The Killer's Rose

Unspoken Ties

"What? Nanny?" I questioned, and he gave a nod, as though he expected I had no choice. Even though he had saved me from the very death that was at the brink of claiming me, the last thing I ever wanted was to be in this mansion anymore by the second.

"Mom must be waiting..." I thought, as I noticed Damien's eyes still locked on mine, expecting a response.

I swallowed a lump. Why was I shivering so much? It was the name that still rang the scene of his actions in my head, the fear that I still found unable to let go of.

"I...I can't..." I finally managed a whisper, only to hear a slight chuckle from him. "I wasn't asking," he said, causing a chill to run down my spine as he grasped my hand. Those darkened eyes locked on me as a shift took place. It didn't seem like something I expected less. After Luca's change, expecting the same cruelty from this devil was something i accepted.

At this moment, my eyes went downcast, bracing for whatever he was planning to do to me, possibly torturing me even more. My hell never seemed like it was going to end any moment, but I noticed a sudden shift from him.

Those darkened eyes replaced by a weird, calm look.

"You must be hungry. Come downstairs to eat..." he simply said, making his way out of the room.

His words, the sudden change... What happened? I wasn't able to understand the weird acts from him, but at least I was let go. But that was only for now.

I sat back down on the bed. My growling stomach was one I couldn't deny. He was right; I was hungry. But yet, the mere thought of merely stepping out of this room was one I couldn't have myself think about.

Some minutes went by, and eventually, I made my way outside the room, seeing no other choice. "Should I really be stepping outside?" I questioned in my thoughts.

But even though I had tried so hard, I wasn't able to deny my starving state. I walked down the stairs, finding Damien seated, and so was that old man I had noticed earlier, glaring at me unwaveringly.

"Thought you weren't planning on coming," I heard Damien say, but I left no words, only seating myself down at the dining table as some of the maids helped serve some food in front of me.

The smell alone was something I couldn't deny for its delightfulness. I dug in, taking a bite.

It had been a while since I had something to eat. Locked up in that hole, I doubted I had ever even had anything to eat. What only entered my body were the drugs I was dosed with over and over with time.

"You shouldn't rush it like that. I don't want you choking in my mansion..." Damien said. But even so, I paid less heed, eating more. I found the old man's gaze still glaring at me.

His glare caused a sudden halt in me, as the food caught up in my throat. I coughed out, trying to grasp a glass of water, but paused when I found Damien holding up a glass of water, one that he pointed at me.

My hands hesitated for the moment. I could only wonder what was in this devil's mind.

Before I decided to take the glass, he dropped it back on the table, standing up.

"I warned you not to rush it..." he said, avoiding a glance at me. He left my side after walking some distance away, leaving me with the old man.

I tried avoiding a gaze at the old man, hoping he would eventually stop glaring at me. I gulped down the glass of water Damien had dropped back on the table. And not long after I was done eating, I stood up, hoping to make my way back to the room.

"Please wait..." I heard the old man say. But I wasn't planning on doing that. The least I wanted was to avoid any moment with any of them. Even though I had little idea who he was, the fact that he seemed like a family to Damien Salvatore was a warning enough for me to take.

I paid no heed, taking some steps further.

"Evelyn..." I heard the old man yell, those words causing a pause in my legs. "Again with that name..." I turned back at the old man who had stood up hastily.

"I'm sorry, dear. Your name is Isla, right..." he corrected. But even so, how did he know my name? Yet I shouldn't be thinking about that now. I should have never stopped in the first place.

"I'm sure Damien must have told you his reasons, the reason you are here..." the old man said.

But even if he did, I wasn't planning on accepting it. I would make sure I escaped from here. That I would see to.

The old man closed the distance between us. "Why don't you come see him..." he said, making me wonder what he meant.

"See who?" I questioned, hoping to take back my words.

"Damien's son. The one you are going to be the nanny of..." the old man said.

I left no reply at first. I wasn't going to be his nanny in the end, so why should I see him? Yet, a side of me wanted to confirm the truth of that devil having a son to begin with.

My gaze locked with the old man's, who still stood there.

I gave heed this time, hoping that after I saw that, I would make my way back to my room.

"Follow me, dear..." he said, as I followed his steps. Walking through the hall, we eventually arrived at a room and came to a pause at the doorstep.

"He is inside... Damien's son, Marcus." The old man said. "You should go in alone. I'm sure that is for the best..." he added.

But what was he saying? Why should I be the one to go in alone? He had brought me here. Or was he planning something? Should I even be trusting his words? What if this was just a plan to have me trapped or killed? But was I overthinking this in the end? I mean, they wouldn't have saved me if they just wanted me dead that easily. Yet, I just found it hard to believe this lie of being a nanny.

"Go ahead, dear..." the old man urged. I hesitated for a while before finally agreeing to enter.

I approached the door, twisting the handle as it creaked open. My gaze turned back at the old man, who was staring at me with a weird smile painted on his lips.

I made my way inside the room and caught sight of a boy lying on the bed. Connected to his hand was an IV drip.

"Wait, so it was the truth. Damien Salvatore really had a child..." I exclaimed softly at the very thought.

I closed the distance with the boy. He was unconscious, or possibly asleep; I could tell. At least I could eventually say the old man wasn't planning to kill me.

I sat down on the edge beside the boy, my gaze on him as some minutes went by. I shouldn't be staying here in this room any longer. But yet, I wasn't able to look away. A side of me wanted to stay here and just stare at him for as long as I could, but what was I thinking? I mean, what was this sudden feeling? Why was I having this attachment?

"I am not thinking of being his nanny, right?" I questioned.

I jolted up from the bed immediately. "No, that's not it..." I had myself believe, as I turned away from the boy, hoping to leave. But a grasp on my wrist caused a halt in my footsteps. I turned to notice the boy already awake, his gaze met mine.

"Mom?" I heard the boy whisper, his words causing a sudden chill on me.

"Mom?"