ISABELLA
Something happened that day. That day in the garden with Leonardo and me. Something happened to us. Or between us. I could feel it in Leonardo’s eyes after he came and sense returned to him, and then me… I could feel it.
I didn't know what it was, and I didn't want to think about it, because anytime I thought about that moment, I felt like I was going to suffocate from shame, and calling him daddy? What on earth was I thinking? And that wasn't even the worst part, but how I acted, without any shame or dignity, yeah, that was the fucking worst part.
So I stayed in my room and tried not to drown from shame, and then later that afternoon, after Sophia left and the mansion was once again silent, I heard something, something inhuman: a roar. It was so great that it shook the walls.
I sat up on my bed, gripping the edge and staring up at the ceiling as if I could see what had happened. Did they have an animal in this house? But that wouldn't be any animal. It would be a wild one, and a great beast.
What kind of animal were they keeping inside the house, and were these people sick? Why will they keep something that beastly in the house?
God, these people were something else.
I didn't come out of my room all through that day and the next, even though I heard nothing from the animal after that, but better safe than sorry.
On the second night, I felt too suffocated in my room, and I decided to step out and take a walk in the garden. Surely, by now, they would have caged the beast.
So I walked in the garden with a shawl wrapped around me, touching the different flowers, and leaning down to smell them. But then I paused when I felt eyes on me, and that chilling aura again.
Oh, no. Oh no no. Who was it, this time? What did they want?
I told Leonardo I wasn't safe in this house, and he said I was. He lied. He fucking lied to me. I was going to call my father and tell him to come take me from this place. I can't live here and watch my back every time I step out of my room. I can't do that.
“You’re five feet away from me, but I can still smell him on you.”
I went even more still when I heard that voice, because it sounded different, rougher… darker. I turned very slowly, my eyes wide, my hands shaking and holding my shawl tighter. When I faced him fully, I flinched when I saw him, every cell in my body going still.
“He fucked you,” he growled.
Alexander was standing before me in his suit, his hair still combed and styled, his tie still straight. He looked normal, but nothing about him was normal. The garden was bright with all the lights on, but all those lights didn't seem to reach him. He was cloaked in darkness, that chilling aura surrounding him, and it felt like… like I could almost see it. It felt like a shadow. And his eyes… Oh, God in heaven, his eyes were glowing.
Usually, his green eyes were already bright, but now they had an inhuman glow to them.
This man standing before me looked like Alexander, but felt nothing like him.
Fear… that word doesn't come close to describing how I feel. Terror barely touched it.
“A-Alex…?”
“You let him fuck you,” he growled, and even his voice didn't sound like his. “Did you enjoy it, Isabella?”
“W-what are y-you talking about?” I asked, trying hard not to shake and show my fear, but I was failing miserably.
“Did you enjoy my father’s dick in you?!” he roared, and I flinched, recoiling from him. I noticed he didn't move or come closer, which was unusual for him.
I shook my head so hard, I became dizzy. “I didn't! Please, I didn't!"
“Liar! I’m sure you were moaning his name, asking for more.” He scoffed, and even that sound scared me. “I’m going to kill him.”
He turned and walked away, and I couldn't even release the breath I was holding.
W-what just happened? Who was that? That wasn't the Alexander I knew, but what made me think I knew him? I knew nothing about the man! I need to get out of this place. Something was going on here. Something wasn't normal. I need to get out!
But then I remembered his last words, and my legs remained fixed on the ground.
I’m going to kill him.
He was going to kill who? Leonardo? My eyes widened.
Oh no. Oh, God, no. With the way he looked, I knew Alexander was really going to kill him. And for what? What did he do to deserve death? And I would be the cause. I would be in the middle.
Oh God, I would never be able to live with myself.
So even though my body was shaking with fear and my insides turning with it, I ran back into the house instead of out.
“Alex!” I screamed as I ran up the stairs, a loud drum beating in my ears.
He would be in Leonardo’s room, so I ran there.
Just as I got to his floor, I heard it: a punch, and followed by it was Alexander’s growl.
“I’m going to kill you!”
“Oh, no,” I whispered and ran faster.