Chapter 31 Thirty one
Harper’s pov
“Do you love me?” His voice was sharp, unnervingly calm, and his red eyes bore into mine as if trying to burn an answer out of me. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt my stomach twist.
I coughed, trying to steady myself, gripping the edge of the table. “What… what are you talking about?” I asked, my voice a little too high, too forced.
“You think feeding me makes you some kind little angel?” he said, leaning closer, his glowing eyes catching the dim light of the dungeon. “You think that makes me… soft toward you?”
I shook my head, trying to keep my voice steady. “No… I—I was just bringing food for… Koda.”
His lips twitched into a cruel smirk. “Koda?” he repeated, almost mockingly. “Do you really think he matters right now?” His hands flexed against the chains, making a hollow clang that echoed through the cold walls. “Look at me, Harper. You’re staring at me, not him. And I can feel it. You think of him, yes… but your heart… it’s racing for me, isn’t it?”
I froze. Every instinct screamed to run, to fight, but I had to keep my wits. “Stop,” I said sharply, but it came out almost like a whisper.
“Stop?” he echoed, leaning even closer. “Stop pretending. Stop hiding. I can see your thoughts, Harper. I can hear your hesitation, your fear, and yes… even that little spark of curiosity you try to bury. You’re mine. And you know it.”
I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the edge of the plate. I could feel the weight of the chains behind him, the metallic scent of the dungeon, the faint echo of Koda’s presence trapped somewhere in the shadows.
“No,” I said firmly. “You’re wrong. You’re nothing. You’re… just… you’re not Koda.”
He laughed—a low, mirthless sound that scraped against my nerves. “Ah, denial. Always so predictable. But denial doesn’t matter. Feelings don’t matter. Only power matters. And I have power over him. I have power over you.”
My mind raced. I had to get out of here. I had to find Koda. But first, I needed leverage. I forced myself to calm down, to steady my breathing. “You’re right about one thing,” I said softly, keeping my tone light but firm. “I can’t stop you. But that doesn’t mean you can stop me either.”
He blinked, his smirk faltering just slightly. “Oh?”
I reached into my pocket, pretending to fumble as if I were terrified. Then I pulled out my phone and hit record. The camera light blinked faintly, reflecting off the walls. “Say cheese,” I muttered, forcing a small laugh.
“W-what are you doing?” His voice snapped, sharp and dangerous. “You dare—”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I held the phone steady, letting it capture every moment—his growl, his glare, the flash of his red eyes, his cruel smirk. He tried to lunge, thrashing against the chains, but they held fast.
“Enough!” he roared, pounding the chains with his fists, metal ringing like a warning bell. “I will destroy you! I will kill—”
“Relax,” I said, taking a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay calm. “You’re going to eat. You’re going to stay chained. And this…” I tapped the phone screen, “…is going to ruin everything.”
His eyes flared redder, a dangerous flash of fury crossing his features. “You think a little toy can ruin me? You think a silly little witch can manipulate me?”
“I don’t think,” I said steadily, moving closer with the plate of spaghetti. “I know.”
He froze for a heartbeat, and then leaned forward, jaw tight, nostrils flaring. I fed him a spoonful again, this time with a firm hand, watching as he chewed, growling softly under his breath like an animal restrained.
“You like this, don’t you?” he muttered, almost to himself. “You love seeing me controlled. You love seeing me helpless.”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Every instinct in me screamed to strike, to run, to shove him off—but I couldn’t. Not yet. I had to keep him alive, restrained, and documented.
“You brought food for Koda,” he said, suddenly loud again, glaring at me. “You brought it for him. And yet…” He leaned closer, so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. “Your hands shook. Your heart raced. And you watched me. Tell me, Harper… what were you thinking?”
I swallowed. “I… I was thinking about stopping this,” I said. “About keeping you chained. About making sure Koda comes back safe. That’s all.”
He leaned back slightly, letting out a laugh that made my blood run cold. “Safe? Safe doesn’t exist in this world, little witch. You should know that by now. Everything you care about… everyone you care about… is mine to manipulate.”
I felt my stomach twist, but I forced my hands to remain steady. “Not if I can help it,” I whispered.
