MALLEABLE

CHAPTER FOUR

malevolent : a person with malicious or wicked intent.

♠︎

︎Q U I N T O N

It took a few suspicious looks from Sabrina to finally pick up her gift.

As I watched her unwrap the beautifully presented gift, her eyes widened with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity.

The midnight blue paper and the shimmering silver ribbon had been meticulously chosen, setting the stage for what lay inside.

Her heart raced, mirroring my own, as she uncovered the ornate, antique-looking key.

I observed her closely, my dark and enigmatic eyes never leaving her face. There was a sense of satisfaction in seeing her reaction, a silent acknowledgment of the intrigue I had woven into this surprise.

"A key?" she inquired, giving me a half smile.

I couldn't resist a small, passing knowing smile in return. My voice, smooth and laced with mystery, replied, "It's the key to a hidden treasure, Sabrina. A surprise that I think you'll find quite intriguing."

Passing her the card, I watched as she opened it, reading my cryptic message.

Unlock the door to adventure, my dear. Follow the path it leads you on, and you may discover secrets hidden in plain sight.

In that moment, her mixed emotions played right into the complexity of our connection, and I reveled in the enigmatic allure of the gift I had given her.

I could sense the feeling of impending doom settling down in her heart when she finished reading that cryptic message. Her eyebrows furrowed cutely and her juicy red lips stretched in a thin line.

I could see her anxiousness, feel it. I fed on her fear and her feeling helpless.

It was the only way of ensuring that when tides would turn, she would have nowhere else to run but to me.

I would be her everything. Her day would start with me and end with me buried inches inside her. She would accept her new life and with time, come to love it.

Come to love me.

"I. .I don't know what to say" she whispered, breaking my dark chain of thoughts as she inspected the golden key clasped in her pale hands "Thank you, Mr. Bartholomew."

"Where is it supposed to go?" she asked again when I didn't reply.

My heart. My sanctuary. My heaven on earth.

"You'll know," I replied, trying to keep my sinister intents on the lockdown for now but I knew I failed when she took a tentative step back "Since you cannot use it, I have another present for you."

"Another?"

"Yes," I took out a simple, thin gold chain with a small diamond in the center. It was simple and perfectly her preference "Turn around."

Her eyes widened at the gift as her breathtaking indigo eyes met mine defiantly "I cannot accept it. You have already given me one present."

I suppressed an amused smile at her declaration.

Seems like my little mouse hated me a bit, her snappiness towards me was increasing by the day and her fear and intimidation for me was transforming into budding hate.

No matter. I'd snap that from the bud, there's a thin line between love and hate anyway, right?

"I wasn't asking Sabrina,"