His face is a portrait of a man haunted. He doesn't shield his anger that is conjured by whatever haunts his past. Instead, he barks for me to follow him out of his room.
I don't put up a fight. What's the use. The more I bare my teeth, the harder he bites back and if I'm not careful, there will be nothing left of me.
When we get into the hallway, and the lingering feeling of hungry men strikes a chord inside of me, I find myself scurrying after him, afraid that if I fall behind I'll be devoured before he can whip around to stop it.
We get to the end of the hall, and he shoves open a door. My eyes move past his thick shoulder and into the room. It's a bedroom. Not overly grand like his master, but modern and simple.
Something perhaps, for a doll that will need a place to rest after she's been pulled and manipulated all day. I swallow nervously, my tongue becoming dry at the notion that I am that doll.
I imagine my sisters voice and how strong she'd be in this moment. She'd nod in acceptance at her circumstances and never let a man know just how much he was affecting her emotions. She was just as much a heartbreaker as them. It was her way of protecting herself.
Once my eyes land back on Levi, my cheeks warm after I realize he's been observing me like I'm a peculiar species he's come to study.
"Your bedroom," He grunts. It's what I suspected, but I still manage to nod.
"Thank you," I reply, actually happy to have a space that's at least a semblance of my own. But not really. Because in this house, even I don't own myself. He does. I am to be whatever he asks of me. Mailable and profitable. Whenever that's not the case, I'm sure he'll find a creative way to get rid of me. Maybe sell me like a bag of reusable clothes - new to a different man, but old and worn out from him.
The thoughts raging around in my skull cause me to shake. I lick my lips a few times, eyes moving over to what I assume is a closet. Wordlessly, I cross the room to it and pull open the door, eyes scanning the emptiness.
I frown, unsure as to why I was expecting it to be filled. This isn't some rich, Prince Charming who's here to dress me up and wine and dine me.
This is the beast.
And I'm the helpless protagonist in someone else's story. Sure to have a more sinister fate.
His hot breath startles me when it fans my neck. That's the only signal that he's inches from me. I jump forward slightly, but his hands are on my shoulders before I can move quickly away.
He pushes my hair off my shoulder, clucking his tongue with a disappointed tone.
"Did you really think you'd find a bunch of expensive clothes in there for you to play dress up, Sasha?"
"D-dress up!?" I sound offended. It's too late. I await for his response, feeling even more self loathing the longer I stand and wait for his childish reaction.
"This isn't a vacation home. I won't provide you with lavish clothes and a fairytale lifestyle. You want clothes? Earn them."
Earn them.
So I'll remain naked until he sees fit. That hardly seems fair, but how can I argue? I've signed my soul over to him. I've sealed my fate.
Instead of arguing, I nod. He sighs and backs his mouth away from my ear, before straightening himself to stand upright but still remaining a foot behind me. I slowly turn around to face him.
"What? No glimpse of the Sasha from earlier? The one who stepped out of her place?"
I know he's referring to when I pried about who he was talking about. Leigh. He won't open up, and it had bothered me to the point of saying something.
"S-she's gone."
More like asleep.
She'll awaken when I least expect it and probably fuck up my life. She has a knack for that.
He lets out a deep breath that sounds impatient before he nods to the bed.
"Sleep." He grunts before shoving a hand in his pocket. It makes his jeans tug downward on that muscular V of his abdomen and my mouth waters immediately. “I want you ready for me tomorrow.”
“Ready for what?” I question, anxiously. He snickers, amused at my discomfort before he stretches his arms all the way out and sighs.
“For my playroom.”
My eyes almost fall right out of my head.
“Your playroom?” I’m surprised I don’t choke on those words. The air has left my body and I find myself struggling to suck back deep breaths.
A grin plays on his lips.
“Remember how I said I was going to take from you? That’s exactly what I’ll do, Sasha. Until there is nothing left.”
The threat makes my heart pound until I’m afraid it’ll beat out of my chest.
“W-why me?”
“That’s not important.”
He barks out that remark and I flinch. Without so much as another word, he spins around and stalks out of the room. The door slams shut behind him and I jump again.
The bed looks inviting as exhaustion slowly sets in. I move towards it, yanking the blankets down before climbing in.
At least I have blankets...
As I shift and sink into the bed, I sigh and let my eyelids flutter closed. Sleep comes swiftly.
***
I jolt awake, darkness greeting my blurred vision and panic coupling with it. The surge of fear that fills me sweeps sweat across my forehead as I go to throw my blankets off.
Wait.
I know where I am.
It takes a few minutes to fully set it but I take in my surroundings and sigh.
Levi.
I move my gaze across the room and to the door where I’m tempted to slip out.
Through the window I spot darkness and dim moonlight. It’s late. The house is more still than usual. I lay there and listen intently for his monstrous steps.
They don’t come. I feel my heart rate settling.
I should explore. If just for a few moments where I can manage to find something that makes me understand him more...
Or runaway...
I haven’t chosen what yet.
I climb out of bed, yanking off the top sheet to wrap around myself so I’m not nude before I head into the hallway.
I’m careful not to make a lot of noise and to avoid his room. I tiptoe towards the stairs and descend them. My eyes float towards the front door.
I could leave now.
Fucking bolt out of the door.
So easy.
Just a few more steps and freedom...
Sweet freedom.
“Leave.”
His voice is a ghostly whisper behind me but it’s impact is explosive. I feel my brain scattering, desperately attempting to gather my nervous thoughts from his scrutinizing gaze. That word is challenging. As if to say “leave. You won’t.”
He wants me to test him.
“Go ahead,” he says and nods to the door. “Open it. Run. It’s probably the smartest decision.”
Now I know he’s teasing me.
My hands shake as I clench them into fists down at my side.
He doesn’t think I’ll do it.
So I do.