Hell in his arms

Stories

That day passed like that, Celina didn't say any other thing about Cassian, we just talked about the weather and our high school days.

I have to admit, she was actually fun to be with. She made me laugh severally.

“I'll take my leave now Anya,” Celina got up and announced, I looked at the clock, it was already past 7pm.

“I didn't realize so much time had passed already." I said as I stood up from my chair, I wanted to see her to the gate, as courtesy demands.

“You don't have to see me off, I parked just outside.” She waved at me and made her way to the door, before she turned around “it was nice chatting with you Anya, I look forward to our next meeting.”

"And I'm really sorry for everything Anya, I hope you can put it behind you."

I gave her a soft smile and waved as she stepped outside.

I left the living room and went to my room. I collapsed on the bed and allowed sleep take me.

The next morning, I went about my daily routine: I took my bath, ate breakfast and went to the living room with another book in my hand.

I saw a book on Cassian's shelve, the wheel of time, it sounded interesting and I decided to try it out. I didn't take Cassian to be into these kind of books.

I sat at my usual spot and became engrossed In the book. At exactly 2pm, I heard the sound of a car pack in the yard. I was too engrossed in the book that I didn't pay too much attention to the sound I heard.

"Hey Anya," I heard someone call out from the door.

I looked up to find Celina standing at the doorway.

I was half surprised to see her at the front door at the exact same time she arrived yesterday.

she smiled and sat down close to me, we spent the rest of the afternoon talking about random things and laughing.

At exactly 7pm, she got up and left after we exchanged goodbyes. Honestly, I was beginning to get used to her presence.

Soon, it became a pattern, Celina would show up every afternoon. Victor didn’t seem to mind as Cassian hadn’t left any strict instructions about visitors. And she was polite to everyone, even the maids.

We started having tea together in the sunroom. She even started bringing pastries. She complimented my hair. She asked about school, about my hobbies.

I found myself getting fond of her and I let her in, I believed she was just a heartbroken woman. I let her in and became very cool with having her around.

Then little by little, she started dropping stories.

At first, they seemed casual.

“Did he ever tell you about what happened in Prague?” she asked one day, sipping her tea.

I frowned. “No. What happened?”

She looked at me, with her eyes widened. “He tore out a man’s throat. In front of everyone. He didn't warn him or anyone. It was all out of anger, I couldn’t sleep for days.”

I blinked. “Why would he do that?”

She shrugged. “He said the man disrespected him. I wasn't exactly surprised since that’s all it takes with Cassian. One wrong word and your life is gone.”

I felt a chill crawl down my back.

She told me about another incident as we picked fruits the maids served us from the plate.

“There was a girl before you,” she said, as she to picked a lint off her sleeve. “Oh, she was a very pretty thing with long blonde hair. He was obsessed with her for a while. But she betrayed him. And Cassian didn't take the betrayal well , he locked her in the wine cellar for a week. With no light or food.”

I stared at her. “What happened to her?”

She smiled faintly. “She disappeared.”

For a second, I couldn't breathe.

Each day that passed, she brought a new story. A new horror. How Cassian once burned down a house with people inside. How he punished a traitor by ripping out his fingernails one by one. How no one really knew where the bodies were buried because he never left evidence.

“Has he ever told you he loved you?” she asked me once, staring straight into my eyes.

I didn’t answer, more like i couldn't answer.

Celina leaned closer. “He doesn’t know how to love, Anya. He only knows how to possess.”

At this point, I didn't know whether to believe Celina or not, but why was she telling me all those stories.

As I lay on my bed, I couldn't sleep well that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw flashes of blood, fire, screaming. Her stories looped in my mind, twisting everything I thought I knew about Cassian.

I tried to tell myself she was just bitter. That she was trying to scare me.

But part of me deep down wondered if she was telling the truth.

Why else would she keep coming? Why else would Victor not stop her? Why hadn’t Cassian warned me?

These questions plagued me throughout the night, I just lay on the bed pondering on them.