Trapped In Sin: Ava’s Story

The Devils Keepsake

Ava POV

I don’t know how long I’ve been lying motionless on the bed, curled up like a broken doll. My tears dried on my cheeks, leaving a tight and aching sting. The fire crackled softly in the corner, but everything felt so far away. I felt like I was floating just outside my skin.

I didn’t hear the soft knock until the door creaked open.

I flinched, and my body went rigid for a second. I thought it was him.. I thought Azrael came back to finish whatever sick game he was playing with me.

But it wasn’t him.

A young woman stepped into the room. She wasn't much older than me, she was dressed in a simple black dress with a white apron tied tightly around her waist. Her dark hair was braided and pinned up neatly, and her caramel skin was glowing under the light of the fire. She had the kind of face that looked like it belonged to someone who knew too much and said too little.

She bowed her head slightly and gave me a big smile that caught me off guard. “Miss Ava?”

I sat up lazily, my voice was weak and raw. “Yes?” I said with a raised brow.

“I’m Elira, your handmaid,” She spoke gently, like she was trying not to spook a wild animal. "Master Volkov has instructed me to attend to you. I’ll be here for anything you might need.” She clapped her hands together excitedly, and my frown only deepened. What the hell is going on?

My heart twisted at the title 'Master Volkov'.

“What?” I asked, blinking at her in confusion as if she were speaking a foreign language. "Why would I need a private maid? I—I didn’t ask for this, none of this makes any sense.” I shrieked.

She stepped further into the room and approached the bed carefully. “Your fight is not with me, Miss Ava. I'm just a maid who follows orders. I'm going to prepare a hot bath for you and get you some fresh clothes.” She turned and walked into what I can only assume is the en-suite bathroom.

“I’m not—” I started, but the words dissolved in my mouth as soon as she turned her back to me. She's right, I shouldn't be taking my frustrations out on her. She's just doing her job. I need to be smarter and befriend her because she might be my ticket out of this scary castle.

I sat in the room quietly and listened to the running water. My mind was reeling with so many thoughts until I was disturbed by Elira clearing her throat. "Your bath is ready, Miss Ava." I sighed and stood up I quietly let her lead me to the bathroom.

The bathroom was covered in gold; steam curled up from a tub big enough for me to drown in. I stared at it like it was a trap, but the heat clawed at my frozen limbs. My body betrayed me, and I stepped closer to the tub.

“I don’t understand,” I muttered as Elira began unfastening the back of my dress with practiced hands. “Why is he doing this? Why take me and then… give me clothes and baths and—maids?”

Elira hesitated before she spoke. “That’s not for me to answer, Miss Ava.”

“But you know something,” I snapped, the panic began bleeding through my skin like poison. “Don’t you? Who is he really? What kind of man brings someone here against their will?”

She met my eyes in the mirror, and for a moment, her calm demeanor cracked. “A dangerous one,” she said quietly. “But he doesn’t waste his time on people he doesn’t want.” She whispered like she was afraid that someone might hear us.

Her words gave me an uneasy feeling. What does she mean by "He doesn’t waste his time on people he doesn’t want"?

I pushed those thoughts aside and stepped into the bath; the water scorched my skin, but I didn’t care. I wanted it to burn my fear away.

Elira gently poured warm water over my hair, and I decided to break the silence again. “Am I a prisoner?”I asked as I held onto my knees while she washed my hair.

She didn’t answer my question.

Her silence was loud. I already knew the answer to my question, I just wanted to hear her say it.

I gripped the edge of the tub until my knuckles turned white. “What happens if I try to run?” I asked out of curiosity.

Her hands stilled in my hair. “No one runs from Azrael Volkov, and lives to tell the tale.” She muttered and continued washing my hair like she didn't just drop a bomb on me.

My chest tightened. The water, the warmth, the perfumed air—it all felt wrong.

After my bath, Elira wrapped me in a fluffy robe that felt so soft on my skin. I sat on the edge of the bed, and my thoughts started spiraling again. Elira stood near the door, with her hands behind her back, like she was waiting for me to give her a signal to leave.

“Why did he bring me here?” I whispered. “What does he want from me?” I ran my fingers through my wet hair and sighed.

Her voice was nearly inaudible. “Only he knows, Miss Ava. But if I were you…” Her eyes softened for a moment. “I’d be very careful.”

she gave me a meek smile and turned to leave, the door shut behind her with a soft click.

