Duplicity

Nove

"I was just getting some water, I swear, but then I heard voices coming-" I stammered out, trying to explain exactly why I had broken his rules, but I could tell by his face that I was in trouble.

"Enough," he growled and I went to take a step back, but I was already against the door. "I specifically told you that you were to stay upstairs-"

"But I was thirsty-"

"So you should have told me and I would have gotten you something, but you directly disobeyed me," he roared and I wanted to shrink into the floor. "I have given you enough chances, Mary. Up to my office. Now."

I was so scared of him that I didn't even hesitate to run upstairs and into the only lighted room on the second floor. I tried to hold in my gasp of wonder, already in love with the layout, though I could feel that terrible things had happened in here. There was a large wooden desk with a matching armchair behind it that looked very vintage and very expensive. The red carpet, which I would have thought to be gaudy in another setting, gave the room a dark, sophisticated vibe and I wondered if Harry had ever killed anyone in the room. He wouldn't exactly have to clean the rug. The large windows at the other end of the room overlooked the backyard that gave way to the woods and there was a set of two cushioned chairs with a small table in between. The walls, that were not covered in bookshelves, were hardwood and that just added to the entire vampire lair thing that Harry had going on.

My thinking was cut short by the sound of footsteps and the slamming of the door, making my knees almost quake with fear. My eyes followed him as he walked around his desk until he was seated in his chair and then his dark gaze was fixed on me. He looked like a cruel king sitting there, the power taunting and torturing the powerless.

"Sit," he motioned to the seat right in front of the desk and, feeling like I was in the principal's office, I obeyed his order with only the slightest bit of hesitance. It was silent for a moment, Harry simply fixing his stormy jade glare on me while I tried not to squirm or make eye-contact, but all my attention is on him when he slams his hands on the desk a moment later.

"Harry, I-"

"Did I or did I not tell you that you were only allowed to stay in your room or the library?"

"I didn't mean to-"

"Mary!" he slammed his fist onto the desk so hard that I whimpered. "Answer the question."

"Y-you told me to stay in my room or the library," I stuttered, honestly terrified at this point. I should have known not to push him any further because look where it got me.

"And you did not, so regardless of the reason, you disobeyed me again. I'm not letting it slide this time, kitten. Remember, the goal is for you to learn, not for me to just hurt you."

"H-Harry," I weakly pleaded, but his stony expression didn't even falter by a twitch.

"Come here."

I stared at him wide-eyed for a couple seconds before vigorously shaking my head. I did not want to go over to Harry because god only knows what he had come up with for a punishment.

"Mary," he ground out through his teeth. "If you're not here in the next five seconds, I'm not going to be responsible for my actions."

That forced me to immediately stand up and I was in front of him before I was ready. My lower back was pressed against his desk, my knees touching his, and I gulped at our proximity, wanting to do nothing more than run and hide. I absolutely hated being around angry men, especially since those in my life were so prone to violence. His hands pushed up my shirt, placing them on my hips before he roughy pulled my pajama pants down to my knees. I tried to get away, but the edge of the desk just dug into my back and his arms caged me in, making escape impossible. My underwear was pulled down next and I let out a yelp, but Harry's eyes didn't leave mine.