Aurora’s steps faltered as she was ushered into the mansion’s entryway. The place was too grand, too cold, too silent. She clenched her fists at her sides, struggling to push back the dread threatening to swallow her whole.
The air felt heavy, and the soft tap of her worn shoes against the polished marble floors echoed in the stillness. Every instinct screamed at her to turn, to run, but she knew better. She had no escape.
And then he appeared.
He descended the grand staircase slowly, like he had all the time in the world. His movements were deliberate, confident, as though he were a king stepping down to greet his newest subject. He was devastatingly handsome perfectly sculpted features, piercing dark eyes, and a mouth that curved into a wicked, knowing smile.
“Ah, finally,” he said, his voice smooth and deep. It sent a chill down Aurora’s spine. “So you’re the infamous Aurora.”
She flinched at the way he said her name, as if he’d already claimed it, claimed her. She looked away, fixing her gaze on the floor, but even that felt dangerous.
“You can speak,” he continued, his tone mocking. “I won’t bite. Not yet.”
Her lips parted, but no words came. What could she say?
“No? Nothing to say for yourself?” He chuckled softly, his smile growing wider. “How quaint. I suppose we’ll have to fix that. A silent slave is so… dull.”
Aurora’s head snapped up at the word. “I’m not a slave,” she said, her voice quiet but firm.
He paused mid-step, his smile freezing in place before it deepened into something cruel. “Oh, but you are,” he said, his eyes locking onto hers. “You’ll learn that soon enough.”
“I don’t belong to anyone,” she said, her voice trembling but laced with defiance.
That seemed to amuse him. He chuckled again, shaking his head as he reached the bottom of the staircase. He began circling her, his movements slow, predatory.
“Such fire,” he mused, his tone almost admiring. “It’s rare to find that in someone like you. But let me make one thing perfectly clear: you do belong to me now. Completely. Irrevocably. Every inch of you.”
Aurora turned to face him, her chin lifting in a show of defiance. “You can say whatever you want, but you don’t own me. I won’t let you.”
His smile vanished, replaced by something cold and sharp. He stepped closer, and she took an involuntary step back, her breath hitching.
“You think you have a choice?” he asked, his voice soft but dripping with menace. “You think your will matters here? Let me show you just how wrong you are.”
Before she could react, his hand shot out, gripping the front of her dress. She gasped, her hands flying to his wrist, but it was useless. He ripped the fabric apart in one brutal motion, the sound of tearing cloth cutting through the air like a scream.
“No!” she cried, struggling against him, her voice breaking with panic. “Stop it!”
He ignored her protests, his eyes dark with something she couldn’t quite place. He yanked the remnants of her dress away, leaving her in nothing but her undergarments.
“Pathetic,” he said, his voice cold as he looked her over. “Do you see now? Do you understand how little control you have?”
Aurora shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “You’re a monster,” she whispered.
He leaned in, his face inches from hers, his expression unreadable. “Maybe,” he said softly, almost thoughtfully. “But you’ll learn to live with it. You’ll have no choice.”
When she tried to pull away, he grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head with one hand. His other hand trailed down her arm, his touch firm, almost clinical, as though he were inspecting her.
“Let me go!” she cried, her voice shaking. “You can’t do this!”
He laughed, a deep, rich sound that made her skin crawl. “I can do whatever I want, little one. You belong to me now. Your body, your mind, your soul they’re all mine to take, to break, to mold as I see fit.”
She thrashed against him, desperate to break free, but he didn’t budge. His strength was overwhelming, and she felt like a doll in his grasp.
“You’ll learn,” he murmured, his voice low, almost soothing. “In time, you’ll come to understand that resistance is useless. You’ll stop fighting, stop struggling. You’ll surrender. They all do.”
“I hate you,” she spat, her voice raw with anger and fear. “I’ll never surrender to you. Never.”
He smiled again, but there was no warmth in it. “Oh, I like that fire,” he said, his tone almost playful. “It makes breaking you so much more satisfying.”
His hand moved lower, brushing against her collarbone, then trailing down her stomach. She stiffened, her breath catching in her throat as panic set in.
“Don’t,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Please. Don’t.”
He tilted his head, as if considering her words. Then he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear. “Begging already?” he whispered. “That’s disappointing. I expected more from you.”
Aurora turned her head away, her tears falling freely now. She hated him. Hated the way he made her feel powerless, hated the way his touch burned her skin.
“You’re disgusting,” she said, her voice barely audible.
He pulled back slightly, his expression darkening. “Careful,” he said, his tone icy. “You’re in no position to insult me.”
She met his gaze, her eyes blazing with defiance despite her fear. “You’ll never own me,” she said quietly but firmly.
For a moment, he said nothing, simply watching her with an intensity that made her feel as though he could see straight through her. Then he smiled, a slow, cruel smile that made her stomach twist.
“We’ll see,” he said, releasing her suddenly and stepping back. “I enjoy a challenge.”
Aurora slid to the floor, her arms wrapping around herself as she tried to catch her breath. Her body shook with silent sobs, but she refused to look at him, refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break completely.
“Clean yourself up,” he said, his tone dismissive as he turned and walked away. “You’ll need to look presentable for dinner.”
As his footsteps faded, Aurora sat there, trembling and broken. She had fought so hard to escape the darkness of her past, only to find herself trapped in a new nightmare.
But even as despair threatened to consume her, a small, stubborn part of her refused to give up. She didn’t know how she would survive, how she would fight back, but she knew one thing for certain: she wouldn’t let him win.