Elira’s warning only scared me more. Her words echoed in my head long after she was gone, I sat on the edge of the bed with the robe clinging to my wet skin.. The fire had dimmed, and the room was eerily quiet. My fingers trembled as I looked at the room.

I don't know how long I sat there staring into nothingness, or how long I cried. I don't even know why I was crying anymore—was it fear? or was it grief for the girl I used to be when my father was still alive?

Eventually, my body gave out. I curled myself beneath the sheets and let my exhaustion take me like a tide. I don’t remember dreaming, maybe I didn’t, or maybe my fear was too thick for even nightmares to form. But when I woke up again during the night, the air felt different.

Moonlight spilled across the floor in silver slats, and the fire from the fireplace had died down to embers. The room was silent—too silent.

Yet something prickled at the edge of my awareness, an instinct so sharp it jolted me upright. I shrieked when I saw a dark shadow in the corner of the room, moonlight flickered on the shadow, and I sighed a breath of relief when I saw that it was Azrael.

He was casually sitting in the chair that was near the bed, his legs spread apart, and his hands were clasped beneath his chin. The shadows clung to him, but the light of the moon carved out the sharp line of his jaw and the cruel tilt of his mouth. His eyes were fixed on me. He didn’t speak, and he didn’t move; he just sat there watching me, like he was sitting there the entire time I slept. A sharp breath escaped my lips, and my throat tightened. “Azrael?” I whispered.

He didn’t respond. His gaze didn’t soften either. If anything, it grew colder and more detached. As if he were looking at an ugly creature, my voice cracked. “What are you doing? And why are you looking at me like that?” I grabbed the sheets and held them to my chest.

He tilted his head slightly. “You sleep like a child.” His voice was low and void of any warmth. Did he really just say that? I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.

“I—” My stomach twisted. “You scared me.” I muttered under my breath, but I knew that he heard me.

he chuckled and stared at me like I said something stupid. "I meant to.”

His words made a cold chill run down my spine.

I sat up straighter, gripping the sheets harder to my chest. “What are you going to do with me?”

“Nothing.” He deadpanned.

Just that? Nothing? As if I didn’t deserve more. As if he didn't just tear my life out of Blackthorn Hollow and ruin my plans to finally escape and find happiness, only for him to fling me into some silent corner of hell.

“Then why am I here?” I demanded, my voice shaking, but I held my ground. “Why did you bring me here?”

His expression didn’t change. “Because I can.”

His words slapped the breath out of me, he didn’t offer any explanations. And he showed no signs of remorse. My hands curled into fists under the blankets. “You took me against my will, and you won't even tell me why. How sick are you?” I spat the words out before I could stop myself.

He stood up slowly, and I instantly regretted my words. I could feel the anger and danger that exuded from him, and it was suffocating. My heart thundered in my chest as he approached the bed, his shadow swallowed me whole as he stopped at the edge. He leaned down until his face was inches from mine.

“Would you have preffered it if I left you there to be Esmeralda's w***e?” He whispered, but his words cut deeper than any blade. “I saved your useless life.”

I couldn’t breathe, it felt like all the air had left my lungs, and my eyes stung with tears. His mouth curled up, but it wasn't a smile; it was something darker. “So don’t you ever question me again.” I shrank back instinctively and blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. He straightened himself and turned toward the window.

“Sleep, Ava.” He said, almost dismissively. “You’ll need your strength.”

He turned away from me and walked straight out the room, the door clicked shut behind him—and I was left alone with the chill of his presence still thick in the air, and with the haunting reminder that even though i was in a mansion lined with luxury, I was still trapped in a cage far worse than Esmeralda’s. And this one had no locks, because it didn’t need them, not when the monster watching me wore a man’s face.

_______________________________________________

I woke up to a pale light filtering through the sheer curtains, but there was no warmth in it; I only felt more emptiness as the light cast a golden glow over the room. The bed was too soft, the silence was too loud. And my chest… felt hollow. My limbs were heavy, like I sank into some ocean of grief overnight. I never thought that I would feel such a grievous pain again from an insult, but I did. Azrael's words hurt me deeply last night, he opened up an old wound without even trying....

I inwardly groaned when I heard a soft knock.

The door creaked open, and Elira stepped in. She was calm and composed, as though the weight of this place didn’t crush her. Her brown eyes softened when she saw me curled up like a forgotten doll on the bed.

