CHAPTR 1
1122 Words
A Night of Shadows and Lies
Liesel was nervous as she smoothed the delicate fabric of her wedding dress in front of a mirror, yet all that came across in its reflection was an image of someone bursting with happiness; instead, Liesel could only feel an odd weight pressing against her chest.
"Just one more step!" she thought aloud to herself. "Everything will fall into place soon enough."
Viktor's grand estate bustled with excitement. Guests were gathering, laughter filling the air and champagne glasses clinking. Her ceremony would start soon, yet something unnerved her—an uneasiness she was powerless over.
Helga entered with a soothing smile, holding an unopened bottle of water.
Helga cooed to Helga as she approached. "You look absolutely radiant, my dear," Helga whispered gently before offering Helga something cold to drink; she reminded Helga that a bride should never feel thirsty before walking down an aisle and offered this glass.
Liesel hesitated. Something about Helga's tone seemed too measured; her arrival seemed perfectly timed.
Helga encouraged, pressing her glass closer, "And may this holy water bring blessings on your new journey."
Liesel inhaled deeply before taking her first sip from the glass. At first taste, the water seemed refreshing on her parched throat, yet as she swallowed more often, an unfamiliar warmth began erupting within her stomach and radiating out through her veins like liquid fire.
Her fingers relaxed, and the glass fell from her grasp, shattering violently against the floor.
"Liesel?" Helga asked, her voice remaining quiet, but there was something in her eyes that could not be read.
Liesel murmured to herself, "I... don't feel right," her vision already clouding up with visions of fog-laden streets and shadowy figures.
She staggered toward the door, the weight of her dress suddenly becoming unbearable.
"Where are you going?" Helga enquired as she tightly gripped Liesel's wrist while holding firmly onto Liesel's wrist.
Liesel managed to say she needed to go directly into Anneliese's room; "My veil... it needs to be finished up--"
Helga smiled softly before gently relinquishing her arm to Hector. "Sure. Room 405."
Liesel found herself tongue-tied when hearing this number out loud; nevertheless, she nodded and forced herself forward.
She barely managed to leave before everything around her began to turn and collapse around her.
As she gripped onto the railing and set foot onto the grand staircase, each step seemed like wading through quicksand—her legs barely responding as she moved along its length.
She called out for assistance but found herself drowned out by noise below. "Please!" was all that could be heard above ground level.
Heat seeped from her stomach like an overwhelming need. Her pulse beat in her ears as she raced. She must immediately reach Anneliese's room to lie down, hoping that this compulsion will subside soon.
She carefully traced the numbers on the door until she located 405. When it opened, she entered quickly with one hand on her forehead.
"Anneliese?" Without a response from either Anneliese or her companions, Anneliese became overwhelmed by an intense smell that filled the air—something deep, masculine, and heavy. The smell was too warm and too close, causing Anneliese to reach for her gown's zipper to escape the blistering heat, only to realise how intoxicatingly hot it actually was.
She barely recognised the moment she collapsed onto the bed.
Water dripped gently throughout the silent room as an elegant, tall figure emerged from their bathroom, steam rising behind him as his gaze fell upon a young woman slumbering on their bed.
What was going on? He tightened his hands into fists as he strode forward, his towel unwrapping itself with each step taken forward.
"Who are you?" His voice had an audible growl, which cut through the weighty air.
"I don't feel well..." she murmured softly to herself.
A stranger had no patience left for such behaviour, and she pulled back the bedsheet to reveal her semi-clad form beneath.
His jaw tightened. She wasn't here by chance—someone had brought her here.
Undoubtedly it was his grandfather who inspired this venture.
"You have five seconds to explain yourself."
Only an unintelligible whisper replied in response.
She quickly reached forward, brushing against his chest as her fingers traced over his skin in search of water droplets still adhering.
"Don't stop me..." she begged quietly.
He exhaled sharply, feeling every muscle tighten and contract.
Damn it.
He had spent hours fighting off his grandfather's supposed "medicine," only for it all to leave him anxious and restless. Now here she was—this strange woman had appeared as some sort of offering in his bed!
He should have left.
He should have asked her to move off his bed, calling security immediately for protection.
Instead, her lips brushed against his collarbone and caused his resolve to crumble away.
"Don't regret this," the man warned me with his voice lowered dangerously low.
Liesel heard a soft gasp and a nod, and then abruptly, she vanished. Liesel found herself facing an unfamiliar ceiling; an uncomfortable dull ache between her legs suggested something had occurred but left the specifics unclear, like in an unconcise dream she couldn't grasp fully.
Panic quickly spread through her.
Anneliese had not chosen this room as her bedroom.
She turned her head—and then immediately stopped.
An unfamiliar man lay beside her, his bare chest rising and falling with each steady breath he took. With dark hair tousled, an unmistakably strong jawline, and an intimidating presence that caused terror in her, his presence sent shockwaves through her system.
No. No!
Her pulse was racing as she tossed aside the covers. Where was her gown? Only remnants of lace and silk remained lying scattered about on the floor as evidence of its existence was left behind on its floor of disarray.
Liesel felt an uneasiness rise up within her. Hearing this news, Liesel gasped, her breath catching as a new figure stirred within her.
Eyes filled with steadiness—storm-colored eyes locked onto hers with sudden clarity and realisation.
"You are awake." She gasped back, her voice quivering as her eyes darted open wide in surprise and confusion.
"Don't you recall?" His expression darkened further.
She violently shook her head.
It's convenient, he thought to himself. "Let me make this easy."
He stepped closer, dissolving any space between them.
"Last night," he murmured quietly. "You came into my room and climbed into my bed; now are you trying to pretend like none of this happened?"
Liesel felt her world crumbling around her.
This was no mere miscommunication—this was an all-out crisis!
She was helpless to wake herself up.
It is crucial for us all to maintain peace.
- Writer
