Esmeralda
Taking a few steps backwards till my back pressed against the wall, refraining from going further, my eyes didn’t leave Vanessa who strode toward me.
What the hell does she want now?
Had she not frightened me enough?
Why was she with Jade?
What is it with her expression?
What the hell was going on?
My hand travelled to my forehead, gripping it hard as it was about to explode with multiple unanswered questions.
My breath hitched the moment Vanessa’s slender hand came in contact with my skin, “Are you alright?” She gave me a gentle touch on my collarbone, “You are hurt,” She said softly with her voice filled with compassion. I almost gasped in shock as disbelief filled me.
Who could believe that Vanessa had an atom of kindness in her?
“And it’s bleeding,” Her fingers trailed my blood from my neck to my collarbone.
Thanks to your sharp claws.
“Uhm… am I missing something here?” Jade’s voice disrupted Vanessa’s touch on my skin. Her eyes shot Vanessa a familiar look.
“Like what?” Vanessa asked, turning away from me.
“Why are you suddenly nice to Esmeralda? Since when did it start? Because the last time I checked, you were all grumpy and angry,”
“Is it a crime to be nice? She was bleeding and I decided to check on her. Meanwhile, I have always been nice,” She hissed, feigning anger.
“That’s not true,” Jade stated, “Everyone knows you are not Mrs nice and when you turn nice, you are up to something,”
Vanessa’s jaw hung in disbelief, “Really?”
“Yes,” Jade snapped and grabbed my hand, pulling me closer to her.
Vanessa waved her hands boredly, “Whatever. Don’t forget your chores on the top floor when you are done with her,” She turned her back, leaving us in the hallway.
Phew!
What a relief.
“Come on, let’s go,” Jade pulled my hands, urging us to continue walking.
Vanessa. Her name wouldn’t stop ringing in my head, paralyzing me with fear.
Just like… Phoebe.
Unlike Vanessa, Phoebe would have killed me the instant she met me alone in the hallway.
Quick and she would walk away like nothing happened.
Phoebe.
The only person that made me tremble.
The sound of her voice instills fear in me, driving me to a state of frenzy and earning me multiple nightmares.
And her name… triggered my panic attack. More reason I didn’t like to remember her.
She brought nothing but bad luck to me. Her presence erased every trace of my happiness.
She was my worst nightmare! A thorn in my flesh!
A feeling of dread crept from the pit of my stomach as a familiar aura hit my nose. At once, I knew I was not alone. I couldn’t help but glance back as I felt a presence behind me, gawking at me. Stealing a quick look, I was met with Vanessa, watching me keenly, making me shudder in fear.
“I’ve got my eyes on you,” She conveyed in an expression, pointing two fingers to her eyes before directing them at me.
Cloaked in fear, I quickened my steps to meet Jade as I tugged at her arms, tearing my gaze from Vanessa’s image.
“Are you alright?” Jade asked, startling me.
Fuck!
I closed my eyes, heaving a sigh of relief, “I am fine,” I said when I found my voice.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded absentmindedly, “I am,”
“Then why is there blood all over your neck? What happened?” She stopped walking, giving me a worried look.
Why was she acting like she cared when she left me?
My heart pounded against my ribs as Vanessa’s warning filled my head.
Should I tell her?
But Vanessa could be around, eavesdropping on our conversation.
No. I didn’t want to risk it.
“Lastly, if you tell anyone about our encounter, I will kill you before you can say Jack,”
My shaky hands tugged at the hem of my dress and the warning filled my head once more.
I didn’t want to face Vanessa’s wrath.
I didn’t want to die.
“Esmeralda,” She called softly, filling me with guilt as I withheld my answer from her, “When I left, you didn’t have any mark or traces of blood, but now, there is blood on your skin,” I stiffened at her gentle touch on my neck.
So soft and warm.
“Did Vanessa do anything to you?”
“No!” I blurted, reprimanding myself for shouting.
Hope I haven’t given myself away.
Fuck.
“It’s okay. I understand if you don’t want to share, but don’t hesitate to talk to me if you feel troubled or threatened by anyone, okay?” Her hand patted my shoulder, tenderly.
I nodded my head, clenching my jaws as her hand fell to my hand, giving my palm a gentle squeeze.
Why was she so touchy?
“Is that it? Are you mad at me for leaving you in the hallway?” She pouted, making her face look cuter, “Is that why you are silent?”
I am not mad at you, baby. I am just complicated.
“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to take so long in the store. It’s just that Madam Dora was with the keys and she had already left the store before I got there and it was a hard time finding her,” she said, giving me a puppy face before squeezing my palms, “Am I forgiven? Don’t make me cry,” Her big cute eyes, pleading forgiveness.
“Fine. But I wasn’t mad at you,” I pulled her back, getting irritated by the way she was crowding me.
I need space, girl!
“If you say so,” A smile crept on her face as she left me further into the empty hallway.
The smile on her face vanished the moment she locked her gaze on a door, a huge black door, covered in dust, and cobwebs running through its length and breadth.
Don’t they clean here?
If the door could be covered in dirt, only God knows what the inside would look like.
A gasp escaped from her lips and I could hear the pounding of her heart.
What was this place?
Why did this strange place take away her smile?
This house was filled with mysteries, mysteries I didn’t like… But I would soon explore.
“What is that place?” I asked, satisfying my curiosity.
“The wing that is off limits. The North wing,” She replied with a shaky voice.
Why does she sound like she was about to cry?
“Is that why it is dirty? Is it off limits to the housekeepers?”
“Yes. Except for Madam Dora,”
Strange.
Why was Madam Dora the only one allowed in the North wing?
What was it about the North wing?
I couldn’t help the tingling sensation in me that wanted me to explore the depth, but Alpha Kade’s warnings erased every trace of it.
“Why?” I found myself asking, “Why did its presence take your smile away?”
She heaved a long sigh, “Because it brings bad memories,” She swallowed a lump, tearing her gaze off the huge door, reluctantly.
“Is anyone in there?” I asked again.
I need to get a grip on my tongue!
“Time to go, Esmeralda,” Her firm hands found mine, pulling me out till the North wing vanished from my view.
This wasn’t like Jade.
Why did the North wing take her happiness away?
“Why?” I found myself asking, hoping for her reply, but I was met with silence.
“Because it brings bad memories,” Her answer flooded my head.
Bad memories.
Was that why Alpha Kade warned me about going there?
Did the North wing give him bad memories too?