Deep Down (UNEDITED)

Those Deadly Whispers

P.O.V AMARA

+*+*+

"The whisperer" I asked somewhat incredulously. An amused delight played on his face.

"Vladimir hasn't told you about me yet? How pathetic, you'd think he'd tell something about his beloved uncle" His playful tone was gone, I frowned

"I don't remember seeing you at the engagement party?" The man chuckled as a hand slid through his smooth hair

"Let's just say I don't have the best relationship with the family" A flower, which he just removed from the Chinese vase next to him, balanced between his fingers. "Not to mention we can't get through the same door" Then why had Vladimir brought me here I asked myself this was completely illogical.

"Sir, with all due respect I really enjoyed meeting you but Someone is waiting for me" I gave the man a weak smile. He dropped the flower that was poised between his fingers.

"Of course" he straightened his shoulders. "And please call me Nicholas, the whisperer you only call me in public" I wasn't really listening, I was more focused on why someone would have the nickname the whisperer

"Thank you Nicholas, is Vladimir anywhere here?" What a silly question, of course he is here Amara, I could almost smell him, the night of the kiss I had thought he reeked of lost dreams and the night, easier said trouble. Everything I could miss in my life.

"Ah, yes he is waiting for us" he stopped for a moment and turned on his around "follow me" Nicholas's tone left no room for disagreement.

-*-*-*

We had been walking in silence through the corridors for several minutes before I got up the courage to open my mouth again.

"Is the mansion yours?" I asked somewhat quietly.

"You could say something like that, yes" Nicholas laughed softly, it was a warm sound. "The house has been in the family for years, you can think of it as a sort of " headquarter " where the family meets, it used to be that way, now the house is a heap of past glory and I was the only fool who wanted to maintain it" something was like regret flashed past in nicholas's eyes.

Not the regret when you put on a warm sweater on a summer day, but deep regret. I wondered why and wanted to ask Nicholas, but I had barely opened my mouth when an all-too-familiar scent met me -the scent of lost dreams and the night- Vladimir. My breath caught, stay calm Amara.

"What took you so long?" snapped Vladimir, only now I noticed that the old corridors had been exchanged for a Roman-style balcony, in the middle of the balcony Vladimir had nestled himself in one of the comfortable looking chairs.

Vladimir leaned back casually and stared lazily under the few dark locks of hair that had fallen forward at me. If he hadn't been a complete i***t my heart might have skipped a beat at the sight of the sun caressing his pale skin, but now I just felt like knocking that smug look off his face.

"Did you lose your tongue?" I snapped out of my thoughts.

"Why did it take so long you ask me? Because talking to a cultured man -Nicholas- seemed more fun to me than playing barbie doll with a fiancé who can't even be friendly, that's why" Nicholas laughed out loud

"You heard her Vlad I was the better option" Vladimir gave Nicholas a scathing look, which Nicholas answered with a pout "Not so serious, I'm really not stealing your fiancée" A wolfish grin played around his lips "Not yet anyway"

Vladimir's jaw muscles stiffened as he sighed "What have I done to deserve this?" maybe your arrogant behavior I thought to myself, but I didn't dare say that don't get me wrong I have no problem annoying Vladimir, but he already hated me and I didn't need to make it worse than it already was.

"Can someone tell me what we are doing here? I thought I was going to try on dresses don't get me wrong I enjoyed meeting your uncle but I don't have all day" silence

I felt two pairs of eyes stare at me like I was some i***t asking just the most obvious thing. I frowned and almost began to feel embarrassed until Vladimir burst into laughter. What was so funny? I felt the blood rise to my cheeks.

"What's so funny?" my voice was no more than a whisper

"Did you really think you were going to try on dresses, if I had told the truth to pretty boy and your aggressive friend they would have never let you go. Not that that would have stopped me" Vladimir looked at me with a mocking look. My blood began to boil.

"Then what am I doing here?" I asked looking from Nicholas to Vladimir.

"You are not Miss Verondale" said Nicholas. It took a while for the words to sink in, my hands began to get clammy and a lump formed in my throat

They had me figured out which was also to be expected from a notorious crime family. Fear crept up on me, they weren't supposed to figure it out yet, not so fast, how even?. What was I going to do?

"I" A large gulp of breath was sucked in to me "I can explain" I didn't dare look at Nicholas and Vladimir.

"I hope so for your sake" Nicholas snarled at me, his friendly mask had fallen out and he now plopped down next to Vladimir, a gun appeared from the holster hidden under his jacket of the suit he was wearing. I swallowed hard. "I haven't practiced shooting in a long time, so I'd be only too happy to put a bullet through the head of a liar who thinks he can fool us, Amara" Vladimir's golden eyes were as emotionless as Nicholas'.

I felt death mock me, looking at me with a look that said "I warned you"

How will I ever leave this mansion Alive?