The Hall Of Eyes

"Thank you, sire," Lina said in a small, shaky voice. She kept her head down, staring at the marble floor like it might open up and swallow her. Her fingers fidgeted with the soft, strange fabric of the cream-colored dress. She tried to smooth it out, even though there were no real wrinkles. It just didn’t feel right. The dress was too tight, too unfamiliar—like it didn’t belong to her. Like she didn’t belong in it.

She couldn’t breathe properly. Her chest felt tight, like something heavy sat on it. And the hall was too big, too quiet. Every step she’d taken into this place had felt wrong. Now she stood in the middle of it, feeling small. Alone. Like every single person was looking at her, judging her. But the only person she truly wanted to hear from was Kade but hadn’t said a word.

She didn’t dare lift her head. But she could feel his eyes on her. His silence was louder than anything else in the room. She felt it pressing down on her, heavier than stone. He had promised he would talk to her. Last night, when everything felt confusing and scary, he said he’d explain. But now, nothing.

Only silence.

"Sir Lucian, I tried my best to dress her properly," said Gwen, the maid who had helped Lina earlier. Her voice broke through the quiet, shaking slightly. She gave a deep curtsy, almost bowing to the floor. She didn’t dare look up either. She looked scared, her smile was forced and shaky.

Lucian sat back in his large chair, grinning like a cat watching a mouse squirm. He picked up his wine glass, moving slow, like he had all the time in the world. He took a small sip and kept his eyes on Lina the whole time. Then he swirled the wine in his glass, watching it like it was something powerful, something he owned.

"You did well, Gwen. You may go," Lucian said, sounding bored. He didn’t even look at her.

Gwen curtsied again, this time faster, her head still down. She backed away quickly, almost stumbling. Then she disappeared through the doorway, leaving Lina standing there all by herself.

Lucian turned slightly to look at Jamil, who had been quiet this whole time. He raised one eyebrow, like he was waiting for him to speak.

Jamil took a sip of his wine, slow at first, but then drank the rest too fast. He choked a little and cleared his throat. His hand rubbed across his mouth nervously. He looked uncomfortable, like he wanted to be anywhere else but here.

"She’s… good, Lucian," Jamil said finally. But it didn’t sound convincing. His voice was flat, like he was repeating something he was told to say. He didn’t even look at Lina. He stared at the table instead.

Lina frowned slightly. What did that even mean—good? Good for what? Why were they talking about her like she wasn’t even there? She was standing right in front of them, but no one was really talking to her. And still, Kade hadn’t said a single word. She had trusted him as her boss as her master as they used to call him. Or at least tried to.

Her heart was racing. Her palms were sweaty. She felt like she was about to collapse. This dress, this room, these people—it was all too much. Was this a test? A game? She didn’t understand. But she could feel that something important was happening. Something she didn’t ask to be a part of.

Lucian leaned forward a little, and his smile sharpened. He had waited long enough for Kade to speak, but Kade remained completely still. His eyes were locked on Lina, dark and unreadable.

"And what’s your name?" Lucian asked her. His voice was smooth, but there was something wrong in the way he said it. Like he already knew. Like he just wanted to hear her say it out loud, to make her feel small.

"My name is Lina, sire," she said quickly, trying to stay calm. Her voice shook a little, but she forced herself to say the words clearly.

Lucian repeated her name slowly, like he was tasting it. "Lina," he said again, dragging it out. It made her skin crawl. He made her name sound like something pretty but breakable. Something he could own.

Jamil kept twirling his wine glass, acting calm, but his hands gave him away. He was nervous. Too nervous.

"Nineteen, right?" Lucian asked, tilting his head.

Lina gave a quick nod, then realized that might not be enough. "Yes, sir," she said, her voice a little stronger this time.

Lucian smiled again. But it wasn’t a nice smile. It was the kind of smile a hunter gives after catching something. Cold. Final.

Then his voice dropped.

"Lina, turn around. We want to see."