God Of Desire

veil of control

Anastasia's :

As I woke up from my nap, my neck ached from the uncomfortable position I had been sitting in. The only sound I could hear was the music still playing softly in my ears. I removed my headphones, rubbing my tired eyes before stretching my back and arms. Mom and Dad were talking quietly in the front, their voices a low murmur as the car moved smoothly.

I glanced out the window, watching the familiar sights of Thunder Bay. Our family's Rolls Royce was spacious, but somehow, the air inside felt stifling after the long drive. I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat.

"You're awake, Valeska," Dad's voice broke through, sounding amused. He always used my Russian nickname when he was in a good mood. "Did you sleep well?"

"Well, considering I feel like my neck is about to snap off, yeah, I'd say it was a great nap," I said with a smirk, rolling my head from side to side to ease the tension.

Mom turned her head slightly, offering me a small smile. "You should've laid back more, darling. The drive is long, and we're not even there yet."

"I thought we'd be there by now," I sighed, glancing at the clock on the dashboard. "How much longer?"

"Not too long," Dad answered, his tone casual as he glanced back at me. "Ilya's making good time."

From the driver's seat, Ilya, our ever-stoic bodyguard, gave a slight nod through the rearview mirror. "Another twenty minutes, Miss Anastasia."

"Great," I muttered, leaning back into my seat and staring out the window again.

"Excited to meet some of the Thunder Bay kids?" Mom asked, her voice lighter now, clearly trying to shift the conversation.

I shrugged. "I guess. Not really sure what to expect. From what I've heard, they're not exactly welcoming to outsiders."

Dad chuckled at that, his eyes meeting mine through the mirror. "You're a Volkov, Valeska. They'll welcome you whether they want to or not."

I rolled my eyes at that. "Yeah, because that's exactly how I want to make friends...intimidation."

Mom reached back and patted my knee softly. "Don't worry, love. Just be yourself. You'll do fine."

I gave a half-hearted smile but kept quiet. 'Being myself' had never really been that simple, not with our family's reputation. But I wasn't about to get into that now.

Instead, I let the quiet hum of the car fill the space as we drove toward the next chapter of my life in Thunder Bay, hoping that things wouldn't be as complicated as I knew they probably would be.

After about ten more minutes, we finally arrived. I straightened up in my seat, feeling my neck still slightly stiff from the nap. As we approached the mansion, the large iron gates loomed ahead, slowly swinging open as our Rolls Royce rolled forward.

The mansion itself was massive, its pale stone exterior gleaming in the late afternoon sun. Elegant yet imposing, the structure sat surrounded by lush, manicured gardens that stretched on for what seemed like miles. Despite its grandeur, there was something unsettling about it, something that made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

As we drove through the gates, I noticed the guards. There were far more than I expected lined up in dark suits, positioned at various points along the driveway, and stationed near every entrance of the mansion. Their eyes followed our car as we passed. I was used to guards; it was the reality of living as a Volkov. But not like this. This felt... excessive.

"Is this really necessary?" I muttered under my breath, shifting in my seat as we came to a stop near the front steps. I counted at least a dozen security cameras mounted on the outer walls, tracking every movement, every car, every person.