Page 28

Ivy steps out from around the corner, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. His eyes widen, and he can't help but feel his body respond to the sight of her. The chase had become more than a game—it's become a dance of desire, a battle of wills, and he wasn’t entirely sure who was winning anymore. She took off again.

Vice's eyes locked on her retreating figure. The animalistic side of him has been unleashed, and he was enjoying the thrill of the hunt. The predator in him is fully engaged.

Ivy sprinted towards the fireplace; her heart pounded in her ears. She can feel the heat from the flames licking at her face as she reaches the stone mantle. With a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw Vice closing in, his stride purposeful and relentless. She knew she couldn’t outrun him for long, so she needed to be smart. As she reached the fireplace, she pulled a hidden lever she had found weeks earlier. A secret passage swung open, and she slipped through it just as his hand grazed her cheek.

Her heart raced, as she found herself in a dimly lit secret passageway lined with dusty tapestries and portraits of long-dead nobility. The air is musty, filled with the scent of forgotten memories and hidden secrets. She takes a moment to catch her breath, listening for any sound of pursuit. The silence was deafening, and she felt the anticipation building like a crescendo in a symphony of suspense.

Suddenly, a portrait swung open behind her, spinning around she saw Vice. His eyes gleamed with a predatory light, his smile wicked. "You think you can outsmart me, little mouse?" he taunted.

Ivy's mind races as she tried to find a way to outsmart him. She noticed a set of stairs. It was risky, but she didn’t have a choice. With a deep breath, she sprinted up the stairs, her bare feet slapped against the cold stone. The higher she went, the narrower the stairs become, which forced her to slow down.But each step was a silent declaration of her intent to win this twisted game she's orchestrated.

She made it up the stairs and realized she was trapped. This was the tower, with only one way in and out, besides a single window. She suddenly becomes all too aware of the cold, unforgiving stone beneath her feet, the chilly air raised goosebumps on her exposed skin.

She hurried to the window, throwing it open, she saw nothing but the hard ground beneath it. She turned back to see Vice standing at the top of the stairs. Her chest heaved with exertion. The moonlight, the only source of light in the tower, painted their shadows like two lovers caught in a dramatic embrace on the cold stone floor. Vice took a step forward into the small room, his eyes dark with a hunger that went beyond just physical.

"You've led me on quite the chase," he said, his voice low and seductive. "But it’s over Ivy, there’s nowhere left to run," His words hung in the air. Ivy's heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t cower. Instead, she met his gaze with one of her own, a challenge sparkled in her eyes. "You think you've won?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear that threatens to overwhelm her.

Vice took a step closer; his black boots echoed in the quiet of the tower room. "Ivy," he said, his voice a gentle caress, "Your time is up."

Ivy's eyes flashed with defiance. "If you want me?" she teased, her voice was a siren's call that resonated through the stones of the castle. "Then come and get me."

Vice's smile widens, and he took another step forward, the challenge in her voice only fueled his hunger. As he slowly stepped closer to her, his head tilted as he studied her, his gaze lingered on the curve of her neck, the rapid pulse point beat like a drum. "Oh, I will," he murmured, his voice a dark promise that sends a jolt of excitement through her entire body.

Ivy stood at the open window; her eyes locked intensely on Vice. It couldn't end like this she thought to herself. She refused to let him win just yet. She slowly looked back and forth between him and the ground far below. The wind whipped through her long hair, sending it streaming behind her like a cascade of raven-black silk, as she leaned out over the void, her pale complexion was illuminated by the moonlight. Her eyes locked on to his, as she stepped off the window's sill, her body plummeted towards the ground. Vice's eyes went wide as he stared at the window; his heart pounded in his chest. He raced to the window; he looked down and realized he'd been outmaneuvered once again.

Ivy dangled from the windowsill below. With every bit of strength she had she pulled herself up and into the window. She disappeared for a moment, then stuck her head back out the window, she looked up at him, her expression one of smug triumph. Her eyes gleamed with mischief that belied the gravity of the huge risk she'd just taken. She winked and blew him a kiss, a gesture that both mocked and tantalized him, that sent a bolt of pure, primal desire through his body.

As Vice leaned out the window, his heart raced in a way it hadn't in a very long time. He felt alive, the thrill of the chase pumped adrenaline through his veins. He watched her disappear, his eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary game, andhe knew it. Ivy had become more than just his prisoner—she had become his obsession, the one person who has been able to make him feel anything other than anger and bitterness.

With a wicked grin, he jumped, his hands meeting the windowsill below him, he pulled himself up with ease. She was fast, he'd give her that, but he was faster. She managed to make her way outside into the courtyard. The night air was cool on his skin, carrying with it the scent of rain and the promise of a storm.

Ivy rounded a corner, which caused Vice to lose sight of her. As he rounded the corner he stopped, she was gone. He stood silent, as he listened for her, but he didn’t hear anything. The castle's tower loomed over him, his silhouette casted a haunting shadow across the landscape. “I know you're out here, little mouse,” he called out to her. He crept along the cobblestone walkway. “It’s only a matter of time till I find you.”

She carefully tiptoed between the statues, staying just out of sight. Each one seemed to be watching the chase with stony eyes. She watched as he walked past her. Her heartbeat frantically, not just from the chase, but the thought of what he’d do to her when he caught her, it sent a wave of arousal through her.

The chase was intoxicating, a thrilling mix of fear and desire that made her feel more alive than she had in years. Ivy knew she couldn't keep this up much longer. She needed to end this, one way or another.

"You know you can't outrun me, Ivy," Vice called out into the night, his voice a low rumble that seemed to echo through the castle walls.

"That's what you think," Ivy shot back, as she ran out from behind one of the stone statues. She sprinted across the cobblestone courtyard, her heart racing with excitement. The castle's massive front door loomed ahead.

With a burst of speed, she reached the doors, slamming and locking them. The echo reverberated through the stillness, leaving a silence that was as palpable as the tension between them. She knew those locked doors wouldn’t hold him long.

Ivy took off almost colliding with a few of Vice's servants. She swerved around them, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she laughed while apologizing. Their eyes widened in shock at the sight of the girl that darted through the castle at this late hour, but they made no move to stop her. They simply stared, frozen in place, as she continued her mad dash.

The sound of splintering wood brought her to a screeching halt. She looked over her shoulder to see Vice had kicked the doors open, his eyes blazed with determination. She felt a shiver run down her spine at the sheer power he exuded. The doors swung back on their hinges, groaning in protest, as he stepped into the foyer.

"Is that all you've got.” Vice taunted, his voice a sultry whisper that seemed to dance in the air around them.

Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step backward, extending her hand with a crooked finger. "Careful, big bad wolf," she said with a wink and a smirk, "you might just get more than you bargained for." The servant's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them.

Vice's jaw tightened, his eyes smoldered with a mix of annoyance and a grudging admiration for her audacity. He took a step toward her.

"Oh, I know exactly what I'm getting into," he drawled, his smile turning feral. "And trust me, sweetheart, it's going to be one hell of a ride."

The room was suddenly alive with the crackle of energy. The air grew thick with tension as they sized each other up, each waited for the other to make the first move. Ivy's heart hammered in her chest, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she took a deep breath. She heard the faint tick of a grandfather clock somewhere in the depths of the castle, each second echoed through the silence like a gunshot.

Vice leaped over a large, ornate table that stood in the center of the room, the candles on it flickering wildly as he passed. The sudden movement startled Ivy, and she took off running again, her laugh turning into a full-fledged giggle of exhilaration. She had never felt so free, even as she was being pursued by the man who had held her captive.