✞ Dread ✞

Anastasia woke up, The sun's light beamed onto her face, as her mother, Ariel opened the curtains.

She wanted to greet her daughter a good morning and stayed with her while her father, took care of the papers in his office.

As the count, he wouldn't be able to live a single piece of paper around his desk, his wife told him to leave Anastasia in her care.

Arthur was a conscientious person

He would come back shortly and promise to be by their side.

Her mother turned and saw Anastasia awake, She immediately rushed towards her and kneeled on the floor.

"Anastasia, my dear." She said, cupping her face.

"Mommy?"

"Are you alright, my sweet girl?" Ariel inquired tenderly, brushing a stray strand of hair from Anastasia's brow.

"Yes.. mommy." She replied.

"How are you feeling? Are you starving? I can have the maids send up some meals." Anastasia nodded, a slight smile on her lips.

The comforting feeling of her mother's hand on her face, as well as the sweet compassion in her words, helped to alleviate the remaining sleepiness.

"Yes, Mommy," she said softly, her voice still a little faint. Ariel supported her sit up by arranging cushions behind her.

"There, my love," she said softly.

She leaned in again, her gaze scanning Anastasia's face for any signs of residual distress.

"Tell me if you need anything at all." Before Ariel could say something else.

Anastasia hugged and buried her face in the familiar comfort of her embrace.

The hug was tight, a silent display of relief and affection that said more than words ever could.

The warmth of her mother's embrace and the aroma of her perfume provided a shelter, a safe harbor after a long, uneasy night's sleep.

For the time being, everything seemed fine...

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺✞⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺✞⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

The door opened and food was brought in by the maids by her mother's request and it was all her favorite food.

She kept asking her mother to feed her.

Every time Anastasia was sick, she would come and 'ask' her mother to feed her.

Ariel smiled softly, she was unable refuse her only daughter's request and feeds her with smile and comfort.

After that, Anastasia felt a surprising boost of energy after eating a nutritious breakfast.

The lingering dread from the previous night hung over her like a shadow, but the warmth of her mother's care had alleviated the worst of it.

After bathing and dressing in a modest linen gown, she had a sense of restless anticipation.

She needed to get outside and feel the sun on her skin and the wind in her hair.

The constraints of her chamber felt oppressive.

"Mother," she began, her voice growing stronger.

"I want to go for a walk in the gardens." Ariel paused, her brow pinched with anxiety. "Are you quite sure, my dear? You're still unwell, you need plenty of rest."

Anastasia shook her head and greeted her mother's gaze with a reassuring grin. "I feel much better, Mother. The fresh air will do me good."

She begged her mother and her mother couldn't help but fall into her pleas.

Ariel, defeated, finally sighed, though she was still hesitant, relented. "Very well, my love. But stay close to the house, and don't wander too far."

With her mother's permission secured, Anastasia ventured into the sprawling gardens.

The vibrant colors of the flowers and the gentle rustling of leaves offered a temporary escape from the turmoil within her.

But the peace was short-lived. Rounding a bend in the path, she saw him....

her uncle, approaching her, she didn't know... He was here.

A wave of dread washed over her, cold and suffocating.

He approached, his face became etched with 'concern and fear'. "Anastasia, my dear, you're finally on your toes, how are you?"

He approached her with a tight smile and a gleam in his eyes that she couldn't quite fathom.

He softly patted her head, which felt more like a possessive claim than an act of affection.

"Uncle." she said, her voice scarcely a whisper.

The dread tightened in her stomach, like a deadly serpent about to strike.

She realized, with chilling certainty, that this encounter was anything but harmless.

The questions she had suppressed, the suspicions that gnawed at her, grew tenfold.

This was not a fortuitous meeting; it was a deliberate action, a carefully arranged encounter.

And she was imprisoned in the middle of it all....

Her uncle caressed her head gently, then trailed his hand down her face and held her chin before leaning closer to her face.

"you be careful, Anastasia.. my sweet." He whispered, His breath, warm and somewhat metallic brushed off her face.

His low rumble voice sends chills down her spine.

He tightened his hold on her chin and she was forced to look at him.

His eyes, which were 'friendly', now had a dark intensity, a possessive hunger that made her stomach turn.

She felt trapped, like a little bird caught in a predator's gaze.

as the air surrounding them crackled with unspoken desires and disguised threats.

She was scared and disgusted. His gaze was a slow, purposeful burn that began with her eyes, lingered on the delicate slope of her nose, and ended on her lips.

Each prolonged sight caused her stomach to clench.

It was a violation, and Anastasia was terrified.

Her breath caught in her throat as she watched him slowly licked his lips.

But before she could speak, He smiled and let go, taking a step back from her.

"You should head back and rest again, it's not good for someone who collapsed, exhausting herself here."

Anastasia, was relieved that he let go, though afraid, she stood her ground, her heart thumping in her chest.

His actions were to make her feel uneasy and scared.

But she refused to give him the joy of witnessing her terror.

She returned his look, her eyes hardening, and forced a smile.

"Yes, Uncle," she said, her voice firm despite the trembling coursing through her. "I will."

She immediately turned.

Her servants following behind her quietly and went away, his eyes piercing on her back.

When she approached the house's threshold, she halted.

She cast one last glimpse over her shoulder and saw him still standing there...

His eyes fixated on her with an unreadable expression.

The moment lingered, a wordless war of wills, until she forced herself to break eye contact and enter.

The large oak door closed behind her, creating a sound that resonated throughout the halls, both comforting and foreboding.

She was safe for the time being, but the experience had left a lasting impression...

It was a terrifying reminder of the danger lurking beneath the surface of her perfect life.