We Aren't All Villains

Cold steel manacles bit into the skin of her wrists causing deep welts to form which began to ooze a thick viscous substance. There was unending darkness every way she turned and when she opened her mouth to cry out for help, a collar was clamped around her neck. Every time she tried again to cry out it tightened until her head felt as if it might explode.

Whispers rose all around her carrying the voices of the damned.

"How could you leave us?"

"They have plans for you."

"Didn't I tell you not to hope?!"

Louder and louder until they all formed one loud continuous screech in her ears. Ari shook her head in denial wanting to plead their forgiveness knowing she'd abandoned them and now they would haunt her.

The ground beneath her disappeared and she dropped for what felt like forever, flailing hopelessly until she hit the ground on her knees. Before her was a man with icy blonde hair, his gaze commanding.

Not a single word uttered past his lips but she knew what he wanted, what she was supposed to do. Ari shook her head in denial, scooting backwards trying to get away.

The man only smirked and opened his hand to her. Draped between his fingers was a chain. Why hadn't she seen it before?

A single yank had her sprawling forward where he caught her by the throat, leaning close to her ear so there was no mistaking the words that branded themselves on her heart, "You'll be my little precious. The thing everyone wants but cannot have. I mark my claim."

Behind him ember eyes pierced the darkness boring into her until her insides began to burn insatiably. Slowly her vision went crimson and even though no sound would come out, Ari screamed. Her lungs spasming, choking on her own sobs.

Her door was thrown open, and in came Benjamin, shaking her awake with his brows furrowed in concern. "It is only a dream. Wake up. Wake up, Madame."

Her thick curls were matted to her head in sweat, terror rolling off of her in waves. Ari pulled away from hands. She was all too sure they were ready to drag her down to hell. His touch was searing.

She fought to get away when Benjamin's leathery voice finally brought her to her senses. Hazel eyes wide and glassy as her nightmare finally began to fade away into reality.

"I'm okay. Sorry. I'm okay." Ari pushed hair away from her face, taking a deep breath. Her throat was sore and raw. "Sorry Benjamin." Cheeks warmed in embarrassment. She hadn't had trouble with nightmares since she was young.

"No need to apologize, after what happened, anyone would have nightmares. Alaric wishes to speak with you again in his study. Would you like tea and breakfast before then?" He soothingly patted her back before stepping away to hold her bedroom door open.

"No. I don't think eating is a good idea at the moment. Thank you though." She slid out of bed, straightening herself so that she didn't appear as exhausted or haunted as she felt.

There was no telling what Alaric wanted to speak about this time. His office seemed to be reserved for business matters strictly.

Ari was left to ponder this while making her way through the mansion before arriving at the study. She gave a single knock before stepping inside. Clearing her throat to keep it from being too husky from sleep, she asked "You asked to see me, Mr. Draconis?"

Alaric was faced the opposite direction when she entered his usual dark toned office with the wooden paneled floors.

This was the only place where it didn't creak when you walked and yet he knew when she entered without her ever having to say a word. Spinning around in his chair, he nodded, sliding her four pieces of paper. "Here."

She took the seat across from him while picking up the papers, carefully flipping through them. "What is this for?"

"Your resignation papers." Said Alaric, folding his hands atop the table with his face remaining impassive. "You'll get the promised money transferred to your bank, and your shop will be opened back up. You sign those papers and leave within an hour, an additional 500,000 dollar bonus."

Shapely brows furrowed together, setting them back down without reading another word. Her lips pressed together while she tried to conjure the words for her thoughts which ran together in turmoil. "Why would I resign? I haven't even done a week on the job. Listen," One arm crossed over the other.

"I know getting kidnapped was because of my own naivety but you haven't given me a real chance to fulfill my end of the bargain. I'm sorry if you feel like I'm too inexperienced or incompetent but that is what a learning curve is for. Give me time. I'm a hard worker."

He calmly took an inhale and then glimpsed up beneath those short dark lashes of his. "You're putting me and my business at risk. You're nothing but a liability, and liability means a loss of money and power my father has gained over the years. I can't have my family or ancestors looking down their nose at me over some poor pauper from the slums." His words were smoothly said and even then it held a vicious bite behind them.

Benjamin opened the door. "Why are you trying to make her leave?"

"Stay in your place Benji." Alaric snapped.

"When I know you're doing this because she almost died, not because she's a liability?"

"Benjamin," He slammed his hand down flat against the table. "I wouldn't care if she was breathing or not. I want her out of my house. If the money I offered isn't enough, give her triple and be done with it."

"You don't mean that." The palms of her hands had broken out in sweat, heart stuttering painfully in her chest. Ari stood, leaning over the desk to look him in the eyes.

Searching the depths of his icy blue gaze for a sign that this was some sick, ill timed joke. He couldn't believe that after going through so much trouble to make her sign a contract.

Maybe that was the problem though. From the beginning she'd insulted him, told him he was wrong, all while making him chase after her each time something bad happened because she'd done something stupid. She reached across to grab the lapels of his jacket, giving him a little shake.

"Alaric, you don't mean that. Take it back right now." Her voice quivered between anger and pain. How could he force himself into her life and make her care for him and everyone else in the house then cast her aside like she was trash he'd accidentally brought in from the streets. "I'm giving you this one chance to apologize. I said take it back!"

"Or what? Maybe this, the way you're acting now is the reason your mother gave you that shop and left, never looking back. You can't have everything your way." He stood up and stared her right in the eye.

"Did you want me to lie? I'm not understanding what you expected from someone like me Miss Ari? You said it yourself. I'm an asshole who only thinks about me, myself, and my company. None of which includes you."

Her grasp slipped away from him. Her limbs had gone numb. She was shell shocked. Caring and tender one night then telling her to leave the next.

She couldn't stand to look at him any further knowing that tears would be sure to follow if she did. "If that's how you really felt then you never should have brought me in the first place. You're an asshole but I never thought you'd be this cruel." Full lips parted to release humorless laughter.

Ari picked up the ink pen, scrawling her name across the dotted line to finalize her resignation. The time they'd spent together had been bittersweet. At least her life could go back to the way it was.

She turned her back on him without another word. Rooster had been waiting near Benjamin, probably sensing the tension. The woman scooped the dog up as though he was a puppy and headed for the front door. There was no way she would accept rides or anything else from him.

If all she was, was some poor pauper on the streets destined to be abandoned because she was just that unlovable then she'd be that. Taking a deep breath to banish her tears, Ari lifted her head. She pushed open the doors and stepped out into the gray cloudy morning.

"Goodbye." She whispered into the wind, letting it get carried off towards the ocean. Once she was closer to the city she'd just catch a bus.