I brushed past the workers as they sped down the hallways, arms full with supplies in preparation for the wedding. I was forbidden from peeking into the garden and looking at the set up otherwise “it wouldn’t be as magical” as Evelyn said. There was less than 24 hours before the big ceremony so everybody was off doing things for it, while I was forced to entertain myself.
Standing solo in such big hallways always sprouted a stinging feeling of loneliness within my heart, no matter how much exploring I did, it could only distract me for so long. Noah had warned me that he couldn’t be disturbed under any circumstances today because of some ‘important business’ he had to deal with, so here I was left, just me, myself and I.
Coming face to face with the large grandfather clock, I settled on passing time the same way I had yesterday and the day before yesterday and the day before that. Waiting for the big hand to hit the twelve I belted off running through the hallways, I was determined to beat my record of 5 minutes from yesterday.
Not only was it exercise but I always felt so pretty letting the air swoosh past my dress as I twisted and turned in this maze of a house. Turning my fourth corner, I was unprepared for the hard surface that appeared, my body bashing into it and rebounding onto the floor.
Tears pricked at my eyes from the pain of my bottom smacking against the floor, the same place I had landed last night when Noah shoved me. “Princess?” The mysterious object questioned, I was too busy rubbing my backside trying to soothe the pain to notice I had rammed into a person.
Shooting into a standing position I internally scolded myself as I noticed who that person was. “S-Sebastian” fear flitted in my eyes as I came to terms with the possible outcomes my fooling around could lead me to. “I’m- I’m so sorry, I-I didn’t mean to” I dropped my head, finding no emotional support in the carpet.
My body tensed as his hand lifted towards my face, I waited for the impact of a smack and was dumbfounded when it never came. Instead, he was playing with a loose strand of my hair. “My, my, well, hasn’t he trained you skillfully” his smile was daunting.
I hadn’t spoken to Sebastian one on one since that day in the old house, well he hadn’t lost his fear instilling ability, that was for sure. I remained still as he silently studied my form for a couple moments, his fingers not letting go of my hair.
I don’t think I will be beating the time for my running record today.
“I like what you’ve done with your hair” his eyes were predatory, taking a step towards me. “T-thank you but I should, I should probably go” I whispered, tucking my hair behind my ear away from his wandering touch.
“Everyone’s stressing out about doing things for the wedding, why don’t we have some quality brother- and sister-in-law bonding time?” Gulping I calculated the possibility of every outcome, I couldn’t run to Noah as he was busy, I didn’t even think Evelyn was on the grounds and well, James wasn’t an option. Great.
“I’m act-actually quite tired Sebastian, I think I might just go-go and take a nap” I shuffled nervously under his heavy stare. He did not like that answer. “Oh come on Embry, don’t be such a buzzkill” his mouth hovered over my ear, his breath pricking at my skin. Our chests practically touched as I gawked wide-eyed at the malicious glint in his eyes. “What would we be doing?” I murmured, not having the courage to speak any louder.
“I was thinking we could just go for a little stroll, and I could just tell you stories about Noah” he hooked his arm with mine already taking slow steps to the opposite side of the corridor. Well, there was no saying no now.
“O-okay.” I was on edge, ready for any attack he may throw my way. “Why did you ask him to marry you?” he probed, his tone indicating that he wasn’t really that interested in my answer. A bubble of anxiety fabricated inside of me, was this a trick question?
“Because, I-I love him” my voice was squeaky as I spoke. Way to sabotage yourself Embry. “Embry, it’s just us two, you can be honest” his stare pierced me as I stole a quick glance at him not knowing he was looking my way. I was never great at reading people and I was torn over whether he was aggravated I was lying or if he was actually being reassuring.
I was going to go with the first. “I didn’t want him to murder anymore people” I admitted quietly. My eyebrows scrunched together as he brought me to face a door I had never come in contact with before. “Well, I want to let you know a little bit more about the man you’re going to marry” his hand reached from the handle.
Holding my breath, I expected something gruesome on the other side of the door, but the room seemed harmless. It reminded me of those security rooms in movies, with computers playing camera footage all over the place
“You up for a little movie, princess?” I bit the inside of my cheek with nerves as he shut the door with a slight slam, dragging me in front of the monitors. “I just think it’s so romantic he gave up his vengeance of killing those men just for you, don’t you think?” he smirked, typing away on the keyboard in front of us.
“Y-yeah” I muttered, uncomfortable at the close proximity of Sebastian leaning over my shoulder while he inputted some commands into the computer. He had pushed me into one of those big office chairs that spun while he took to standing behind me.
“Okay, look at the left screen here” I followed his finger that pointed towards one of the large screens. My eyes widening in recognition of the scene, there was no audio but I knew what I was watching. It was the moment I had asked Noah to marry me, I followed Noah’s movements as he dropped the hammer, embracing me in his arms.
