The Broken Songbird

CHAPTER TWO

VICTOR'S POV

I scrolled through my email trying to read rather than the glancing I've been doing since I stepped in the car. I was so exhausted and my eyes burnt like I had been standing in a furnace for a day. I needed sleep. Real sleep and the type that didn't end up a nightmare.

I should probably see a doctor so I can get something prescribed no matter the side effects. I sent a text to Jeremy, my assistant.

[You at Brooklyn College?]

He replied almost immediately asking where I was with a mildly uncomfortable emoji. I was about to send a reply when the car made a turn and I realized that I was already in school grounds.

The driver gave me a nod and I stepped out. I squeezed my eyes shut already getting irritated by the noise caused by the students when Jeremy spotted me. He walked up, coffee in hand, already giving me that look.

“Let me guess,” he said, eyebrow raised, “another nightmare?”

I didn’t answer pushing past him. "So I'll take that as a yes," he muttered to himself, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Everything set up?” I asked, ignoring the rest.

“Yeah. We’re good. Contracts in place, the hall’s prepped, and the staff are briefed. All smooth.”

I had barely nodded when a black haired girl jumped on me. I sidestepped her, making her stumble, before she got her bearings back. She wore a red and white dress that looked way too tight, but what unsettled me was her grin.

“Victor De Luca? Oh my God, I'm your biggest fan," she yelled.

Great!!

“My father’s Mister Dunham,” she added. “He’s sponsoring the competition. I just wanted to introduce myself.”

The name rang a faint bell, but I didn’t dig too hard. I just nodded again.

“Can’t wait to see you at dinner," she said. I parted my lips to shut it down but she jumped on me like we were friends and planted a kiss on my cheek.

I spent the next few seconds watching her walk away in shock. "Explain."

Jeremy looked like he wanted to vanish. “I… think her dad mentioned it in one of the sponsor emails. Maybe someone from PR said you’d swing by?” He said, but it came out like a question.

"I'm not swinging anywhere. Let's get to work." I ordered and he nodded leading the way.

By the time we had wrapped up it was past four. I had no appetite. All I wanted was a glass of whiskey and silence. Maybe a nap could be possible.

My phone rang before I could even close my eyes. “Mister Dunham,” the screen read. I sighed and swiped to answer.

“Victor!” His voice boomed like we were old friends. “Just reminding you about dinner. Sophia’s been going on about it all day.”

I rubbed my forehead. “Right. Thanks for the reminder. But next time, maybe check with my PR or assistant.”

“Of course, of course,” he let out an overwhelming chuckle. “We’ll see you soon.”

I hung up. Jeremy, who was scrolling beside me, looked over. “Is that about dinner?”

“Send the driver the address. I’ll go.” I sounded like a child being forced to eat vegetables but I was too tired to care.

The Dunham Mansion looked just like I had expected. White as a sheet with perfect fields and even more perfect statues. The girl from this morning stood outside jumping like we were besties.

God, she was already a pest.

“Victor! You made it!” She bounced toward me in a gold dress, with her breast almost spilling out of it.

I forced a nod, unfortunately she didn't take the hint and kept rambling about how good her voice was, her hobbies, what we were having for dinner and how much her father had.

I looked up trying to calm myself but my eyes landed on someone instead. A girl.

She was thin, pale, and blonde, leaning against a dark cane. Her eyes didn’t meet mine, but there was something... still about her.

Sophia caught me staring and her tone shifted. “That bitch." She whispered under breath and I raised an eyebrow, but said nothing since it wasn't my business.

Inside, Dunham gave me a tour of the house like it was a damn museum. He talked about the competition, the sponsorship, and how he was “willing to add a little extra for Sophia.”

Bribe. It was obvious and I bit down the urge to say something sharp. We walked back downstairs and the blonde girl stood in front of us, her cane touching the marble floor. It was obvious she had a leg problem but how?

"Dinner's ready," she muttered, avoiding my gaze. She had green eyes. Big, sad ones. For some reason, I couldn’t stop looking at her.

The dinner ended quicker than I expected with Sophia talking into my ears, but I couldn’t shake the strange heaviness pressing down on me and it was more than obvious that something was wrong.

“Thanks for dinner. I need to get going now,” I said, pushing my chair back. “Not feeling great.”

Before Mister Dunham could respond, Sophia jumped in, all eager smiles and bright eyes. “Just one minute,” she said. “Just let me sing for you. Please? Just one song.”

I wanted to say no. I should have, but my mouth didn’t cooperate. My head swam and my body felt like my skin was vibrating under my clothes.

I nodded slowly. “Fine. While I wait for my driver.”

“Great! You can freshen up before, yeah? Don't worry I'll show you a room," she muttered, licking her lips in a disturbing way.

Something was off but I was too tired to argue so I nodded at Mr. Dunham, following her.

She talked the entire way up. Nonsense about how great her voice was, how she had trained for years. I barely heard her. My vision blurred. My knees buckled halfway up the hall, and I caught myself against the wall.

“Something’s wrong with me.” I mumbled.

She barely looked back. “Maybe you’re just overwhelmed by how pretty I am.”

Before I could respond, movement caught my eye. Down the corridor, near the end of the hall, the girl with the cane was watching. She hadn't said a word since I came here and the fact that I didn't know her name makes me sad?

Before I could question it, Stella turned, and saw where I was looking, and barked, “Get lost, freak!”

The green eyed girl flinched, and disappeared behind the stairs.

I would have asked about her, but Sophia or Stella tugged my hand and led me into a dark room. My pulse thudded in my ears, and the pressure in my body was getting unbearable. Every nerve felt sensitive.

She closed the door behind us and suddenly, I felt her all over me, her lips, her sticky hands as she took off my belt. My body reacted against me as I felt blood flow to my d**k.

“Stop!” I growled, shoving her off me. “What the hell did you give me?”

She smirked and let out a moan. I could barely breathe but I grabbed her by the hair, throwing her off. The door creaked open twice and then I felt hands on my arm. Although they felt different this time.

I reacted instinctively, spinning and grabbing the figure by the shoulders, pushing them against the wall. My hand moved to the throat, and I grabbed tightly, enough to stop whoever it was from getting close.

“Don’t touch me—”

The light snapped on, and it wasn't Sophia in the room with me.

It was her.