The guards led Eloise down a narrow hallway. The walls were stone, old and cold to the touch. Faint candlelight made shadows dance along the corners. Every step she took felt heavier than the last.
They stopped in front of a small room with a single narrow bed and a rug on the floor. A large window high on the wall let in a sliver of moonlight.
"This is yours now," one of the guards muttered without looking at her.
Before she could speak, they shut the door.
Eloise let out a shaky breath and leaned against the wall. She was so tired. So bone-deep exhausted she felt like her legs would give out.
Her fingers found the necklace again. The warmth of it soothed her just a little, like a hand on her shoulder.
She slid down to sit on the bed, pulling her knees to her chest.
It was better than the servant quarters… and far better than the market.
But she couldn't shake the feeling that she hadn't escaped danger she'd only stepped into a quieter, deeper one.
Somewhere out there in the night, Madame Selene would be seething with rage. Eloise knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
And Vincent… she didn't know what to make of him. He was cold and distant, but there was something else behind his eyes when he looked at her. Something mysterious. Something that felt like it saw through her skin, down to her bones.
She didn't know if that made her safer… or in more trouble than before.
Lying down on the thin mattress, she stared at the ceiling.
The room was silent except for the soft sound of the wind through the tiny window.
The nightmares came quickly this time.
She was back in the forest. The mud. The blood. The shadows. Her mother's voice. That cold smile.
Eloise whimpered in her sleep, her hands fisting the thin blanket. Tears slipped down her cheeks.
From the hallway, a pair of sharp ears heard it.
Vincent passed by, heading to his own chamber. He paused by her door, his head tilting slightly.
There it was again; a soft, broken whimper.
He should've ignored it.
But something in him wouldn't let him.
For a brief moment, he placed a hand on the old wooden door, listening.
The necklace's aura pulsed faintly through the room. He felt it even from the hallway. A warmth that tugged at something deep inside him.
Vincent pulled his hand away, muttered something under his breath, and walked away into the night.
But in the back of his mind, her face stayed with him.
And it would… long after the candles burned out.
The morning came too soon. Eloise's eyes flickered open revealing her ocean blue eyes. She had obvious dark circles, clearly because she hadn't slept well in days. Come to think of it, she hadn't had a goodnight sleep for years.
Her body ached. Every bruise, every sore muscle from the day before made itself known. But it was the heaviness in her chest that hurt most. She sat up slowly, brushing her tangled hair from her face. The thin blanket slipped off her shoulders, and a shiver ran through her skin, the room was very cold.
Her fingers reached for the necklace again. It was still warm against her skin, the steady pulse of it calming her racing heart.
A soft knock came at the door.
Before she could answer, it opened.
A young maid stepped inside, her head down, her hands clutching a bundle of folded clothes.
"Master Vincent says you are to clean up," the girl said boldly, placing the clothes on the bed. "You… belong to him now. I suggest you get ready immediately, he doesn't like being delayed"
Eloise's stomach twisted at the words.
The girl didn't stay long. She bowed quickly and hurried out, closing the door behind her.
Eloise stared at the plain dress on the bed. It was simple but clean. Better than rags. She ran her fingers over the fabric. Part of her wondered what Vincent planned for her? Why he had spent so much gold?
Her thoughts circled like restless birds, never landing.
She washed up with the cold water left in a jug and dressed quietly. The dress hung a little loose on her frame, but it was warm. She ran her fingers through her hair as best as she could and tried to steady her breathing.
There was a soft creak of the door.
There was a soft sound at the door.
Eloise looked up quickly. Her heart jumped when she saw him standing there.
Vincent.
He looked the same as before tall, dressed in dark clothes, his face calm and cold. His eyes found hers, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke. The room felt too small with him inside.
Finally, he stepped forward.
"You'll follow my rules while you're here," Vincent said, his voice low and firm. "You'll answer when spoken to. You won't walk around where you're not allowed. You'll keep quiet, and you'll stay out of trouble."
Eloise's fingers tightened around the edge of her dress. She nodded slowly.
"Yes, Master Vincent," she whispered.
Vincent watched her for a moment, his sharp eyes unreadable. Then his gaze dropped to the necklace around her neck. A strange look crossed his face almost like a flicker of surprise before it was gone.
He didn't mention it.
Instead, he took a step back toward the door.
"I'll send someone to bring you food later. Stay in this room."
Without waiting for her reply, he turned and left, pulling the door shut behind him.
Eloise let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The room felt bigger again once he was gone.
She sat back down on the bed and looked down around, wondering how everything happened so fast.
For a moment, she let herself wonder what was going to happen to her now. Was she going to resume her maid duties here? Was she going to be auctioned off soon?
She didn't know anyone here.
But she already knew one thing.
No matter what, she had to survive.
Just like her mother had told her.
"I'll survive," Eloise whispered to herself. "I have to."
She lay back down, pulling the thin blanket over her shoulders. The wind outside rattled softly against the small window, and somewhere in the distance, she could hear the faint sound of the sea.
And for now… she closed her eyes.