Hearts and Scars

Cold Nights

The mansion was silent when Damon took me inside, but its blackness shouted louder than any words ever could.

I grabbed my tiny suitcase closely as I went into his house – no, our house now. The marble flooring glittered beneath the chandelier lights, and chilly air brushed over my damp hair as if warning me I didn’t belong here.

Damon went ahead without looking back. His sneakers clicked forcefully on the floor, echoing in the huge, empty corridors.

“Follow me,” he instructed, his voice bereft of any emotion.

I followed silently, my heart thumping in my chest. The air smelled like expensive perfume, polished wood, and something deeper I couldn’t define.

He halted in front of a door and turned to face me, his countenance opaque.

“This is your room,” he remarked hastily.

My eyes widened as I gazed past him. The room was gorgeous, with cream walls, a king-sized bed wrapped in white linens, and golden drapes drawn close against the windows. But the beauty felt cold, lifeless.

“My…room?” I muttered, feeling something twist horribly in my chest. “I thought…we would…”

He raised an eyebrow. “Did you think sharing my bed was part of your contract tonight?”

My cheeks burned with humiliation. “I… I didn’t know.”

His gaze clouded as he leaned in slightly, his voice lowering low. “Don’t mistake this for mercy, Aurora. You’ll come to my bed when I say so… not before.”

A shudder rushed down my spine at his words. My lips shook as I said, “Why are you like this?”

For a brief while, something flickered in his eyes of agony or remorse, I couldn’t tell. But it was gone as soon as it arrived.

He straightened, coldness returning to his features. “Rest. Claire will bring you your schedule in the morning.”

Without further word, he turned and went away, his footsteps receding down the hall, leaving me alone in the silent chamber.

I sat on the side of the bed, looking at my quivering hands when the door abruptly opened.

A tall woman strolled in, her heels tapping lightly across the marble. She was lovely in a sharp, scary manner - long black hair pulled into a neat ponytail, scarlet lipstick expertly placed, her black pencil skirt embracing her contours.

She clutched a folder in her hand and grinned as her eyes went over me.

“You must be the new Mrs Sterling,” she continued, her voice dripping with sarcastic honey.

I stood up shakily. “And you are…?”

She approached closer, her aroma powerful and stifling. “Naomi Caldwell. Damon’s legal counsel. I manage all his contracts… even the one that sold your freedom.”

Her remarks stung, but I kept my chin up. “Why are you here?”

She handed me the packet. “Final marriage documents. Sign them. Quickly. Damon doesn’t like delays.”

My fingers trembled as I took the folder and flipped through the pages. My name looked back at me in large letters – Aurora Hayes-Sterling. My gut wrenched at the sight.

Naomi crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing with bitter delight.

“You think this changes everything, don’t you?” she said quietly.

I swallowed hard, my words barely a whisper. “What do you mean?”

She moved very close till her lips were near my ear. Her breath was chilly across my flesh.

“You’re just a toy,” she muttered angrily. “A shiny new distraction. But soon enough… he’ll become bored. And when he does… he’ll reject you like all the others.”

As sleep finally drew me under, a single question tormented me like a phantom in the darkness:

What happens to toys when their owner decides he doesn’t want them anymore?

I couldn’t sleep that night. Naomi’s words kept returning in my thoughts like a curse.

A toy. A distraction. Discarded.

I glanced at the black ceiling, my chest heavy with anguish. The blankets smelt like lavender, but even their warmth couldn’t stop my trembling. Around 3 AM, I heard footsteps outside my door. My heart sprang into my throat as shadows moved under the sliver of light from the hallway.

I sat up immediately when the door creaked open.

Damon stood there, his towering form highlighted by the hall lights. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, showing a glimpse of his powerful chest. His hair was unkempt, like he had been raking his fingers through it in exasperation. His eyes focused onto me, dark and inscrutable.

“Why are you awake?” he questioned, his voice low and calm.

I gulped, drawing the blanket firmly over me. “I… I couldn’t sleep.”

He went into the room, closing the door behind him. My heart accelerated as he stepped towards me, his stare riveted on my face.

“Naomi told you something, didn’t she?” he asked harshly.

I shook my head swiftly. “No… she just gave me the papers.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t lie to me.”

Tears flooded my eyes. “She said… she said I’m just a toy to you. That you’ll dismiss me when you’re bored.”

He stood still for a time, his jaw clenched. Then he sat down at the side of my bed, his huge palm brushing against my knee under the cover. The touch sent a chill up my spine.

“Is that what you think?” he questioned quietly.

My lips trembled. “I don’t know what to think. You loathe me… you treat me like nothing… why would I believe anything else?”

His eyes darkened, and for a tiny second, agony flared in them before he wiped it away. He stretched out, his fingertips stroking my cheek, wiping away a tear.

“I don’t hate you, Aurora,” he said, his voice raspy.

“Then what is this?” I sobbed quietly, my tears streaming freely now. “Why are you doing this to me?”

He leaned forward, his face inches from mine. His aroma encompassed me, enticing and menacing.

“Because needing you scares me more than controlling you,” he replied, his voice cracking with an emotion I couldn’t define.

My heart stopped. Before I could react, his lips crushed against mine. The kiss was harsh, frantic, full of wrath and grief and something deeper I didn’t comprehend. My body froze, then melted into him as his fingers twisted in my hair, bringing me closer.

When he pulled back, his forehead lay against mine, his breath breathless.

“Sleep,” he said quietly, his thumb caressing my lower lip. “Tomorrow… everything changes.”

He sprang up abruptly, his barriers slamming back into place. He stepped to the door and halted.

“And Aurora,” he added without turning back, “don’t ever believe anything Naomi says again.”

Then he went down the dark hall, leaving my chest blazing with bewilderment, want, and terror.

What did he imply by tomorrow… then why did his kiss taste like goodbye?