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1026 Words
•~Fiona~•
Leonardo grabs my wrist before I can react, his grip, as he pulls me forward.
"What’s happening?" I manage to ask, stumbling slightly to keep up with his long strides. His jaw is clenched, his focus ahead, and he doesn’t answer.
We reach the grand entrance, ready to step outside when a voice calls from behind.
"Leo! Wait..."
Leonardo is the first to turn, his hand still holding mine. I follow his gaze, looking back to see Liora hurrying toward us. She’s panting, crouched slightly like she’d just sprinted across the mansion.
"Why are you going so soon, Leo?" she asks, despite her breathlessness as stopping a few steps away from us.
"Go back inside, Liora," Leonardo orders.
She doesn’t listen, her persistence clear as she steps closer.
"Will you be coming back soon, or should I visit instead? It’s not every day I see you, and grandmother isn’t exactly the best company."
I catch the way his expression softens just slightly, the rigid line of his lips curling into the faintest hint of a smile.
"You can come over anytime, Liora," he replies, his voice quieter now, less severe.
Liora grins, and for a moment, the tension seems to dissolve. That’s when I notice something in her hand—a small object glinting faintly under the light. She moves closer, her smile playful but her eyes holding something deeper.
"Before you go, Fiona, I have something for you."
She extends her empty palm, motioning for me to hold out mine.
I glance at him, whose jaw is still faintly tight, and then back at Liora. Hesitant, I slowly open my hand.
She drops a delicate pearl bracelet into my palm. "Staying in this big house all alone can be dreadfully boring," she laughs. "This is what I use to pass the time—it glows in the dark."
I study the bracelet in my palm, its surface smooth and cool, the pearls faintly shimmering under the light. The idea of something glowing in the dark feels oddly comforting.
"Thank you," I reply, unsure what else to add.
Liora smiles wider, her expression warm and a bit mischievous. "You're welcome. Take care of it.”
"That’s enough, Liora. We’re leaving."
She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t argue, taking a step back. "Fine, fine."
She then mouths to me, ‘So boring.’ and I almost giggle.
Leonardo notices this but doesn’t respond, his focus back on me. "Let’s go," he says, his voice firm but not harsh.
~••~
Two maids stand behind me, their hands working diligently to loosen the straps of my corset while I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
The ride home had been quiet. Leonardo didn’t say a single word, but his frown and the storm brewing in his eyes were impossible to miss. Whatever had happened at the palace, it was clear he wasn’t pleased.
Leonardo had been the first to step out and I hadn't seen him since then. Although he claims we share the room, he's never come here once.
Before the maids can finish, a sharp knock sounds at the door, making me stiffen.
“Come in,” I say, expecting another servant or perhaps a message.
The door creaks open, and it’s not a maid who enters.
But Leonardo is the one who strides in, immediately sending chills into the space. His eyes sweep over the room, then settle on me with an intensity that makes my breath hitch.
The maids freeze, lowering their gazes to the floor. He dismisses them seconds later and without another word they leave the both of us alone.
I turn back to the mirror, unsure of what to say or do. My fingers hover near the half-loosened straps of my corset when I hear his footsteps approach.
“Allow me,” Leonardo says, his voice softer than I expect.
Before I can respond, he’s behind me, his hands replacing where the maids’ had been moments ago. His touch is surprisingly gentle as he works to undo the intricate ties. His fingers brush slightly against my back and a spark of electricity jolts through my veins when I feel his hands rubbing an area on my bare skin.
For a moment his hands freeze mid-motion, and I can see his expression darken through the mirror as his eyes fixate on something.
He pulls my dress further down and I instinctively clutch the front of my dress, trying to keep it from slipping further.
“What are these marks?”
I stiffen. “Marks?”
His fingertips hover over a patch of skin on my back, where the corset has loosened enough to reveal it. His eyes darken, and he brushes the fabric aside slightly to reveal what he’s seeing and my heart races as I catch sight of faint lines etched into my skin.
Claw marks.
They hadn't been there before.
“Where did you get these?”
“I—I don’t know,” I stammer, pulling away and clutching the fabric tighter around me. “What are you talking about?”
He traces the spot again and it makes me shiver, though it’s not painful—just unsettling.
“You don't know where you couldn't have gotten these?” He inquired and I shook my head.
Leonardo steps back, his expression unreadable but tense. His eyes linger on me, as though searching for answers I don’t have.
“You didn’t feel them?” he asks again.
“No,” I whisper. “I don’t remember anything that could’ve caused them.”
For a moment, he simply stares at me, his jaw tight, his eyes dead serious and intense.
“Rest,” he says curtly. “We'll see tomorrow.”
He heads straight for the door.
“You're not sleeping here?”
It wasn't as if I wanted him to stay, but I was curious to know where he went all the time.
“No, I have something to attend to.” Without waiting for my response, he turns on his heel and leaves the room, closing the door behind him with a soft thud.
- Writer
