[ZARINA]“How about James?” I asked, my head tilting against the metal bars as I awaited the response of the only people who could hear me.In the beginning, the guards positioned outside our cells bothered us so much that we could barely say anything to each other. Their stony faces frightened us. The same faces that brought us food when we were hungry and doctors whenever my wound needed to be checked and Julie’s pain would get worse. But now, I can proudly say that we have learnt to ignore them as if they didn’t exist in the first place. We have a silent understanding. They don’t intervene in her conversation and we don’t cry or scream or make their life hell if it isn’t already.According to the same visiting doctor, Marco and Julie should expect the baby any day now. The fact, which, of course, terrified Marco to the bones. No way had he wanted their baby to be born in a place like this. It is proba

[VLADIMIR]I’m nervous.It’s difficult to admit a weak emotion like this, but nothing else explains the way I feel right about now.I’m fidgeting. And that is something I never do. Save for the day when Hazel was born. Aurora was screaming like hell. I still remember. She was in so much pain. I was so restless, not able to do anything about it. It made me want to pull my hair out.I used to think that my life changed when I got married to Aurora.But that is hardly the truth.The fact is that my entire life turned upside down when I held Hazel for the first time. Her tiny little fingers in my larger ones. She was so little, so pure, I thought I didn’t deserve her. Every time Rose slipped her into my arms, I would wash my hands at least five times. Hoping to get rid of the blood–the sins–I committed all these years. I was afraid that I would taint her. Frightened that I would hurt her small

[LIZZY]“You’re back early!” I realize as I watch Vector saunter inside through the main door. He stations the briefcase in his hand next to the corner table of the couch. Grabs me by the waist and pulls me in for the most passionate kiss of my life.By the time he pulls away, I’m breathless. And a little excited.“What’s up with you?” I ask him instead, grinning like an idiot, absolutely sure of the heat burning my cheeks and the wetness gathering between my thighs.He decides to ignore it. Instead, he sweeps his lips to brush against the crook of my neck. I wheeze at the abrupt outbreak of kisses all across the accessible skin his lips find, arms flying up to slither through his short hair.“Vector!” I gasp in exploding anticipation, body growing hot as hell while goose bumps occur at places I wasn’t sure it was possible to feel them. In response to my soft moans and whimpers, he makes a guttural sound from the back of his throat. Lifts me up with a relaxed effort and wraps my legs

[XAVIER]“Does Vladimir know?” The man in the hat inquires.I, on the other hand, ignore the question. “Do you know where she is?”He shakes his head. “No. But I did find someone who does.”My eyebrow curves. “Who is it?”“If Vladimir comes to know any of this-” he cautions, adjusting his hat, disinterestedly looking out of the car.“I can handle my brother,” I glare. “This asset of yours, is it credible?”“He is.”“I suppose you know I’m not paying you for the gift of gab.”He huffs out a faint laugh. “I know, that’s why I brought this,” he took out a white envelope from his laptop bag and offered it in my direction. “See for yourself.”I took the envelope from his grasp and opened it carefully. Inside, there was a picture and a few documents. However, the picture caught my attention. Even with only her side profile visible, I recognized Aurora with ease. Outside some café she was meeting up with a man. There was a date on the bottom right of the picture. Taken a week before she swap

[ZARINA]I officially have no idea what’s happening anymore. I should be happy, right? Excited even. I should be finally relieved that I’m about to be free in less than ten minutes. Even the thought of being free gives me goosebumps, a good kind of goosebumps. I am so happy that I can barely stand straight or in one place for more than five seconds.I bolt off to my room, allowing my mind to not dwell on anything else but the things I would need when I’m gone. Out of here. Out of this mansion. On my own. I reach for the double doors of the closet and that’s when I see how my hands are trembling. I hear nothing but the blaring drums of my own heartbeat. When a tiny drop of moisture trails down the back of my neck, I realize that I’m sweating too. Is this what excitement feels like? Because if that is the case, I have not been excited in a long, long time.I’m halfway done packing a small backpack with all the essentials I can think of when Lizzy hurricanes in, only to stop dead in her