When Darkness Falls

Chapter 42: Secret admirer

My throat burned, and my mouth was dry as if I were eating sand. I swallowed, coughing a little and licked my lips, running my tongue along the small cut, tasting the dry blood. Classical music rang in my ears, and the smell of sweets wafted into my nose.

I tried to open my eyes, blinking rapidly as the bright flickering flames blinded me for a moment. I looked around, the room finally coming into view, and nothing was familiar.

Someone had placed me in a chair at a long wooden table with white candles, and an extensive range of desserts was scattered neatly across the table. The room was Victorian-style, with wooden walls, a crystal chandelier and moulded ceilings, adding a unique flare. A brightly burning fire danced before me, and I was grateful for the warmth.

I pushed myself up from the table, eyes roaming the room intently and noticed I was alone. Then, as I stood to my full height, it dawned on me that someone had changed my clothes. My gown had been removed, and they had instead put me in a brown see-through dress.

The gown was elegant and antique looking in style, with a high neckline, puffy, short sleeves and a lace front, with flowers adorning the bodice. A beautiful dress, but not really to my taste, and I much preferred the one Darius had gotten for me.

My heart thumped in my chest at the thought of some stranger putting their hands on me to remove my clothes and seeing my naked body. I started to panic and frantically looked around. I walked toward the door but came to an abrupt stop when it swung open, and I held my breath with anticipation.

A man stepped through the doorway, dressed in a black, well-tailored suit, and it took me a minute to realize who it was. "Silas?" I asked with curiosity, and he smiled.

He closed the door and stepped toward me, his hands clasped together in front of him. "Ramona," Silas beamed, flashing his perfectly polished teeth, then bowed his head.

Silas gestured to the seat I was previously sitting in. "Please, sit. I'm sure you have questions." He said nonchalantly as if this was normal.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. "Where am I?" I asked him with urgency in my voice and gestured to the unfamiliar room.

He tipped his chin in the direction of the empty chair. "Sit," Silas demanded in a firm tone, and I bit the inside of my cheek with frustration. I sucked in a deep breath and sat in the chair with reluctance.

I watched with great interest as Silas grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. He carefully poured the red liquid into the glasses before placing them on the table. Silas then sat in the chair next to mine and crossed his legs, getting comfortable before sipping his wine.

I cleared my throat, gaining his attention and looked into his eyes. "Where is Darius?" I questioned him, and Silas groaned, rolling his eyes.

He set the glass back on the table, running his thumb along the stem and watching as the liquid splashed around. "Darius is not here, and you won't have to worry about him ever again," Silas told me, his tone assuring, and my brows furrowed with confusion.

A feeling of unease settled in my stomach, and my throat tightened. "What did you do?" I asked him, needing to know if Darius was hurt.

My apparent feelings toward Darius had struck a nerve with Silas, and he glowered at me. "You need to forget about Darius, he is your past, and I am your future." He told me in a firm tone, and my eyes widened at his words, horror gripping the very fabric of my nerves.

I tried to calm myself, but my heart pounded violently, and I felt as though I couldn't breathe. "What are you talking about, Silas?" I asked, and he looked into my eyes, those grey orbs penetrating my soul, causing me to recoil.

A devious smile creased the edges of his lips. "The moment I saw you, smelled you, I knew you were the one." He leaned closer, sniffing the air. "Your scent was too enticing to ignore, and your beauty," Silas said with admiration as he reached out to caress a strand of my hair. I pulled back, a look of disgust crossing my face, and Silas sneered at my reaction. "You were supposed to be mine, Ramona. I had full intentions of purchasing you that night at the auction, but Darius decided to be selfish and keep you for himself." He said with disdain in his tone and darkened eyes. Silas sat back in his chair and sipped the glass of wine. "Guess he should have watched over you better." He said, a cynical grin growing across his thin lips.

I gripped the chair's armrests, fingers digging into the carved wood. "Are you fucking insane?" I asked him, my tone incredulous.

Silas snorted and sipped his wine again, staring into my eyes over the glass. "Very." He said proudly before setting his drink back on the table.

I ran a hand through my hair, knowing all too well that this whole thing could end very badly for me and without Darius, I was defenceless. "Silas, I am not some object that you can just buy; I'm a person and this." I waved my hands around, gesturing to him, myself and the room. "Is not ok," I told him, disappointment in my voice, but he seemed to enjoy my turmoil.

He slid his finger along the edge of the glass, staring into my eyes like a total creep. "You are mine now, Ramona, and therefore you are my property," Silas said in a dark tone, and my eyes widened at the audacity of this man.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I am not yours, Silas, and I sure as shit am not your property," I told him harshly, and he smirked at my frustration.

He chuckled, looking into his wine glass. "With time, you will come to realize that you love me and we were destined to be together," Silas said in a gentle voice, and I was stunned by his words.

I looked into his eyes. "Darius will come for me, and when he does, you won't live to see tomorrow," I warned him, hoping his fear of Darius was greater than his desire to keep me hostage.

His eye twitched with anger, and the glass in his hand exploded, shards flying through the air. "Darius is a mere boy and is no match for me, and how can he come for you when he doesn't even know you are gone? Yet you still choose him over all of this." Silas gritted out as he gestured around the room and to himself.

Silas stood from the table, violence and lust lingering within his soulless eyes. I frantically looked around for something to defend myself with, watching as Silas stepped toward me, and I grabbed the thing closest to me, a candle stick.

I stood from the chair abruptly, causing the furniture to fall over and clatter on the floor. I thrust the candle toward Silas, but he was too quick to react, slapping the makeshift weapon from my hand.

He gripped my wrist forcefully, then shoved me against the wall, clasping his other hand firmly around my neck and constricting my airway. I gasped for air and clawed at his hand, but his grip only tightened.

Silas leaned closer, a sinister smile growing on his darkened face. "As you inch closer to death, know just how easily I can take your life if you pull something like that again." He said lowly, and my spine stiffened with fear as the room around me faded into darkness.