Each footfall seemed to reverberate through the halls, carrying a resonance of my determination and fear. I dashed into a grand foyer that was bathed in the golden glow of sunrise and hurried to a set of elaborate black doors that I hoped would lead me outside.

  I swore harshly when neither opened.

  They had been locked with some unseen mechanism. But there had to be another way out of this house. It was far too nice to only have one entry point. I shoved away from the doors and raced out of the room, reducing its grandeur to a blur of arches. I was terrified that with one wrong turn, I’d be caught by a dead end.

  I burst into another open room and came to such an abrupt stop I nearly tripped over myself. A sob lodged in my throat as I was greeted by a breathtaking view. A vast, shimmering lake stretched endlessly in front of me.

  I knew I’d been taken far away, somewhere near a body of water. I never imagined it would be this isolated or unfamiliar. There wasn’t a single other house in sight. The view brought a newfound understanding and daunting recollection.

  The wine he gave me had been imported from an island. If I was there…No. I couldn’t be trapped somewhere like that. I refused to believe it.

  His sudden presence enveloped me in dread. Slowly, I turned to face him. He was a dark angel, emerging into a swathe of daylight. His beautiful eyes held something dark and inscrutable as they locked onto mine with an unsettling intensity. He moved with an unnerving grace, closing the distance between us effortlessly and without urgency.

  “Why did you run? You’ve got nothing to be afraid of.”

  “You’re insane!”

  “Am I?” He laughed , a blend of seduction and malice that defied explanation. It effectively cemented me in place. His gaze traveled over me and sent shivers down my spine.

  I’d never had a man look at me like this—unyielding and possessive.

  “You have no idea how beautiful you are, even when you’re terrified.” In a heartbeat, I found myself in his arms. His embrace wasn’t harsh, but I felt the confinement of it all the same. He was solid and fit, capable of easily crushing me while his cologne and natural scent were intoxicating.

  “Did you honestly think I’d let you get away from me, deliciae?”

  His voice was chidingly soft. I expected anger or violence for trying to escape. Instead, he pulled me into his chest and began to affectionately stroke the top of my head with one hand. “I’ve told you twice and now I’m telling you again. You’re exactly where you belong.”

  I couldn’t voice a response, afraid if I opened my mouth, I would release the scream building in my chest. I remained in his embrace for an indefinite amount of time, and all the while he continued to stroke my head and hold me.

  I began to feel like I had when I first woke and discovered the chain. I was ensnared by a predator that seemed to enjoy doting on its prey. I’d endangered myself by running away. I wasn’t going to risk doing anything else.

  “I think you’ve had enough freedom.” Without any strain, he scooped me up as if I were a doll and carried me out of the room.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  He shut me away again. The chain was back too. He’d fastened it around my ankle with such gentleness one might think it was a rare piece of jewelry instead of a restraint.

  I didn’t understand him. I couldn’t think clearly enough to try to, and even if I could, I wasn’t sure it would matter. All I wanted was to go home—back to the cramped and cozy apartment I shared with my best friend. I wanted to wake up after hitting the snooze button and blast my Adele vinyl while getting ready for work.

  But I wasn’t going to waste time fooling myself into thinking that would happen.

  The man who brought me here was insistent I belonged with him. I didn’t want to care about that, but I was having trouble doing otherwise. It was no exaggeration that I’d seen hundreds of guests while working at the resort, but I knew I had never met him before. I wouldn’t have forgotten someone who made me so self-aware simply by existing.

  His presence was impossible to ignore, and I wasn’t so innocent that I was oblivious to the way he looked at me. His eyes held a dangerous desire that both unsettled and—loathe as I was to admit—intrigued. But that didn’t change my circumstances. My captivity hung over me like a dark, suffocating cloud.

  I rolled onto my side and stared at the wall. Each minute stretched into an eternity. The stagnant silence had returned, interrupted only by my troubled thoughts.

