Lynn love

Chapter 5

A week had passed, and I was utterly exhausted. I had no idea what time it was, but my body felt weak and heavy. After managing to shower and clean up, I realized I’d missed dinner. My stomach growled angrily, reminding me just how hungry I was. I threw on some clothes, cracked open the door, and peeked into the hallway. No guards. Good. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late.

Grabbing a flashlight, I tiptoed cautiously through the mansion, navigating the dark corridors and hoping I wouldn’t encounter any of the “dangerous things” everyone kept warning me about. The mansion was eerily quiet, with only the sound of my own footsteps and the occasional creak of the floorboards.

After sneaking through two lobbies without being seen, I suddenly heard a low groan. I froze, the sound sending a chill down my spine. Against my better judgment, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to investigate. The noise seemed to be coming from the staircase.

As I got closer, the beam of my flashlight revealed a figure crumpled at the foot of the stairs. My breath caught in my throat—it was Alexander, Lord Dixon’s enigmatic and rarely-seen son.

For a moment, I considered turning back, pretending I hadn’t seen him. But something about the way he lay there, motionless and vulnerable, stirred an unexpected pity in me. I couldn’t just leave him there.

“Hey, Alex,” I whispered, trying to rouse him. “Could you… maybe help me help you?”

To my surprise, he stirred and, with some effort, allowed me to guide him to his feet. He was heavy, his body cold to the touch, like he had no warmth of his own. Together, we made our way toward his room. My skin prickled as we passed through the first wing of the mansion, a section I’d never been allowed into before.

Mia and Sophia had often spoken about the mysterious first hall and Alexander’s private quarters. Now, here I was, standing before his door. It was different from the others—dark and foreboding, with intricate carvings I didn’t recognize.

The room was pitch-black, but Alexander seemed to know his way around. He led us to the bed, collapsing onto it with a heavy sigh. I fumbled with my flashlight, trying to help him out of his boots. As I worked, I noticed him cough faintly, his lips dry.

“You must be thirsty,” I murmured, scanning the room for a glass of water. My flashlight beam landed on a small fridge in the corner. Hoping it contained something useful, I walked over and opened it.

What greeted me made my blood run cold.

Inside the fridge were blood bags. Dozens of them. Hospital-grade, neatly stacked, and unmistakably human. My mind raced, panic rising in my chest. I couldn’t scream—I was too terrified. Closing the fridge, I turned to run, but as I backed away, I bumped into something solid.

I spun around, and the beam of my flashlight caught a pair of glowing red eyes staring down at me. My breath hitched, my body frozen in fear.

“Get out,” he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Without hesitation, I bolted, sprinting back to my room and slamming the door shut behind me. My heart was pounding, and I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night. Every shadow seemed alive, every creak in the walls a threat.

The next morning, I forced myself to attend breakfast, even though my hands were shaking and my appetite was gone. I didn’t want anyone coming to check on me in my room. Sitting at the dining table, I tried to act normal, but my efforts were in vain.

A guard approached, his face unreadable. “You’ve been summoned,” he said simply.

I froze. “By who?”

“Master Alexander. He’s waiting for you in his office.”

The color drained from my face. Every step toward his office felt like walking toward my doom. I knocked hesitantly, and his cold voice beckoned me inside.

Alexander was seated behind his desk, his expression unreadable. He motioned for me to sit.

“How many people have you told?” he asked, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.

I shook my head quickly, looking down at my hands. “No one,” I whispered.

“Good,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “You seem smart enough to keep it that way.”

My heart was pounding, but before I could say anything, he continued. “Since you’ve invaded my privacy, it’s only fair you repay me. From now on, you’ll be my personal assistant.”

I blinked, my fear replaced by confusion. “I was trying to help you,” I said, unable to keep the frustration from my voice. “I thought you were hurt. I didn’t know you were… something more dangerous.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them. My hand flew to my mouth, horrified at my own audacity.

Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly, but instead of anger, there was a flicker of amusement. “You don’t really fear me, do you?” he mused. “I like that. Then it’s settled—you’ll be my personal assistant.”

“What… what does that even mean?” I asked hesitantly.

A smirk tugged at his lips. “You’ll see.”

As I left his office, my mind was racing. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just made a deal with the devil. And worst of all, I couldn’t stop wondering if I was going to end up as his next meal.