"I'll be back," he said, his voice low. "I promise."
And then, he was gone, leaving me alone in the darkness, my body still feeling the sensations of his touch, and my heart filled with a mixture of longing and fear.
What had I done? What had I gotten myself into? And what would happen when he came back?
The heavy velvet beneath me shifted as I sat up, the darkness clinging to me like a second skin. I began to panic. I had to think.
Where was I?
The last thing I remembered was the chapel and the grotesque faces, and then… nothing. Alex. His touch, his heat. A shiver ran through me as I experienced a confusing mix of fear and frightening thoughts.
I pushed the memory away. Jake. I had to find Jake.
I stood, my legs wobbled. So, I took a tentative step first. The darkness swirled, disorienting, but I could feel the soft fabric beneath my feet. It was then that I realized it was a large space. A flash of light sparked in the distance. I moved towards it, my hand outstretched, brushing against the smooth, cold walls.
The light grew brighter as I moved closer, revealing a doorway. I hesitated before opening it, then I stepped out. I found myself in another chamber bathed in a soft, golden light. The light emanated from ornate lamps hanging from the high ceiling, casting intricate shadows on the walls. The room was opulent, with rich tapestries, plush furniture, and a large, carved bed in the center.
It was beautiful… and unsettling. Was it a prison or a sanctuary?
My heart pounded. I moved further into the room, my gaze sweeping over every detail. A silver comb lay on a vanity table, beside a half-empty goblet of wine. A silk robe was draped across a chair. It looked like someone actually lived here.
Then a sound startled me. A soft click. I turned around. Alex stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, his arms crossed and his facial expression straight. "So, you're awake," he said, his voice low.
My breath hitched. "Where am I? What is this place?" He pushed off the doorframe and stepped into the room. "This is where you'll be staying for now." "Staying?" I laughed, a harsh, brittle sound. "You can't keep me here."
He took a step closer. "I can. You're safe here." "Safe?" I scoffed. "After what I saw at the chapel? After what you…" I trailed off, the memory of his touch, his kiss, the intimacy, flooding back with unwanted intensity.
He saw the gloomy look on my face and his gaze darkened. "What I did was to save you, Jade. You were caught in something you didn't understand." "And now I do?" I challenged. "This changes everything?"
"It changes things," he conceded. "It makes you… closer to the truth." "The truth," I echoed, my voice laced with bitterness. "The truth is you're part of a cult. You deceived me. My brother…"
His jaw tightened. "Jake is being taken care of." "Taken care of?" I stepped closer, my anger flaring. "What does that mean?" I asked. "It means he's safe," Alex said firmly. "He's where he belongs." "He belongs with me," I shot back. "You have no right to decide that."
Alex's eyes flashed. "I'm trying to protect you both." "Protect us?" I laughed. "By dragging us into this nightmare?" He closed the distance between us. His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "You don't know what's at stake, Jade. You don't understand the power of the Covenant." "Then make me understand," I challenged, my voice trembling. "Tell me the truth."
He hesitated, his gaze searching mine. For a moment, I thought I saw a glimpse of vulnerability in his eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by a cool mask. "I will," he said, his voice smooth. "But not now. There are things you need to adjust to first." He reached out, his fingers trailing along my jawline. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, a confusing mix of fear and… something else. Something I didn't want to acknowledge.
"You're not going anywhere," he murmured. "And you'll lack nothing. This is for your own good." My anger flared because his words sounded possessive. "I'm not yours to control," I yelled, stepping back from his touch.
He smirked, a flash of the old Alex. "We'll see about that." He turned and walked towards the door. "Get some rest. You'll need it." And then he was gone...again, leaving me alone in the opulent but unsettling chamber.
When he left, I paced the room and my mind raced. Where was Jake? What did the Covenant want with us? And what was this strange pull I felt towards Alex, this dangerous, undeniable attraction?
The door clicked open again. I was scared as I turned around, my heart pounding. Joanna stood at the entrance to the room. But her expression wasn't cold or mocking. It was… almost hesitant. "I need to talk to you," she said, her voice low.
I stared at her, my guard up. "About what?" She took a step into the room. "About Alex. About the Covenant. About… everything." Her gaze darted around the chamber as if trying to confirm that there was no third party in the room, a hint of envy in her eyes. "This isn't what you think it is."
"Then tell me what it is," I challenged. Joanna hesitated, then met my gaze. "I can help you, Jade. But you have to trust me." "Trust you?" I scoffed. "You're one of them." "I'm not like them," she said, her voice urgent. "I have my reasons for being here. Reasons you wouldn't understand."
"Try me," I said, my voice hard. Joanna took a deep breath. "The Covenant… they're not what they seem. They promise power and protection, but it comes at a price. A terrible price." Her eyes fixed on the door. "Victor… he's ambitious. He wants to control everything. And Alex… he's caught in the middle."
"Caught in the middle?" I echoed. "He seemed pretty involved to me." "He is," Joanna conceded. "But he's not like Victor. He has a… a conflict. He's not as cold. He cares...about you." "Cares?" I laughed. "He kidnapped me." "He saved you," Joanna countered. "From something much worse."
"Worse than this?" I gestured around the room. Joanna's gaze softened, a flash of something almost like pity in her eyes. "You don't understand, Jade. You have a power, a connection to the Covenant's magic. Victor wants to control it. Alex… he wants to protect you from it."
"Protect me?" I shook my head. "I don't need his protection. I need to find my brother." Joanna's expression hardened. "I can help you with that too. But you need to trust me. We need to work together."
I stared at her, my mind reeling. This was too much. Too fast. I didn't know who to trust or believe anymore, not when the person was a Veiled Covenant member. "Why are you telling me this?" I asked, my voice wary. Joanna hesitated again, then stepped closer. "Because… because I don't want to see you get hurt. And because… maybe, just maybe, we want the same thing."
"And what's that?" "To survive," she said, her voice low. "To get out of this alive." She held out her hand. "So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?" I looked at her hand, then back at her face. Joanna's eyes were intense, her expression a mix of desperation and something else I couldn't quite decipher.
I was trapped. Confused. But maybe… maybe this was my only chance. I took her hand. "A deal." As our hands clasped, a jolt of energy passed between us, and the room went dark.