DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES

LILIANAI pace through the empty halls of our grand estate, my sandals slapping against the polished marble floors. The silence is suffocating – a sharp contrast to the chimes of laughter and whispers Kyle and I shared two days ago.I can't help the feeling of despair as it rips through me, taunting me with the possibility of him still being around if I hadn't gone up the stairs that day.As I approach the steps to make my way back into the house, I catch the hushed whispers of the domestic staff and their topic of gossip is about the possible abduction of their boss. They cease their gossip the moment they spot me, making a show of religiously tending to their chores. But I'm no fool.I lift my chin, square my shoulders so as not to betray my emotions, and make my way into the living room. Once in, I slump against the wall as a shuddering breath leaves my lips. “Ma'am, you have a call from Mr. Mikhail.” I raise my eyes. It's the bodyguard assigned to me by Theodore, my husband's ass

LILIANA It takes four days of drowning in tears and wallowing in the loss of Kyle without solace before I realize that I'm fast becoming more useless than a couch potato. Eating junk or skipping meals altogether – the fastest way to ruin my life. If Kyle was alive, he would surely crack a joke about my being underweight and I'll throw some chips at him and…You're doing it again, I berate myself before rising from the bed. I sigh. The corners of my eyes are cracked with dried tears and I'm bleary-eyed. I would need to drum it into my subconscious that tears will not bring him back.Another sigh leaves my lips. Perhaps, taking a drive through town and maybe picking up a few things at the grocery's would help?Just maybe. So I freshen up and begin on my way down the stairs where my bodyguard is watching the TV. As soon as I land on the final few steps, he spots me and he pulls himself to his feet.I nod towards the TV. “Crime Now? Very predictable of you.”He gives me a curt smile.

LILIANA The moment the sadist exits, his goons fall in line, gagging and confining me. I'm left alone with the haunting presence of the corpse. My mind begins to conjure gruesome images which amplifies my fear. Being locked in with a corpse isn't something I have gone through like I do a walk in the park. Seconds bleed into minutes and hours until I hear the door creak open once more. The men walk in and my restraints are removed. Simultaneously, my heart leaps into my throat when their boss's threats come back to haunt me. He would be in for a surprise if he thought I'd let these men have sex with me without one of them losing an organ at least. Again, my eyes flit over to where the dead man lies with a hole in his head and blood that forms a halo around his head. A shiver racks through my spine and I tear my gaze away. How did I end up in the lair of such a dangerous man? If he could kill one of his own without remorse, there is no telling what he could do to me.

LILIANA As I sit bound to this chair, the last person I expect to see walks in - a petite girl with a ragged doll clutched in her fingers. On her frail form is a flower-patterned dress made out of cotton which almost succeed in making her look harmless.She has a head filled with dreadlocks which blend with her caramel skin. Yet, she looks… deranged? No, unstable is the word.One of the men quickly bring a chair which they place in front of me. She mutters something to their hearing and they nod. Lowering herself to the seat, she says, “I need to go back to bed.” Her voice is barely audible. Her head, bowed. “You only have a few minutes to answer my question.” Laughter bubbles out of my throat before I think twice about it. I toss an incredulous look at the burly men situated in the corners of the room.“You all are so pathetic for dragging a little girl into your sick mess. Your boss ran away with his tail for a dick between his legs and presented me with this?” I scoff.“What n

DAMIAN “What the hell are you trying to do?” I yell at the woman whose eyes are well rounded into saucers, fear etching onto the soft lines of her features. “I–” she stammers. Alice stumbles out of the bathroom with a towel in hand, her eyes darting around quickly for something. When they land on the figure on the bed, she closes her eyes with a weary exhale. I glance towards the men. “Who gave orders to have her brought up here? Don't keep me waiting. You only have about two seconds to spit the truth. One…” No one says a thing. My gaze sweeps to Liliana. “Two…” I dip my hand into the band of my trousers to retrieve my gun and point towards her, reveling in the dread I see on her face. “My fingers are trigger happy and I don't think any of you would like to be at the end of this baby.” “You will do no such thing, Kristoffor.” Alice shrieks with an inscrutable glance at Liliana. “Lower the gun down, will ya? Scaring the printsessa half to death.” “Is anyone going to an