AMORA'S POV;
We settled into the luxurious car, the kind that made you feel like royalty just by sitting in it. I couldn't help but marvel at everything around me. The leather seats, the subtle gleam of the interior, the way the engine barely made a sound—it was all far beyond what I'd ever known. The city itself was a marvel too, with its impressive layout and the shining buildings that reached toward the sky.
As we cruised through the streets, I felt something like awe and envy mixed together, a realization that I had never had the chance to experience this world of privilege. My mind drifted back to what I'd left behind. I thought about "home," although I could hardly call it that. My father's house had never felt like home.
"Amora," Zora's voice pulled me back to reality. She looked at me with that curious innocence, as if she wanted to understand something deeper. "What is it like at your home?"
I swallowed, carefully choosing my words. "We have a beautiful city too. But compared to yours… we're quite inferior." My voice was steady, but my thoughts ran wild. She didn't know what that house was like, the pain hidden beneath its walls. For her, family meant comfort and belonging. For me, it was something I ran from in my thoughts every day.
Her reply surprised me. "Of course! This city was built by our family." She clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing she'd revealed too much. Quickly, she tried to brush it off. "Erm, anyway, we're here!" she announced, her eyes darting away from mine.
She pulled me out of the car with a burst of energy and looped her arm through mine, dragging me into the enormous mall. The place was dazzling, filled with glass storefronts and glistening displays. I took it all in, overwhelmed and enchanted by the sights, sounds, and smells around me.
Zora led me from store to store, buying clothes and accessories for me without a second thought. It felt surreal—this girl, who was supposed to be buying for herself, was lavishing attention and gifts on me instead. Finally, I had to ask, "Zora, why aren't you getting anything for yourself?"
She smiled at me, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Me? Don't worry about me. I've already got what I want. You're the important one here." She leaned in, lowering her voice as though sharing a delicious secret. "There's one dress I want you to try on. Trust me—Zale won't be able to take his eyes off you."
Her words made me blush deeply. "Wh-what?
Zora laughed, trying to play it cool. "I mean, every man will fall for you in that dress! Go on, try it. For me?"
I couldn't say no, so I took the dress and slipped into the fitting room. The fabric clung to me in ways that surprised me; I could see curves I didn't realize I had. It was shorter than anything I'd ever worn, showing more of my legs than I was used to. I felt vulnerable but somehow… confident. Maybe for the first time, I saw something beautiful in the mirror.
"Amora!" Zora called from outside. "I'm going to grab a few things from the store around the corner. I'll take Wilder and the guards. Don't worry; we'll be back in just a minute."
"Alright!" I called, tugging at the zipper and finding it stuck. I chuckled, thinking about how she'd laugh when I asked for help. Time passed, and she didn't return. I turned to face the door, assuming she'd come back any second. Then I heard footsteps approaching, slow and deliberate.
"Zora?" I called out, the room's silence amplifying my voice. No response. The door creaked as someone entered the changing room, and I felt a shift in the air, an unfamiliar presence. The lighting dimmed, casting shadows over the walls, and I swallowed hard, trying to calm my nerves. It has to be her, I told myself, waiting for her teasing laugh.
The figure stepped closer, and I felt fingers at my back, tugging the zipper up in one smooth motion. But the touch lingered, tracing my spine with an intimacy that sent chills racing down my skin. My pulse quickened. "Th-thank you, Zora…" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
And then, I heard the voice.
"You look beautiful, Mia Cara."
My heart stopped. The voice wasn't Zora's. It wasn't Zale's either. It was low, velvet-smooth, laced with a darkness that made my blood run cold. I barely had time to react before strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back against a solid chest.
"Who… who are you?" I stammered, fear creeping into my voice as I tried to turn, but he held me firm.
"You'll know who I am soon enough," he whispered, his breath hot against my neck. "But for now, let me enjoy this moment. I've waited too long for you, Amora."
The sound of my name on his lips was like poison, and panic surged through me. I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened, one hand gliding over my arm, holding me captive. "Let go," I said, my voice wavering.
He chuckled, a sinister sound that echoed in the confined space. "Do you think you can resist me? You're already mine, in every way that matters." His fingers brushed my cheek, trailing down to my collarbone, leaving a path of dread in their wake. "I've watched you from afar, waiting for the right time. But no more waiting. Soon, you'll know me. Soon, you'll be mine."
A surge of adrenaline hit, and I tried to wrench myself free, but he was immovable, his grip like iron. "Let go! You don't know me; I don't belong to anyone!"
"Oh, but that's where you're wrong," he murmured, his lips inches from my ear. "You may not know it yet, but we're bound together, by fate, by power, by something neither of us can escape."
His words were chilling, and I felt tears prick my eyes, a combination of fear and anger building inside me. "Zale… Zale will find you," I whispered, my voice trembling with hope and desperation.
At the mention of Zale, he stiffened for a fraction of a second, then let out a dark, mocking laugh. "Ah, Zale. Do you think he can protect you from me? You're mistaken, Mia Cara. He doesn't understand you, not the way I do. Not the way I will."
I clenched my fists, willing my fear to dissipate, to give way to some kind of courage. "I'll never be yours. I'd rather die."
His fingers tightened, his tone hardening as he whispered, "Don't say things you'll regret, Amora. I've waited too long for you, and no one—not Zale, not anyone—will stand between us. I'll make sure of it."
And then, just as swiftly as he'd appeared, he released me. I stumbled forward, gasping for breath, my heart pounding. I spun around, but he was gone, vanishing like a shadow, leaving only the echo of his words, chilling the room like an icy breeze.
I stood there, the silence pressing in around me, my knees weak. Who was he? What did he want with me? And why did it feel like some hidden door had been opened, a door that I could never close again?