Game of Vows

He knows me

BLUEBELL

A sharp, pounding pain stabbed through my skull as I slowly drifted back into consciousness. I winced, my eyelids heavy as lead. The world felt.... off. Like I had been tossed into a dream where nothing made sense.

The wedding.

My stomach twisted violently and I sucked in a sharp breath. I was in a bedroom – an unfamiliar one. The room was spacious but intimidating, Dark mahogany furniture, heavy velvet curtains drawn to the side, allowing golden morning light to spill in. The bed beneath me was softer than any I had ever slept in.

My fingers curled into the sheets. Where was i? How had I gotten here?

The scent of food; freshly baked bread, eggs, coffee, drifted through the air, teasing my empty stomach but hunger was the least of my concerns,

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and then I noticed I was no longer in my wedding dress. Someone had changed me.

My body tensed as my bare feet touched the cool wooden floor. Where the hell was i? Taking a deep breath, I pushed forward, determined to get answers, The door wasn’t locked

Slowly, I pushed it open and stepped out into a long hallway. The house --- or was it a mansion? Was quiet but not empty. I could feel the presence of others.

Following the scent of food, I descended a flight of marble stairs, my heart pounding faster with every step. Then, I heard voices.

I paused at the bottom of the stairs, pressing myself against the wall as I peered around the corner. In the massive dining room, two men were seated at the long table and one of them is Makari, my husband.

A cold mask rested on his face but his posture was relaxed, almost like he was entirely in control. The man across him was older. A scar ran down the side of his cheek and his cold eyes flicked towards Makari with something between respect and fear. I barely breathed as I stood there.

The tension in the air was thick and I could sense this was not just a casual breakfast meeting. I inched forward, straining to hear.

“She’s here now. That’s all that matters.” His voice was calm but there was an edge to it.

“You made a bold move taking her before the ceremony was done. It has raised questions.”

My breath hitched. I wasn’t supposed to be here? What could that possibly mean?

Makari leaned back in his chair, twirling a glass of dark liquid in his hand. “The questions don’t matter. She’s mine now. That’s all that matters.”

Mine.

“Have you told her?” The man asked. Makari smirked but there was no warmth in it.

“Not yet.”

What could he possibly want to tell me? It could not be about my father and sister, could it? Had he done something to them? My pulse raced and I took a careful step back. Unfortunately, my leg hit a flower pot and the men froze. Makari’s head turned sharply in my direction and then, his eyes met mine.

“Bella...” He drawled, rising from his chair. His eyes didn’t leave mine as he strode towards me, smooth and controlled. My instincts screamed run but before I could move, he was in front of me, reaching out to cup my chin and tilting my face to his.

“You are awake!” He murmured. There was something unsettling in his voice. Something that got me worried. I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper.

“Where am i? And where is my father and sister?” I whispered. He snickered and then brushed over my lower lips.

“You are home, sweetheart....” He leaned closer and let out a sigh on my neck. His breath was quite warm against my skin. “There’s no escape. Also...” He leaned away from me. “Your sister and father are in safe hands. They are my in laws after all, I cannot watch them get hurt.... oh, of course, except if it is coming from me.”

He chuckled and returned to the dining. The man on the other hand stood up and stepped out of the room.

“Come. Let’s have breakfast. Our first breakfast as a couple. “He ordered. His eyes were cold and so was his voice.

I nodded and sat right in front of him even though I was still so terrified.

“You were asleep all night that we did not get to celebrate our wedding night.”

I choked on saliva and he arched his brows. “You are my wife now and I have every right to your body whenever and wherever I want it. You do know that, right?”

It felt so difficult yet I swallowed the lump of saliva in my throat and nodded. He walked over to me and then cupped my mouth in his hands and tried to kiss me.

“Shall we?” He whispered. My heart raced. His lips thinned into a grin as he seemed to enjoy watching the fear in my eyes. He tilted his head to the right and there was the maid.

“Are you just going to stand there? Drop the food and get out!” He yelled and I shivered in fear. A fork slipped from the maid’s hands when she placed a plate right in front of me, her face briefly terrified.

“Wait!”

Makari reached out suddenly pulling my plate towards him, staring at it like he had just discovered something horrifying.

The maid who had served the food took a step back, her hands trembling at her sides. Makari lifted his gaze, slowly, dangerously towards the maid.

“He put you up to this, didn’t he?”

The maid stiffened. “I.... I don’t know what you mean, sir.” She stammered, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape.

Makari picked a knife from the table, turning it lazily between his fingers and a gasp escaped my lips. What the heck was happening?

“Don’t lie to me.”

“You....” He turned to one of the men who was standing at the extreme end of the room. “Check her plate.”

The man moved swiftly, taking my food and carefully inspecting it. His face remained blank as he lifted a piece of toast, sniffing it slightly before his brows furrowed. He turned to Makari and gave a small nod.

“Poison.”

My breath hitched. Poison?

The maid’s breathing became erratic. “I swear, I don’t know anything! I only served what was...”

Makari grabbed the maid’s wrist before she could take another step.

“Russo asked you to do this, didn’t he?” His voice was ice cold and lethal.

“Please.... I didn’t ... I didn’t mean to... I am sorry. I didn’t want to but he forced me to.”

Who on earth was Ruso and why would he want me dead? What did I do?

“Lock her up.” He ordered his men and took his car keys before stepping out. I diverted my gaze away from them and then..... my gaze fell on the file on a table where he picked his keys from. My face. My handwriting. My name.

Right there was a photo of me from years ago and a marriage contract with my name signed in blood. I guess I wasn’t just a random bride. Why did I suddenly have the feeling... that this was just the beginning?