تسجيل الدخولThe bedroom had become my entire universe, a box where the minutes bled into hours and hours into days.I sat on the plush velvet chaise by the window, staring out at nothing in particular. I felt completely, utterly torn. On one hand, Nathaniel’s confession haunted the corners of my mind, on the other hand, Regina’s brutal warning echoed louder.A definitive reminder that any attempt to flee would lead to a bloodbath. But the most terrifying fracture inside me wasn't the fear of running. It was the hate.I hated that I actually liked my captor. I hated that despite the chains, despite the walls, Bane’s touch was the only thing that made me feel grounded. A sharp series of knocks rattled the heavy bedroom doors, shattering my thoughts. "Amaya," Nathaniel’s voice called out from the corridor,. "Lord Bane has requested your presence in the formal dining room for dinner.“ I squeezed my eyes shut. The thought of sitting across from Bane, pretending everything was normal while m
The silence in the dining room was overwhelming, especially given the fact that Amaya sat across from me at the long mahogany table. She had her eyes completely fixed on her plate but she hadn't touched her food. She hadn't even looked at me since the guards pulled her chair out. Last week, she would have been talking about the beach, or the library, or trying to tease a smile out of me despite the chaos outside. Now, she was a statue. She felt like a cold, impenetrable wall. "The kitchen staff prepared the sea bass specifically because you requested it Tuesday," I said, breaking the silence as I set my fork down. Amaya didn't move. She merely pushed a piece of fish across the porcelain with her fork. "I'm not particularly hungry, Bane." "You haven't been hungry for some time, Amaya," I countered, trying to maintain a steady, calm register. "You're dropping weight. If you don't like the menu, you only have to tell the chef to alter it." "The menu is fine," she s
The heels of my boots clicked with a sharp, heavy rhythm against the marble tiles as I made my way down the western corridor. The Calabrian wind was still rattling the high glass windowpanes. It was a constant reminder that a storm was brewing outside, both literally and figuratively. But right now, it wasn't the perimeter sensors or Roman’s next potential strike that was keeping my jaw tightly locked. It was the Amaya. She had walked away from me out on the balcony with a hollow, dead look in her eyes that I didn't like one bit. One minute she was firing off highly dangerous questions about what would happen if she escaped, and the next, she was shutting down entirely. The next minute, she was pulling a heavy curtain over her face and telling me to 'never mind'. She wasn't just acting like a restless captive anymore. Whatever was going on with her, she was now acting like a woman harboring a secret that could blow this entire fortress sky-high. I stopped just outsi
Rozy had finally, after a long day of work, had packed away her Measuring tape and left the room. My mind remained locked on the confession Nathaniel had dropped into the silence only minutes prior. Every single word he spoke sat heavily on my shoulders. He loved me. The man who sat at Bane's right hand, was willing to tear up his whole life for my sake. I couldn't stay in the suite any longer. Every single thing felt suffocating. Pushing the heavy oak doors open, I slipped out into the long, marble-lined corridor of the second floor, my feet moving with a restless, urgent pace. I needed a distraction. or perhaps I simply needed a drink that was heavy enough to wipe my memory clean. I found Regina down in the western wing's courtyard gallery, checking over the localized radio channels on a handheld deck. She was leaning against the stone balustrade, the gray sea wind catching her dark hair, her posture as sharp and unyielding as a weapon. "You look lik
Nathaniel stood near the door, the heavy silence of the dressing suite stretching tightly between us. The playful, romantic lies I had just spun for Rozy felt completely ridiculous now. I even wondered if he had heard of it and I would have cracked a joke but Nathaniel looked way too serious at the moment. "What is it, Nathaniel?" I asked, moving closer to where he stood . "If this is about another security protocol, you can just tell me. I’m already well aware that I’m not allowed to leave the building." He didn't answer immediately. He took a slow, deliberate step toward me, abandoning his usual rigid, soldier-like posture. His eyes scanned my face and I could have sworn there was a raw intensity in his expression. "This isn't about the security detail, Amaya," Nathaniel said, his voice dropping to a quiet, gravelly tone. "Then what is it?" I pressed,. "You're making me nervous. Did something bad happen? Is Bane okay? Is it Regina?” Nathaniel swallowed hard, his hands com
The morning light in the villa’s dressing suite was unapologetically bright.The morning rays kept bouncing off the gilded mirrors and marble surfaces. I stood on a low circular dais, my arms held out like a mannequin, while a woman with neon-pink hair and a tape measure draped around her neck circled me with predatory focus.Her name was Rozy.She was middle aged and an underrated fashion designer icon in my opinion.Bane had ordered for her to be brought in to personally make all my dresses and whatever other outfit I may want.Rozy was very glad to be part of such an experience just as I was glad to have her here. "Stand straight, don’t look down, my love. Keep your chin straight” Rozy commanded, her voice a melodic rasp. In addition to being one of the most sought-after high-end designers in the country, brought in specifically to refresh my wardrobe, Rozy was also a crazy perfectionist.“But I am standing straight” I complained.“No, my love you are not. You are slouching”







