The cold reality

Aurora's eyes were wide with shock and terror, her chest pounding as she gasped for air. "I... I just... want to go home," she managed to say out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damian's grip on her throat loosened, but his facial expressions were unreadable "Home?" he asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement. "You don't have another home apart from my house, Aurora." His words were a cold, like a slap on the face, a reminder of the reality she had been trying to escape.

she started at his eyes, looking for a any sign of mercy, a hint of humanity. But all she found was the cold eyes and gaze of a predator. He stood up, looking down at her, his body a body towering over her, Aurora's eyes fell to his erection, still standing against the fabric of his pants, and she felt a fresh wave of horror wash over her.

"You're mine now Aurora, and doing as I say will save you from alot," he said, his voice a low growl. "And I'll do with you as I please."

With those chilling words, Damian released Aurora's throat, allowing her to gasp for air. She coughed and looked at him with fear in her eyes, her eyes watering as she watched him walk away from the bed, his steps deliberate and powerful. The sound of his footsteps grew fainter as he approached the door, leaving Aurora trembling on the bed, her heart racing like that's of a wild animal's.

He paused, his hand on the doorknob, and looked back over his shoulder. His eyes met hers for a moment, the fire in them scarier than before even with her desperate struggle. "I'll give you tonight to think about your place here," he said, his voice a mix of warning. "But tomorrow, your training begins."and when I mean training, you got to do what I want and what I say.

With that, the door slammed shut, leaving Aurora alone with her thoughts and the room was cold and scary, She laid back on the bed, her body a trembling with fear. The scent of his his perfume in the air, a reminder of the monster who now owned her. She buried her face in the pillow, trying to muffle the sobs and tears threatening to fall, the fabric was soft against her skin, but it couldn't soften the blow of her shattered innocence.

As the night went on, Aurora's mind was filled with thoughts of escape.

The walls of the mansion felt like they were closing in on her, each tick of the clock in the hall was like a nail in her chest. She knew she had to be smart, to find a weakness in this fortress, but the environment was overwhelming,leaving her feeling small and insignificant.

The next morning, the sun pierced through the thick curtains, rays of light shining into the room. Aurora's eyes snapped open, the horror of the previous night still fresh in her mind. She sat up, her body stiff and sore, and took in the sight of the dress laid out beside her, it reminded her of her fate. A maid, she looked up to see a maid staring at her, hovered at the door, her expression a blend of pity and professional detachment.

"Put that on, miss," the maid said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're to join the other girls."

Aurora's eyes fell to the dress, the color of blood, the color of the life that was being drained from her. She felt a surge of anger, but she knew that fighting would only bring her more pain. Slowly, she climbed out of the bed, her legs shaking from fear and the aftermath of her struggle. She pulled the dress over her head, the fabric sliding over her bruised skin.

The maid didn't meet her eyes as Aurora followed her from the room, the hallways of the mansion stretching out before them like the corridors of hell. The place doesn't feel like home and it was suffocating, a contrast to the cold, stark cell she had called home just hours before. Her heart pounded in her chest with every step she took, her bare feet moving against the marble floor of the mansion.

They arrived at a grand ballroom, the kind Aurora had only ever seen in fairy tales, with high ceilings, grand chandeliers, and velvet curtains that whispered Luxury. But there was no fairy godmother waiting to take her away to a ball; instead, she was met with a gathering of girls, all dressed in various shades of red and black, their eyes downcast and their expressions a mix of resignation and fear.

The maid pushed Aurora into the room, the door clicking shut behind her with a finality that sent a shiver down her spine. She looked around, taking in the different faces. These girls, she realized with a sinking feeling, were all Damian's property, all bound to serve his desires without question.

One by one, they were called forward by a stern-faced woman who introduced herself as Miss Catherine. Aurora's stomach twisted into knots as she listened to the instructions being given, each girl nodding in silent understanding. They were to be clean, obedient, and always ready to please. Any disobedience would be met with swift and severe punishment.

Then she turned to Aurora, her eyes raking over her trembling form with a cold, calculating look. "Aurora," she said, her voice clipped and efficient. "You're new. I'm sure you understand the rules by now."

My throat was dry, my voice a croak. "I don't know anything about the rules," I managed to murmur, my eyes looking around the room, searching for an escape that wasn't there.

Miss Catherine's eyebrow quirked up in surprise. "Your Madam Elena didn't explain?" she asked, her tone icy.

Aurora shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "No," she whispered. "Please, I don't want to be here. Please, help me."

But the room only fell silent, and then the other girls erupted into laughter, their cruel laughter bouncing off the walls of chamber. They knew better than to show any weakness in front of Miss Catherine, and Aurora's plea had only made her more of an outsider. The sound of their laughter was a slap in the face, each giggle a nail in her chest.