The War.

Chapter 49: Shiver.

Charlotte's breath hitched in her throat. "Please don't hurt her... please.. she's just a child," she pleaded, her eyes glistening with tears.

Stella rolled her eyes, her expression cold and unimpressed, flicking off the light as she turned sharply on her heel. The door slammed behind her, sealing the room in darkness.

Without a word, she strode down the hallway, her heels clicking rhythmically against the polished floor, and entered her office, shutting the door behind her.

Ella's chest heaved as she fought to catch her breath, tears streaming down her face. Stella's assistant held her tightly, trying to keep her from lashing out or breaking anything nearby. She squirmed desperately in the assistant's grip, her limbs flailing in a frenzied attempt to break free. Fear and anger warred within her, spilling over into desperate pleas and sobs.

"Let her go," Stella commanded, her voice steady yet unyielding. Instantly, the assistant released her grip, stepping back. Ella stumbled, unprepared for the sudden freedom, her hands clenched and her breathing jagged.

"Ella, calm down," Stella said firmly, her tone cutting through the chaos.

"No! No, I'm not going to calm down!" Ella shouted, her voice cracking. Panic and frustration gripped her as she glared through her tears, barely registering what she was doing. Her heart pounded as her gaze met Stella's.

Stella's patience waned. "CALM DOWN," she bellowed, her voice thundering through the room.

The force of Stella's shout was like a shockwave, and Ella flinched, frozen momentarily as the words sank in. Her frantic thoughts dulled, her anger fading into a sickening feeling of dread. Suddenly, everything she'd done flashed back through her mind—the words she'd dared to say to Stella, the anger she'd thrown back at her. She couldn't stop thinking that Stella was going to punish her, maybe worse than she could imagine.

After a tense silence, Stella's voice cut through Ella's spiraling thoughts, startling her. "Ella," she called, her tone softer yet still demanding her attention.

"Y-yes?" Ella stammered, her voice trembling, unsure of what was coming next.

"Calm down," Stella repeated, her voice now measured, almost gentle. "I'm not going to hurt you."

A look of disbelief crossed Ella's face. Her pulse still raced as she tried to understand. "You... aren't?" she asked hesitantly, still bracing herself for something terrible.

"No," Stella affirmed, her tone so calm it seemed almost reassuring.

Ella stood there, rooted in place, her heart pounding as she stared at Stella, still trying to process the words. Stella's gaze was steady, piercing but calm, as if she were assessing every flicker of emotion that crossed Ella's face.

"But... I thought—" Ella's voice cracked, the flood of emotions making it hard to speak. She looked down, unable to meet Stella's eyes, terrified of what she might see.

Stella watched her in silence for a moment, the room feeling as tense as a held breath. "What did you think?" Stella finally asked, her voice still calm but laced with something that made Ella's pulse jump.

"I thought..." Ella hesitated, glancing up to see Stella's unyielding expression. Her voice came out small, almost inaudible. "I thought you were going to punish me."

Stella tilted her head slightly, her gaze never leaving Ella's face. "Punish you?" she repeated, her voice so measured that it was almost impossible to tell if she was mocking Ella or simply clarifying.

Ella nodded, swallowing hard, a shiver running down her spine. The fear was still there, but it was tangled now with confusion. Stella wasn't yelling, wasn't angry—or at least, wasn't showing it in the way Ella expected.

After a pause, Stella spoke again, her tone chillingly calm. "I only punish those who give me reason to. Do you understand that?"

Ella nodded slowly, though her mind was racing, trying to decode Stella's words, wondering if there was some hidden threat, some condition that could still change everything. She barely noticed that her hands had stopped trembling, the initial shock of fear easing under the weight of Stella's steady gaze.

Stella leaned back slightly, still watching Ella with that same controlled calm. "Now," she said, a faint edge returning to her voice, "I expect you to keep yourself in check from now on. Or I may have to reconsider."

Ella's throat tightened, but she forced herself to nod. She had no intention of testing Stella's patience again.

Ella felt a rush of relief at Stella's words, but fear still curled around her thoughts, refusing to let go. Her heart was pounding; part of her believed Stella, but she couldn't shake the cold worry gripping her. She hadn't meant to lash out, but now, standing here, she regretted every word—not because she didn't believe them, but because she feared what Stella might still be capable of. She told herself to breathe, but every glance Stella threw her way made her nerves feel frayed, like something could snap at any moment.

"Ella," Stella called, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. "Stop," she said firmly, her voice colder than before. "I already said I wouldn't hurt you, so stop."

"I... I'm sorry," Ella stuttered, her body still trembling. Stella rolled her eyes, looking at her with a mix of irritation and impatience.

"I'll be back," Stella said, turning to leave the office and closing the door behind her.

Left alone in the silence, Ella felt her chest tighten as the fear crept back. She looked around the room, her eyes catching Siobhan's form in the dim light. Siobhan's presence was barely a comfort; she looked just as tense, her face pale, her expression tightly controlled. Ella's gaze met hers for a split second, a look of shared dread passing between them.

Ella swallowed hard, glancing over at Siobhan, who stood quietly with her arms wrapped around herself. Gathering her courage, Ella's voice came out in a small, shaky whisper.

"A-are you... scared?" she asked, her eyes wide and filled with lingering fear.

Siobhan glanced down at her, her expression unreadable. She hesitated, then gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod, as if acknowledging the fear they both felt but couldn't speak of.

"Just... stay close, alright?" Siobhan murmured, her voice strained but steady. Ella nodded, inching a little closer, feeling a slight comfort in the nearness even as her heart continued to race.

-~•***•~-

short chapters to prepare for a super long one coming soon !!

even i dont know how to feel abt stella, like for a minute shes nice, then shes shouting again.

also i got a lot of messages saying something like "wow stella really is cruel" and i think it may be my fault that people didnt expect this except i put in tje first chapter stella was in smth like "stella knew she was evil—she liked it." so idk.

anyways hope you enjoyed !

bye loveliess !!