Anya stood frozen at the entrance of the Crimson Estate, staring at the huge mansion before her. It was a wide and grand structure. She was in disbelief as she took in the sheer size and elegance of the place—so much more than she ever expected.
The cab driver had helped her with her few belongings, still in silence. But as soon as she turned to thank him, he was gone, the cab speeding off into the distance before she could utter a word.
Confused, she shook her head, trying to make sense of his odd behavior. Maybe he was just in a hurry, or maybe… there was something more.
Her gaze shifted back to the mansion. It was beautiful, no doubt—beautiful stonework, tall windows with ivy crawling along the outer walls. She couldn't shake the feeling that it looked too good to be true. Is this really mine? she thought, clutching the title deed tighter in her hand.
Hesitantly, Anya made her way to the gate, feeling small and insignificant in the presence of such edifice. As she reached out to push it open, the gate opened on its own accord. She froze.
"Okay… that's weird," she muttered under her breath.
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and stepped through the gate, her eyes now fixed on the front doors of the mansion. When she finally reached the door, her hands trembled slightly as she rummaged through the envelope. Inside was a large ornate key. She hesitated for a moment before sliding it into the lock. It clicked.
The door opened up slowly, exposing the dark interior of the mansion. There was a musty scent to the air inside and the curtains were drawn tightly. The furnitures, though elegant, looked ancient—heavy, wooden pieces that screamed of old money, untouched by time.
As she stepped inside, the door closed behind her with a low thud. It felt like she had entered another world, a world far different from the life at Abernathy's. She ran her fingers over the back of a velvet armchair, feeling the dust gather on her fingertips. Everything here felt… old. The kind of old that seemed to carry secrets.
As Anya explored the mansion, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She wandered through room after room, and the only sound heard was the sound of her footsteps. Her fingers trailed across the wood of a grand piano, she could tell it was recently played.
And then… she saw it.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed a movement. Anya whipped her head around, her heart began pounding rapidly. Nothing. The room was empty, just like all the others. She exhaled shakily and moved on, convincing herself it was just her imagination.
But as she passed by a tall, gilded mirror, something stopped her. Three figures, standing behind her. She could see them reflected in the mirror—three men, each tall and impossibly handsome. But what caught her attention were their eyes.
Their irises glowed a deep, unnatural red, shining in the darkness.
Anya's blood ran cold. She spun around to face them with fear. There they were, standing just a few feet away, watching her.
She stumbled back and her heart pounded so loud she thought it might burst from her chest.
"W-Who are you?" she stammered, her voice was barely above a whisper.
The man in the center stepped forward, his movements were graceful as he walked. His lips curled into a teasing smile.
"Welcome home, Anya," he said with a deep voice.
Her legs felt like they might give out beneath her. She had no idea who these men were, but one thing was clear—they had been expecting her. And they were anything but normal.
Anya's heart continued pounding so hard she was sure it echoed through the mansion. Her body trembled, frozen in fear as she stared at the three men standing before her, each of them undeniably handsome and terrifying in their own way.
They looked like they were in their late twenties, with glowing red irises that terrified her.
The one in the center, Kai, a tall man with jet-black hair and an authoritative presence narrowed his eyes at her. His voice was deep and firm, and it carried irritation with it as he spoke. "Quit being afraid," he ordered. "Hearing your heart race like that is distracting."
Anya couldn't speak, couldn't even think clearly. Fear gripped her so tightly she felt she might pass out—or worse, embarrass herself by peeing her pants. She took a step back, her legs were trembling.
Damien, another wet-like black-haired man with a mysterious, almost disarming charm, took a step toward her. "Easy," he said gently, reaching out as if to calm her. But as his hand moved closer, Anya jerked away, her foot catching on the rug beneath her. She tripped and fell hard to the floor. Still, she couldn't stop shaking.
"Look," Zephyr, the third man—ginger-haired and softer in appearance—spoke up, his voice was calm and less terrifying. As he crouched slightly, his red eyes dimmed to a more human-like glow. "We're not here to hurt you, Anya."
Anya forced herself to speak, her voice was barely above a whisper, trembling like the rest of her body. "How... how can you expect me not to be scared? How can I trust any of you?" Her gaze shifted from one man to the other. "I don't even know who you are, and this house—this house was signed to me!"
Zephyr chuckled lightly under his breath, but before he could say anything, Kai spoke again. "It's been two years since we sent out that envelope. You were meant to come here, and I'm glad you finally did."
Anya's head spun, she was confused and afraid. She stayed on the floor, five feet away from them, her body still refusing to move. "What are you talking about?" she managed to ask with a hoarse voice.
Damien, standing a bit behind the other two, crossed his arms and nodded toward her. "Look, if you just stand up, we'll explain everything."
But Anya shook her head, refusing to budge. She wasn't moving an inch, not with them standing so close. She'd rather stay on the floor, as far from them as she could.
Kai's patience snapped. He strode forward, muttering something under his breath. "Stubborn," he grumbled before grabbing her by the leg.
"Hey! What are you—" Anya shrieked as he lifted her effortlessly, tossing her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing. She began to panic as she kicked and struggled, but Kai's grip was strong.
"Put me down!" she yelled, with her voice echoing through the grand, empty halls. She hit his back with her fists, but he didn't seem to feel it.
Zephyr followed closely behind with a calm voice. "Kai, take it easy on her. She's scared."
Kai scoffed, ignoring him. "She's being stubborn. What do you expect?"
As the chaos unfolded, Damien walked over to a side table, calmly pouring himself a glass of red wine. He leaned back against the wall, swirling the wine in his glass, watching the scene with a smirk. "This is better than peak cinema," he muttered to himself, clearly entertained by the tension between Kai, Zephyr, and Anya.
Kai, meanwhile, tightened his grip on Anya's legs, ignoring her protests. "You'll calm down soon enough," he muttered, his voice carried frustration.
As Anya struggled helplessly, one thought filled her mind. What the hell has she gotten herself into?