Sarah's POV
The mansion was eerily silent as I slipped back into its oppressive walls. The weight of the night, of everything Axel had said and done, clung to me like a second skin. My thoughts were a tangled mess, each one pulling me deeper into the web of lies and danger that was the Blackwood family.
Eren. Eleanor. Victor. Axel. Each of them played a part in this nightmare, and I was the unwitting centerpiece. But now, I knew better. The revelations from my aunts—how this family thrived on blood sacrifices to maintain their immortality—had been the final piece of the puzzle. And the horrifying realization that Eren, my husband, was bound to a demon, made my stomach churn.
The night we consummated our marriage wasn't just ours. I had shared that moment with a monstrous entity, tethered to Eren in ways I couldn't even begin to comprehend. I felt violated in a way that no words could describe, as though my very soul had been tainted.
Yet I couldn't let them see my fear. Not Eren, not Axel, not any of them. This family thrived on manipulation, on control. They were dangerous, more so than I had ever imagined. If I confronted them now, if I revealed even a sliver of what I knew to Eren, Eleanor or Victor, I wouldn't live to see the dawn.
I couldn't trust anyone, not even myself.
I made my way through the dark hallways, each step deliberate, each breath measured. My hands trembled as I clutched the journal Axel had given me—my mother's journal. The only thing in this house that felt real, felt mine. Her words were a lifeline, a connection to a past that made sense, a past before I had been dragged into this cursed family.
Why had Axel given it to me? That question gnawed at the edges of my mind. He claimed to love me, yet his actions were as twisted as the rest of them. He had confessed his feelings, kissed me with a desperation that left me breathless and confused. But could love truly exist in a family that thrived on blood and darkness? Or was his obsession just another form of control?
I didn't have the answers, but I couldn't afford to dwell on them now.
Reaching my room, I closed the door softly behind me and locked it. The small act of securing the door gave me a fleeting sense of control, though I knew it was an illusion. The Blackwoods didn't need locks to get what they wanted.
I sank onto the edge of the bed, my fingers tracing the worn leather of the journal. It had been my mother's, a woman I barely remembered but who had somehow known the truth about this family. Her warnings, her fears, were etched into every page. She had known the Blackwood family, and she had paid the ultimate price.
I flipped through the pages, her handwriting a steady presence amid the chaos.
"They hide behind their wealth and charm, but their hearts are blackened by the curse they embrace. They will never let you go, Sarah. They will bind you to them, body and soul, as they did to me. But you must stay strong. You must find a way to break free."
Her words were a beacon, guiding me through the storm. But how could I break free when every path was blocked by darkness?
I couldn't run—not yet. If I left without a plan, they would find me. And when they did, I wouldn't live to tell the tale. No, I had to be smarter. I had to be patient, careful. I had to learn more, uncover their weaknesses, and find a way to sever the ties that bound me to this cursed family.
For now, I would play their game.
The Blackwood estate was quiet that evening, its silence more oppressive than peaceful. The mansion was like a beast at rest, its dark heart beating softly beneath the surface, waiting. I had come to dread these moments of stillness, knowing they were never as serene as they seemed. Every creak of the floorboards, every flicker of the candlelight felt alive, a part of the house's endless vigilance.
I had perfected the art of hiding my thoughts, burying my fears deep beneath a calm exterior. It was a necessary skill in this house. The Blackwoods were perceptive, their eyes always searching for cracks in the facade. Especially Eleanor.
When the summons came—delivered by one of the silent staff—I felt the familiar knot tighten in my stomach. Eleanor wanted to see me in the sitting room. I didn't hesitate. Any delay could arouse suspicion, and suspicion in this house was dangerous.
The corridor leading to the sitting room was dimly lit, the flickering sconces casting long shadows on the intricate wallpaper. The walls seemed to close in around me, the silence amplifying the sound of my footsteps. When I reached the heavy oak doors, I paused for a moment, composing myself before pushing them open.
Eleanor was waiting, seated gracefully by the fireplace. The flames cast a warm glow over the room, but it did little to soften her sharp features. Her posture was perfect, her expression calm but commanding. She held a large, leather-bound book in her lap, her hands resting delicately on its cover.
"Sarah," she said, her voice smooth and inviting, though there was always an undercurrent of steel beneath it. She gestured to the chair opposite her. "Come, sit. We haven't had the chance to talk much lately."