  I dozed off at some point, waking when soft whispers penetrated my dreamless state. I immediately sat up and looked towards the door. Two unfamiliar faces greeted me, both smiling warmly. One dark haired and the other a honey blonde, they couldn’t have been much older than I was.

  The way they were dressed instantly caught my attention. I could tell right away they weren’t like the woman that had spit in my food not just from their clothing, but how they carried themselves.

  “Hello! I’m Esther and this is Nicolette,” the one with dark hair exclaimed with a bright smile, gesturing towards her friend, who was a dead ringer for Jessica Alba.

  “You can call me Nikki,” Nicolette added, her demeanor more reserved but no less good-natured.

  “I’m so glad I can finally meet you!” Esther gushed as she fully entered the room.

  I found her bubbly exuberance somewhat disarming. So was her uncanny resemblance to Mr. Hawthorne. The classy black evening gown that she wore hugged her curvy figure in all the right places. Her hair was loosely braided and adorned with a thinly jeweled headpiece that screamed money.

  “Esther, calm down. We just talked about this,” Nicolette reprimanded with playful exasperation.

  She was taller than both of us and built like a runway model, wearing a similar black evening gown that mirrored her quiet and steady charm. Her hair was styled the same but lacked any adornments.

  "We've been assigned as your—”

  “We’re here to help you get ready,” Nicolette cut her off with a clear warning in her tone.

  Esther kept speaking, her enthusiasm undeterred.

  “We’re going to make you look stunning! Not that you aren’t beautiful already."

  “And why do I need to be made up?”

  “Because tonight is special,” Esther replied matter-of-factly.

  Nicolette’s gaze met mine, her expression calm and understanding. "We were sent here with strict instructions to make sure you’re expertly prepared. Failure is not an option.”

  I frowned as her underlying meaning became clear. She’d just given a warning, but it wasn’t for my wellbeing. It was for theirs. I took a quiet breath and looked around the room. I didn’t know either of these girls from a stranger on the street, but if something happened to them because of me, I would feel guilty.

  I hadn’t forgotten about the woman who spit in my food. What she’d done was disgusting and unwarranted, but her fear when being dragged off had been palpable.

  Even if these two were on different levels than her, they could possibly suffer because of me.

  “So, Lolita, are you ready for a night you’ll never forget?” Esther asked. Her voice held a gentle warmth.

  I nodded hesitantly, the urge to refuse bubbling beneath the surface.

  “Yes!” Esther surged forward and quickly removed the chain from my ankle.

  I wasn’t sure where or when she’d gotten a key all of a sudden, seeing as her dress had no visible pockets. But before I could question it too much, the chain was off and I was being helped out of bed.

  “Please don’t run,” Esther murmured to me as I was steered towards the door, and for the first time I heard a hint of uncertainty beneath her cheerfulness.

  “I won’t run,” I answered loud enough for them both to hear. I meant it too. I’d already made that mistake once.

  The next time I ran I would make sure I had a plan, or at the very least knew a clear-cut path for safely getting away from this place.

  They guided me out of the room and down a corridor that felt both familiar and foreign since seeing it earlier. As we walked, Esther continued to talk a mile a minute. I noticed her words were careful, chosen with a sense of discretion. I wasn’t to know what was happening. That didn’t sit right with me at all. I’d agreed to behave for their sakes, but I had wound up in this very situation doing something similar for Shana.

  “Can one of you tell me what’s going to happen to me?”

  Esther stopped mid-sentence and looked over. “Nothing bad. Tonight is going to be a celebration. It’s a new chapter for all of us."

  Nicolette nodded in silent agreement as we arrived at a door relatively close to the bedroom that I was being kept in.

  Esther opened it to reveal a large bathroom illuminated in a soft glow.

  "Here we are," she announced with a renewed pep in her tone. "This is where the transformation begins."

  I walked inside and was greeted by an array of beauty products. Everything had been carefully laid out with precision.