He growled low, a sound that reverberated in the stone room like a predator testing its prey. His claws flexed, chains rattling violently, echoing against the walls. His red eyes burned into mine, trying to intimidate, trying to break me.
“Cute,” he said finally, voice dripping with mockery. “But so defiant. I like that. I almost… almost admire it.” He leaned forward, the chains keeping him just out of reach, his grin dangerous and predatory. “Almost.”
“Oh, yes,” he said, leaning closer. “Your thoughts are loud, Harper. I hear them clearly. The hesitation, the fear… the curiosity. It’s delicious, really. You’re trembling just a little—wanting to touch, to… to taste the danger, aren’t you?”
I stepped back, but my legs felt like lead. My mind screamed at me to run, but part of me felt… frozen. His voice… his presence… it slithered into my thoughts, brushing against my will.
“Stop it,” I muttered, trying to sound bold. My voice came out shaky.
“Stop what?” His grin widened. “Stop feeling me? Stop thinking about me? Don’t be afraid of your instincts, Harper. They’re showing you the truth.” He tilted his head, and I felt it—like a soft, invisible weight pressing on my mind.
I shook my head violently, forcing my thoughts away. No. This is wrong. He’s trying to control me. He’s not Koda.
He chuckled low, a sound that made the chains rattle. “You resist well. I like that. You fight me, and it makes me want you even more. Don’t you want to feel what it’s like? To taste power, Harper?”
I felt my knees weaken slightly, my chest rising fast, my head spinning. The air felt thick, the room smaller, and for a moment, I swore I wanted to lean in, to let it happen…
No! I snapped in my head, shaking violently. You’re trying to control me. I won’t give in.
I shoved the plate of spaghetti toward his face, letting him catch it, forcing my will outward. “I brought this for Koda,” I said firmly. “Not for you. And I’m not yours.”
His smirk faltered just slightly, and he blinked—surprised. “Ah… feisty. I like that.” He leaned back, though his eyes never left mine, still probing, still teasing.
“You’re trying to make me… what? Kiss you? Admit I… feel something for you? I know what you’re doing,” I said, voice gaining strength. “I feel it in my head. You’ve been pushing, trying to bend me, manipulate me. But I… I won’t.”
His laugh was soft, almost approving. “Bold words, little witch. Most would crumble, would lose themselves under me. But you… you’ve got fire. I can almost taste it in the way you think.”
I swallowed hard, stepping back, keeping my eyes locked on his. “I’ll never give you that. I’m not Koda. And you… you’re not him.”
For a moment, he didn’t speak. He just watched me, eyes glowing faintly red in the shadows, chains rattling with subtle tension. Then he leaned forward again, voice smooth, teasing, hypnotic. “So defiant… I wonder… will your lips speak the truth if I… if I just… touched them?”
I flinched. A shiver ran down my spine, and I could feel my mind screaming at me to just stop it, to let go. My body froze. Part of me—the manipulated part—leaned forward almost on its own.
And then I remembered. No. He’s not Koda. He’s trying to control me. I will not let him.
I pulled back sharply, gasping. “Stop!” I yelled. “I know what you’re doing. I know you’ve been trying to control my head!”
His smirk faltered, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. “Hah… clever little witch. Most would have fallen already.”
I slipped the phone into my pocket and turned toward the dungeon door.
“Going somewhere?” he hissed, voice sharp as a knife.
“Yes,” I said firmly. “I’m going to make sure your precious plan fails. And you’re going to stay right here until someone stronger than you decides otherwise.”
He thrashed again, growling low in frustration. “You’re mine,” he spat. “And don’t think this ends with you walking away.”
I smirked despite my fear. “We’ll see,” I said, stepping out of the dungeon, closing the heavy metal door behind me with a firm clang.
The hallways were dark and quiet, the house eerily still, but I could feel my heartbeat in my ears. Koda’s absence was a gaping hole in my chest, but at least for now, I had leverage, evidence, and a plan.
I whispered under my breath as I made my way to the exit: I’ll save you, Koda. And I’ll make sure no one, not even him, ruins everything.