Staircase
965 Words
My nightgown ripped, exposing the top part of my right breast and entirely exposing my back.
I tried my utmost best to struggle, but it was no use. The attacker was several times stronger than I.
The more I moved, the more certain it was that my windpipe would break.
“Behave yourself, little girl.”
My entire body movements ceased on hearing this voice. For some reason, knowing who the person was made me even more scared than before.
Salvatore, my stepfather.
Now that my bones had stopped it's pointless floundering, I saw a glimpse of his face.
Even now, with such little light, I was struck by those glittering green eyes. His hair was silver, disheveled and looked as though it had been pulled on.
I gulped, shivering from the very feeling of his drawn claws around my neck.
He looked more of a demon than mother had ever done.
A cool breath escaped his lips as he examined my face with those eyes. Every look he gave me was invasive, uncalled for.
I vaguely remembered my torn clothes as I felt it slipping down my skin.
“P-please,” I whispered hoarsely. My captor only tilted his head, eyes moving down to my almost completely naked breasts.
It was too dark to tell but I saw something flash behind his eyes before he let go of my neck.
Immediately, I gasped for air and fell to the ground wheezing. I clutched the shreds of my nightdress and shivered in utter humiliation.
Did I dare speak? Of course not. My stepfather was still standing above me— he was still staring at me.
“Look up,” he commanded, voice deathly low. I did as he asked, steadying my breath.
As my eyes connected with his in the dark, I felt that familiar tingle; that pit feeling in my gut.
There was no mistaking it. Salvatore was my mate.
The next thing I heard was the click of a gun.
The silver pistol, matching the locks on my stepfather’s head, glinted in the soft, dim light.
“Celesté, Si?”
I gulped, watched the gun approach me until it landed on my head. It was cold, so much like the intent in his eyes.
“Y-yes, alpha.”
Our eyes did not disconnect, the gun stayed put.
“How ironic. My own heiress is my supposed Luna? The moon goddess is truly cruel.”
His gun trailed down my temple, to my cheeks, my collarbone and the protruding flesh of my breast right over my heart.
I wanted the ground to swallow me up and never spit me back out.
“You understand that this stays confidential, girl?” He whispered, eyes twinkling. A small draft came in through a window.
I was in shock.
This man was truly the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen. The gun pressed against my chest.
“Oui. I-I understand.”
A moment of silence passed between us. “Good.”
At that moment, we heard a noise. It was mother and she was coming down the stairs. I could tell from her odd footsteps that sounded like shuffles.
She was also on the phone.
“Yes, I'd like that shipment delivered by Wednesday. No later or you're dead.” A pause.
Immediately, Salvatore took me up from the floor and dragged me into the space underneath the stairs.
It was stuffier here, darker.
I leaned uncomfortably against the inclined surface of the staircase, trying my best to get away from this beast.
My body however, was tingling madly, unable to control itself from buckling over.
He held me up, hot skin against my exposed arms. “Shh,” he hoarsely whispered into my ear.
“Very well then. Tell him to give me a call before the ship leaves. I'm on vacation. Don't call again unless I do so first. Compris? Good.”
I could feel my heart thrumming loudly within me. If mother were to find me here like this…
I looked up, finding Salvatore’s eyes already on me. His breath was touching my face; that's how close we were.
Oh heavens. What kind of fate was this?
“Silly bastards,” I heard mother hiss before gulping something and going back up.
We waited a while before coming out from under the stairs. Stepfather said nothing to me, only appraising my body with an indecipherable expression.
“Remember,” he whispered before walking away.
I went to bed without having that glass of water.
The following morning, I was awakened by a cold faced maid who seemed annoyed by the fact that she had to help a human get dressed.
“Don't be slow. We don't accept such things here,” she said.
But I wasn't listening to a word she said. My entire body was still covered in goosebumps from last night's encounter.
I followed everything the maid said, getting into a short halter dress and pulling my hair into a long ponytail.
In the mirror, I resembled a ballet dancer; elegant curves, a lithe neck, smooth posture from repeated lessons from mother.
Even those gold eyes screamed eccentric.
Others would have seen some rare beauty. All I saw was a younger, more useless version of my mother staring back at me.
I shook off these thoughts and applied perfume before going downstairs.
Apparently, Madame Noire had summoned me.
“Madame,” I greeted on getting to her private sitting room. In the corner of the room, I spotted my stepfather.
Immediately, my body went cold.
“Ah, yes. Celesté darling. I was just discussing with the alpha.”
A small pause.
“We think you should work as his secretary to know the ins and outs of everything you'll be inheriting.”
- Writer
