Alexander and Artemis entered the mansion, heading up the black marble staircase to his room. Panic rose in her chest as she tried to pull her hand free. Why were they going straight to his room? His grip was unnervingly strong—one more tug, and she might crack her wrist.
Alexander pulled her inside and shut the door behind them. She finally managed to yank her hand away, stepping back to put distance between them.
Artemis took in her surroundings. The room was massive, exuding a grand Victorian charm. The balcony overlooked a vast forest behind the mansion, and at the center of the room stood an enormous four-poster bed fit for royalty. Her gaze continued scanning the space—until it landed on the vampire who had just purchased her like a mere commodity. A shiver ran down her spine as she instinctively stepped back.
Alexander, noticing how her blue eyes darted across the room, let out a small smile. He reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it off, folding his arms across his bare chest. Artemis narrowed her eyes, her face heating slightly. He smirked.
"You'll be staying here from now on," he stated, his tone firm and commanding. "You are not allowed to leave this room or speak to anyone without my permission. Do you understand?"
The authority in his voice left no room for disobedience. Artemis swallowed hard and nodded.
Satisfied, Alexander grabbed a darker shirt and slipped it on, leaving two buttons undone, exposing a teasing glimpse of his chest.
"I have to leave for a while. The bathroom is over there. Wash up and change into something less…" His crimson eyes trailed over the rough sackcloth she wore, his lips curling into a mocking smirk. "…irritating."
With that, he turned and left, locking the door behind him.
Artemis scoffed, looking down at herself.
Disgusting.
With a sigh, she stepped into the bathroom—and immediately gasped.
Even the bathroom was extravagant. Was this family royalty?
She found a neatly stacked pile of towels inside a glass closet, plucking one out as she let her mind drift. Her thoughts flickered back to the conversation between Alexander and the woman they'd encountered earlier.
Ugh.
Shrugging off the itchy sackcloth, she made her way to the large tub, filling it with warm water before adding some soap she had found. Slipping into the bath, she let out a deep exhale.
"He sure does take care of himself, I'll give him that," she mumbled, blowing bubbles into the water. Her eyes flitted across the collection of crystal bottles lined neatly along the shelves—soaps, lotions, and whatnot.
Her tense muscles began to relax as she scrubbed herself, first using her nails before reaching for a body scrubber. She hesitated for a moment, then sighed and used it.
The soap smelled divine, making her stomach twist with hunger. She hadn't eaten in a while. She sighed again, dunking her head under the water before draining the tub. Watching the murky water swirl away, she refilled the tub with clean water and soaked for a few more moments.
Once finished, she dried herself and stood in the center of the bathroom—completely naked.
Her brows furrowed.
There were no clothes.
"One would think there'd be a lady's clothing in here somewhere," she muttered.
After scanning the room again, her eyes landed on a red robe.
She slipped it on, relieved that it at least covered her thighs—though it was noticeably short. The realization hit her.
This belonged to another woman.
A shudder ran through her.
Spoke too soon.
Stepping back into the bedroom, she glanced around before settling down at the foot of the bed. She sat there, lost in thought.
---
Meanwhile…
Alexander descended the stairs into the grand living room, where his mother, stepfather, stepsister Cleopatra, and older sister Priscilla were gathered. He frowned. These kinds of family meetings irritated him.
Cleopatra sat up straight when she saw him. "Big brother!" she greeted sweetly.
He ignored the pleasantries and got straight to the point. "What was Diana doing in my room?" His crimson eyes darkened, making Cleopatra visibly shrink in her seat.
"B-But big brother, she's been in your room many times before, so how is this time any different?" she stammered. "She said she missed you and wanted to see you, and—"
"Be quiet, you impertinent brat," he cut in coldly.
Cleopatra flinched.
Alexander's gaze bore into her, his stare alone making her tremble.
"You're scaring the poor girl, Alex," Priscilla spoke up, her voice soft yet laced with amusement. She was calmly sifting through a series of parchment papers.
Priscilla's aura was different from her brother's—collected, quiet, and elegant. Her short black hair was combed back in a regal manner, her poise immaculate. But despite her serene demeanor, there was something unsettling about her smile.
Alexander knew his sister well. She was no better than him.
She was a monster.
Priscilla's dark red eyes flicked up to meet his, and he sighed in frustration before turning back to Cleopatra, who still looked like a frightened deer.
"From now on, keep your friends away from my door. Or else…" He smirked. "You might need to start finding new friends."
Cleopatra let out a muffled squeak.
Satisfied, Alexander stood and turned toward the staircase.
"Alexander."
He froze, gritting his teeth at the sound of Ezra's voice.
He didn't turn around. "Yes?"
Ezra folded the newspaper in his hands. "I heard you bought a slave girl for five thousand gold. Is that true, son?"
Priscilla raised an eyebrow, her lips curling slightly. Cleopatra's eyes widened in disbelief. Their mother simply looked at Alexander, waiting.
Rolling his eyes, Alexander cracked his neck before finally turning to face his stepfather.
"And how does that concern you?" he asked dryly. Then, smirking, he tilted his head. "I am long overdue for a pet, don't you think?"
With that, he walked away.
Ezra let out a sigh. His wife gently placed a hand on his shoulder, mirroring his expression.
"Talk to your brother, Priscilla," their mother said.
Priscilla didn't lose her smile. "You know I can't do that," she replied smoothly. "He's old enough to make his own decisions, Mother."
At the corner of her eye, she noticed Cleopatra's expression darken.
Interesting.
Priscilla's red lips pulled into a smirk.