Aurora sat on the small cot in the corner of her room, her knees pulled up to her chest. Her heart hadn’t stopped racing since she woke up that morning, and every sound outside the door made her flinch. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was coming.
The room was quiet except for the faint rustling of her own movements. The air was cold, heavy, and oppressive, as if the very walls were watching her. She stared at the worn floor, trying to calm herself, but her thoughts were a storm of fear and dread.
Then it happened.
A loud knock on the door echoed through the room, making her jump.
“Come!” a deep, commanding voice barked from the other side.
Aurora froze. She recognized the voice. It was him-her new master.
She didn’t move at first, her body paralyzed with fear. But the door creaked open, and a tall figure stepped into the room, his presence filling the space. He didn’t have to say a word. The air around him was enough to make her chest tighten.
He looked down at her, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Get up,” he snapped, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through her fear.
Aurora scrambled to her feet, her legs shaking so badly she thought they might give out beneath her.
“Is this how you greet me?” he growled, stepping closer.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her throat felt dry, her voice caught somewhere deep inside her chest.
“Speak when I address you!” he thundered, his sudden outburst making her jump.
“S-sorry,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Sorry?” he repeated mockingly, taking another step closer. “You think that’s enough?”
Aurora backed away instinctively, her back pressing against the wall. Her trembling only seemed to amuse him, a wicked smile spreading across his face.
“You’re scared,” he said, his tone softening but still dripping with menace. “Good. You should be.”
She swallowed hard, her hands clenched into fists at her sides to stop them from shaking. “What… what do you want from me?” she asked, her voice trembling.
His smile widened. “What do I want?” he repeated, as if the question amused him. “I want you to serve me, of course. Isn’t that why you’re here?”
Aurora felt a chill run down her spine. “I-I don’t know how,” she said honestly, her words tumbling out before she could stop them.
He laughed, the sound low and menacing. “You’ll learn,” he said simply. “And you’ll learn quickly. Because if you don’t…” He leaned in closer, his face inches from hers. “I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Aurora’s breath hitched, her entire body trembling under his intense gaze. He reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. She flinched, pressing herself harder against the wall as if she could disappear into it.
“Look at you,” he murmured, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. “Like a little rabbit caught in a trap.”
She turned her head away, but he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Don’t hide from me,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “I want to see the fear in your eyes.”
Aurora’s chest heaved as she struggled to steady her breathing. His grip on her chin was firm, unyielding, and she could feel his strength in the way he held her.
“P-please,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He tilted his head, his smile growing colder. “Please what?”
She shook her head, unable to form the words.
“Pathetic,” he said, releasing her abruptly. She stumbled slightly, her legs weak beneath her. “You’ll need to do better than that if you want to survive here.”
Aurora’s hands trembled as she tried to steady herself. “I’ll try,” she said softly, her voice shaking.
“You’ll do more than try,” he said sharply. “You’ll obey.”
She nodded quickly, not trusting herself to speak.
“Good,” he said, his voice softening slightly. He stepped back, gesturing to the door. “Come. I have a task for you.”
Aurora hesitated for a moment before following him, her legs still unsteady.
He led her down a long hallway, his strides confident and unhurried. Aurora struggled to keep up, her fear mounting with every step. The silence between them was unbearable, each second stretching into an eternity.
When they reached a large room-his study-he turned to face her, his expression unreadable.
“Stand there,” he ordered, pointing to a spot near the center of the room.
Aurora did as she was told, her eyes darting around the room. It was filled with shelves of books, dark wood furniture, and a large desk that looked like it belonged to a man who controlled everything around him.
He walked to the desk and leaned against it, his piercing gaze never leaving her. “Do you know why you’re here?”
She shook her head, her voice caught in her throat again.
“Speak!” he barked, making her flinch.
“N-no,” she stammered. “I don’t know.”
He smiled, though there was no warmth in it. “You’re here to prove yourself,” he said simply.
“P-prove myself?” she repeated, her voice trembling.
“Yes,” he said, taking slow, deliberate steps toward her. “You’re going to show me that you can follow orders. That you can be useful.”
Aurora’s stomach churned, her hands clenching into fists to stop them from shaking. “What… what do you want me to do?”
He stopped in front of her, his towering presence making her feel small and insignificant. “First,” he said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face, “you’re going to stop trembling. It’s distracting.”
“I-I can’t help it,” she said before she could stop herself.
His hand froze mid-motion, his eyes narrowing. “Can’t help it?” he repeated, his voice dangerously quiet.
“I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
His smile returned, colder than before. “Good,” he said. “Fear keeps you obedient. But you’ll learn to control it, or I’ll control it for you.”
Aurora swallowed hard, nodding quickly.
“Now,” he said, stepping back and crossing his arms. “Kneel.”
Her heart pounded in her chest as she hesitated, her body frozen.
“I said kneel,” he repeated, his voice sharper this time.
Slowly, reluctantly, Aurora lowered herself to the floor, her knees pressing against the cold, hard wood. She kept her eyes down, unable to meet his gaze.
“That’s better,” he said, his tone laced with satisfaction. He walked around her, his footsteps echoing in the silent room. “You look much better like this.”
Aurora bit her lip, her body trembling again despite his earlier command.
He stopped behind her, his presence looming over her like a shadow. “Do you feel small, Aurora?” he asked, his voice low and mocking.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Good,” he said, his tone dripping with amusement. “Because you are.”
The words cut through her, but she didn’t dare respond.
“You’ll learn, little one,” he said, leaning closer so his breath brushed against her ear. “You’ll learn to do exactly as I say. And if you don’t…” He trailed off, letting the unspoken threat hang in the air.
Aurora nodded quickly, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.
“Say it,” he demanded.
“I’ll learn,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
He smiled, straightening up. “That’s a good start,” he said.