One

VESPER GREY LYSAN POV 

The first time I set my eyes on Zevran Ilvane, I knew he was going to be the death of me.

It was the way he stood at the side of his father, his lifeless black eyes digging into my very soul.

He was just a child, but even from a distance, I could feel his darkness reaching toward me, wrapping around my throat and making it difficult to breathe. 

Why was he looking at me, and what was with that small creepy smile on his face?

Fear slithered down my spine the longer I watched him, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on edge as goosebumps traced my skin. He wasn't blinking at all.

Someone suddenly shoved me, their hands bearing down on me and forcing me to my knees.

I resisted, but they were too strong, and soon my knees were planted roughly on the graveled floor.

I winced at the pain, my hands clenching into fists.

Ilvane got up from his seat, the smirk on his face stretching as he walked toward me.

I braced myself, the sound of my heart drumming loudly in my ears the closer he got. Was this another punishment? My back still hurt from the lashing I'd gotten a week before, and I wasn't sure I could survive another.

He stopped in front of me, leaned toward me, and then grabbed my chin roughly, his finger digging into my cheek as he jerked my head up.

Our gaze met and held.

"For a teenager, you sure have guts," he murmured, then let go of my face as if I disgusted him. "I heard you tried to escape again. Does this make it your tenth attempt?"

I watched him, my teeth clamping down hard on my lower lip to stop the horrible words I wanted to yell at him from coming out. It never ended well and after months of being hit and tortured, I was physically and mentally exhausted.

Just when was Mother going to come and rescue me? I'd held out for as long as I could, and I was starting to lose hope that she would ever show up.

Was she really going to give up on me? She'd always said if I wasn't careful enough and allowed myself to get caught she was going to leave me to die. Had she meant it? No. There was no way. I was her only child, the only heir to the Lysan fortune, even though she hated me, she couldn't leave me to die. She wouldn't.

"Since you're so set on running away, I've come to a decision. I am giving your mom ten more days Vesper. After months of going back and forth with your bitch of a mother, I've finally decided to kill you if she doesn't give up those properties. It's going to be her birthday in ten days. Your pretty little head as her birthday present should make her happy right?"

I scoffed, unable to stop myself, but it wasn't aimed at him. It was the whole situation and the fact that I knew the woman who birthed me. If his demands were for her properties, then I was sure I was really going to die.

I met his gaze, tears burning my eyes. "You shouldn't hold your breath Ilvane. Why don't you just cut off my head now—hah!" I gasped as his palm crashed against my face. 

The ringing in my ear was loud and for a few seconds, all I saw was darkness.

Fingers dug into my chin, and I was pulled forward by my face.

My knees scraped against the gravel, my palm smacking against the rough stones as I attempted to hold myself up. I let out a sharp cry, my eyes wincing shut as pain wracked my frame. 

I wasn't given a chance to recover as Ilvane tipped my head up, forcing me to look at him. "Don't ever call me by my name if you want to keep all the teeth in your mouth" he yelled in my face, an angry veins bulging at the center of his head. "You'd better behave, child, or I might really just cut off your head and be rid of trash like you," he threatened, his eyes boring into mine. 

I swallowed down the coppery taste in my mouth, my face twitching. "I am not afraid of you, Ilvane, and you'd better pray and hope that you kill me first because I won't be living here without your blood splattered all over the walls for everything you've done to me."

He stared at me for a few seconds, let go of my face, and then burst out laughing. It was loud and taunting. My heart squeezed as his laughter bounced around me. It was sickening.

"God damn it, look at that fire. Selene really raised a wild one this time," he addressed the men standing around me, and they chuckled, their eyes all moving in my direction. "She'll be such a good match for Zevran if her blood wasn't corrupted wouldn't she?" He asked, his eyes moving from my face down my body.

"That's if Zevran doesn't get disgusted and gut her for sport," one of the men said, and Ilvane burst out laughing again, but this time it was worse. He laughed so hard that tears slipped down his left eye. 

When he finally got himself under control, he called the maid over. "Take her to her room and treat her wounds. Dress her up nice and get her ready for me" he ordered.

My eyes widened at his words and what they could mean, but I was given no time to react as the maid grabbed my arms and pulled me to my feet. 

She started to drag me out even as I struggled. 

"Let go of me. Let go!" I yelled, fighting and trying to drag her down, but she was strong, and I was malnourished, so nothing I did slowed her down a bit. 

I wasn't one to give up though, so I started to fight her harder.

"Stop," Ilvane ordered, then walked toward me.

My chest heaved from exertion, my hands clenching as he came to stand in front of me.

He smirked, then backhanded me. Hard.

I stumbled back, my face going numb.

He grabbed my arm, pulling me close. "Be a good girl for me and go quietly, Vesper," Ilvane got out, his mouth curving in a grin. "Or I'm really going to start hurting you for real." 

He was going to start hurting me for real? Was he saying everything he's been doing so far was nothing?

He let go of me and motioned to the maid.

She grabbed my hand and despite my head screaming at me to protest, I let the maid drag me out of the room.

We stepped out of the room, but the prickling sensation on the back of my neck had me feeling uneasy. I turned my head, glancing behind me. I shouldn't have.

Zevran was right behind me, and the smile on his face as his black, lifeless eyes held mine had my blood freezing in my veins.

He closed the distance between us. His smile stretched wider, but it never quite reached his eyes.

He thrust his hand toward me, his slender pale fingers glistening with a red sheen.

I could tell what it was. Blood.

"Can I be your friend? Forever," he uttered, his eyes pinned on mine as his smile stretched even wilder.

I stared at him, the hate in my lungs suffocating. If I had a knife, his eyes would be rolling on the floor.

He waited, his eyes red and glistening. "Just say the word, Ves, and I'll be yours forever. I promise."

I stared him down, hoping he saw just how much I despised him.

"I'll never be friends with a monster like you."