Chapter 3

William finally moved. I thought he'd get mad, but instead, he crouched down and scooped up the broken roots in his hands.

At that moment, I suddenly heard William's thoughts: 'It's just a flower. I can always grow another. Hope she doesn't cut her hand.'

I felt more sick to my stomach. "Quit acting in front of me," I snapped. Barefoot, I walked out, stepping over the broken shards.

William cut me off. "Evelyn, there's sunlight outside."

"Then let me die."

His expression darkened in a flash.

"Isn't that what you're afraid of? Fine, watch me," I snapped, charging toward the stairs.

But William was quicker. He caught me and scooped me up, carrying me back to the bedroom.

I clawed and bit at him like a madwoman.

He didn't fight back, and my nails scratched his face. Blood started to drip down.

At the sight of that red, my instincts flared up again.

I was shaking with rage. "See that? Even when I hate you, my own instincts make a fool out of me."

William's throat tightened. "Let me help you keep it under control."

"I don't want your help," I snapped, grabbing the silver scissors from the bedside table and pressing the blade to my wrist.

William finally lost his cool. "Put it down."

"Sever the bond."

He didn't say a word. I pressed the tip of the scissors harder. My skin was split open, and blood instantly welled up.

William stared at the wound, his eyes flooded with a dangerous red. He wanted to come closer, but he held himself back.

"You want to keep me forever, right? Then you can keep my dead body," I snapped.

He closed his eyes, his voice barely above a whisper. "The bond isn't something you can sever whenever you want."

"Then find a way."

"I can't."

I heard his thoughts: 'If the bond is severed, she'll return to her original fate. She'll die. No, I can't.'

I seized on that. "What fate?"

William's eyes snapped up.

"Am I going to die?"

He stayed silent.

I stared at him, and for a split second, some stupid hope crept in. Maybe he had his reasons. Maybe those three years of being cold didn't mean he didn't care. Maybe last night wasn't about owning me.

But before that hope could take root, he crushed it himself. "You don't need to know," he said.

Right then, my heart dropped straight into ice water. I gave a hollow smile and nodded. "Sure. There it is again. I don't need to know.

"Three years ago, you told me all I had to do was be Mrs. Lancaster.

"Two years ago, I asked why you never came near me, and you said I didn't need to know.

"A year ago, I was crying and asked if you really despised me, and you still said I didn't need to know."

I raised the scissors and jammed them into our wedding photo. The silver frame splintered.

In the picture, he was kissing my forehead, and I was smiling so foolishly.

"William, I'm not some plant you keep in a greenhouse. You can't cut off my roots and then expect me to thank you for the glass cage you built around me," I said.

I thought he'd try to explain, but instead, he turned and walked out.

Half an hour later, every window and door in the villa was locked down tight.

The basement was cleared out. There was no sunlight, no mirrors, but only a bed.

William stood outside the door. "I'll let you out once you've cooled off."

I stared at him. "You're locking me up."

I caught his thoughts, messy and shattered: 'Hate me. But stay alive.'

*****

William brought me blood bags every day, but I went on a hunger strike.

On the first day, I still had enough strength to yell at him.

By the second day, I lay there staring at the ceiling, my throat so dry it felt like sandpaper.

On the third day, the scent of blood started leaking out through the airtight seals.

I covered my nose, but it was useless.

By the fourth day, I started having hallucinations. I saw myself standing in the sunlight, waves gently lapping at my ankles. Someone was calling my name from a distance.

It wasn't William. It was my mother, as when I was a child. She said, "Evelyn, don't look back."

I ran forward, tears streaming down my face. But when I opened my eyes, I was still trapped in the basement.

By the fifth night, I couldn't hold back anymore. I lunged at the door, scratching at it desperately with my nails. All I could think about was blood.

The next moment, the door slammed open. William rushed in.

He looked worse than I, his shirt wrinkled, dark circles under his eyes, dried blood staining his collar.

He dropped to his knees in front of me, pressing a blood bag into my hands. "Drink it."

I turned my head away.

He cut open the side of his neck. Blood poured out, and that scent, so familiar, roses and fir mingled with the chill of blood, hit me like a wave.

I was dragged in, powerless to resist. "No..." I protested, but as the word left my lips, my body was already in his arms.

I bit into his neck, and blood rushed into my mouth. Cold and intense, it soothed every nerve in my body.

William held me tight, his palm pressed against my back. I caught his thoughts: 'Go on, drink. Drink more. It'll make you feel better.'

I was sobbing as I drank, humiliated beyond words. I hated my body, hated this hunger, hated that I could actually feel safe in the arms of this monster.

Once I finally got my strength back, William was already slumped against the wall, pale as death from all the blood he'd lost.

I slapped him across the face. "You satisfied now?"

He didn't move.

I grabbed him by the collar and hurled every cruel word I had at him. "You destroyed me. You make me feel filthy. I'd rather burn in the sunlight than survive on your blood."

William looked down at me, not trying to defend himself.

The chat blew up.

[She's totally right. Forcing someone without consent is always wrong.]

[But he's about to die.]

[Don't act all righteous. Hurt is hurt.]

[Why won't he tell her the truth already? It's driving me nuts.]

Seeing that last comment, I felt my chest tighten. "What are you not telling me?"

William's eyes flickered.

Suddenly, I caught his thoughts: 'I can't say it. If I do, she'll let her guard down. She needs to hate me, so when she leaves, it won't hurt as much.'

I froze. Leave? Did he want me to leave?

William quickly shut off his emotions. "No."