Book I: Near Death Experience (18+) ✔️

24.

It had been a few days since the testing and samples were taken from Doctor Lestrovs. I had been placed in my room, Cassandra coming to socialize with me for a few hours a day as Knox and Xander had kept their distance. As much as I enjoyed her company, I felt lonely. My heart begged for me to find them, even after being locked away from them. The hallway leading to Knox's office was eerily silent, save for the muffled echoes of heated voices slipping through the partially closed door. As I approached, the escalating tension pulled me in, prompting a pause. The exchange within was laden with ominous weight, each uttered word a sharp edge in the tense atmosphere.

"-will keep this discrete. If I find out you have notified anyone of her condition..." Knox's voice pierced through the air, taut with restrained anger.

"I will make sure you and your family suffer more pain than your ancestors," Xander's retort cut like a razor, his words dripping with icy menace.

"You wouldn't want anything to happen to that precious wife of yours, Doctor?" There was a dark amusement in Xander's tone, a veiled threat that sent a chill down my spine.

"I promise my Lords, my loyalty is with Norway and you," the Doctor's voice quivered with a mix of fear and desperation, his words a fragile plea for mercy tethered to an allegiance he dared not betray.

Amidst this exchange of veiled threats and allegiance, the palpable tension seemed to suffuse the very walls. The weight of unspoken consequences hung heavy in the air, a collision of loyalties, power, and the unspoken price of betrayal.

The hurried rush of footsteps reverberated down the hallway as Doctor Levotrist bolted out of Knox's office, nearly colliding with me. His panicked gaze, wide and wild, met mine for an instant, conveying a silent plea that spoke volumes. There was a palpable fear in his eyes, an unspoken warning lurking beneath the surface.

As he stumbled, his breaths laboured and frantic, he swiftly bowed in a gesture of deference, his voice barely above a whisper. "Min Frue," he uttered, a phrase tinged with urgency and respect, before hastening down the stairs, his hurried footsteps fading into the distance.

The encounter left me unsettled, a sense of foreboding settling like a heavyweight in the pit of my stomach. The doctor's demeanour spoke of hidden knowledge, a secret that seemed to intertwine with my existence, yet remained frustratingly elusive.

"Adelaide," Knox's voice sliced through the tense air, drawing my attention as he stood framed in the doorway, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"What was that about?" I queried, confusion lacing my words.

"Come in," Knox commanded, his voice brooking no argument. I complied, entering the luxurious yet foreboding space where Xander sat perched on the edge of Knox's imposing desk.

The exchange of intense glances between the two men seemed to speak volumes, yet their silence echoed louder than words. I shifted uneasily under their scrutinizing gazes.

Knox's office was an opulent sanctuary nestled within the heart of his home. The room exuded an aura of authority and sophistication, adorned with lavish accents that spoke volumes about his stature.

The walls, a rich mahogany hue, were adorned with ornate paintings, each an ode to historical moments that seemed to whisper tales of power and intrigue. Soft, ambient lighting cascaded from elegant chandeliers overhead, casting a warm glow upon the meticulously arranged furniture.

The centrepiece of the room was Knox's imposing desk, an impressive piece of polished dark wood, adorned with intricate carvings along its edges. Papers neatly arranged, each seemingly holding a piece of strategic importance, lay atop its smooth surface. A pair of high-backed leather chairs sat in front of the desk, exuding an air of regal comfort. The one on the right held Knox himself, his posture commanding, exuding an aura of controlled authority. To his left, Xander perched on the edge of the desk, his demeanour a mix of confidence and calculated cunning.