Morning sunlight coming through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Scarle's room. But despite the brightness, her mood was dark and heavy. Her encounter with Daman last night lingered in her mind, the weight of his warning feels like a knot in her heart. She had barely slept, her thoughts were still racing with every possibility and fear.
The Ashford mansion was no longer just a home. It was a fortress of power, danger, and a piece of seduction. And now, she was caught in its web.
Sitting up in bed, she rubbed her eyes and tried to shake off the weariness. Today would be her first full day in the mansion, and she had a feeling that whatever awaited her would be far more worse than what had happened before. The brothers weren't going to let her slip away unnoticed, especially after her late-night misstep.
A knock at the door startled her, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Scarle?" Lucan's voice called softly from the other side of the door. His tone was gentle, but she knew better than to trust now.
Scarle quickly stood, adjusting her clothes before walking to the door. She hesitated for a moment, her hand was hovers over the knob. Lucan wasn't as aggressive as Daman, and he wasn't as cold as Kier. But he was still their brother. Still part of the strange, twisted dynamic that kept her trapped here.
She opened the door slowly, revealing Lucan standing there with a small, almost apologetic smile on his face.
"Good morning," he said, his voice was light but cautious. "Kier asked me to come get you. Breakfast is ready."
Scarle nodded, not trusting herself to speak yet. She glanced past him, half-expecting Daman or Kier to be lurking somewhere around. But it was just Lucan. For now.
"Come on," Lucan said, stepping back to give her space. "You're probably starving."
She wasn't hungry, after everything that had happened, but she knew better than to refuse. The brothers were already suspicious of her, and she didn't want to make things worse by seeming uncooperative. So, she stepped out of the room, keeping her distance as Lucan led her down to the hallway.
The mansion was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the soft clinking of the dishes which was coming from the dining room. As they goes to the the entrance, Scarle's heart twisted. She wasn't ready to face all of them at once.
When they entered the dining room, Kier and Daman were already seated at the long, polished table. Kier sat at the head, as if he were the king of some strange kingdom. Daman was casually in his chair, his eyes immediately finding Scarle as she walked in.
"Good morning," Kier said, his tone polite but distant. His gray eyes stare her which was assessing and calculating. "Sleep well?"
Scarle swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, though she doubted he believed her. The tension between them was unspoken, like an invisible wire stretched across them, ready to snap at any moment.
"Good," Kier continued, gesturing toward the empty seat across from him. "Sit. We have a lot to discuss."
Scarle hesitated for a second before sitting down. The table was set with an array of food like eggs, toast, fruit, and coffee, but the thought of eating made her feel sick. She could feel Daman's eyes on her, watching her every move with that same predatory gaze from the night before.
Lucan took the seat next to her, his expression more relaxed than his brothers, but there was a tension in the air that Scarle couldn't ignore.
Once she was seated, Kier leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in front of him. "Now that you're here, it's time we explain how things work around here."
Scarle's heart beating fast. The rules.
"First," Kier began, his tone was sharp and authoritative, "you will follow our orders without any question. This is not negotiable. If we tell you to do something, you do it."
Scarle gritted her teeth but said nothing. She had expected as much. They wanted control, complete control over her.
"You'll have freedom within the house," Kier continued, "but there are places that are off-limits. The third floor, for example. You're not to go there under any circumstances."
Scarle's mind immediately stuck onto that piece of information. The third floor, why was it off-limits? What were they hiding there? She didn't dare to ask, but she filed it away for later. If there was a way out of this nightmare, it might be there.
"And," Daman get in, his voice dripping with amusement, "you'll have to learn to trust us, Scarle. This is your home now. We'll take care of you… if you behave."
His words were a twisted with a mockery of comfort, and Scarle could feel the heat of his gaze on her. She forced herself to remain calm. She wouldn't let him see how much she feared them.
Lucan cleared his throat, cutting the tension. "We don't want to make this harder than it has to be, Scarle. We're not your enemies. Not if you cooperate."
"Cooperate?" she asked, her voice bitter. "What does that even mean?"
Kier leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It means you do as you're told. It means you don't try to run. It means you stop looking at us like we're monsters."
Scarle's heart pounded in her chest. They weren't just trying to control her, they were trying to break her. To make her submit to their will.
"What if I don't want to? What will you do then?" she asked, her voice was quieter now, laced with defiance.
Kier's expression darkened, and for a moment, the room seemed to grow colder. "You don't want to find out," he said softly, but there was a threat in his voice.
Daman smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Don't worry, little Scarle. We'll make sure you fall in line. You will have to obey us in the end"
Scarle's hands clenched into fists under the table, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to scream, but she knew it wouldn't get her anywhere.
Kier's gaze softened slightly, though the steel in his eyes were remained. "We're not unreasonable, Scarle. But you have to understand that things are different now. You are a part of this family, whether you like it or not."
Family. This word twisted her mind, making her uneasy. She didn't feel like family. She felt like a prisoner, a possession. And the worst part was, she didn't know how to escape.
Lucan offered her a small, almost sympathetic smile. "We'll give you time to adjust. It's a lot to take in, I know."
She said nothing, her mind was racing with a thousand of thoughts. Time. They would give her time. But how much time? And what would happen when they decided they'd had enough of waiting?
She had to think of a plan that would get her out of this house before it was too late. But for now, she had no choice but to play along well. To follow their rules. To survive.
"Finish your breakfast," Kier said, his voice snaps her out of her thoughts. "You'll need your strength."
Scarle glanced down at the plate in front of her, the food untouched. Her stomach turned at the thought of eating, but she forced herself to take a bite. She couldn't show weakness to any of them.
As she ate, the brothers watched her in silence, each of them waiting and watching her. They were studying her, learning her weaknesses and her fears.
When breakfast was over, Kier stood and pushed his chair back. "Daman will give you a tour of the house today. Get familiar with your surroundings. You'll be spending a lot of time here from now on."
Scarle's heart sank in. The last thing she wanted was to spend time alone with Daman, but she knew better than to argue. She nodded silently, her eyes turned to Daman, who flash her a wicked smile.
"Looking forward to it," he said, his voice was steady.
Kier gave her one last look before turning and leaving the dining room. Lucan followed, but not before giving her a soft smile. And then, it was just her and Daman.
He stood from his chair, stretching his arms above his head as if he had all the time in the world. "Ready for your grand tour, little sister?"
Scarle swallowed, trying to keep her fear out of her voice. "I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
Daman chuckled at her, stepping closer until he was standing right in front of her. His fingers brushed lightly against her arm, making her skin tingle. "Oh, you always have a choice, Scarle. But I promise, you'll like it better if you make the right one."
She stared up at him, her heart was racing in her chest. He was too close, too intense, and the way his eyes rolled over her made her feel like prey.
With a forced smile, she nodded. "Lead the way."
To be continued...