I obeyed, crossing the room with measured steps. The chair was positioned directly across from her, close enough that I could feel the warmth of the fire but far enough that I couldn't mistake this for a moment of intimacy.
Eleanor's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She lifted the book slightly, presenting it to me. "I thought it was time you had this, it came a few days ago. Your wedding album. A keepsake of your special day."
The knot in my stomach tightened as I reached out to take it. The album was heavier than I expected, its weight pressing against my lap as I settled it there.
"Thank you," I said softly, keeping my tone even.
Eleanor's gaze was steady, watching me with a predator's patience as I opened the album. The first page greeted me with a picture of Eren and me at the altar. We looked radiant, our smiles bright, the perfect picture of newlywed bliss. But now, knowing what I did, the image felt like a cruel mockery.
I turned the page slowly, my fingers brushing against the glossy photographs. There were more pictures of the ceremony, the reception, and the guests. My throat tightened as I recognized them—the guests. Their faces were all too familiar.
I had seen them before, not just on that day but...they were the same people in the grand portraits lining the mansion's walls. They were the Blackwood ancestors, the founders of this cursed legacy. And yet, here they were, unchanged, their youthful faces frozen in time.
Immortal.
My heart pounded in my chest, a steady drumbeat of fear. I kept my breathing even, my expression neutral, refusing to let any hint of my terror show. Eleanor's gaze was unwavering, her smile never faltering.
"Such a beautiful day," she said, her voice soft and almost wistful. "Don't you agree?"
"Yes," I replied, forcing the word past the lump in my throat. "It was perfect."
I turned another page, and there he was—the founder of the Blackwood family, the man whose portrait dominated the main hall. His face was as I remembered, his piercing eyes seeming to stare straight into my soul, even from the photograph.
The room felt colder, the warmth of the fire unable to reach me. My fingers trembled slightly as I traced the edges of the photo, careful not to linger too long or betray my unease.
Eleanor leaned forward, her eyes glittering with a dark satisfaction. "Our family has a long and illustrious history, Sarah. A legacy that spans centuries. You've become part of something far greater than you could have imagined."
Her words were laced with meaning, each syllable a reminder of the dark truths I had uncovered. I nodded, closing the album gently and placing it on the table between us.
"I'm honored to be a part of it," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.
Eleanor's smile widened, her hand reaching out to rest briefly on mine. The touch was light but carried an undeniable weight. "You've made us proud, my dear. Your role in this family is… vital."
Vital. The word echoed in my mind, heavy with implications. I met her gaze, forcing myself to remain composed. "Thank you, Eleanor. I'll cherish this."
She nodded, her satisfaction evident. "Good. I knew you would."
The tension in the room eased slightly as she leaned back, signaling the end of our conversation. I excused myself, taking the album with me as I left the room.
The moment I was alone in my bedroom, I locked the door and sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the album tightly. My hands trembled as I opened it again, flipping through the pages with a mix of dread and determination.
The photographs were undeniable proof of the Blackwoods' immortality, their unholy pact with the demon that had bound them for centuries. My wedding day had been more than a celebration of love; it had been a ritual, a binding of my life to their cursed legacy.
I closed the album and slipped it beneath the loose floorboard, alongside my mother's journal. The pieces were falling into place, but the full picture was still shrouded in darkness. I needed to uncover more, to understand the curse and find a way to break it.
As I lay in bed, the weight of my reality pressed down on me. The Blackwoods believed they controlled me, that I would accept my fate without question. But they underestimated me. I would find a way to free myself from their grasp.
And when the time came, I would make them pay.
_
The next morning, the household was alive with its usual activity, but beneath the surface, the tension was clear. Victor's presence loomed over the family like a dark cloud, his cold gaze a constant reminder of the power he held. Eren was by his side, his face an unreadable mask, while Axel lingered in the shadows, his eyes always watching.
I moved through the day carefully, keeping my head down and my thoughts guarded. Every interaction, every glance, was a potential threat. I couldn't afford to let my guard slip, not even for a moment.
But as the day wore on, a plan began to take shape in my mind. I would use their own arrogance against them. They thought they had me under their control, that I was too weak to fight back. But they were wrong.
I would gather information, piece together the truth behind the curse, and find a way to break it. And when the time was right, I would make my move.
For now, I would play the role they expected of me. I would be the dutiful wife, the obedient member of the Blackwood family.
But beneath the surface, I would be preparing for the fight of my life.
Because I wasn't just going to survive.
I was going to take revenge