Page 23

As the days war on each day felt like an eternity in his castle of despair. The silence was deafening; the emptiness of the stone corridors was maddening. The only company she had was Spicy and the ghosts of her past, their whispers haunting her every move.

Her mornings began with the same breakfast every day, the delicious taste of the food had become bland, mirroring the bleakness of her days.

Afterward, she’d make her way to the library, her steps echoing through the halls like a funeral march.

The books were all in languages she couldn’t read, a cruel twist in her quest for escape.

She’d spend hours staring at the foreign words, her eyes glazed with unshed tears, willing them to make sense, to offer some respite from her reality.

Her mind was her only sanctuary, a place where she could lose herself in her own fantasies.

Something she had done since she was little.

Each story she’d make up was always about finding true love.

She’d go to the library and write them down as she thought of them.

The musty smell of old parchment and the comforting silence were the only constants in a world ruled by fear and uncertainty.

She’d sit there all day sometimes, her mind wandering, trying to find peace in her stories.

But even there, the looming presence of Vice’s power was inescapable, his shadow darkening every single one of her stories.

One evening, as the sun cast its last dying rays through the castle’s stained-glass windows, she found a book hidden in a dusty corner.

It was worn and tattered, its pages yellowed with age.

It was written in a language she recognized – English.

A spark of hope flared within her chest as she read the title: “The Art of Seduction.” The book spoke of power and control, of how to bend others to you're will. It was a manual for a game she never thought she’d play, but she felt a strange compulsion to read on, as if the pages held the key to understanding her captor.

As she delved deeper into the ancient text, she found herself drawing parallels between its content and her own life.

The strategies within, though twisted and manipulative, resonated with the way Vice had wormed his way into her psyche, making her crave his touch despite the horror of her situation.

It was as if the author had penned a roadmap to the heart of a monster, and she was following it step by step, hoping it would lead her to some semblance of freedom.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching her chamber.

She hastily shoved the book under her pillow, her heart hammering in her chest. The heavy door swung open, and in strode Vice, his hooded coat billowing like a dark cloud.

His eyes searched hers, looking for something she wasn’t sure she wanted to reveal.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time in the library,” he observed, his tone curious. “What do you seek there, Ivy?”

Ivy’s pulse quickened, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t let him know she’d been reading about the very tactics he used on her. “Nothing important,” she said, with no emotion in her voice. “Just stories,”

Vice stepped closer, his boots clicking against the stone floor. He grabbed his jaw, slowly dragging his fingers down to his chin. “And what do you find in these stories that you can’t find here?”

Ivy swallowed hard, her heart racing. “Freedom,” she said, hoping her answer would satisfy him. “They offer a world where I’m not a…. prisoner.” Vice’s gaze narrowed, his eyes searching hers. “So that’s what you want, Ivy?” he asked softly. “To escape?”

Her eyes met his, and she felt a flicker of anger. “Yes,” she said, her voice steady, “you know that I want to go home.”

Vice leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. “Home,” he murmured, his gaze traveling over her, as if he could see straight through to her soul. “But what is home without someone to share it with?”

Ivy felt a shiver run down her spine. “I have Alice and James,” she said firmly, her voice unwavering.

Vice chuckled, a cold, mocking sound. “Do you really?” He stepped closer, his breath hot against her cheek.

Ivy’s eyes flashed with anger, but she remained silent, refusing to take the bait.

“Ivy,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “You’re so na?ve to think you can outsmart me.”

Her eyes searched his, looking for any crack in his facade. “What do you mean?” she demanded, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and fear. Vice reached out and grabbed Ivy by the chin forcing her back against the bed. Causing the book to fall from beneath her pillow onto the floor.

Vice’s smirk grew wider as he watched the book fall to the floor. He bent down and picked it up, his eyes scanning the title with amusement. “The Art of Seduction,” he read aloud, his eyes meeting hers with a knowing look. “Interesting choice.”

Ivy’s cheeks flamed with embarrassment. “It’s just a book,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. “It’s also the only book written in English in the whole damn library.”

