KINGDOM OF THREATS

Chapter Seven – Shadows of the Past

Valentina

Run.

This word has been ringing in my ears like a daily alarm since the last encounter with Aiden.

My sixth sense has never been so alert. I don’t know what he wants from me, and I don’t want any connection between us—not even hatred.

My stomach, betrayer, it f*****g tingles whenever I see him. I mean, bro, stay in your lane. Release HCl to help digestion and stuff more food inside yourself, that’s it.

What’s with those weird sensations?

I guess it’s just tension forming in my belly, maybe because of what Natalia told me on Andrea’s birthday.

Today, Andrea and I spent half our bank balance shopping, eating, playing games, and eating again. I swear, Father is going to kill me once I go back. He must already be receiving notifications. I remember how my parents once bought dozens of clothes just because I was being stubborn about going out for shopping.

Andrea didn’t tell me her dad reads books—such a cool dad. She pushes open the giant door and steps inside excitedly, then vanishes. I remain rooted to my place, chills running down every corner of my body as I scan the room with uneasiness.

Faint voices reach my ears. Against my sixth sense screaming don’t, I walk inside.

I’m surprised by how organized the room is. My gaze trails to a photo hanging on the wall with pink wallpaper. It’s the only wall painted pink; the rest are dark, really dark.

In the photo, a handsome young man stares right into the camera, eyes stormy and unreadable. Beside him stands a beautiful woman in a long, elegant blue dress, smiling gorgeously. She looks like Andrea—it must be her mother.

Her father has the same eyes as his son. Grey. Stormy.

The longer I stare at the man, the more something creeps up my throat.

Memory floods.

“We’re leaving. Right now.”

Mother’s voice roars, her eyes bloodshot with fury—or was it pain? I don’t know.

Father sighs and nods.

I glance between them with my curious, innocent eyes. “But I want to play more with my friends.” My voice is shaky, words barely formed.

Father bends to my level and smiles warmly. “Sweetheart, you can meet them another day. We have urgent work. You’ll listen to Papa, right?”

I nod quickly, and he kisses my cheek.

Mother grabs me in her arms, shifting me roughly. I squirm in unease.

“If you move again, I’ll lock you in a room with rats. Stop moving your ass,” she hisses, eyes sharp. My cheeks wobble, but I don’t cry. I try my hardest not to move an inch.

“I said I don’t want it, are you deaf?” A sudden outburst makes me jump.

Andrea’s heels click as she runs toward me. Her face is red, tears brimming in her eyes. The book she bought for her dad is gripped tightly in her hand, its cover torn.

“Are you okay?” I cup her face gently. She sniffs, nodding, tears threatening to fall.

“Val, can we go to the garden for some fresh air? I… I really need it,” she mutters gloomily.

I nod, not asking questions.

Outside, we sit on the grass, not caring about our clothes. She exhales deeply.

“Now, what do we do with this?” She waves the damaged book with a forced smile.

It reminds me of my mother’s fake smile.

I hate it.

“Maybe return it,” I shrug.

“Who will take a torn book?” She shows me the destroyed cover.

“Someone dumb like you,” I say flatly, intentionally.

“Right. Someone dumb like me.” She laughs humorlessly.

We can hide pain behind laughter and smiles, but one day, emotions erupt like a volcano. Andrea has a charming personality, but that doesn’t mean she’s happy inside. No one is. Everyone has their own problems.

—

“Of course I rejected him!” Natalia exclaims, arms crossed and eyes disappointed.

“Look, I told you—he’s not her type. He even peed once in his pants,” Andrea adds.

“What? But why?” Katherine scrunches her nose in disgust.

I can’t believe we’re talking about this.

“Because Mrs. Daisy shouted at him for not paying attention,” Natalia explains. Whoever that boy is, I feel bad for him. But still—he shouldn’t have asked Natalia out.

“He sounds like a good boy. Then why reject him?” I ask, sipping orange juice. Sourness explodes in my mouth.

