The Monster's Protégé

R

a

ng comfortably with my head rested on a small pillow. It was a smooth drive, considering the luxurio

owly recollected the event

ed I didn't pass out at the sight of blood. It was m

iktor asked curtly, his eyes

he contrary. My head was pounding like hell. "Did I hurt m

our knees are jus

he had already cleaned the wounds and

leaning back. "Wher

e spared a sideways glance. "

do well with strangers-never turned out to be good for me. And here I was being handed over to a person who was s

place, but the contemporary opulence of floor to ceiling glass walls and the magnificent decor was breath

pay a lot,

ng a hand on my lower back as

ach, I took small steps towards the house. Nervousness took control

nding at Viktor's warehouse - I had seen and lived through all of it. But not once

hed out, dominating the whole space with white and beige accents of interior decorations. The house was splendid at i

h place but soulless. It looke

ed knife. I could hear the echo of his footsteps as he descended down the stairs, but I didn't dare look up. Instinct

and greeted the man as he finally came within t

shirt, tugged out and sleeves folded, paired with slightly ragged jeans made him

th threatened to strangle me as I held my breath. At that moment, I had wished to force my gaze down, but I couldn

roduced, pointing my way. "Aurora,

my face for some time, as if he was studyi

rdered, jerking

acefully, plopped down on the couch with a thud. Marco sat down besi

eemed to be an angel compared to the man sitting beside him. "I have already stocked up this place

tongue-tie

to the side. "I hope

temper of mine suddenly broke through every barrier of fea

head turned immediately in my direction. A questio

pprovingly, and told Viktor, "

e just not good enough," I countered,

somehow it felt so, so good at that moment. Al

n the room, Viktor stood up be

ow," he announced, pic

her," he told M

h and every word that Marco says. You'd respect him, obey him and do whatever he asks yo

to stay here

this talk

then we turned to face each other. There was something i

in between those rough fingers and pulled me slightly towards him. "Let's get to the

him in pure defiance. "In

f things that you have not done yet. And never, ever interrupt me again." He took a pause letting the threat sink in. "

ain is a natural reaction. Nobody can

ou can't escape the pain, no matter how much you scream or

"And here I thought you said

very moment of every day. Your day job is

st," I fumed a

dly, muttering, "Sa

ha

rule that covers everything: you do as I say and you do it without

to do it?" I asked and then added mockingly, "Without quest

lthy distance between our bodies, yet I could feel the heat

understood the fine line between bravery and stupidity. For the sake of my sanity-running far, far away from th

ast half an hour that we have known each other, "I value honesty. Never lie to

Marco, I am not here willingly. It's either you or..." My gaze faltered, and I exhaled a breath I had sucked in for a l

e words and a stern look. What would happen if h

inch. In that brief moment, he slowly tucked a stray lock behind my ears in a compassionate manner. "Sin

two bad choices given to me. But even then, I cou

ded s

ell of gentleness he had just displayed a moment ago. "Words. Use your words, Aurora. I

id the most unthinkable. I played along. A faux smile broke ou

t the tick of his chiseled jaw c

n. You're hungry." Without waiting for me, he walked to

t was a lie, I was famished. Between the tortured captive scenarios I witnessed a

flashing contempt nailed me to the spot. "I didn't ask whether or not you're hun

ters. Pulling a bar stool, I sat down and watched Marco grabbing a plate of food and shoving it inside t

self and sat down. "I am done with my lu

e of crispy potato, mushroom, and cubed red-meat. Beside the plate was a bowl of thick,

the array of food was my

ook the first bite of the Lasagne. It melted on

for the last time," Marco supplied casua

ad hurt my neck. "What do you mean by 'last t

arve under my roof, Aurora. But you're going to eat healthy food and keep up your strength because you'd need it in

yes. "What if I

out that I can force feed you in

in my mind, it was damn well working. "Has any

all cube of red meat in his mouth from my plate. "Eat now, Aurora,

o mysteriously that I found myself gettin

ild. It scared the shit out of me every time, but I still insisted on watching them-peeking through my finge

ved danger more t

meeting between them?

********

meeting between them?