Chapter 4 - Seen By Him

Ivy woke to silence .It made Her heart thump unevenly.She sensed something was wrong.

She pulled the blanket away as she climbed out of bed, and stepped barefoot into the hallway.

Everything in this house was too still.

The portraits lining the walls seemed to follow her. Shadows danced under the doorframes, though there was no light.

She passed the cracked mirror again.She stopped.The crack was longer now.

Or was it just her imagination?

A whisper."He never left."

She turned.Nothing.

Her heart kicked against her ribs. "Hello?"No answer.

Suddenly, everywhere became dark .And when the lights came back on, Grey was standing at the end of the hall.His hair looked like a mess. He looked surprised to see her.

"Ivy?" he called softly. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"I heard something," she said. "Someone whispered—"

Grey was already moving toward her, fast but gentle. "This place plays tricks. You shouldn't walk around alone."

"I wasn't imagining it."

"I believe you," he said quickly. "I do."

But she had to pause

"You also heard it too right?"

Grey hesitated.Then nodded once.

"There are parts of this house that don't sleep," he said. "Damian doesn't talk about it. But some say Ava's energy still lives here."

Ivy's stomach turned.

"You mean—like a ghost?"

"No." Grey stepped closer. "I mean like a scar."

The way he looked at her then… it was protective. Warm. Different from Damian's dark intensity.

"You're not crazy, Ivy. But you're in the middle of something dangerous. And you're not ready for what's coming."She swallowed hard.

"Then tell me. Help me.Grey gently patted her hair. His fingers lingered at her cheek, gentle.

"I don't want you to break."

"I'm already cracked," she whispered.

Their faces were too close. The air between them too thin.

Then—just before his lips met hers—

The mirror behind them shattered.

Glass exploded outward like a scream.Grey pushed her to the floor, shielding her with his body.

The hallway lights died completely.In the dark, something moved. Something fast.

Ivy clung to Grey, her heartbeat crashing.Then, from down the hall—a whisper. Not human. Not kind.

"She's watching".

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Ivy sat in the giant Library but she couldn't even think about any other thing apart from what had just happened to her.She couldn't stop shaking.Not from cold. From everything else.

The mirror. The whispers. Grey's arms around her. The sharp look on Damian's face when he found them.He hadn't said a word.Just stared at them, dark and furious, before turning away.

Now she was here, alone.Until the door opened.She didn't look up.

"I told you not to leave your room."

His voice was low. Controlled.

She flinched but didn't move.

Damian slowly walked towards her and stopped a few feets away from where she sat. She could feel him—his presence and Aura.She was just tired.

"I'm not a prisoner," she whispered.

"You could've died tonight."

"I'm already halfway dead," she shot back.

That made him still.

"I know what is going on, Damian" she said, slowly getting on her feet. "This house is wrong. People are lying to me. You're lying to me."

Damian didn't respond. His jaw tightened.

"I saw her," she said. 

"I saw Ava."Now he looked at her.

"Where?"

"She's alive. She spoke to me. She knows things about my brother. About you.and she said you tried to destroy her."

"And you just belived her?" She felt how much his voice changed like it became sharp almost dangerous .

"How should I believe you!".She snapped back. She made up her mind to let it all out."You barely talk to me except you're giving me your orders like I'm one of your slaves and Men!"

Damian couldn't take it anymore.He took two quick steps and stood facing her.He didn't touch her. Just stood so close she had to tilt her head up to see his face.His eyes weren't cold now. They burned.

"You might not see me as your Saviour Ivy," he said, voice like thunder. "But you signed the contract and your brother has a chance at life because of it."

"Why did you take me in?" she asked softly.

"I don't know," he said. "Maybe because you looked at me like I wasn't already damned."

Her breath caught.

He stepped closer.

Still, he didn't touch her. But her body reacted anyway—like the heat between them was magnetic. Her chest rose and fell too fast. His gaze dropped, not to her mouth—but lower. Her throat. Her collarbone. The curve of her waist.

She didn't move.

She couldn't.

"I should walk away," he said tightly.

"Then why don't you?"

She could see his jaw tighten. His breathing turned deep, rasp and inconsistent .

"Because I need to feel your body".He said,His voice beamed with desire"And I know it's wrong."

Ivy had to take deep breaths.She knew she had to if she didn't want to faint.

"But you haven't even kissed me," she whispered not sure if he even heard her".

"Because if I do…" He moved close to her,his lips were close to her cheek, "I don't think I will be able to stop there"."

She could feel a lump in her throat.

She felt him place his hands on her hip, then move slowly upwards setting it on the waist.

He took her glance at her chest.

She could feel the pure desire from him.

But just as his fingers went for her shirt.

They Froze.