“Good boy? I don’t like them. I like bad boys who can fight for me—burn the world down for me. Not someone who’d pee his pants.” She flashes a dreamy smile, eyes lost somewhere far away.

“Okay, we got that. Snap out of your dream world to reality and answer my question.” Andrea’s mischievous grin spreads wide.

I wonder what she has in mind.

“If he burns the world, where will you two live? There’s no oxygen in space. And we live here too—will you let us burn?” I hold back my laugh.

Natalia’s face drains of color. “I was just saying I want a man who will fight anyone for me.”

“What about you, Valentina?” Katherine asks. All eyes turn to me.

“Me? Someone who takes care of me in my worst moments. Someone who won’t cage me. Who’ll be my comfort place, my home. Who’ll let me do what I want. Who makes me feel like the only woman in his life.”

I know it’s impossible to find all those qualities in one person, but there’s no limit to expectation.

“I’ll pray God gives you exactly that man,” Andrea smiles warmly.

I nod.

As they push Katherine to share her type, I excuse myself. In the washroom, I wash my hands and tie a loose bun.

I stop in the hallway.

Someone’s behind me.

I turn—no one. Relief floods me. This is Natalia’s house. I’m safe here. There’s tight security.

I remind myself and keep walking.

“Be careful, or you’ll fall down the stairs.”

I freeze. My head twists slowly—stormy grey eyes.

“What are you doing here?” I breathe. His presence steals the air from my lungs.

“Step back, or everyone will blame me for pushing you.”

I glance down. My foot hovers above the first step. If I’d moved, I would’ve fallen. Embarrassed, I step back.

“Now tell me—are you following me? Oh my God, so you were the one scaring me? First at the birthday party, now here—always appearing out of nowhere—”

“Excuse me? Why would I follow you? You’re not a celebrity. And scaring you? I don’t remember such a thing. Snap out of your fictional world, Ms. Author. Get some glimpses of reality—it’ll help you survive.” His voice is sharp.

What does that mean?

“If glimpses of the real world include you, then no thanks. I’m happy in my fictional world, Mr. Stone.” I smile sarcastically.

“Mr. Stone? That’s all you’ve got, Cherry?” He tilts his head, steps forward. His cologne tickles my nose, sending shivers down my spine—confident, sophisticated, dangerous.

I stumble back, panic flaring as my foot slips.

My eyes shut.

Strong arms wrap around my waist. My eyes snap open—storm meets ice. For a moment, it feels like my cold is melting into his storm, combining into something destructive, unstoppable.

Relief rushes in as he pulls me upright, but emptiness grips me the moment he lets go.

“Do you have a death wish?” His jaw clenches, eyes blazing.

“It’s all because of you. If you’d stayed away, I wouldn’t have slipped. You always blame others,” I whisper bitterly.

“I’m not blaming. I’m warning. I won’t always be there to save you. And don’t come near me if you don’t want to get hurt. I am not merciful.” His voice cuts like steel.

“Is that a threat?” I arch an eyebrow.

What if Natalia was right?

“Do you want to kill me?” The words slip out before I regret them.

His eyes darken. “Isn’t it too easy? I want to do worse. And about killing—you’ll die only when I decide. Till then, I won’t let you.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Why? I haven’t done anything to you,” I tremble.

“Right. You haven’t. Don’t worry, I’ll find another way besides death.” His grin is cruel.

Bullshit. This man is a psychopath.

Later, Andrea notices my silence.

“What happened?”

His words still echo in me like poison, leaving scars.

“Nothing,” I say quickly.

She stares.

I sigh. “Will you ever believe me?”

“Maybe… if you stop lying,” she shrugs.

“I’m going back to Berlin. I promised Father.” It’s half a lie. The thought of being locked up again suffocates me. I wish I could stay here forever.

“What? But why? You just came! You haven’t even seen anything yet. Val, God gave us life to live, not to waste.”

I nod quietly.

“Do you want me to talk to Uncle?” Andrea’s serious face unnerves me. I shake my head.

“Don’t. I’m staying for some more time. We’ll enjoy them together.” I force a smile.