Tempting Darkness

Chapter 10

I'm really sorry this update took so long. I wasn't well hence I couldn't complete the chapter and post. Hope you guys can understand

***
Isabelle

After so long I had a peaceful sleep. I think I woke up around 10 maybe, I don't know. I sat across from Danielle as we had lunch together. We had cooked lunch together and it was fun. I think I laughed after ages now, even back home, in Stowe, Vermont. I don't think I even laughed unless I was with Lucy. Lucy. God, I miss her. Honestly, if it weren't for her, I don't think I would have survived all those years with my aunt, uncle, and everyone else there. She was the only friend I had.  Lucy was the one who gave me the hope and courage to live. She had always told me that once we grow older, we'd move out of that shit hole of a town and then live our lives to the fullest. 

"What are you thinking about?" Danielle asked

"Hmm?" I replied, "Oh nothing, just ugh, miss my best friend." I smiled sadly."She meant a lot to me. I wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for her."

Dani's eyes widened and she opened her mouth but shut it quickly as if unsure what to say. A few quiet minutes passed when I broke the silence between us. "Anyways, let's not talk about all this. Let's talk about something else."

"Of course." 

"So, let's get to know each other. What's your favorite color?"

"Grey, you?"

We spent the rest of our afternoon questioning each other about our likes, dislikes, dreams, and so many more things. But now, I am all alone here. There are just a few guards outside and a maid downstairs— probably in the kitchen preparing dinner. A few hours back, Danielle had received a call— I don't know what they were talking about as they spoke in Italian— but she had to leave urgently after that, leaving me all by myself. The only few things Dani said to me were "I have to go back. There's been an emergency." "Take care of yourself." and "I'll be back soon." I stared at the ceiling in boredom as I lay on my bed. 

I had nothing to do and no one to talk to now. Great! Now I guess the only thing that I can do is stare at the bloody ceiling. 

***

It had been four days since Dani left and I've had absolutely nothing to do or anyone to talk to ever since. I've just been in my room, the lawn, or sometimes the living room doing nothing. Honestly, it was better living in that mansion than here. My phone's plans were cut off now, so I couldn't call anyone. I stared out the bay window of my room as I watched the sunset. Wherever I am right now, it has a beautiful view of the Sun and the ocean. The Sun crossing the west horizon was so beautiful. It reminded me of my and my family's days at the beach house Dad owned. Elena and I would always climb up to the roof of the house and we'd watch the sunset. At first, I could never climb the roof but then Elena taught me. As I was reminiscing, a smile had unknowingly crept onto my face.

I stepped out of my room and went downstairs to grab something to eat. I strolled towards the kitchen and my eyes traveled across the living room as I heard someone talking in Italian. My eyes widened. "Danielle?" I said. Her face turned to me and she smiled at me. "Hey." She said, "I'm back." She said something to the guard she was talking to before I came in Italian and he left. "How are you?" Dani asked. 

"I'm fine. What about you?" 

"I'm fine too." She sighed. "Go pack your bags. The situation has calmed down so we can go back to the mansion now." Danielle handed me a backpack as she continued, "Here, take this. I suppose you wouldn't have a bag to pack your things in." 

"Thanks. I'll pack up after I get something to eat." I ambled over to the kitchen and opened a few shelves until I found something to eat. I took the packet of chips and went back upstairs to my room. I entered the room walked over to the wardrobe and took out all the few clothes I had there.

I was packing up my things when someone knocked on the door. I put down my things and turned around to see who it was.

"Hey. You done?" Dani asked.

"No. What's up?" I kept packing as I talked to her.

"Well, I talked to Christian about you completing your education, and," My eyes shot up as I quickly turned my head around. "He said that as long as you don't run away, you can complete high school and then even go to college here, in Italy."

"Really?" She nodded and I ran toward her and hugged her tightly. Tears had started to fill my eyes, I'll maybe still have a future and now I'll even get to see Lucy one more time. "Thank you so, so much Danielle. It means the world to me."

"When exactly are your exams?"

"24 days from today, they start on May 21."

"One more thing, after we are done with your exams, we will be going to Chicago, where we'll meet up with Christian." My eyes widened and I let out a loud gasp. My breath hitched.

"Chris-Christian as in T-the Devil?" 

"Yes. But, hey, don't be so scared of him, he won't be hurting. He'd never hurt you. I promise. You trust me, don't you? You've nothing to be scared of." She tried to comfort me but it was of no use. My breath was still unstable due to the fear.

I had everything to be scared of. He could hurt me. Just one wrong move and he might as well kill me. Oh God. What am I gonna do?

***

Time had passed faster than last time. I had not even realized when we had reached the mansion— probably because I slept through the drive as we had left at night. We arrived by 2 in the morning and I was pretty sleepy so Danielle had taken me straight up to my room. I didn't exactly get to see the state of the house back then. Dani told me I could visit the garden whenever I wanted when I went to get permission in the morning. I was free to go to the garden whenever I wanted.

It was 7 right now and I was out in the gardens with a cup of coffee in my hands. The mansion's state wasn't very well and there were a lot of injured people around here. I suppose the attack was very brutal. The flowerbeds had been destroyed and so had the gazebo I had seen when I was here last time. My room looked the same way it was, but there were scratches on the walls, and nightlamps were replaced too along with some other pieces of furniture. On my way to the garden, I had a small glance at the living room and it was pretty damaged too.

I have to stay here for another month now. This is my only opportunity to not have to repeat my senior year of high school. I can survive a month, can't I? I can, right? I've got this. I have to do this. Once I get back to the U.S.A., I can finally be free. I can have the life that I've always wanted. I can do whatever I want. I can go wherever I want. Once I'm free, no one will stop me from doing anything I want. I can do anything and everything I had only wished to do, things I had only dreamt of. I cannot give this chance up because it might be the only one giving me a shot at life.