Page 34

Aurelia

When I wake up, it feels like I’ve been dumped into a furnace.

The air is thick, too thick, and every breath burns as it drags down my throat. Sweat clings to my skin, pooling between my ribs and sliding down my sides. My black hair sticks to my face, and when I try to move, something scrapes across my back.

I blink hard, vision swimming in the dim orange glow of a single overhead bulb, flickering weakly like it’s dying with me.

Then I realize, I’m in a cage.

Thick, rusted bars surround me and the floor beneath me is grated steel, heat pulsing up through it like the ground itself is boiling.

As I glance around, pipes groan in the walls around me, hissing with steam. The air reeks of burning oil and iron, and they have the audacity to have a fireplace burning in here as well.

I’m half-naked, my black one-piece ripped and damp, clinging to me. My ballet shoes are still on, soaked with sweat and it feels like they’re filled with liquid.

My knees sting where they’ve pressed too long against the searing metal. I try to shift, but there’s barely room to turn without knocking into the bars. Panic surges in my chest as the reality settles in, this isn’t just heat. This is a fucking boiler room.

Alarm bells ring in my head as I start piecing it together. Someone fucking kidnapped me. Something was shoved over my face, and I blacked out after training.

Shit. Madame. She got shot.

I jolt, lifting my head way too fast and my skull cracks into the low metal roof above and knocks me back down. A groan leaves me, the pain sharp, my head throbbing.

Fuck. Where the hell am I?

How do I get out? Who the fuck took me and why?

Zye? Was it Zye?

Shit—was it Zye?

Before I can spiral any further, I hear the heavy metallic scrape of a bolt unlocking on the door.

I barely manage to get up on my elbows, body heavy as the door creaks open.

Two legs step into view and I see boots. Male.

He closes the door behind him and turns the bolt again, then crouches fast.

My blood runs cold when I see his face staring back at me.

Wrath’s godfather.

“Hey, Arabella,” he says slowly, almost like he’s savoring the words.

I tense up at the name he used.

How the fuck does he know my real name?

“You’re probably wondering why you’re here. Well, I can explain,” he goes on, sounding almost cheerful and it’s the most unsettling thing I’ve ever heard.

“See, you belong to me. You always have.”

My brows pull in tight, my stomach twisting.

“Now, I know what you’re thinking,” he chuckles like this is all some kind of joke. “How the fuck can this man own me?”

He points straight at my arm, and I glance down.

“Not just by the mark you were stamped with,” he murmurs, and my eyes shoot to his. “You know, the one you so bravely cut out?”

My teeth grind but I stay silent and expressionless.

“I’ve actually had to watch over you very carefully you’re entire life. You see…”

He sits now, making himself comfortable.

“When you were a baby, Wrath killed your mom and fucked her corpse.”

My entire body tenses and I feel my eyes sting with tears.

“Oh, but don’t worry, he begged that you lived,” he smiles and when I blink, a tear drops down my cheek.

“Of course, I couldn’t have a baby at that age…” His dark eyes drag over me with disgust. “Especially a female.”

He gives a lazy shrug, like it meant nothing.

“So, I gave you away.”

Then he leans in, his face shifting, something colder settling in.

“But I couldn’t have you not suffer. No. I needed you to suffer for the rest of your life. So I gave you to Iris, knowing exactly how she’d treat you.”

My lips part, but I can’t speak. The words catch and burn in my throat. All I can do is blink rapidly, another tear sliding down my cheek, hot and unwanted.

“Why?” I whisper, voice barely there. “Why did you need me to suffer?”

“Because your mother did. It’s only fair game.” He shifts closer, the heat from his breath almost brushing my skin. “See, your mom… she was a witch.”

My eyes go wide, shock hitting me like a fist.

“She founded Oddity, actually.”

I shake my head hard, like if I shake enough, it’ll all disappear.

“I’m sorry, what?”

