Ember's heartbeat echoed in her ears as she staggered back to her room. The cold, stone walls of the castle felt even colder now, pressing in on her from all sides. Her hands were still trembling from the brief encounter with the maid, Celia, and the dagger she had passed into her hand. She had felt its weight, the promise of something dangerous, something that could change everything but now, as she locked the door behind her, it felt like a curse.
She looked at the dagger in her palm, its cold steel gleaming in the dim light. The small, elegant weapon seemed so ordinary at first glance, but its significance was undeniable. She had seen something familiar etched into the hilt the symbol. The same symbol she had found in Lady Jade's journal.
Her fingers traced the design an intricate pattern of lines that circled around a crescent moon. It was faint but unmistakable. The journal had mentioned symbols like this connections to something deeper, something hidden within the castle walls. Her pulse quickened as she realized the dagger wasn't just a weapon. It was part of the castle's dark secrets, and it had somehow been given to her.
Why? Ember wondered. Why had Celia trusted me with this?
She had no answers, only more questions. The castle was a maze, and every corner seemed to hide something darker than the last. But this... this dagger could be the key. The symbol alone was too important to ignore. It could lead her to whatever secrets Roman was hiding. Or it could get her killed.
Her mind raced with the possibilities, each darker than the last. She knew she had to keep the dagger hidden, safe from Roman and anyone else who might suspect her. But part of her was drawn to the idea that this small, simple weapon could be her salvation, a way to protect herself or escape.
Just as she placed the dagger beneath her mattress, a knock sounded at the door.
Ember froze, her heart leaping into her throat. Her breath hitched in her chest. Who could it be?
The knock came again, louder this time. She had to act quickly. She couldn't let anyone find the dagger. Not now.
Quickly, she shoved the dagger deeper beneath the mattress, smoothing the covers over it as she moved to the door. Her hands were still shaking as she reached for the handle.
She opened the door a crack, just enough to peek out. The guard one of the ones who had dragged her into Roman's presence earlier stood on the other side. His cold eyes met hers, and his face, stern and expressionless, revealed nothing of what was on his mind.
"Ember," he said in a low voice, his tone devoid of emotion. "Roman demands to see you. Now."
Her heart dropped into her stomach. There was no way to hide what she had just done, no way to escape. Her thoughts raced, but she knew she had no choice but to comply.
The air in Roman's private chambers was thick with an oppressive silence as Ember was led inside. The room was dim, the only light coming from a large fire that crackled in the hearth, casting shadows across the room's luxurious furnishings. A large desk sat at the far end of the room, cluttered with papers, books, and various objects she couldn't identify.
Roman stood near the window, his back to her. The dim light illuminated the sharp lines of his form, his tall, muscular frame cutting an imposing figure against the dark backdrop. He looked every bit the ruler of the castle, his power radiating outward as though it were a part of him. The air seemed to tremble with his presence.
As Ember stepped into the room, her feet barely making a sound on the polished floor, Roman turned slowly, his eyes locking onto hers. There was something unsettling in the way he looked at her something cold, calculating.
"You've been snooping around," Roman said, his voice calm but laced with a menacing edge. "Trying to uncover things that don't concern you."
Ember's breath caught in her throat, but she didn't speak. She couldn't. There was no point in defending herself. She had been caught there was no escaping that fact now.
His gaze never wavered as he took a step forward, closing the distance between them. The air grew heavier, more suffocating, and she could feel her pulse quicken as she tried to steady her breathing.
"You think you're clever, don't you?" he asked, his voice now tinged with amusement, but his eyes remained as cold as ice. "You think that you can get away with defying me."
Ember felt a chill sweep through her body. She could see the fury simmering beneath his calm exterior, and it terrified her. But still, she stood her ground, her back straight, though every muscle in her body screamed for her to flee.
"I wasn't " Ember began, but Roman cut her off with a sharp wave of his hand.
"I don't care about your excuses," he said coldly. "You're mine now, and you will do as I say. I'll allow you one chance to comply. Fail me again, and I promise you, it will be worse than anything you can imagine."
Ember's stomach churned, her knees threatening to buckle under the weight of his words. She had known, deep down, that Roman was cruel but hearing it from his lips, seeing the menace in his eyes, made it all the more real.
He took another step closer, his face inches from hers. She could feel his breath against her skin, warm and heavy. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating. "There are eyes everywhere in this castle, Ember. Don't forget that. You're never alone. If you think you can get away with disobeying me, you're wrong. Understand?"
Ember's throat tightened as she nodded quickly, her body rigid with fear. There was no choice but to obey. She knew that now.
Roman's lips curled into a smirk. He reached out, grabbing her wrist with surprising force, pulling her closer. "You're mine now," he whispered, his voice dark and dangerous. "And you'll never escape."
The finality of his words made her heart skip a beat. There was no escape. No freedom. Only him. She was trapped.
The days that followed were a blur of tension and fear. Ember's every move was watched, every action scrutinized. She could feel the eyes on her wherever she went whether it was Roman's guards or the silent presence of the other inhabitants of the castle, she was always being observed.
One night, after her exhausting duties had ended, she retired to her room, her body sore and her mind worn from the constant stress. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment to gather her strength. It had been a long day longer than any she could remember and she just wanted a few moments of peace.
But that peace was short-lived.
As she moved toward the bed, her gaze flickered toward the shadows in the corner of the room. For a moment, she thought she saw something move a figure, tall and cloaked in darkness, standing just beyond the edge of her vision. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest.
But when she turned fully toward the shadow, it was gone.
She let out a shaky breath, trying to calm herself. It's nothing, she told herself. It's just the stress.
But still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't alone. It was as if someone had been watching her, lurking just out of sight.
That night, as she lay in bed, she kept her eyes open, straining to hear any sound, any movement in the room. She could feel the tension building, an unease that gnawed at her.
Suddenly, she heard it the softest of footsteps, the faintest rustle of fabric. Someone was moving in her room.
Ember's heart raced as she slowly turned her head. There, standing at the foot of the bed, was the guard the same one who had watched her from the shadows before. His face was partially hidden, but his eyes gleamed from beneath the hood of his cloak.
He didn't speak. He didn't have to. His presence alone was enough to send a jolt of fear through her.
He stepped closer, so close that she could feel his breath on her skin. "You are not alone in this castle," he whispered, his voice low and gravelly.
Before she could respond, he turned and vanished into the darkness, leaving Ember stunned, her mind spinning.
The next morning, Ember went to the usual part of the castle where she had been assigned to work. Her thoughts were still clouded, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She moved through the corridors, each step heavier than the last.
And then, just as she was passing through a narrow passage, her eyes caught something that made her stop in her tracks a door, hidden beneath a tapestry.
It wasn't just any door. This one had no handle, no visible way to open it, yet she could feel the pull, the dark promise behind it.
She reached for the door. As her fingers brushed the cold wood, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind her. She spun around, but no one was there.
The door was waiting for her. But so was something darker.