“I don’t-” my words were cut off as Sebastian leaned over once again hitting another button. The time at the bottom of the screen changed, he was fast-forwarding the footage to later that night. My eyes were glued to the screen as I watched Noah strutting back into the frame.
Whimpers escaped involuntarily as the camera switched angles, allowing me to see two limp bodies hung up like meat in the butchers. My nails dug into the arms of the chair as I watched him mercilessly beat the one I identified as Keith, despite the lack of sound I still flinched as his gun went off piercing the now dead man.
I could feel the pungent taste of puke itching its way up my throat. “T-turn it off” I shuddered, turning my face from the screen. “Hm, so you’re one of those people, well not to spoil it but he cuts off his fingers and stuffs them down his throat so he suffocates” I spun to face Sebastian.
His eyes shining with satisfaction, not taking a second to consider the consequences I bolted out of the room and towards the front door.
“Noah, your little b*tch is making a run for it” Sebastian sang in a chirpy voice as I threw the heavy door open. Retching the contents of my stomach out onto the driveway, I stumbled away from the house as I heard heavy footsteps running down the stairs.
My breathing was loud in my ears as I struggled to see out of my tear-filled eyes. “Embry, what are you doing, get back here now” Noah’s voice boomed down the driveway, stopping me in my tracks. He was a mere ten meters or so away from me now but I could see his facial expressions contort in fury as clear as I would be able to if I was right in front of him.
I staggered closer to the gate as he began closing the distance between us. “Y-you killed them” my finger shakily pointed in accusation at him. “Jesus Christ Embry, what are you melting down about now” he rolled his eyes, fed up. “K-Keith, the judge, y-you-” I struggled to catch my breath between sobs as his face lit with understanding.
It quickly changed to outrage as the cogs in his head turned, “who told you that, baby girl” he held his hand out as if it would make him seem less threatening. “Sebastian showed me Noah, y-you can’t deny it” my feet taking another couple steps back with every step he took forward.
“That bastard is going to get it this time, I’ll fucking kill him” he seethed clenching his hands into fists. “Y-you promised, I-I asked you to marry me, you said they would survive” I cried out, betrayal and pain heavy in my heart.
“Incase you don’t remember Embry” my name rolling off his tongue with malice, “I didn’t promise you shit, you were the one begging me to save those low-lives and I entertained the idea of your groveling but I never said I wouldn’t kill them, granted you weren’t meant to find out about their deaths.”
Flitting through my memory I struggled to find any verbal promise that he wouldn’t kill them. I had told him I would do anything but he never agreed. Using my moment of confusion, he ran towards me, grabbing me into his arms. “B-but I, I thought” I sniffled, defeated.
“Shh, shh now baby it’s okay, this is Sebastian’s fault” he brought his arm around me, stroking my hair as he placed my head onto his chest. Clutching to his shirt I was overflowing with grief, their deaths, it was my fault. I killed them.
My breathing stilled as his lips brushed past my earlobe, “but you know better than to run from me little bug” his voice was emotionless as he tightened his hold on me.
“I’m sorry” I whimpered, hiding my face in his shirt. “I’m sure you are, but how are we going to learn our lesson if we aren’t punished?” he patted my head, practically hauling me in through the door of the house. “No, Noah, please, I didn’t mean to upset you I’m sorry, it won’t happen again, I’ll do better” I pleaded, clutching onto his arm for dear life.
I stiffened as he pressed his lips to my forehead, “you said those exact words last night baby, and look where we are now” he scolded, fixing the strap of my dress that must have fallen down during my freak-out. His lips dotting a kiss on my branding as he did so, resulting in a shiver shooting down my spine.
I stared open-mouthed as Noah brought me in the direction of the office that I was never to enter. “I still have work I need to do and clearly we can see that you are too incapable of being left by yourself so you will just have to sit in here while I do my work” nodding quietly I felt my lungs expand with relief.
Had he forgotten about the punishment? Or was it being trapped in this room with him? I wasn’t going to complain either way. I dropped my head as James’ patronising stare landed on me. “I assume you’ve got it under control son” he glowered.
*Third person view*
With a curt nod in his fathers direction, he guided the shaking girl to sit on the floor beneath his chair, to which she did without a fight. “You’ve really let me down Embry, maybe me coming back for you was a mistake” with those words he went back to work.
Embry’s stomach sinking, she could feel the familiar sting of tears at his words, unaware of the small smirk that tugged on his lips at his genius. His words seemed to hurt worse than any physical punishment she could get. The terrible part being that when he said those words he always sounded serious, the young girl couldn’t figure out why she kept disappointing him, she didn’t mean to.
But Noah had figured out her little secret. He had discovered that her biggest fear was his abandonment of her. If he stuck to the path he was on and continued with punishing her through words without her knowledge, he’ll have her right where he wants her in no time.
Soon he thought, soon she’ll be as obsessed with me as I am with her.