Rage & Ruin | 18+

19| The thrill of getting caught

When dawn finally broke, she slipped out of the bed, her body aching from the night's ordeal. The cold floor beneath her feet brought a shiver, but it was nothing compared to the chill that had settled in her bones. She padded to the door, her hand trembling as she turned the knob. It opened soundlessly, revealing the empty hallway beyond.

Her eyes searched the space, desperately seeking any sign of him. The maids bustled about, their eyes cast down, avoiding hers. She knew they were aware of the situation, their sympathy a silent shroud that made her feel more exposed than ever. She called out to one of them, her voice a mere thread of sound. "Where is he?"

The maid, a plump woman with kind eyes, paused in her work, her hands folded in her apron. "Mr. Alaric has gone to the city, Miss Daphne. He won't be back for a week." The words hung in the air, a gift and a curse wrapped in the same breath. A week of reprieve, but also a week of dreadful anticipation.

Daphne's shoulders slumped, her spirit heavy with the weight of the realization that her nightmare was not a fleeting one but a permanent reality. She had been so naive to believe his whispers of love and support, the promise of allowing her to study in the city under his name. Now, all she felt was the bitter taste of deceit. She retreated to her room, closing the door with a soft click that echoed through the hall.

Curling up on the bed that had become a prison cell, she buried her face in the pillow, allowing the tears to flow freely. Her sobs were muffled by the fabric, but the pain was stark and raw. How could she have been so easily fooled? Her sister's voice played in her mind, a warning she had ignored, and now she was paying the price.

Daphne's thoughts were a tumultuous storm, swirling with anger, despair, and a deep sense of betrayal. The man who was now her husband had used her in the most vile way possible, only to cast her aside again. The hope of studying, of building a life of her own, had been a cruel illusion. Her sister's words about his true nature echoed in her mind, a taunting reminder of her naivety.

The days passed in a blur of tears and self-recrimination. She avoided the mirror, unable to face the reflection of the girl who had been so easily manipulated. The house felt like a prison, the opulent decor a mockery of the pain she felt. She found solace in the quiet corners of the library, surrounded by books that whispered of a world beyond her reach.

One afternoon, as she sat engrossed in a dusty tome, the scent of his cologne invaded her sanctuary. She tensed, her heart racing as she felt his hands grip her shoulders. "Missed me, wifey?" Alaric's voice was a sneer in her ear, his breath hot against her neck. She closed her eyes, willing herself to be anywhere but here, but his touch was a cruel reminder of her fate.

Daphne forced herself to remain still, her muscles rigid as his fingers traced the outline of her neck. She knew if she flinched, it would only fuel his delight in her fear. Instead, she took a deep breath, the scent of old leather and parchment mixing with his overpowering presence. "I've been busy," she murmured, her voice steady despite the tremor that threatened to betray her.

He chuckled, the sound grating against her nerves. "Busy planning how to escape this marriage?" His grip tightened, yanking her to her feet. She had to bite her lip to keep from crying out as pain shot through her arm. "You're mine now, Daphne. You'll learn to enjoy it, or you'll learn to regret it."

The library, once a bastion of comfort, now felt suffocating. The books around her, once a window to a brighter future, now seemed like bars of a cage she could never break free from. He spun her around to face him, his eyes cold and calculating. "You're going to be the perfect wife, aren't you?"

Daphne met his gaze, her own eyes flashing with defiance. "I'll do my duty," she said, her voice a tightrope between submission and rebellion. She knew that fighting him directly would only bring more suffering, so she resolved to find her strength in endurance.