Episode 2: The Devil’s House
1165 Words
The gates closed behind me with a heavy metallic sound.
Final.
That was the only word echoing in my head.
I slowly turned to look through the back window of the car, my chest tightening as the outside world disappeared behind tall iron bars.
Freedom…
Gone.
The car moved forward, deeper into the estate.
Everything around me screamed power — towering walls, black marble statues, perfectly trimmed gardens that looked too perfect… too controlled.
Like a prison pretending to be a palace.
My fingers clenched the edge of my dress.
Stay calm.
Don’t show fear.
But how could I not?
I was taken. Sold. Trapped.
And worst of all…
He was here.
Alexey.
The car finally stopped in front of a massive mansion. The doors opened before I could even move, as if they had been waiting.
Of course they were.
Everything here was planned.
Controlled.
Just like him.
“Out,” the driver said coldly.
I stepped out slowly, my legs slightly weak, my eyes scanning the place.
This wasn’t a home.
It felt like a kingdom built on silence.
And secrets.
The front doors opened.
Two maids stood there, their heads slightly lowered.
“Miss Morozova,” one of them said politely, “please follow us.”
Miss?
That word felt wrong.
Everything felt wrong.
But I walked anyway.
Because what choice did I have?
The inside was even worse.
Dark.
Elegant.
Cold.
Black marble floors reflected the dim lights above. The walls were covered with paintings — most of them too dark, too intense.
Like they were watching me.
Judging me.
I wrapped my arms around myself.
“Where is he?” I asked quietly.
The maids didn’t answer.
Of course.
No one speaks unless he allows it.
We stopped in front of a large door.
“This will be your room,” one of them said, opening it.
I stepped inside.
And froze.
The room was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Soft lights. A large bed. Silk sheets. Floor-to-ceiling windows covered with heavy curtains.
Luxury.
But I felt nothing.
Because no matter how beautiful it looked…
It wasn’t mine.
“You will find clothes prepared for you,” the maid continued. “Dinner is at eight. Do not be late.”
Do not be late.
Not “please.”
Not “if you want.”
A command.
They left without another word.
And just like that…
I was alone.
Minutes passed.
Or maybe hours.
I didn’t know.
I just stood there, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
Who is that girl?
Her eyes looked different.
Scared.
Broken.
No.
I shook my head.
Not broken.
Not yet.
I moved toward the window and pulled the curtain slightly.
Guards.
Everywhere.
My stomach dropped.
Of course.
He wasn’t lying.
There really was no escape.
“Planning something?”
My body froze.
That voice…
I turned slowly.
He was leaning against the door, watching me.
Alexey.
My heart skipped.
How long had he been standing there?
“How long have you been here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Long enough,” he replied calmly.
My chest tightened.
I hated the way he looked at me.
Like I was nothing.
Like I meant nothing.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I said, anger rising inside me. “Watching me like I’m trapped?”
He pushed himself off the door and walked toward me.
Slow.
Confident.
Dangerous.
“You are trapped,” he said simply.
I swallowed hard but didn’t step back.
“I won’t stay here,” I said.
He stopped right in front of me.
Too close.
“You will.”
“No.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“Don’t test me, Alina.”
The way he said my name…
Cold.
Unfamiliar.
It hurt more than I expected.
“I’m not afraid of you,” I lied.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
“Good,” he said softly. “Fear makes things boring.”
My breath caught.
What does that even mean?
Before I could react, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from my face.
I flinched.
His hand stopped mid-air for a second.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Something… human.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
“Dinner,” he said, stepping back again. “Don’t make me come get you.”
And then he left.
Just like that.
Like a storm that came and went…
But left everything shaken.
8:00 PM.
I stood in front of the dining hall, my heart pounding.
Don’t show weakness.
Don’t let him win.
I pushed the doors open.
The table was long.
Too long.
And he was sitting at the head, like a king.
Waiting.
His eyes lifted to me the moment I entered.
Silence filled the room.
I walked slowly and sat down across from him.
The distance between us felt like a battlefield.
“Eat,” he said.
No greeting.
No emotion.
Just a command.
I picked up the fork, my hands steady despite the storm inside me.
We ate in silence.
Tense.
Heavy.
Until—
“Why did you come back?” I asked suddenly.
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
His hand paused.
Just for a second.
Then continued.
“I didn’t,” he said calmly. “You were brought to me.”
My jaw tightened.
“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “Years ago… you disappeared.”
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
“I waited for you,” I continued, my voice softer now. “You promised—”
“Stop.”
One word.
Sharp.
Final.
My heart clenched.
“Don’t talk about the past,” he said coldly. “It’s irrelevant.”
Irrelevant…?
I laughed bitterly.
“Was I irrelevant too?”
Big mistake.
The air shifted instantly.
He put the fork down slowly.
Too slowly.
And then looked at me.
This time…
There was something in his eyes.
Not cold.
Not empty.
Something darker.
“You want the truth?” he asked quietly.
My breath caught.
“Yes.”
He leaned back slightly, his gaze never leaving mine.
“The truth is…” he said, his voice dropping lower, “you should be very careful what questions you ask.”
A chill ran down my spine.
“Because the answers…”
He leaned forward.
“…might destroy you.”
My heart pounded wildly.
What does he mean?
What happened back then?
What is he hiding?
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
His words kept repeating in my head.
The past is irrelevant.
No.
It’s not.
Something happened.
Something big.
And whatever it was…
It changed him.
Completely.
I turned in bed, staring at the ceiling.
And made a decision.
I won’t stay silent.
I won’t just survive here.
I will find the truth.
Even if it breaks me.
Even if it destroys everything.
Because one thing is clear—
Alexey Volkov is hiding something.
And whatever it is…
It’s far more dangerous than I ever imagined.
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