He suddenly slams his hand against the bars, and I freeze, every muscle in my body locking up.

“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” he bites out, his face pulled tight, jaw twitching.

I stare at him, wide-eyed, as he steps back, cracking his neck with a sharp jerk, one eye twitching like a fuse about to blow.

“Your mom founded Oddity,” he growls, clearing his throat like it takes effort to say it. “She actually had a good thing going… But they weren’t using Oddity like we do now. No. She was deep into human sacrifices—some high, dark voodoo power shit.”

He lets out a laugh, like it’s all just ridiculous.

“You know, Wrath’s mother and father lived at Oddity back then,” he says suddenly quieter, like he’s remembering something. “He was my best friend.”

That hits wrong and a chill rips down my spine while I just stare, too stunned to even blink.

“But your mom? She lost her mind. Thought it’d be a brilliant fucking idea to turn one night into a purge for all. It ended in their deaths.”

He just stares at me like I’m supposed to piece this all together. Like it’s all so clear. But I’m sitting here half-naked in a cage, sweat clinging to me, heart racing, and I’ve never been more fucking confused in my life.

“And Wrath?” I ask, quiet—too quiet.

His reaction is instant.

He explodes, slamming his fists against the cage, again and again, the metal rattling like it's about to rip from the bolts. I flinch hard, hands flying to my ears, heart hammering so loud it drowns out the chaos.

“I told you!” he screams, spit flying. “He fucked your dead cunt of a mom!” His voice is raw now, his finger jabbing at me, trembling with rage. “And he liked it enough to keep doing it.”

It’s like being kicked in the gut, the words hitting brutally.

Realization slams into me so hard I can't breathe. My gaze drops, eyes glassy, jaw trembling, chest rising too fast. Anger surges through me, simmering beneath the surface.

“But don’t worry, Arabella. I’m not keeping you,” he taunts, but I don’t even look at him.

My mind’s a mess—too much whirling, none of it landing.

“When you died,” he lifts his fingers in mocking air quotes, “you were real good at staying dead. I’ll give you that.” His tone is casual, almost amused, like he’s reminiscing something funny.

“It wasn’t until I went to Kyro’s mansion that I saw you again.”

My gaze flicks to his, sharp and confused, but now I know why when I met him at Oddity, I recognized him.

“I was only there for some shopping,” he shrugs like it’s all no big deal. “He wanted to get rid of a girl quick. And there you were. Frail. Caged. Like a starved fucking dog,” he grins, tapping the bars of my current enclosure like it’s a sick joke. “Looked just like this, actually.”

My stomach twists at his words and I look away.

“Anyway, I had him stamp you. Claimed you,” he says, voice darker now. “Planned to come back, pay him off. But he moved you. Then poof—Kyro was dead.”

He suddenly bites his fist, vicious and animalistic, and my brows pinch as I stare at him like he’s completely disturbed. I’ve met crazy before, hell, I’ve lived in it, but him? He’s in a different fucking league. A whole other breed of broken. No wonder Wrath’s so fucked in the head if this is the monster that raised him.

“I should’ve fucking killed you,” he spits, voice venomous. “Then you wouldn’t have strangely met Wrath by weird fate and filled his head with all that fluffy bullshit and turned him weak.”

I just stare at some meaningless point on the wall as he keeps ranting, voice scraping against my skull.

“But I have someone who’d really, really like to finish the job,” he sneers, and my teary eyes snap to his.

“Because if I don’t do it? There’s a better chance my son might actually forgive me for this. He’s better off without you.”

When he starts to stand, the panic hits like a switch flipping inside me.

“But don’t worry, pretty Arabella, I’ll be watching.”

“Wait—Valen.”

He doesn’t even glance back, just walks to the door and yanks it open. Then I see them. Another man’s shoes, too clean, too fucking polished, step into view like death in slow motion, and I feel something inside me break. I start hyperventilating, my chest tightening, every locked memory and scream flooding back into me at once.