Sins of Dominion

Chapter 8: Shattered Reflections

Evelyn

I barely slept that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Dominic’s face—his dark eyes boring into mine, his cold smile promising that he would strip away everything I was trying so hard to protect. I tossed and turned in my bed, my mind replaying our conversation by the fountain, the way he had touched me as if I already belonged to him.

By the time dawn broke, I was exhausted but no closer to any answers. I felt like I was unraveling, and no matter how hard I tried to pull myself back together, the threads kept slipping through my fingers.

Carter was gone by the time I woke up, having left a note saying he’d be back later in the day. The absence of his presence only made the silence in my dorm room feel heavier, more oppressive. I wanted to tell him everything, to pour out my fears and have him tell me it would be okay. But I knew better. Involving Carter more than I already had would only put him in Dominic’s crosshairs, and I couldn’t bear the thought of him getting hurt because of me.

The day passed in a blur. I went through the motions—attending classes, taking notes—but none of it really registered. My thoughts kept drifting back to Dominic, to the way he had promised that this was only the beginning. I couldn’t help but wonder what he had in store for me, and the not knowing was driving me to the brink.

By the time my last class ended, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to talk to someone, needed to get some kind of perspective on what was happening to me. There was only one person who might have some insight, someone who had been in Dominion University long enough to know its darker undercurrents.

Isabella Thorne—Dominic’s younger sister.

I had heard whispers about her, about the complicated relationship she shared with Dominic. Some said she was the only person he truly cared about; others claimed she was as twisted as he was, if not more so. I didn’t know what to believe, but I had to find out.

She was elusive, rarely seen outside of classes, but I had overheard some students mentioning that she often spent time in the old greenhouse on the edge of campus, a place that was rarely visited.

Taking a deep breath, I headed in that direction. The walk to the greenhouse was longer than I expected, the path winding through a small patch of woods that bordered the campus. The trees were thick, their branches interwoven, casting deep shadows that made the late afternoon feel like twilight.

By the time I reached the greenhouse, the air was cool and crisp, the setting sun casting a golden glow over the glass structure. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if this was a mistake. But the need for answers pushed me forward, and I stepped inside.

The interior was warm and humid, the air thick with the scent of earth and growing things. Plants of all kinds filled the space, their leaves brushing against each other in a soft, rustling symphony. The glass walls were fogged up, distorting the outside world, making it feel as though I had stepped into another realm.

And there, in the center of it all, was Isabella.

She was sitting on a small wooden bench, her posture relaxed, her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her fingers traced the edge of a flower pot, her gaze fixed on a cluster of orchids in front of her. She seemed lost in thought, completely unaware of my presence.

I cleared my throat softly, and her head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as they focused on me. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the air between us thick with tension. Isabella was strikingly beautiful, with the same sharp features as Dominic, but her eyes held a different kind of darkness—one that was more calculating, more restrained.