The Warning

THE WARNING.

Lilac wandered the dimly lit halls of the mansion, her fingers trailing along the cold, smooth surface of the walls.

The quiet was unsettling, broken only by the occasional creak of old wood beneath her steps.

It wasn't the eerie silence that drove her curiosity, but the locked wing—an area she hadn't dared to enter until now. The ornate door stood at the end of the hall, looming like a dark secret, its brass handle polished but strict.

She hesitated, her curiosity fighting against a faint sense of dread. Just as her hand reached for the handle, a voice cut through the quiet, sharp, and commanding.

"Why do you keep poking your nose in things that do not concern you?"

Lilac spun around her pulse quickening.

Ashalt stood at the end of the hallway, his expression unreadable, though there was an unmistakable sharpness in his eyes. His usually calm behavior had been replaced with something sterner, colder.

"I was just—" she started, but his footsteps echoed down the hall as he strode toward her, cutting her off.

"I already told you this part of the mansion is off-limits." His voice was low, almost a growl, and it made her feel small beneath his gaze.

Lilac squared her shoulders, refusing to let him intimidate her. "I was only looking around. What are you hiding in there?"

Ashalt's jaw tightened, his glare burning into her. "You don't need to know."

"That's not an answer," she shot back, taking a step closer. Her heart raced, but she held her ground. "You can't expect me to live here and pretend everything is normal when it isn't."

Ashalt's eyes flickered as if something behind them threatened to surface. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "I said, you don't need to know. And I meant it. Stay out of that wing, Lilac."

Her stubbornness blew up. "You can't just order me around like this. I have a right to—"

"You have no rights here!" His voice rose, echoing off the walls. For a moment, the tension between them hung heavy in the air. Then, softer but no less dangerous, he added, "You're here because I allow it. Don't forget that."

Lilac flinched but didn't flee. "You can't keep me in the dark forever."

Ashalt's lips pressed into a thin line, his expression shifting into something unreadable—an emotion she couldn't quite place. "It's not about keeping you in the dark," he said quietly. "It's about keeping you safe."

The words hung there, heavy with implication.

"Safe from what?" she asked, her voice quieter now, almost a whisper.

For a moment, Ashalt hesitated, as if he'd already said too much. Then, his next words slipped out, almost by accident. "Your parents knew the risks."

Lilac froze. Her blood turned cold as the words sank in. "What do you mean, my parents knew the risks? What risks?"

Ashalt's gaze darkened. "Enough."

"No, tell me!" Her voice broke with desperation. "What do you know about my parents?"

Ashalt stepped back, running a hand through his hair. "You shouldn't ask questions you're not prepared to hear the answers to."

The room seemed to spin around her as she struggled to process his words. "You're hiding something," she said, her voice trembling.

"And it has to do with them, doesn't it?"

His silence was louder than any admission.

Lilac's voice rose in frustration. "You owe me the truth!"

Ashalt turned his back to her, his shoulders tense. "All you need to know is that your parents' deaths weren't accidents," he said, his tone colder now. "And if you keep digging, you'll end up just like them."

The weight of his words settled over her, chilling her to the bone. Lilac took a shaky step back, unable to find the words to respond. Asphalt turned his head slightly, his face half-hidden in the shadows.

"Stay out of the locked wing, Lilac," he said, his voice flat but final. "And don't make me regret letting you stay here."

He walked away, leaving her alone in the dim hallway, her mind racing with questions that burned like fire.

Lilac's gaze turned back to the locked door. Whatever was behind it wasn't just a secret. It was a danger, tied to her family, tied to everything she thought she knew about her past.

And Ashalt was at the center of it all.

The first sign of Edward's presence was the faint knock at her door. It was soft, almost hesitant as if whoever stood on the other side feared being caught.

Lilac glanced toward the clock on the wall. Midnight had come and gone hours ago, and the rest of the mansion was submerged in silence.

She hesitated, her fingers curling around the edges of her blanket. But the knock came again, this time a little louder, insistent.

"Lilac," a voice whispered. "It's me—Edward."

Her heart leaped.

Edward? What was he doing here at this hour? She stood, crossing the room cautiously. Cracking the door open, she found him standing in the hallway, his face pale and his blond hair slightly disheveled. His eyes darted nervously over his shoulder.

"Can I come in?" he asked hurriedly, his voice low.

Lilac opened the door wider, stepping aside to let him in. He slipped into the room like a shadow, closing the door softly behind him.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered, her voice sharp. "If Ashalt finds you—"

"I know," he interrupted, his words rushed. "But I had to see you."

