Shackled In Sin | BxB

12. Returning Home

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I TOOK ANOTHER DEEP BREATH, forcing myself to knock. The sound echoed through the small house, and after a moment, I heard footsteps approaching. The door creaked open, and there she was—my sister—looking even thinner and paler than I remembered. Twinkling in her eyes, however, was that same determined spark of life.

"Theo!" Her voice was blended with surprise and relief. She flung herself at me, wrapping her frail arms around me in a tight embrace. I felt the weight of the past years melt away as I held her close.

My voice cracked as I whispered her name. "I've missed you so much."

She pulled back, her eyes scanning my face with concern. "Where have you been? What happened to you?"

I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. How could I explain? How could I tell her about the brothel, and Lord Mercer? What about the twisted relationship I found myself trapped in? It was hard enough hiding it from her when I worked at The Parlour but I suppose I had become even more of a coward than I was back then.

At least I knew what I felt when I was nothing but a whore but now I had become someone else entirely. Something even I didn't know what to make of. I had these twisted, mixed up feelings inside of me and wanted so badly to confide in her, for her to help unravel the binds that held me. But I couldn't. Not at the thought of losing the bright warmth that enveloped me when she looked at me with such love in her eyes. It was too much to bear.

"It's... a long story," I said finally, offering a weak smile as I chose again to hide my demons from her. "But I'm here now."

She nodded, sensing the turmoil within me, and took my hand. "Come inside. Thomas is out running errands, but he'll be back soon. We can talk, and you can tell me everything."

I followed her into the house, the familiar surroundings filling me with a bittersweet nostalgia. Everything looked smaller than I remembered, but it still felt like home. As I sat down at the small kitchen table, I couldn't help but glance back at the door, half expecting Lord Mercer to be standing there in the doorway, watching me with those cold, calculating eyes.

Mary sat across from me, her gaze unwavering. "Theo, you look... different. What happened to you?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "I've been through a lot, Mary. More than I can explain right now. But I'm safe, and I'm here to see you."

She reached across the table, taking my hand in hers. "That's all that matters, Theo. You're home now."

Her words should have been comforting, but they only deepened the ache in my chest. Home. The word felt foreign, like something I no longer deserved to have. How could I tell her that even as I sat here, in the place that should have been my sanctuary, a part of me still craved the touch of a man who had done nothing but mock and hurt me?

I forced a smile, squeezing her hand. "Yes, Mary. I'm home."

As we sat there, talking about everything and nothing, I couldn't shake the feeling of Lord Mercer's presence lingering over me. The suit he'd ordered me, the tart he'd given me, the visit he'd granted me—each gesture had chipped away at my defences, leaving me more confused and vulnerable than I'd ever felt before.

It was a worse vulnerability than when I first stood bare in front of the Abbess as she inspected my body from top to bottom. Even worse still than the time he paraded me around at his party, showing me off to all of his guests. Back then, I still had my castle—my internal fort—to hide behind but now that castle had turned to glass and Lord Mercer, I feared, could see right through it.