Chapter 21 Twenty one
Mira didn’t fall back asleep.
Even after her breathing slowed… even after her body stopped shaking… her mind refused to rest.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again.
The knife.
The way he said her name.
The way it felt real.
So she stayed awake.
Staring at the ceiling.
Waiting for morning to come.
By the time the first light slipped through the curtains, Mira was fully awake.
Her head hurt.
Her body felt heavy.
But staying in this room any longer she might go crazy.
She needed air. She needed to clear her mind. To shake this fear that's trying to break her and distract her from the reason she came to this mansion.
So she got up. And changed into something she could use for running.
The morning air was cool.
Quiet.
Very quiet.. Fewer guards around… but at least it wasn’t suffocating like her room.
Mira started jogging slowly along the path that circled the mansion.
Her steps were steady at first.
Then faster.
Her breath finds a rhythm.
In. Out. In. Out.
She focused on that.
Pushing the image of the dead bird and of Salvstore trying to kill her out of her thoughts..
Even if it was for a few hours she needed the escape
For a moment… it worked.
Everything blanked out.. And only the sound of her breath stuck to her like a white song.
Until.. A figure stood ahead near the fountain
Tall. Still. Watching.
Her chest tightened instantly.
No. Not again.
But this wasn’t a dream.
It couldn’t be.
He stepped slightly into the light.
And there he was… Salvatore dressed in a shirt that hugged his body and a short all sweaty… drinking a bottle of water.
He obviously just finished jogging.. His eyes landed on her as her step slowed then stopped..
Her heart beat fast again. Her mind didn’t care that it was morning. Didn’t care that he looked… less scary
All she could see was the version of him from last night.
From the nightmare. Her stomach turned.
She didn’t say anything.
Didn’t greet him. Didn’t even look at him properly.
She just… walked past him.
Faster… Like if she stayed even a second longer, something would go wrong.
She could feel his eyes on her back.
But she didn’t turn.
Didn’t stop.
Didn’t breathe properly until she was far away from his sight.
Only then did she slow down.
“…Get it together,” she muttered under her breath.
It was just a dream.
Just a nightmare.
Nothing more.
Mira went straight back to her room.
Shut the door.
Locked it.
Only then did she lean back against it and close her eyes briefly.
Her chest still felt tight.
Her hands were slightly shaky.
“…This is getting to me,” she whispered.”This is not me…this isn't.”
She pushed off the door and headed to the bathroom.
A quick shower.
A cold one this time. She needed to wake up fully.
Needed to feel present. Not stuck in whatever that was last night.
By the time she stepped out, dressed, and looked at herself in the mirror…
She looked normal…. Okay
But she didn’t feel it.
Mira took a deep breath and stepped out of her room “Maybe a simple breakfast would cheer me up.” she thought.
The kitchen was quiet when she got there.
No staff present.
I
Just the soft hum of the fridge and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.
Mira stepped inside slowly.
Her eyes scanned the space without thinking.
The counter. The sink.
The corners.
Her body is still on edge.
She exhaled.
“…You’re overdoing it now,” she murmured.
She walked over to the counter and reached for a glass.
Poured herself some water.
Took a sip.
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
Finally. A little calmness.. Peace
Then… Something shifted behind her.
A presence.
Close. Too close.
Mira froze.
Her grip tightened around the glass.
Her heart jumped into her throat.
Slowly…
She turned— and screamed.
“Ah—!”
The glass slipped slightly in her hand and shattered on the ground.
Lena jumped back immediately, eyes wide.
“Miss—! Miss, it’s me!”
Mira’s chest heaved.
Her heart racing again.
It took a second before her brain caught up.
“…Lena?”
“Yes,” Lena said quickly, still startled. “Are you okay?”
Mira blinked rapidly.
Then let out a shaky breath.
“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine,” she said, though her voice didn’t sound convincing.
She bent down to pick up the pieces of the broken glass..Her hands are shaking.
Lena watched her closely now.
Concerned.
“You don’t look fine,” she said quietly taking the broom “Don't worry I will clear this up,” she said
Mira let out a small breath and leaned lightly against the counter.
“Thank you.” she whispered “ I just… didn’t sleep well,” she admitted.
Lena didn’t say anything.
She swept the pieces of the broken glass and disposed of them.
Mira hesitated for a second.
Then spoke again.
“I had a bad nightmare,” she said. Her voice is softer now. Still a bit shaken.
Lena’s expression didn’t change much… but she was listening.
“And…” Mira paused slightly.
Her eyes flicked toward the counter… then away.
“That bird last night,” she added. “It didn’t help.”
A small silence followed.
Lena’s fingers stilled where she stood.
“Heard about it from the other maids.” Lena said softly “Did Sir Corvin see it too?” she asked quietly.
Mira nodded.
“Yeah,” she said. “He came in. Picked it up like it was nothing… said it was freshly killed.”
She let out a small, uneasy laugh.
“What a mad man..”.she muttered under her breath
Lena didn’t say a word she just stared at her… like she was lost in deep thought.
Mira noticed.
Her brows pulled together slightly.
“…Lena?”
No response.
Lena just turned slightly, picking up something on the counter that didn’t need picking.
Avoiding eye contact.
Mira watched her.
That same feeling from yesterday crept back in.
That she knew something.
But wouldn’t say it.
“Okay…” Mira said slowly.
“You’re doing that thing again.”
Lena paused.
“What thing?”
“That thing where you clearly know something and decide to pretend you don’t,” Mira said.
Still no response.
Lena just kept her back partially turned.
Mira exhaled through her nose.
“…Right.”
Silence stretched again.
Thick. Uncomfortable.
Then Lena spoke.
Very quietly.
“You should eat,” she said.
Same thing she did yesterday.
Same deflection.
Mira stared at her for a second longer.
Then shook her head slightly.
“…Yeah,” she muttered. “Of course.”
Same answer.
Nothing was normal in this house.
And whatever was going on…
She was going to find out.