Lilac crossed her arms, wary.

She'd grown used to Edward's charm and playful banter, but tonight there was something different about him. His usual carefree behavior was gone, replaced by an intensity that made her uneasy.

"You shouldn't be here," she said firmly.

Edward's lips twitched into a half-smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Maybe not, but I couldn't stay away. Not after everything I've seen."

"Seen?" Her brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

He hesitated as if choosing his words carefully. "You don't belong here, Lilac. This place… it's not safe for you."

Lilac took a step back, her skepticism flaring. "You're not making any sense. What do you mean?"

Edward moved closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Asphalt. He's not who you think he is. He's dangerous."

She stiffened at the accusation, her mind flashing back to Ashalt's warnings, and his cryptic remarks about her parents. "What do you know about him?"

"More than I should." Edward's gaze softened as he reached out to take her hand. "Listen to me. I can get you out of here—away from him, away from all of this. You just have to trust me."

Lilac pulled her hand back, her suspicion growing. "Why would you want to help me?"

His expression faltered for a moment before settling into something raw, almost vulnerable. "Because I care about you," he said quietly. "I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it. You're not like anyone I've ever met."

Her heart skipped a beat at his confession, but her mind was a storm of doubts. Edward had always been friendly, flirtatious even, but this was something else entirely. Was he being sincere, or was this some kind of manipulation?

"Edward…" she began, unsure of how to respond.

He stepped closer, his voice urgent. "You don't have to decide right now. Just think about it. If you want to leave, I'll find a way. I promise."

Lilac studied him, her thoughts tangled. Edward's offer was tempting, especially after her unsettling confrontation with Ashalt. But something about it didn't sit right.

Why was he so eager to help her? What wasn't he telling her?

"I… I can't," she said finally, her voice firm but tinged with uncertainty. "Not yet."

Edward's shoulders sagged, disappointment flickering across his face. "I understand," he said, though there was a trace of sadness in his tone. "But if you change your mind, I'll be waiting."

Before she could respond, he moved toward the door. He paused with his hand on the handle, glancing back at her. "Just be careful, Lilac. Ashalt's not as in control as he wants you to think."

With that, he slipped out into the hallway, disappearing into the shadows.

Lilac stood frozen, her thoughts swirling.

Edward's words planted seeds of doubt in her mind, and though she wanted to dismiss them, she couldn't ignore the unease they stirred.

**************

The sound of footsteps echoed through the main hall as Edward descended the grand staircase. He moved quickly, keeping to the edges of the shadows. But as he reached the bottom, a figure stepped into his path.

"Leaving so soon?"

Edward froze, his breath catching in his throat. Ashalt stood at the base of the stairs, his arms crossed and his expression dangerously calm.

The flickering light from the chandelier above cast shadows across his face, making his piercing gaze all the more intimidating.

"I didn't realize you were still awake," Edward said smoothly, masking his unease with a casual tone.

Asphalt didn't respond immediately. He simply studied Edward, his silence heavy and oppressive. Finally, he said, "You shouldn't be wandering the halls of this mansion at night. It gives the wrong impression."

Edward smiled, though it was tight. "Just couldn't sleep. Thought I'd take a walk."

Ashalt stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "A walk that led you to Lilac's room?"

Edward's composure faltered, but only slightly. "She's lonely here, don't you think? A little company never hurt anyone."

Ashalt's expression darkened, his calm unraveling. "Stay away from her."

"Why?" Edward challenged, his tone edging toward defiance. "Afraid she might start asking questions you don't want to answer?"

For a moment, Ashalt's mask slipped, and a flicker of something dangerous crossed his face. He grabbed Edward by the collar, his voice low and filled with menace.

"You don't know what you're dealing with. Keep your distance, or I'll make sure you regret it."

Edward smirked, though there was a trace of nervousness in his eyes. "You can't keep her locked away forever, Asphalt. Sooner or later, she'll see you for what you are."

Ashalt shoved him back, releasing his grip. "Get out," he said coldly. "And if I catch you near her again, you'll wish you hadn't."

Edward straightened his jacket, his smirk returning as he backed away. "Goodnight, Asphalt."

As Edward disappeared into the shadows, Asphalt stood there, his fists clenched and his mind racing. His possessiveness burned hotter now, fueled by the knowledge that Edward had already planted seeds of doubt in Lilac's mind.

And if she started questioning him, it would only be a matter of time before everything cracked.