LOGINHAZEL The first woman to walk inside… was beautiful. Blonde hair, blue eyes, flawless in a way that didn’t feel real. She looked like she had stepped out of a magazine—no, more than that. Like she belonged on a runway, under flashing lights and cameras. An angel. That was the only word that came to mind. And the way she walked.... God. There was confidence in every step. Control. Power. Like the room belonged to her the second she entered it. Even on six-inch heels, she moved effortlessly, owning every inch of space she crossed.For a moment, I just stood there, watching her. Completely, unexpectedly… mesmerised. I was so focused on the first woman, the blonde, the one who seemed to command the room without even trying, that I didn’t notice the second one at all.Not until she moved. She rushed past me in a blur and went straight for Axel, practically throwing herself at him. That’s when my attention finally snapped to her.She was beautiful too. Dark hair, long and flowing all the
HAZEL Angela assured me that I was ready and good to go, so I walked down the stairs at 6:55. I didn’t want to be late. I didn’t want to keep Axel waiting. And, if I was being honest, I wanted a few minutes to myself before I saw him, to steady my thoughts, to remember everything I had planned.But the moment I stepped onto the staircase, I realised he was already there.... He was standing at the bottom, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone, his attention fixed on the screen. For a second, I paused, watching him without him noticing me. He looked composed, calm, like he always did. Like nothing ever really touched him. And for a brief, foolish moment, I let myself think… he’s waiting for me.I decided to believe it. The thought settled in my chest just as I took another step down. The sound must have carried, because his head lifted.Our eyes met. And then he saw me. Not just a glance. Not just acknowledgement.... He saw me.Something in his expression shifted, subtle
HAZEL Angela was already there when I arrived, and the moment she saw me, she smiled slightly and said, “Someone must be hungry today.”I paused, then gave a small, uncertain nod. “Yeah.... I am.”She served me food without asking for anything else. I was the only one at the table as always during lunch. The silence stretched around me as I ate, my thoughts louder than anything else in the room. Amanda’s face kept flashing in my mind, her voice, the fear in her eyes. Every bite felt automatic, like I wasn’t really there, like I was somewhere else entirely.When I finished, I didn’t leave immediately. Instead, I waited And when Angela came back in, I looked up at her and, for the first time, asked, “Would you help me get ready for tonight?”She stopped immediately giving me all her attention.“Get ready for what?” she asked.“I’m going out with Axel tonight and I want to look great,” I said, not even trying to hide the excitement in my voice.She didn’t respond immediately. Instead
HAZEL After Nico left, sitting there didn’t feel good anymore. I hadn’t gotten anything from him except Amanda’s brother’s name, and sitting here only reminded me of Amanda, of the moments we would steal just to talk and when she would bring me something outside to eat. And now she was in trouble, and I couldn’t even help her.By now, I was used to feeling helpless when it came to myself. But being helpless when it came to someone else… that was new. And it didn’t sit right with me at all. I stood up and decided to go back inside. Maybe I would finally find the courage to find Axel and ask him about Amanda.A few minutes later, I was already walking through the hallways of the mansion, no direction in mind, just moving, just thinking, hoping to find someone, anyone who could give me something..... And then I bumped into him.The one person I really did not want to meet right now. Not like this. Not when I wasn’t ready. I collided into him, and his hands came up instantly, gripping m
HAZELHe shook his head, still smiling a little as he looked at me.“No, I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s just… Are you taking a basket of sweets to one of the maids? That’s new.”I frowned slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“Nothing,” he said quickly, lifting his hands in surrender. “It’s just....people don’t usually do that around here. And you have never seemed to care about anyone before.”“Well, maybe we should all care about each other,” I muttered.He watched me for a second longer, like he was trying to figure something out.“You barely know her,” he pointed out.“I don’t have to know her that well to care if she’s sick,” I replied, a little sharper than I intended.His eyes narrowed slightly. And there it was.... Suspicion.I forced myself to relax, to soften just a little.“She’s been nice to me,” I added, quieter this time. “More than most people in this house.”That seemed to land better. Niko exhaled lightly and started walking again, and I followed beside him, matching
HAZELI straightened slowly.“Okay,” I murmured, nodding my head. “Nico.”If I couldn’t go to Axel, then I’d go to the next closest person who might be helpful.But this time, I had to be careful. I couldn’t go with accusations, bashing or wandering around blindly. I had to be smart about this...for Amanda and for myself.I stepped out of the house and went downstairs in search of Nico. I didn’t even know if he was still here or not I walked down the hallway, my eyes scanning and listening for any sign of movement. And then I heard Nico’s voice and stopped just before turning the corner. I took a deep breath before I peeked and saw him talking on the phone.He was laughing lightly, like the same Nico that I found in this house, the one who wasn’t mad, the one who wasn’t angry, the one who just accepted where he was and just took everything as it came.I turned away again, took a deep breath, as I wondered how I could start this conversation. How should I approach him? Would he get su
AXELIt’s way past four, and I should be passed out.I should be buried in a woman’s warmth, letting skin and noise drown out thought, but instead I’m here. Leaning against the doorframe. A bottle heavy in my hand. Whiskey burns a path down my throat that does nothing to quiet the ache in my chest.
HAZELI try to block the voices in the restroom.Nothing they’re saying interests me. Nothing they’re saying is good for me. All it does is hurt.Vasilisa is the golden woman.She’s the queen here.And I am nothing but the evil, wicked woman.I press my back against the bathroom doors, taking a muc
HAZELRafaela laughs nervously, trying to keep up with Vasilisa, but it’s awkward now. I can see how she reacts to Vasilisa, the way she craves her approval and wants to be in her orbit. You can see it in the stiffening of her posture when Vasilisa gives her a look, just a slight tilt of the head,
HAZELAxel guides me forward.“Over here,” he says, stopping by a fountain in the middle of it all and gesturing around us.The buildings are separated but interconnected, flowing into one another seamlessly. The architecture is stunning, modern, elegant, and intentional.“This department,” he says







