Chapter 2: The Night of Chains

ALAYA'S POINT OF VIEW

I couldn't sleep. How could I? My body lay on a mattress fit for a palace, but my soul screamed in an invisible cage. I still smelled the leather of Santino Ricci in my nostrils. His words. His gaze. That word: mine.

I was not a submissive woman waiting for her wedding night. I was prey, and I refused to be devoured without a fight.

So, I got up.

Barefoot, I slowly approached the bedroom door. The silver handle shone under the dim light. My heart pounded so loudly that it seemed to make more noise than my movements.

I prayed internally that the door wouldn't creak. But as soon as I turned the handle...

"Click..."

A dry, metallic sound. Light, but in that absolute silence, it seemed to scream like a war cry.

I froze. One second. Two. Three.

Nothing. No footsteps approaching. No voices. No threats. Just silence. The danger lurked, but invisible.

I slipped out of the room. Slowly. My toes barely touched the cold marble floor. My eyes searched the darkness for the slightest movement.

The hallway was immense. Lit by golden sconces that cast a yellow, almost unreal light. The walls were covered with ancient paintings, frozen faces, silent witnesses to what transpired here. I held my breath with every step, as if even breathing could betray me.

I must get out of here. I must flee.

But even that thought seemed ridiculous.

Where would I go?

When they abducted me, I had been blindfolded.

I don't even know what country I'm in.

And this house... no, this mansion... was a fortress. Every hallway resembled a trap. Every door could be locked. And the guards... oh, I had seen them, all those men in black, cold and poised like hungry dogs. They probably never slept.

But I continued. Because it was this or wait for tomorrow to steal what little dignity I had left.

I reached the top of a grand staircase. Huge. Below, the hall. A gigantic crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling like a cursed sun. Two men in black suits were down below, speaking in low voices. I pressed myself against the wall. My heart beat so loudly I thought it would betray me.

I stepped back, searching for another direction. Another hallway. Another chance.

My hands trembled. My breath was rapid, uncontrollable. Yet, my legs kept moving.

I wanted to scream. Run. Strike. But in this house, every step was a declaration of war. And I had no army. I was alone. A girl of nothing, sold, locked away, at the mercy of a monster... but I was still alive.

And as long as I breathed, I would seek an exit.

Even if the only thing I found... was another hell.

I don't know what drove me to turn left instead of right.

Then, I stumbled upon a door. Massive, dark wood, with ancient carvings. Nothing special... except for the muffled sound I heard as I approached.

Moans.

Female.

Slow. Deep. Almost... intoxicated.

I pressed my ear against the wood, out of pure curiosity. And then it hit me. Sighs "ahhhh!! Ouhhh". Groans. Obscene whispers. The sound of a bed slamming against a wall. A deep voice. Another, higher. A woman.

— "Ohh... yes... again! Oh go harder, fuck me more ohh... Yes yes ahhhh... mhhhhn"

— "Shut up... Do you want to wake the whole mansion?" a man replied, panting.

I stood frozen.

My heart raced wildly. My cheeks burned.

I stepped back, shocked. Embarrassed.

Is that... Santino? Is he... making love in there?

I felt cold inside.

Disgusted. But also... curious. I had never known a man. I knew nothing of this.

And that woman... she was almost crying out in pleasure. How could one scream like that for something that terrified me?

But no. No, no, NO. That was not my concern. I had no business there.

— "Alaya, what are you doing?! Go away!" I whispered to myself, panicking.

I turned to leave when two male voices erupted from nowhere.

— "Hey! Who's there?"

I froze. Two guards. Tall. In black suits. Arms crossed, jaws clenched.

— "You! Stop!"

I panicked. My feet slipped on the marble floor. My breath quickened. My hands trembled.

— "I-I... I... w-was looking for the... t-the..."

— "What are you doing here?! This wing is off-limits to guests!"

I stammered. Unable to form a sentence. My heart pounded so loudly it echoed in my head.

One of the guards turned to the other.

— "Who is she?"

The second narrowed his eyes, then his face hardened.

— "She's the new one. The boss's woman."

And then, the door behind me opened suddenly.

A man stepped out. Bare-chested, his body glistening with sweat, a towel around his neck. His hair was sticking to his forehead, his gaze as dark as night.

— "What the hell is going on in front of my door?!"

He was handsome. Dangerously handsome. But it wasn't Santino. I had never seen this man before. His eyes slowly landed on me, like a predator assessing its prey.

The guards straightened immediately.

— "Our apologies, Mr. Raffaele. We found this girl spying."

— "Spying?" he repeated, with a smirk. He moved closer, his eyes locked onto mine.

— "Do you want to learn things, little one? Do you want to see what a real man is like in bed?"

I instinctively stepped back, feeling nauseous.

I wanted to speak, but no sound emerged. I was paralyzed. Sweaty hands. Short breath. My legs trembled.

— "Enough!" snapped the guard beside him. He stepped between him and me.

Raffaele raised his hands, amused.

— "Easy, I'm joking. But watch out for her... The boss's woman shouldn't be wandering into dangerous places."

He returned inside, chuckling, then slammed the door.

I stood there, humiliated, terrified. My eyes stung, but I refused to cry.

— "Return to your room. Immediately," one of the guards growled.

I complied. Silent. Defeated. Each step felt like an added weight on my shoulders. My body was not yet tainted... but my freedom already was.