“Good morning, Miss Ava.” She said happily as she approached the bed. “I'm here to draw a bath for you.”

I blinked at her in confusion. “What...Why?” I'm not a morning person, I've never been enthusiastic about mornings either, and I hate it when people disturb me while I'm rebooting. but I decided to hold my tongue, Elira is not my enemy, but you know who is? Azrael Volkov.

She giggled and shook her head slightly. “Because it’s time for breakfast, silly. Master Volkov is expecting you in the Great Hall.”

Her words only fueled my irritation. What is Azrael playing at? I'm not a guest here, i wanted to politely decline the invitation but I'm scared to piss Azrael off, that man is scary. he is nothing like the man from my dreams. I clicked my tongue and followed Elira into the bathroom.

Elira helped me get dressed in a simple dress that was the color of the ocean, it was a light blue with hints of green, and it was featherlight against my skin. the dress covered my curves and exposed my collarbones. It was a magical dress that was fit for a princess, but I was no princess. Elira's hands were gentle as she brushed out my damp hair. I've been silent since my bath, and I still couldn’t bring myself to speak.

When she finally led me down a long corridor that was lined with different paintings, I felt like I was being led to a throne room for judgment, and not a great hall to have breakfast.

We stopped in front of two massive doors, and I instantly gulped. Elira turned to me and gave me a sad, knowing smile. “Be careful what you say in front of them.”

Them?? I was about to ask her what she meant by them, but she left before I could voice out my concerns. The massive doors creaked open on their own, groaning like they hated being disturbed. I stepped inside and dug my nails into my palms. The hall was huge and lit up by a chandelier dripping in obsidian crystals, daylight was scarce in this part of the house. My eyes moved to the long table that was set for four, though only two people were seated. One of them I recognized instantly. Azrael was leaning back in his chair, and looking more handsome than ever in his black suit, his cold eyes flicked up to me without interest.

The other man, however, smiled. He had the same bone structure as Azrael, but where Azrael was midnight and stone, this man was laughter and firelight. His auburn hair was tousled, and there was a roguish charm in his grin as he stood to greet me.

“You must be the infamous Ava.” He said cheerfully, pulling out a chair beside him. “Come, sit. Azrael failed to describe how beautiful you are.”

Azrael didn’t react, but the air shifted, and it became colder in the hall.

I ignored the bitterness in the air, and I sat down stiffly at the table, keeping my eyes low. the table was filled with varieties of different foods, and the man beside me stuffed my plate with most of the foods that were on the table. But my eyes were only on the silverware that gleamed like weapons. He placed my plate in front of me and i gave him a tight smile, but my eyes widened when i saw how stacked my plate was, he dished up a whole weeks meal for me.

“I’m Cassian.” The man said, pouring juice into my glass. “I'm Azrael’s younger brother, don’t let his brooding get to you—he’s always been like that. Even as a kid. One time, he set a whole field on fire just to—”

“Cassian.” Azrael seethed, his voice was low and razor-sharp.

Cassian paused and blinked at his brother, then he laughed awkwardly. “Right. Family secrets.” Cassian rolled his eyes.

I tried to breathe evenly, but my hands trembled on my lap. My appetite was gone, but I touched the fork out of obligation. Cassian leaned closer and whispered like it was just between us. “So, how did you and Azrael meet? I didn’t think he was the… courting type.” My heart dropped at his words. Azrael’s chair scraped against the marble floor, making a loud screeching sound echo throughout the hall.

“That’s enough.” Azrael didn't even raise his voice, but the warning in his tone was deadly.

Cassian froze mid-bite and turned to look at me in confusion. Azrael didn’t look at me; he didn’t have to. His presence commanded the entire room. Cassian cleared his throat and suddenly looked pale. “Of course. I was only curious, brother.”

“Curiosity gets people killed.” Azrael said calmly as he sliced into his food.

The words dropped like a bomb, and the silence that followed was suffocating. Cassian looked away in embarrassment, and I instantly felt bad for him. Azrael was truly the devil, I stared down at my untouched plate of food, my heart was beating like a drum in a crypt. I don't belong here, but I'm not allowed to leave. I don't know what's worse—the cruelty of Blackthorn Hollow or the elegant, deadly cage Azrael has brought me to.. And as I sat between one man who smiled too easily and another who could freeze hell with a glance, I realized something terrifying,

Whatever fate awaited me here… it has already begun.