11

"I'll go find Aria. She's a woman. " Antonio exited, and here I was, left with her while she continued to sob. I stood by her bed, observing her slight frame shake with sorrow. She then turned towards me with a glare that felt menacing. Great, she was clearly off her medications.

 "Why am I here, Caelum? " Her voice was strained from all the yelling.

 "Vincent made me bring you here. "

 "He doesn't... didn't own me. I want to leave," she insisted, propping herself up on the bed.

 "I've already told you that I don't give a damn about what you want. He made me pledge to protect you, so now you belong to me," I replied, leaning in close.

 "Then just kill me. I don't want to spend my life locked up in this room. " Her anger was reigniting as she stood to confront me, mirroring my own intensity. She might have thought she could scare me, but she was outmatched. 

"I won't kill you, but I'll ensure you suffer for every life lost that night. Vincent didn't want you hurt, and you won't be, but you'll wish you never met him. I promise you that. " She reached out to hit me, but I caught her wrist. 

"You really don't want me to hit you back," I warned, pulling her closer to me. 

"You can't hurt me," she challenged, trying to use my words against me.

 "Maybe not, but keep pushing my limits, and I'll show you other ways to break you," I warned, feeling a dark excitement rise within me. Am I actually attracted to this? I usually prefer quiet, compliant women. 

"You're not interested in my body, remember? You promised Vincent you wouldn't harm me and said you'd never lay a hand on me. So, what can you actually do, Caelum? You have no power over me. " She actually laughed in my face. With my other hand, I grabbed her hair, tilting her head back. That quickly silenced her.

 "I didn't say I wanted your body; I just wouldn't hesitate to use it for my own pleasure. I can train you to be a very obedient companion. " My tone turned low and sultry as I leaned closer to her lips. I craved to taste her, to dominate that defiance she showed. Just as I was about to lose control, I noticed fear spread across her face. I paused, bewildered at the shift in atmosphere. She seemed perplexed too. 

"That's what those men said the night I was taken. I guess you're just as despicable as the cowards who killed Vincent. Rot in hell, Caelum. " Her fear vanished rapidly, and then she spat directly at me. My grip on her hair tightened, causing her to yelp in pain. I released her wrist to clean my face. 

"Trust me, kitten, this will be your personal hell, and I intend to torment you daily within it. " I tossed her down onto the bed before I could do something I'd regret. My thoughts were ablaze with desire to have her, then to kill her—a combination of both sounded tempting. I could visualize myself overpowering her, taking her roughly while my hand silenced her last breath. She quickly moved to the other side of the bed, trembling slightly. Her courage to confront me was waning. I smiled, enjoying how her body responded to mine. 

"Leave! " she commanded. 

"Make me! " I shot back, aware of how reckless I was becoming. 

"Caelum, just get out. Do you think this is what Vincent wanted? To keep me captive and threaten me. " Her voice dropped, fear creeping into her demeanor. She was right—though I hadn't actually planned to hurt her, I was indicating I would claim her. Damn it! This was spiraling out of control and wasn't what Vincent intended.

 "You're alive solely because of him. I would have gladly gotten rid of you the moment I saw you for the trouble you brought to my family. Know your place, or I'll break my promise and eliminate you myself. " I turned to leave, only to encounter a frightened maid and guard. 

"Help her become more. . . presentable. You two can talk to her. " I instructed, unsure of what I was really saying, then stormed out of the room. I needed a strong drink and a willing, yet rebellious woman to clear my mind.