  Nicolette gestured toward the various items. "We've got everything—makeup, hair tools, and of course, the dress you’ll be wearing."

  My gaze was already on the obvious centerpiece. A dark red dress that seemed to pulse with its own energy. It was both alluring and daring, nothing like I had ever worn before.

  “I’m supposed to wear that?” I pointed to the dress, not bothering to hide the fact I wasn’t a fan.

  "Yes, and you’re going to look absolutely stunning in it," Esther assured me, her voice carrying a genuine sense of excitement.

  Nicolette added, "Trust us, you're in good hands."

  I withheld a sigh and eyed the dress again. It reminded me of something Anya would wear. My heart twisted at the thought of my best friend. She would be losing her mind by now. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she was camped out at the police station trying to do their job for them.

  The sooner I got through whatever was coming, the quicker I could figure out how to make it back home. I looked between Esther and Nicolette, offering a tentative smile. “So, what’s first?”

  "Over here," Esther instructed, gently guiding me toward a large glass shower.

  “Everything you need is already inside. We’ll be waiting out here.”

  I swallowed and nodded. Of course, they wouldn’t leave me all alone. I kept my back to them and quickly undressed, relieved when I glanced over my shoulder and saw they weren’t watching. I stepped into the shower and pulled the glass doors closed, shutting myself inside a temporary haven of privacy.

  I shifted on the cool tiles and brushed my fingers across the sleek brassy fixtures. There were more handles than I knew what to do with. I finally managed to figure them out and adjusted the water until comforting warmth cascaded from a rainfall showerhead. Steam gathered on the glass and I slightly relaxed. I needed this more than I’d thought. The water seemed to carry away some of the weight my circumstances had dumped onto me.

  I washed my hair with a shampoo and conditioner I’d never heard of before. It smelled good and it made my long waves feel like silk. I reached for the shower gel next. It was at least a name I recognized, but I hadn’t been aware Chanel made a line of hygiene products. For a moment, all I could do was stare at the bottle, my mind grappling with the reality of the situation.

  Everything was brand new. As much as I wanted to deny they’d been bought specifically for me, my intuition said otherwise. The fact that Mr. Hawthorne wanted to make sure I was well fed and pampered only deepened the complexity of the situation. I finished my shower, struggling to reconcile his actions.

  There was a fluffy towel and silk robe waiting for me when I stepped out. Once I was dry Esther and Nicolette went right to work styling my long hair into a half-up, half-down style that framed my face elegantly.

  A light layer of makeup was applied, enhancing my features in a way that surprised me given how little had been used.

  "You're looking stunning already," Nicolette remarked, her words accompanied by a genuine smile.

  "You are,” Esther was quick to agree. “Now for the final touch!”

  With careful precision, they helped me step into the alluring red dress. The silk fabric clung to my form, the boldness of the design leaving me feeling both exposed and strangely empowered. I thought the neckline on my uniform dress had been bad; this was downright scandalous.

  I turned to face a large floor-length mirror. A slightly transformed version of myself stared back. My internal struggle resurfaced, bringing with it the weight I’d shed in the shower and a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Defiance and resignation warred within me.

  I couldn't help but wonder what was in store for me, what secrets this evening held and would hopefully reveal. I knew no matter what was to come, if I had any chance of finding a way out of here, all I could do was navigate the path that lay ahead and hope it proved useful for reconnaissance.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Hours had passed since I’d last seen him. As I stood on the threshold of Mr. Hawthorne’s home, fading sunlight cast long shadows across his secluded property.

  “We’re leaving?” I couldn’t keep the surprise or concern from my voice.

  “Diabolus is waiting at our destination,” Nicolette explained not unkindly.

  There was that moniker again. And I saw I still wasn’t going to get a straight answer as to where I was being taken. I stepped out and took a look around. On the other side of an expansive slate driveway, a large SUV was on standby.

