Chapter twelve

Aveline stirred slowly, her body heavy, sore, stiff. The sharp glow of light pierced through her closed lids, making her flinch. Her hand flew up to shield her eyes, her fingers trembling slightly as they adjusted to the brightness pouring in from the window.

Her mind was hazy, a fog pressing down on everything. But then she remembered, Dominic's voice, the pain in her scalp as he dragged her, the cold thud of her body hitting the concrete floor of the basement. Her heart jumped in her chest.

She remembered.

She remembered Eve opening the door… her face, blank and unreadable… and then.... nothing. She couldn't remember what happened next.

Maybe she fainted, that explains why she is back in her room.

She moved slightly and gasped as a sharp pain radiated through her hip. Her elbow stung. She looked down to see it bandaged in white band aid. Her throat felt sore and dry.

"You're awake," a voice said calmly.

Her head turned sharply toward the voice. Eve was in the room, standing beside a tray table with a half-folded towel in her hand. She had been wiping the edge of the window, her posture graceful.

Aveline stared at her for a moment before lowering her eyes to her lap, her fingers wringing together out of habit. They were sore too, as if she had been clenching them even in her sleep.

"You know," Eve began as she walked over, her face, void of any emotions, "you shouldn't have gone through Master Dominic's room. You were lucky he didn't kill you for touching that album."

Aveline stiffened at her words. Her breathing became shallow.

Kill her.

Could he really?

Yes he could

The memory of the painting flashed in her mind uninvited—her own face twisted in horror, blood splattered across her skin like ink spilled on canvas.

She shivered, shaking her head quickly as if that could push the image away for good. She had forced herself to forget. She couldn't let it take root in her again.

Eve stepped closer, carrying a glass of water in one hand and a small jar of ointment in the other.

Aveline reached for the water and drank it all in one desperate gulp. It burned down her throat, but the pain reminded her that she was still alive. Barely.

"I was just trying to figure out something," she said quietly, her voice hoarse. "I didn't think he'd be back so soon."

"Lay back," Eve said firmly, pushing gently at her shoulders until Aveline sank back onto the bed.

"It was very bold of you," she added, her fingers working with clinical precision as she lifted Aveline's shirt and dipped her fingers into the ointment. "Entering the master's room. Going through his things."

Aveline winced sharply as the cool ointment was applied to her hip. Eve rubbed it in with short strokes, not sparing her any gentleness.

"And now," she said as if delivering a verdict, "he's going to be very, very harsh on you. You should've stayed within your boundaries."

Aveline turned her head away, biting her lip to stop the sting behind her eyes. She knew. She knew she had crossed a line, but curiosity, desperation, and that gnawing instinct inside her had pushed her. And now she was going to pay for it.

She hesitated, then asked softly, "Do you..."

Her stomach rumbled, loud and embarrassing. Her cheeks flushed with heat.

"You need to eat," Eve said, standing upright. "You haven't been able to for the past five days."

"Five?" Aveline blinked. "I… I thought it was three."

"You spent two more unconscious. You were burning up yesterday, but it went down." Eve walked to the door, her back already to her. "I'll go make you something."

She paused, her fingers grazing the doorknob.

"Try to stay out of trouble," she added without turning back. Then she opened the door and left.

---

Aveline lay on the bed, eyes closed, waiting for the food.

A knock came on the door, and Eve walked in, empty-handed.

Aveline looked at her, confused.

"You're required at the dining table by Master," Eve said flatly.

"Wha… what?!" Aveline's eyes widened as she sat up quickly, immediately regretting it as pain shot through her hip.

"I'll help you get there," Eve said, her gaze unreadable.

Aveline nodded slowly. She didn't have a choice, even if the last person she wanted to see right now was Dominic.

Eve helped her up, guiding her gently, one hand around Aveline's waist as they walked toward the dining room. Aveline noticed the guards were back in position, which was strange, since they hadn't been there yesterday. She made a mental note to ask Eve about it later.

When they arrived at the dining room, Aveline's heart pounded in her chest.

Dominic was already seated, scrolling through his phone.

"You may leave us," he said without looking up.

Eve bowed slightly, then turned to leave. Aveline reached for the table for support as Eve walked away.

Dominic looked up and narrowed his eyes. "Who gave you permission to touch the table?"

Aveline quickly pulled her hand back, her body wobbling slightly. She was still weak and hungry, standing for too long might make her collapse.

"Come here," Dominic said, watching her.

She took a slow, painful step forward. Her hip throbbed, and her head felt light. But somehow, she made it to him without falling.

"Sit on the floor and watch me until I'm done eating," Dominic said, his tone flat.

Relieved that she didn't have to keep standing, even if it was humiliating, Aveline sank to the floor.

She stared at Dominic as he ate. Her mouth watered. Her stomach ached from hunger. Watching him eat was pure torture.

Then, her stomach growled loudly.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, embarrassed.

Dominic paused, fork in hand, and looked at her.

"Seems like you're hungry, aren't you?"

Aveline stayed silent, turning her head away.

"Well, I can't starve you to death," he said calmly. "That'd be too cruel, considering you just woke up from a long nap."

He reached for her plate.

"Here, you can have this."

Aveline looked up, hopeful until he dumped the entire plate onto the floor.

She froze.

Dominic stared at her.

"You didn't think I'd let you touch my plates, did you?" His voice was ice cold.

Aveline looked down at the food on the floor, fists clenched.

"I want you to eat every single thing off the floor," he said. "Using your hands."

"What?!"