Emily stumbled into her small, dimly lit room, her face stinging from the tears she had fought to hold back. The confrontation with her mother had left her raw and bruised, not just on the outside but on the inside as well. Her mother’s relentless demands had escalated into a violent confrontation that she had not been prepared for.
As she shut the door behind her, she leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. Her arms and neck ached from the blows, and she could already feel the angry red bruises forming beneath her shirt. The sting of the open slap on her cheek and the bruising marks on her neck were a painful reminder of the fight. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she could barely look at herself in the cracked mirror hanging crookedly on the wall.
She sat down on the edge of her bed, staring at the worn carpet as she replayed the argument in her mind. Her mother’s harsh words echoed in her thoughts, a relentless reminder of the ultimatum she had faced.
“What good are you if you can’t even support your own mother?” her mother had screamed, her eyes filled with anger. “I’ve done everything for you, and this is how you repay me?”
Emily had tried to argue, to stand up for herself, but her mother’s fury had only escalated. The situation had quickly turned violent, with her mother’s hands landing harshly on her arms, her face, her neck.
“You ungrateful little—”
A harsh slap had cut her off, sending her to the floor. The pain had been sharp and immediate, and she had cowered, tears streaming down her face as her mother continued to lash out.
Eventually, her mother had stormed off, leaving Emily sobbing on the floor, her arms wrapped around her bruised and bleeding body.
Now, as she sat in her room, she could still feel the sting of the physical and emotional pain. She wished she could run away, escape the harshness of her reality. But there was no escape from the brutal truth of her situation. All she could do was put on a brave face and head to work at the circus.
When Emily arrived at the circus, she was met with the usual flurry of activity. Performers were warming up, crew members were setting up the equipment, and the atmosphere was charged with the excitement of the evening’s show. But as she walked toward the main tent, she was dreading what was to come.
Felix, the ringmaster, caught her eye and waved her over. “Emily! Glad you made it. There’s no show tonight, though, we’re doing some maintenance work.”
Emily nodded, trying to mask her relief. “Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
She turned to leave when a sudden voice stopped her.
“Emily.”
The voice was smooth, almost seductive, and she turned to see Lucian standing there, his eyes glinting with a curious mixture of amusement and something darker. He was impeccably dressed as always, his presence commanding and magnetic.
As his eyes swept over her, they froze on the bruises peeking out from her collar and sleeves. His gaze was intense, searching, and he took a step closer, his eyes narrowing.
“What happened to you?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Emily took a step back instinctively, her hand moving to cover the bruises on her neck. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, trying to avoid his gaze.
Lucian’s eyes darkened, and he took another step forward, closing the distance between them. “Nothing? It looks like something. Are you hurt?”
Before she could respond, Lucian’s gaze flicked toward the crew and performers milling around, their eyes watching the interaction with a mix of curiosity and concern. He glanced back at Emily, his eyes sharp and penetrating.
“Come with me,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.
Emily hesitated, her eyes darting between Lucian and the workers who were now watching them intently. She could sense the curiosity in their eyes, the unspoken questions. She wanted to refuse, to avoid the confrontation, but Lucian’s commanding presence made it clear that there was no room for disobedience.
Lucian led her through the maze of tents, his stride purposeful and unyielding. Emily followed, her heart pounding in her chest. The circus was filled with the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of metal, but the noise faded into the background as she focused on the path ahead.
When they reached his tent, Lucian opened the door and gestured for her to enter. “After you.”
Emily stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. The interior of the tent was lavishly decorated, with rich fabrics and opulent furnishings that spoke of both wealth and mystery.
Lucian closed the door behind her, the sound of the lock clicking into place making her heart skip a beat. He turned to face her, his eyes studying her with an almost predatory intensity.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened?” he said, his voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of something darker.
Emily’s heart raced, and she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “It’s not important.”
Lucian took a step closer, his eyes fixed on her bruised arms. “I think it is important. I want to know who hurt you.”
Emily flinched at the intensity in his voice, her fingers absently rubbing at her bruises. “It’s just... it’s nothing. My mother and I had a fight. It’s over now.”
Lucian’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in his gaze. “A fight? She did this to you?”
Emily nodded, trying to ignore the way his eyes seemed to penetrate her very soul. “Yes. She was angry about money, and it got out of hand.”
Lucian’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with a fierce anger that was almost frightening. “She had no right to hurt you.”
His tone was icy, his anger palpable. He moved closer, his hand reaching out to gently touch her arm. “I want to make sure you’re all right.”
Emily shivered at the touch, the warmth of his hand contrasting sharply with the coldness of his anger. “I’m fine,” she said, though her voice was barely more than a whisper.
Lucian’s eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to vanish. “You’re not fine, Emily. But I can help you. Let me take care of you.”
Before Emily could respond, there was a knock on the door. Lucian’s eyes flicked toward it, his expression momentarily shifting to one of controlled frustration.
“Come in,” he called.
Lila stepped into the tent, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Emily’s bruised arms. “Lucian, is everything okay?”
Lucian’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint as he looked at Lila. “Everything is fine. But if you could give us a moment, I would appreciate it.”
Lila nodded, though she gave Emily a worried look before stepping back out and closing the door behind her.
Lucian turned back to Emily, his gaze softening slightly though the intensity never left his eyes. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. But I want you to know that you’re safe here. No one will hurt you while you’re under my protection.”
Emily swallowed, her eyes darting around the luxurious interior of the tent. “I appreciate that, but I can’t stay here. I need to get back to work.”
Lucian took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “You don’t have to go just yet. I want to make sure you’re okay. Besides, you’re still under my protection, and I won’t let you leave until I’m satisfied that you’re all right.”
He gestured to a comfortable chair near his desk, the plush fabric inviting. “Please, sit down. Let me see if I can help.”
Emily hesitated, her eyes flicking between the chair and Lucian. She could sense the curiosity of the performers outside, the way they were watching her with a mixture of concern and intrigue.
Finally, she sat down, feeling the softness of the chair beneath her. Lucian settled into the seat opposite her, his gaze fixed on her with an almost predatory intensity.
“Tell me more about what happened,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “I want to understand what you’re going through.”
Emily took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “It’s just that she’s always been like this. Whenever she doesn’t get what she wants, she lashes out.”
Lucian’s eyes flashed with a dangerous light, his expression a mix of anger and sympathy. “She has no right to treat you like this. No one deserves to be hurt like that.”
Emily looked down at her bruised arms, her fingers absently rubbing at the tender spots. “It’s not the first time. I just try to avoid her when things get bad.”
Lucian’s eyes softened slightly, though there was still a fierce intensity to his gaze. “You shouldn’t have to endure that. You deserve better.”
He reached out, gently touching her hand. “Let me help you. Let me take care of you, if only for tonight.”
Emily looked up at him, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of hope and fear. “What do you mean?”
Lucian’s smile was a blend of charm and danger as he leaned closer. “I mean that you can stay here with me, if you need a place to go. You can rest, recover, and we can talk about what’s going on.”
****