Vice’s eyes remained on her, unblinking. “You’re not fooling me, Ivy,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You think you can learn how to seduce me?” He flipped through the pages, his expression one of amusement. “I’m afraid I’m a bit beyond the basics.”

Her heart hammered in her chest as she watched him, her mind racing for an explanation. “It’s… it’s just a book,” she repeated, her voice shaking. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

Vice’s eyes remained on the pages, his thumb tracing the spine. “Doesn’t it?” He looked up, his gaze piercing hers. “Or do you hope to find some way to manipulate me, to bend me to you're will?”

Ivy’s breath hitched in her throat. “No,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just……needed something to read.”

Vice’s smile was chilling. He tossed the book back onto the bed, his eyes never leaving hers. “Or perhaps you’re just looking for new ways to entertain yourself?”

Ivy’s mind raced as she tried to think of a way to deflect his accusations. “I was just… curious,” she said, her voice weak.

Vice took a step closer, his eyes burning into hers. “Curiosity can be a dangerous trait, Ivy,” he said, his voice a soft purr that sent a shiver down her spine. “But I like it in a woman.”

Ivy’s breath caught in her throat as she felt the weight of his power pressing down on her, suffocating her. She could feel the walls of the room closing in, the air thick with the scent of his dominance. “Please,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Leave me alone.”

Vice leaned in even closer, his breath hot against her ear. “But where’s the fun in that?” He murmured, his hand sliding down to grip her hip. “I can give you everything you're little black heart desires.”

Ivy’s body betrayed her, a shiver of arousal passing through her despite her fear.

“Please,” she begged again, pushing at his chest. Vice’s grip on her hip tightened, and he pulled her closer, his mouth brushing against her ear.

“We both know the truth” he whispered, his voice a seductive purr. “And you’ve already seen the power I have over you're body, how I can make you scream, I can also make you forget the pain.”

Her breath hitched as she felt his other hand slide up her spine, his touch sending a wave of unwelcome heat through her body. “I don’t want this,” she lied, her voice strained.

Vice chuckled, the sound sending chills down her spine.

“Lies,” he murmured, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of her neck.

“Your body tells a different story, Ivy.” Ivy’s eyes squeezed shut, her mind screaming for him to stop.

But her body… her body was responding to his touch in ways she never wanted to admit.

Her heart raced, her breath coming in quick gasps as his hand slid down to the hem of her skirt.

With a sudden burst of strength, she shoved him away, stumbling backward until she hit the cold stone wall. “I said no,” she spat, her voice trembling. “And if you touch me again, I’ll,”

Vice cut her off, raising an eyebrow, his smile never wavering. “You’ll what, Ivy?” he taunted. “You’re mine now. You gave yourself to me to save you're precious James.”

Vice’s smile faded, his eyes flashing with anger. “You think you have any power here?” He stepped closer, his hand reaching for her face. “You’re just a plaything to me. A means to an end.”

“You keep testing me, little mouse. And I swear, I’ll break you in the most beautiful way.” He murmured as his eyes narrowed and a wicked smirk formed on his face.

Vice leaned closer, his eyes searching hers. “I want to see if you’re as clever as you think you are,” he murmured. His finger trailed down her neck, sending a shiver through her body. “I want to see if you can play my game.”

Ivy swallowed hard, her heart racing. “What kind of game?” she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vice’s smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with a dark excitement. “I’m going to give you a chance to prove yourself,” he said, his voice low and seductive. “But beware, Ivy, for the stakes are high.”

The room grew colder as he spoke, the shadows seeming to stretch and coil around them. Ivy felt a chill run down her spine, but she didn’t back down. “What do you want?” she repeated, her voice stronger now.

Vice leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear. “I want you to try and seduce me,” he whispered.

Her stomach churned at the thought, but she knew she had to play along.

If she could find a way to turn the tables, to use his own tactics against him, maybe she could find a way to escape.

“Why,” she asked, glaring at him as he pulled back to look her in the face. “Entertainment,” he said nonchalantly.

“And if I do?” she asked, her voice a challenge.