Anna's footsteps were light as she made her way back to the Evershade estate. The towering structure loomed in the distance, its sharp spires and darkened windows a haunting silhouette against the deep orange hues of the setting sun. For most, it was just a decrepit mansion surrounded by an oppressive forest, but for Anna, it was a prison—a place where fear was not just a shadow but a constant companion.
Inside those walls lay the relentless torment of her twin sister, Isabella, whose cruel smiles and whispered threats were more cutting than any physical pain. The gods themselves—immortal beings of boundless power—had chosen to align themselves with Isabella, showering her with blessings while directing their cold disdain toward Anna. Then there was Caius, with his piercing glare and sharp words, once a friend but now a figure she could only avoid.
The nights were the worst. As soon as the sun set and the air grew still, Anna's heart would race with anticipation of the inevitable. Isabella would come, her hands suffused with the strength of divine blessings, and Anna would endure the choking, the helplessness, and the darkness that came before her mind slipped into unconsciousness. Even when Isabella didn't appear, the memory of those nights kept Anna awake, clutching her blanket tightly, her eyes locked on the door.
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But today was different. As Anna drew closer to the mansion, the usual dread that hung over her was momentarily pushed aside. Her heart carried a fragile hope, a small spark that made her steps lighter. It had been weeks since she had met Renard, and the time she spent with him had been unlike anything she'd experienced in years.
Renard was kind. He listened to her, something no one had done for so long. Though his comrades were wary of her, Renard treated her as if she belonged. The moments she shared with him felt like stolen treasures, precious memories she clung to when the darkness of her home life threatened to overwhelm her.
For the first time in what felt like eternity, Anna allowed herself to dream, if only for a fleeting moment, of what it would be like to have someone truly care for her. She was afraid of how much she hoped for his trust to last, afraid of how much it would hurt if it didn't. Yet, even knowing the risks, she couldn't help but treasure the warmth she felt when she was with him.
As the mansion came into view, the fragile light in Anna's heart dimmed slightly. The iron gates, rusted and unwelcoming, creaked as she pushed them open. The garden was wild and overgrown, its once-beautiful flowers choked by weeds. This was Anna's domain—where she spent hours tending to the plants and feeding the animals that came to her for solace. It was the one part of the estate where she felt a semblance of peace, though even here, she felt the eyes of others on her.
Inside the mansion, the air was thick with tension. The creaking floors and whispering winds made every sound seem louder, every movement more ominous. Anna knew that at any moment, Isabella could emerge from the shadows, her divine strength a constant reminder of the power imbalance between them.
Even so, Anna couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at her lips as she thought of Renard. She replayed their conversations in her mind, the sound of his voice a soothing balm. She thought of the way he had shown her the hidden corners of his hideout, how he had trusted her with the secret paths of the forest. She thought of his laughter, warm and genuine, and for a brief moment, it made her feel like she wasn't alone in the world.
That hope, however small, was enough to keep Anna moving forward. She couldn't allow herself to think too far ahead, couldn't let herself wonder what would happen if Renard turned away from her like Caius had. For now, it was enough to have this sliver of happiness, this fleeting moment of normalcy.
As she reached the mansion doors, her hands trembled slightly, but not from fear this time. It was the fear of losing something precious, of seeing her fragile hope shattered. And yet, as she stepped inside, her thoughts were not on Isabella's smirking face or Caius's cutting words. Instead, she clung to the memory of Renard's trust, the warmth of his presence, and the tiny, fragile light it brought to her otherwise dark world.