One of the guards reached for her wrist, but Violet yanked her arm away so quickly, that it almost looked like she was going to rip his hand off. He grabbed her again, this time with more force, twisting her arm behind her back. She gasped, but the sound was more of a growl than anything else.
“Let go of me!” she snapped, her voice barely controlled, the edge of her anger lacing her words like a whip.
Another guard stepped forward, his eyes darting nervously between Violet and me. He had been here long enough to know better than to get too involved in our quarrels. His gaze flicked briefly to the scene unfolding between the two of us, as though trying to decide whether to intervene. The other guard, the one holding Violet, growled at him to stay out of it.
“You should’ve kept your hands to yourself, Violet,” the first guard spat, his grip on her wrist unwavering. His fingers twisted harder, making Violet wince as he forced her body forward. “We don’t have the patience for your games.”
The other guard—taller, with dark hair falling loosely over his brow—looked uncomfortable. He glanced at me, clearly caught in the tension of the moment. I could see him processing the situation, wondering whether or not to act.
“Enough, both of you,” I said, the words dripping with authority. I stepped closer to the bars, forcing my voice to sound calm even though my pulse raced with a mixture of fear and anger. “Get her under control. We don’t have all day.”
Violet’s chest heaved as she stared at me, the challenge in her eyes not even remotely hidden. I could feel the heat of her gaze, the weight of her defiance as if she was daring me to make the wrong move. She was still angry—still refusing to submit. I knew she hated me for what I’d done, and I relished it. I had made her angry, I had made her lose control. And I loved it.
But even now, as the guards held her back, she remained unbroken. She didn’t give in. It was a thing I had never been able to do—stay calm in the face of everything. But she... she wore that defiance like armour.
“Let me go,” she spat again, her voice trembling with restrained fury. “I’ll make you regret this, Avery. I’ll make sure you pay for what you’ve done.”
I smiled, taking a step back, enjoying the tension as the guards tried to maintain control. The scene before me was almost too much to bear, her fighting, the rage in her eyes, the way she still refused to back down despite being physically overpowered. It was intoxicating in its twisted way.
“Regret?” I echoed with a laugh, the sound hollow in the cold stone cell. “Oh, Violet, you’re going to have to do much more than scream at me to make me regret anything. You’re the one who’s trapped here, not me.”
She hissed, but she didn’t respond. She knew. She knew that the power balance was slipping away from her, no matter how hard she fought.
For a long moment, we just stared at each other, locked in that silent battle of wills. I felt her anger pressing against me like a physical weight, but it only made me stronger, and more confident in my position. I had the upper hand. Always.
The taller guard stepped forward, eyeing me briefly before turning to Violet. “Calm down,” he said softly, though there was no softness in his eyes. “We don’t want this to escalate any further.”
I could see the flicker of uncertainty in his gaze like he wasn’t sure who he should be protecting. Me or Violet. The thought almost made me laugh.
Violet’s breathing slowed as she gave a sharp, disdainful glance towards the guard. “I don’t need your protection,” she snarled, her voice cutting through the air. “I need them to leave me alone.”
The words echoed off the stone walls, and for a brief second, I saw the guards falter in their steps. But they quickly regained their composure, their expressions hardening as they tightened their grip on her.
"Shut up!" one of the guards growled, his patience running thin.
But Violet didn’t shut up. She just glared at them, silently daring them to do their worst.
"Take her to her cell; we will be separating you two," I commanded, my gaze fixed elsewhere, dismissing the guards entirely. My tone was icy and resolute, the command echoing with undeniable authority. I could sense my control over the situation solidifying once more, the power shifting back into my hands.
The guards paused, exchanging uncertain glances before they forcibly pulled Violet away from the bars, her body resisting their grip. She stumbled momentarily but quickly regained her balance, her fierce glare locked onto mine. I observed her struggle, almost impressed by the fierce resolve burning in her eyes. If she weren’t such a nuisance, I might have even found a measure of respect for her tenacity.
As the guards began to escort her down the corridor, her voice pierced the air once more. "I’ll escape, Avery," she shouted defiantly. "And when I do, you’ll regret every single moment you spent keeping me here. I swear it."
I remained unmoved, not even flinching at her words. Instead, I crossed my arms over my chest, watching as they pulled her further away, her threats gradually fading into the distance.
Her vow lingered in the atmosphere, but I felt no concern. She had nothing left but hollow threats. I had already emerged victorious.
\---
That night, as the silvery moonlight filtered through the slender window above the dungeon, I found myself seated in the corner of the opulent chamber that had become my own. The silk drapes danced softly in the gentle breeze, while the warm flicker of candlelight cast a soft glow on the elegantly crafted furniture. The stark contrast between the lavishness of the room and the grimness of the dungeon served as a constant reminder of my journey and the power I had amassed.
Yet, I could not shake the haunting image of Violet’s eyes, ablaze with rage as she was forcibly taken away.
She was unyielding. Her spirit would never be quelled.
I gazed into the mirror, examining the twisted grin that adorned my face. It was a grin of triumph. Of dominance. Yet beneath that facade lay something more profound.
Anxiety.
The anxiety that perhaps—just perhaps—Violet’s threats were not mere bluster. Perhaps she would find a way to break free. And when she did, it wouldn’t just be me she sought. She would come for everything I cherished.
I dismissed the thought, shaking my head vigorously. No. I had everything firmly in hand. I always had.
Still, in the recesses of my mind, a singular question gnawed at me.
What if she does manage to escape?
What if she makes me regret my actions? I couldn’t even confide in Aaron; that girl was like a force of nature.