Prologue.

Book one

Volume one.

Different Shades of Him

Prologue.

"Welcome back home, little bird,” he enunciated, staring down at us.

At me.

“To our cage.” It was the only thought that crossed my mind. “My impending doom.”

Yet, from inside, I knew it could be a home for him. But for us? No. Never for us. For me!

"It's not our home," I muttered without realising it. “It's more like a cage.”

"How wrong can you be, Radhika?" He asked, grasping my upper arm in his large palm, to lead me inside the large, luxurious, four-story house.

I went with him without any struggles. Because as far as I had known him in a couple of hours, I knew he wouldn't be letting us go. Not anytime soon. Not until I give him enough reasons to.

“I'm not wrong—I just happen to know. Even if you coerce us to live here, it won't give us the feeling of safety and warmth we should feel from inside when we are in our home. It won't make your home—our home, if you call it. It would merely be a house where you'd force us to live." My voice was a mere murmur, but I knew he heard it somehow.

My heart was beating louder and faster than usual. Encouraged by my emotional thoughts, my pulse started to race at an unusual pace as I told him.

Though he didn't say anything in response to that, somewhere, I knew he understood my proclamation.

“On second thought, maybe you're right.”

A dull ache began to spread throughout my entire body.

“I always knew that.” Leaving him behind, I took a couple of steps more before I was stopped.

“Must you leave?”

“Yes, of course, it's not my home!” I used my rage to fuel my courage. I wanted to make him see my reasons.

“And when we are on the topic, let me ask you, since when were you planning to escape?”

I breathed slowly.

“Let me rephrase it: who was it? Who was the person who helped you?”

“No.. One.”

“Don't make me repeat myself.”

The tone he used in his voice made me want to crawl. I felt nothing but helpless at that moment.

“In a couple of days, you have grown exceedingly bold. Haven't you?” His tone turned dangerous.

“Perhaps I was too lenient with you.” I could hear him step closer and closer to me.

“And whatever you tried today,” I winced in pain as he held my nape from behind before turning me around.

I peered up at him in fear while he stared down at me with his intimidating eyes. His eyes were thundering. Leaning down further, he made my pulse rise. Being so close to him—a man, no less—I could see the clear spec of blackness inside his dark eyes. They were so raw, so dark, and so piercing. It was terrifying to look at. I sucked a shaky, terrified breath before slowly blowing it out.

“I would suggest you not try it again,” he added, his bottomless brooding eyes burning into mine, “because no matter how hard you are going to try, you are never going to get out of here without my permission. Away from my sight,” he vowed in a menacing tone that had no expression at all. “Don't get your hopes high.”

Tears split down my eyes while he studied my face for a solid amount of time before finally deciding to release me. Moving as soon as possible away from him, I backed away hastily, cradling my nape. It was hurting.

“You like escaping. Don't you?” He explained it to me in a condescending tone. “Let's see how you are going to try now with my eyes on you— all the time.”

“You can try all you want, but you can never break my spirits!” I looked at him directly in the eyes without blinking.

His eyes were still focused on my face as he slowly walked around me. “Do you mean it?” His voice was strangely soft. “Maybe I cannot. But.. ” Adding to his intimidating aura.

Horror washed over me as I realised the direction of his eyes.

Shaur.

“No.. ” I whispered.

“I can break him.” His gaze met mine in an instant. “You seem to have forgotten your own mental capacity for understanding certain situations. Let me refresh it for you.” His eyes seemed to burn holes in me. “I'd rather not get blood on your dress.”

Tears brimmed my eyes. I could feel my dissolution crumbling. Breaking into pieces. The pure aura he radiated was nothing but extreme affliction.

“Regardless of your wishes, you'll do as I say. Because I want you here. You belong to me, Radhika. Do not push me. You won't like the results.” He brushed his knuckles over my jaw.

Nothing of this would have happened if my parents were alive. Why did they have to leave me all alone in this cruel world? After they were gone, a lot of things happened all at once. And none of them were good.

Not even one. He was the worst— out of them.

~•~•~•~•~

Saumya Tripathi | Different shades of him.

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