away. No one would ever know when she disappeared out here. She glanced at Gabriel in the dim glow from the electronics displays. He was watching her with a brooding expression. She couldn't see his eyes. Which color were they right now. Megan guessed they would be black since his expression was a dark one.
How was Megan going to survive this marriage even on a temporary basis? She couldn't be this dangerous man's wife. The longer she was in his presence, the more she was convinced That Gabriel's darkness would consume her if she let it. She was afraid of what would happen to her when she turned him down. Would he fly into a rage? Would he force himself on her? Megan shuddered at the thought.
Megan felt it as her shudder caused Gabriel to zero in on her.
"I don't intend to harm you, Megan. You don't need to be so fearful. You are my wife after all, which is a respected position in my life. Do not stress so much." Gabriel reached a hand up to brush it against her cheek and frowned when Megan jerked away from him.
Gabriel continued after a moment as if the last had never occurred. "We are coming up on the house in a moment. I must warn you that the exterior is a warning that helps keep people away. You may consider it ominous. The interior of the house will be whatever you need it to be. Don't judge my home too harshly until you have seen all of it." Megan guessed that Gabriel wasn't just talking about the house but himself as well. What did he mean that the house would be what she needed? A house couldn't change to her needs. This man was nuts.
The car pulled into a long winding driveway that stopped in front of what appeared to be an ancient gothic derelict mansion. It was oppressive and ominous, sending a chill down her spine. Of course he lived here. This was straight out of a horror movie where there were ghosts of serial killers, and everyone dies in the end.
Megan looked at Gabriel and he was staring at her. "Are you sure this place is safe for habitation?"
"I told you looks can be deceiving. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised at the house once you are inside." Gabriel told her. Megan sighed; she could see no path where they could find common ground especially if she had to live in this terrifying death trap.
The car stopped in front of the house and a moment later they were standing outside in front of the house. The place looked worse from up close, and Megan wasn't sure how that was possible. The house was dark in varying shades of gray and black. It was steeped in shadow and the grounds around it and the ivy on it were all dead. It looked like something had literally sucked the life from the entire area. If a ghost suddenly appeared she would not be surprised.
"You have got to be shitting me." Megan muttered. "Let's get this horror movie started then."
Gabriel snorted beside her. "Megan, I appreciate your sense of humor, but it really looks worse than it is. Tomorrow, in the light of day, the grounds will look completely different to you. These grounds are special. You will see. Like the house itself, the grounds will give you what you need."
"It's a house, it can't give you anything. You're crazy. No wonder you killed all your wives. This place is terrifying and you're worse. Stop acting like we're going to be friendly. I was forced to marry you against my will. I am here against my will. Anything that happens from here forward will be against my will. Don't act like we're a married couple. I despise you. Let's get this over with so you can either kill me or let me go." Megan spat the words angrily tired of skirting the issues.
"Fine, have it your way." Gabriel wrapped a hand around Megan's arm and propelled her toward the house.