Grasp of Darkness

Chapter Six

He did not carry her inside like she was expecting him to. Instead, he opened the door and held out his hand for her to grab onto.

She did not.

Instead, she slipped out of the car and walked ahead; there were guards by the gates in front of the driveway. She wouldn't be able to make it past both of them–not yet, anyway. Maybe in a few weeks when she got her hands on poison, or a sedative, or maybe even both.

She would take them all out. Every single last one of them, including her brain-washed sister-in-law who would be subjecting her child to years of captivity.

She turned down the hall, walking down the familiar pathway to her room before she heard a cough behind her. She turned, hands on her hips. "What now?" she asked.

"I'm going to assume you're going to your room, baby?"

"That would be correct."

Dimitri grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. "That's not the way, Sweet Pea."

Phoebe rolled her eyes, tapping her foot in impatience. "Yes, it is. You've certainly grounded me enough times for me to know the way to my own prison cell."

His smile spread. "Oh, you mean your temporary living quarters? When I was giving you time to adjust?"

Her eyes widened, her arms dropping by her sides. "What do you mean by temporary?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Baby Girl. It's not customary for a husband to sleep without his wife, and I've grown very tired without you. I've missed you far too long to have you out of my sight, Darling."

"You mean I'm sleeping with you?" Phoebe barked out a laugh. "Absolutely not. Over my dead body, dickweed."

"Not dickweed, Sweetness. Daddy."

"Can you hop off of that?"

"To quote my favorite girl, over my dead body." He smiled, taking a few long strides towards her and taking her hand into his. He brought it to his lips. "I've been without you for far too long. Now, come, I must show you where my room is."

She remembered where his room was. She remembered all too well.

"I know where it is," she said, trying to yank her hand out of his. He only pulled her in by her waist, continuing to lead her upstairs. "I don't need guidance; I need sleep."

Dimitri laughed, tugging her along the never-ending, winding halls that led to everywhere and nowhere at the same time. His thumb ran along her knuckles in what could have been a comforting gesture, but managed to achieve nothing of the sort.

She hated him. She hated him more than anything on their God-forsaken Earth, and she knew that she had to leave with Caty at her first chance.

No matter what, Caty had to escape.

Her heart pounded in her ears. She couldn't sleep next to him. He would be able to sense her movements; she wouldn't have a chance of escaping if they were in the same bed. He was a light sleeper and always noticed when something was off in the dead of night, even when he was far away, lost in his own dreams.

"Can I sleep on your sofa tonight, Dimitri?" she asked, swallowing back her urge to call him the most vile names imaginable.

"Absolutely not, little menace," he smiled, shaking his head. "You are far too unpredictable to not be within a five foot radius of me." As they approached the dreaded door, his hand encircling the handle, he turned, kissing her forehead before whispering, "And believe me when I said I've been far too tired without you. I'll never let you go again, my love. Never."