Page 44 of Firethorne
“I think it’s time I get back to the party,” I said to cut the conversation dead, but he was having none of it.
“Have you read much of Hardy?”
“No.” Again my answer was sharp and curt, an indication that I didn’t want to interact with him.
“You should,” he responded. “You could really learn something from his style, plots, and character driven stories.”
“I’ll bear that in mind,” I replied, stepping past him to head out of the library.
“Why do you think he invited you here, tonight?” he asked out of the blue, and I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him. “Why didsheinvite you?” he went on. “Don’t you think it’s strange that they’re both so eager to befriend you?”
I tilted my head and glared back at him.
“Do you know what I find strange? That you would send me books, this outfit, and stalk me in this library to freak me out.”
He took a step closer.
“If you’re freaked out by that, then I may just blow your fucking mind if I show you what lies behind the curtain.”
“You know what...” I folded my arms over my chest and lifted my chin defiantly. “I don’t think anything behind your curtain would shock me. I believe you dressed perfectly for tonight. The devil. Out to play.”
He gave a sinister chuckle.
“Oh, it’s not me hiding behind the curtain. But if you want to see for yourself, I’ll show you.”
It was my turn to take a step forward now, and with my jaw clenched, I hissed, “Do your worst, Damien.”
Chapter Nineteen
Maya
There was no doubt in my mind that Damien was revelling in the prospect of ‘doing his worst’ to shock me, as I followed him along the dimly lit corridor of the second floor, then down the stairs to the ground floor. I’d played right into his hands, walked freely into his trap, but there was no looking back now. I had to see this through to the end.
I went to walk towards the terrace, but he told me, “Not that way. They won’t be there anymore.”
“Won’t they?” I questioned, frowning.
I could still hear music and laughter coming from the direction of the terrace.
“No, they won’t. They’ll have stepped it up a gear by now.”
I had no idea what he meant by that, but I knew I was about to find out.
Damien sauntered ahead with a cocky confidence in his step, and I knew he was getting a kick out of taunting me right now. A cruel, twisted pleasure from proving something to me. But I reminded myself to stay calm, to act cool-headed and remainunfazed. After the things I’d been through in my youth, not much shocked me anymore.
His footsteps slowed, then he stopped beside a closed door, the door leading to the drawing room, and he turned to face me. This was one of the smaller rooms in the house, used for entertaining in a more intimate setting, and inside, I could hear a gentle beat from the music playing.
“The next part is entirely up to you,” Damien said, his head bowed slightly as he stared at me through his lashes. “Stay in blissful ignorance and continue living in a world where you’re an observer, watching life play out through your rose-tinted glasses. Or open the door and find out the truth.” He took a step back to allow me better access to the door. “What’ll it be, Maya? Will you take the red pill or the blue?”
“You want me to jump down a rabbit hole?” I replied, keeping a stoic expression on my face as my stomach fluttered with nerves. “Then you’d better step back, Damien, and give me a little more room.”
He did as I asked without saying a word, and slowly, I turned the door handle and creaked the door open just a touch. Not enough to announce my arrival, but enough to see what he wanted me to see.
And I was...
Speechless.
There were about a dozen people in the room. The lighting was subdued, dim, but just enough to show what was happening, and the music was a slow, rhythmic beat that matched the room to a tee.