  The sight of it brought forth a mixture of nervous anticipation and trepidation.

  “It will be alright,” Esther softly assured me, placing a gentle hand on my arm.

  I didn’t believe that. Not for a single second. Something told me whatever they were being so secretive about would be anything but okay. The ability to see everything around me could either mean my chances of escape were slim, or I was being underestimated. There was only one way to find out. I swallowed and forced my silken flats to carry me forward.

  Esther and Nicolette stayed on either side of me, an invisible guiding force. A cool breeze brushed against my skin as we walked, carrying a refreshing scent from the lake. I glanced back only once and immediately wished I hadn’t.

  I wasn’t sure house accurately described what was behind us.

  It looked more like a miniature castle—a masterpiece of sinister grandeur. The arching opaque windows seemed like sentinels, guarding the secrets of their master’s home. The landscaping was a blend of natural beauty and careful cultivation surrounded by the massive lake I’d seen earlier, its water now darker than the night sky, no doubt harboring secrets of its own.

  Drawing closer to the waiting SUV, a man rounded the front and approached the passenger door to open it for us. My steps faltered as I took in the sight of him. Or maybe it was a woman. Cloaked in black and wearing a smooth, expressionless mask that concealed their features, I couldn’t say for sure.

  “Why are they dressed like that?” I whispered, watching them wordlessly open the door.

  “Don’t be afraid. It’s merely a custom of our faith.”

  The realization hit me like a sudden jolt as pieces of a puzzle clicked into place. I didn’t know how I’d missed all the obvious clues. The enigma that was Mr. Hawthorne and those around him were part of some sort of group. That trade show revealed hints of this too.

  A weight of uncertainty clung to me and gnawed at my thoughts. What would any of that have to do with me? I stared at the SUV and the driver, their silent invitation hanging in the air. The vehicle's presence now seemed almost like a harbinger.

  “Nothing bad will happen to you,” Esther assured again.

  A bitter chuckle escaped me before I could stop it. "Something bad has already happened. I’ve been kidnapped."

  Esther turned and looked at me, her brown eyes taking on a note of confusion.

  “You think you were kidnapped? It’s not like that at all, Lolita.”

  I didn’t bother responding to her delusion. Just like Mr. Hawthorne, Esther was part of this enigmatic world. Nicolette shook her head and stepped closer, her eyes reflecting a deeper understanding.

  "I know you're scared and none of this is making much sense. You have no reason to trust us. If I were in your position, I would feel the same, but you will get through this night."

  Her genuine empathy offered a glimmer of solace. With a reluctant sigh, I closed the distance between me and the SUV, seating myself between the two of them. The driver shut the door and returned to his position behind the wheel, not speaking to any of us. I wondered if Mr. Hawthorne was confident that I wouldn’t run, or rather he wasn’t concerned about finding me if I did. My guess was on the former.

  The SUV's engine hummed, the only sound as it journeyed away from where I was being kept.

  With each passing mile, more of a world that was both unfamiliar and strangely captivating was revealed. I had no idea where I had been taken to. Once the seclusion of Mr. Hawthorne’s home fell away, we passed through a village of some sort. The cobblestone streets were lined with buildings that had been well maintained and seemed to whisper tales of secrecy.

  Everything was bathed in the soft glow of lantern lights and ornate streetlamps. There were people too—as normal as they came. They wandered in and out of shops that seemed to hold different trinkets and restaurants that exuded enticing aromas. None of them paid more than a fleeting glance at the SUV driving through the streets. But why would they?

  The village was alive with a deceptive tranquility. There was no way for these people to know I was here and not of my own free will. The people and the nightlife gradually fell away, and a few more minutes rolled by before the SUV took a turn onto a long road.

  An imposing fence lined with some kind of barbed wire cut through the center of it. Unmasked guards patrolled the perimeter with vigilant canines at their sides. I counted two that were a breed of mastiff and one Doberman.