Get dressed. We need to talk, Lucian said. His voice was quiet but firm, like there was no point in trying to argue.
I just stood there, frozen. My legs didn't seem to want to work as I watched him come closer. He filled the room, all his movements sharp and careful, like a big cat stalking something.
Don't make me say it again, Seraphina, he said, his dark eyes locked on mine. My mouth felt like it was full of sand, but I nodded quickly, just wanting to avoid making him angry.
He raised one eyebrow, and something I couldn't read crossed his face for a second before he turned and walked toward the door.
Ten minutes, he said without looking back, and then the heavy door shut behind him.
As soon as I was alone, my knees gave out, and I fell onto the bed, my heart pounding.
Ten minutes. Ten minutes to try to understand what was happening. Ten minutes to plan what I should do.
My head was spinning with questions. What was I doing here? Why had I ended up in this mess—a mess that I knew would turn out badly for me? And most of all, how was I going to get through this?
I stood up and went to the closet. If I knew one thing about Lucian Duskbane, it was that fighting him would get me killed even faster. I had to play along for now. Pretend to be the Seraphina he expected. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way out of this horrible situation.
Inside the closet, there were lots of fancy dresses. I touched the soft materials, and I felt angry. How could something so pretty feel like a prison? The dresses were like works of art, with all kinds of fancy designs, expensive jewels, and soft silks that felt good against my skin. But they weren't me. None of this was me. It felt like I was wearing someone else's clothes, living someone else's life.
I picked a dark green dress with gold designs, and it felt heavy as I put it on. When I looked in the mirror, I was surprised again. I didn't look like myself. I didn't feel like myself. But I stood up straight and told myself to be strong. If I wanted to live, I couldn't fall apart. I couldn't get lost in someone else's wardrobe.
Someone knocked hard on the door, making me jump.
Time's up, Lucian said from the other side.
I took a deep breath and opened the door. He was there, looking as serious as ever, his eyes going over me from head to toe. He smiled a little, but it didn't seem real.
Good, he said plainly. Now, come with me.
I followed him down some dark hallways, our footsteps echoing on the stone floors. The palace was just as scary as its king, and everything seemed designed to remind you that you were under Lucian Duskbane's control. Even the air felt heavy, full of old power and secrets. It was as if the very stones were whispering tales of forgotten events.
As we walked through a hallway with arches, I saw paintings on the walls. Each one was someone from the Duskbane family, and they all looked cold and mean, with the same scary look in their eyes that I'd seen in Lucian. I felt a chill. These people weren't kind. You could tell that at a glance.
He took me to a big room where a table was set for just two people. The food looked good, and my stomach growled, but I hesitated. There were plates of meat, fruit, and fancy pastries, and they smelled delicious. I was hungry, but the mood in the room made it hard to even breathe, let alone eat.
Lucian told me to sit down, and I did, feeling stiff and awkward.
He sat across from me, staring at me the whole time. It was like he was trying to see right through me.
Let me be clear, he said, his voice steady but hard. You might think you have some say in what happens here, but you don't. You'll play the part of my fiancée, and you'll do what I say without arguing.
I swallowed, holding onto the chair. What if I don't? I asked, my voice quiet.
He smiled again, but this time, it was colder. Then you won't live long enough to regret it.
His words hit me hard. I didn't have a choice. Not yet, anyway. But inside, I promised myself that I would get out of this. I had to. This wasn't a life; this was a prison sentence.
Lucian leaned back in his chair, looking at me like I was something he was trying to figure out. You've been… different since the accident, he said, his voice softer but still scary. I have to admit, I find it interesting.
I made myself look him in the eye, even though I wanted to run away. Maybe hitting my head made me see things more clearly, I said, trying to sound like I was joking.
He raised his eyebrow, not believing me at all. Clarity? Perhaps. But remember, Seraphina, clarity alone won't save you. Those words hung heavy in the air between us.
Now, he went on, his voice turning cold, there are rules you need to follow if you want to survive. Rule one: Don't question me. Rule two: Don't do anything without my permission. And rule three… His eyes got darker, and he smiled in a way that made me nervous. Don't try to escape.
I nodded slowly, my mind working fast. Every word he said felt like a chain being wrapped around me, trapping me in this role that I never wanted. But I couldn't let him see that I was scared. Not yet.
Do you understand? he asked, his eyes sharp.
Yes, I whispered.
Good, he said, standing up. Then we'll get along just fine.
As he turned to leave, I let myself feel a little bit of defiance. He might think he'd won, but I wasn't ready to give up. Not yet. I didn't know how, but I would find a way to get through this and escape this crazy nightmare.
For now, though, I would play along.
Because staying alive was the most important thing.