The Devil's Mark
685 Words
“Elara. Now.”
Kael’s sharp, impatient voice cut through my sleep, sending my heart racing. I scrambled out of bed, throwing on the black dress from the night before, my hands shaking as I pulled my hair back.
When I opened the door, he stood there, expression darker than usual. “You’re slow. Come.”
He led me to the dining room, where only one place was set. “I have business. You’ll stay here. Eat. Don’t leave the grounds, don’t talk to anyone, don’t even look at the staff unless they speak to you. Understand?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
He leaned down, cold eyes inches from mine. “If you break one rule, you won’t like the consequences. This isn’t a game.” With that, he walked out, the front door slamming shut behind him.
Alone in the quiet house, I forced myself to eat the cold breakfast, my mind racing. I could leave, but where would I go? My father’s men were still out there, and I had nowhere to hide.
I wandered to the garden, the warm air a stark contrast to the cold mansion. The fountain splashed softly, and I sat on its stone edge, staring at the water. A soft sound pulled me from my thoughts. A young maid, Lila, stood at the garden’s edge, watching me nervously.
“Miss. Sir said you’re not to be spoken to.”
“You don’t have to be scared of me,” I said softly. “I’m not like him.”
Lila hesitated, then stepped closer. “Sir says you’re his property. That anyone who talks to you will be punished.”
My heart sank. That’s all I was to him—a thing.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“You look sad,” she said gently, her hand brushing my shoulder before she hurried away.
I stayed in the garden until sunset, then returned to the empty house. The dining room was bare, no dinner waiting. I wandered the halls, but the servants were gone. Back in my room, I sat on the bed, hungry and scared.
A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. Lila stood there, holding a plate of bread and cheese. “I brought you dinner. Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Thank you,” I said, taking the plate. “You’re too kind.”
She smiled nervously and left. I ate the simple food, the warmest thing I’d had all day, and thought about Lila’s kindness. She’d risked everything to help me.
The front door slammed shut. I froze, quickly hiding the plate under the bed. Kael was back.
He knocked once, sharp and impatient. When I opened the door, his dark eyes scanned me. “Where were you?”
“In my room, waiting for you.”
He stepped inside, closing the door. “I told you not to leave the grounds. Did you?”
“No. I stayed here.”
He stared at me, searching my face, then nodded. “Good. Tomorrow night, you’re coming with me to a meeting. People want to meet Viktor Voss’s daughter. They want to see the pawn I’m using to win the war.”
My throat went dry. “A mafia meeting?”
“You’re mine, Elara. Where I go, you go. And tomorrow night, you’ll be by my side, for everyone to see. No speaking unless spoken to, no looking at anyone, no questions. Understand?”
“I don’t want to go,” I whispered.
He grabbed my wrist, his grip tight. “You don’t have a choice. You made a deal. You’re mine.”
He let go, leaving a red mark on my skin. “Get some sleep. And don’t forget what I said. One wrong move, and you’ll regret it.”
He walked out, leaving me alone in the dark room. I stared at the mark on my wrist, and thought about tomorrow night. The meeting, the men, Kael’s cold eyes.
The devil had marked me. And there was no going back.
- Writer
