Dare To Love Me

's

and I didn't ask questions. We moved through long hallways and this time, I paid more attention to the oil paintings that lined the walls, women draped in sorrow, men cloaked in violence. Everything here bled history and death. I was still in the red dress from this morning. The humiliation hadn't washed off, no matter how many times I scrubbed my ski

, a cool, female vo

, but not weakness. Steel gray hair pulled into a perfect bun, a bla

Delia", she

te which means you

ree to that"

you are", her mouth curved into some

soft brown curls, olive skin and the kind of eyes that made you wonder if they'd always looked that tired

ted then his gaz

he said and offer

made my heartbeat shift. He wasn't like t

s' brother", he i

ow? They looked and e

nfusion in my face bec

emperaments but we're still fam

ded s

how you the groun

walls if you were already thinking about it, if you realize they'

y mind once but just t

, I mutter

is arm, I di

", he said an

thways, the scent of roses was overwhelming li

ike them", I

aised an

", he

des, everyone h

esit

, Kia some sharper than others,

rted out before I

e that night?"

kered with so

n't", he s

ew him,

ng p

answered

ounded by tall hedges and climbing vines. Matteo gestured for m

tand why I'm he

you do"

ok my

ices come with consequences. You're here because yo

ong to Hades

me thing as owing him a debt. And H

Delia returned, carrying a tray with a te

soned?", I

rched h

aste the poison on jasmin

drink i

he turned and loo

, girl", she said, her voice lo

then she vanished down the path, the hem of

, I couldn't sleep. My thoughts kept spiraling, I had too many questions and not e

id "you start work

rt of me wondered if the cameras were still watching. I should've torn them all out, b

per, aged and creased, resting like a phantom just past the doorway. My stomach knotted as I padded barefoot across th

he truth

e at m

the wine cell

our away and suddenly, the flowers I remembered

trap, a snare hid