Chapter 12: What!?
Anna POV...…
Her fingers wrapped around mine in a firm handshake, her lips curling into that same unsettling smile.
And just like that, a cold shiver ran down my spine. What exactly is she?
I didn't even realize when I yanked my hand back. Her eyes gave me chills, and I felt a strange sensation course through me the moment she touched me.
"Okay, let me continue showing you around," Damien's mom interrupted, her hands resting gently on my shoulders. I looked at her and forced a smile. At least this gave me a temporary escape from this woman.
"Okay…" My words were abruptly cut off when the so-called Emma jumped in. "Don't worry, Mrs. Evelyn, I'll show her around. You need some rest," she said with a bright, almost too-innocent smile.
I wanted to protest—I wasn't okay with this. Why would someone who clearly despised me want to show me around? I opened my mouth to object, but the words refused to come out. If I protested, I'd definitely come off as weird.
"Are you okay with this, Anna?" Mrs. Evelyn asked. Emma had called her that. I nodded, even though I didn't mean it.
"Alright then. Please show her every corner of the house—it's necessary," Mrs. Evelyn said conclusively. She smiled at me one last time before walking away.
"Come, I'll show you around," Emma said, still smiling, but I didn't feel any better. I just couldn't trust her.
"I'll take you to the rooms," she added, already climbing the stairs and urging me to follow. I took a deep breath and trailed behind her.
When we reached the passageway—a long hall lined with many doors—she stopped and turned to face me.
"I'll start by showing you your room," she said, neither smiling nor frowning. Her expression was unreadable, and I couldn't figure out what she was thinking.
"Ready?" she asked, and I nodded—that was the only response I could manage.
She inserted the key into the lock, and within seconds, the door creaked open. "Let's go in," she said and stepped inside.
I drew another deep breath before following her in. I couldn't shake the feeling that she was dangerous. She wasn't human—none of them were. Damien, his siblings, his mom, and this woman… What were they, really? That was a question I needed answered.
"Are you with me? You seem lost," Emma's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I stood there like a statue before finally regaining my composure.
"I'm with you," I said calmly, avoiding any further discussion.
She gave me a long, probing stare before nodding. Her gaze lingered, as if she were battling with some internal thought. I couldn't quite figure her out.
"So, as I was saying—this is your room." She gestured toward the space, and that was when it hit me.
The room was breathtaking.
It radiated elegance—high ceilings and large windows that echoed the grandeur of a bygone era. The walls, painted in a soft cream, were adorned with intricate moldings and gilded accents that shimmered in the gentle light.
Rich burgundy velvet curtains, their tasseled edges swaying slightly, framed the windows like regal robes.
The floor, a beautifully polished hardwood, creaked softly beneath my feet, its dark surface reflecting light like still water. Above, a chandelier hung like a crown, its crystals casting a kaleidoscope of colors around the room.
The antique furniture whispered stories of the past. A velvet armchair sat invitingly by a roaring fireplace, its wooden mantle carved with timeless artistry.
"Are you always this lost?" Emma clapped her hands in front of my face, snapping me back to the present again.
I shook my head, blinking rapidly.
"I've been talking to you for ages—where is your mind?" she asked, clearly irritated, her tone was so rude.
I wanted to apologize, but I held back. How could she be so rude?
"Don't you get lost too?" I shot back, unable to hide my own irritation. Her words were harsh, and the expression on her face as she said them didn't help at all.
She didn't respond, but even a blind man could sense the anger radiating off her. She was clearly pissed—boiling, even—but strangely, she wasn't showing it.
I couldn't help but wonder why. Wasn't this the perfect opportunity for her to flaunt how much she despised me?
"Since you've seen enough of your room, can we proceed to other parts of the house?" Her gaze lingered on me—cold, yet oddly composed.
I gave her a slight nod and stepped out of the room ahead of her. She followed closely behind and slammed the door shut with a loud thud.
"Here," she said, handing me the key to the room. I stared at her, confused, before reluctantly taking it from her hand. One question echoed through my mind: Why is she giving me the key so soon?
"Now, can I show you Damien's room?" Her voice carried a strange, almost playful undertone that made me uneasy. Something about the way she said it felt… off.
Or maybe I was just overthinking—reading too much into things no one else would notice.
"Are you ready?" she snapped, pulling me from my thoughts. I nodded again.
She led the way, and I followed silently. After passing two doors, we stopped in front of one that stood out. Damien's door was massive—bold, elegant, and unlike the others.
Without hesitation, she pushed it open, revealing the room inside.
The moment my eyes landed on it, I was speechless. The room wasn't just bigger—it was breathtaking.
Words couldn't capture its beauty. But believe me when I say, this was the most luxurious, meticulously designed, and grand space I had ever seen. The elegance dripped from every corner—it was perfection made into a room.
"Here she goes again—staring like she's from the slums," Emma's voice sliced through the silence, sharp and cruel.
I turned to her, my eyes blazing with anger.
"What the hell did you just say?" I snapped. She was seriously pushing it now.
I wasn't the one she should be throwing her frustration at. I knew she liked Damien, but it wasn't my fault he didn't feel the same way about her.
"I should be the last person you pick a fight with. You better watch your back," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom.
And she wasn't bluffing—I could see it in her light green eyes. There was no humor, no teasing—just cold, hard truth. She meant every word.
I wasn't going to look defeated, even though fear had already taken root inside me. "You should be the one watching out for me," I retorted, trying to sound braver than I felt.
She raised an amused eyebrow before bursting into laughter.
"A mere human threatening me?" she chuckled again. "I could snap my fingers and you'd be gone."
Her final words sent a fresh wave of chills down my spine. She was right—I was just a mere human. And she? I had no idea what exactly she was.
"I—" My words faltered as she suddenly took a deep sniff of the air. I looked around, startled by her strange behavior. Why did she freeze up like that after sniffing the air like some wild animal?
"I'll be back," she said abruptly. "You can keep looking around the room—especially that wardrobe." She pointed toward a brown wardrobe before darting off in a blur.
I stared after her until she vanished completely. What was wrong with her? I couldn't figure it out, but I decided to continue exploring the room.
Her final words echoed In my mind—"The brown wardrobe." Without hesitation, I stepped toward it, reaching out to open it.
But before I could, a familiar presence swept outside the shut door. Then I heard the voice—Emma's unmistakable voice. How could I ever forget that annoying jerk?
Her voice grew clearer, along with the unnerving sense of someone powerful approaching.
"I told her not to go into your room, but she forced herself in," Emma said. Her words hit me like a slap.
Even without being told, I knew she was talking about me.
But… who was she talking to?
My thoughts screeched to a halt when I heard Damien's voice, deep and thunderous.
"How dare she go into my room? No one ever goes into my room!"
My eyes flew open as the realization slammed into me—Emma had sent me into Damien's room. And now she'd run off, leaving me here to take the fall.
What the hell?