Walking through the wide corridor of the mansion, I have absolutely no words. They're decorated with golden gilded portraits hanging on the walls, red tapestries every now and again. Chandeliers fill the ceilings, cherub children painted around them.

It's like the war never even happened here. In fact, I almost feel like I've slipped back two hundred years to when this was common.

I haven't seen decor like this since we were all young and Poppy would insist we travel to National Trust houses and walk through them, hanging on the rope barriers to see beyond at the elegantly laid out rooms.

I never cared for it, thinking there were far better things to do with my time than look at shit from the past. After all, it's in the past.

Poppy is sticking close to my side, her eyes darting from Gia in front of us, before looking back at the Enforcer beside her. Gia clearly doesn't trust either of us. Yet, anyway.

Our older sister is swanning around in a bright red dress, wandering the halls of her stately home like she's been here for years. She probably has.

I grit my teeth when I think over what we've had to endure, the sight of Emilia's mud streaked face, Jordan shivering in the cold winter air, Anna and Heidi sharing clothing. It's been horrible, every single one of us unsure whether we'll make it out alive.

Meanwhile, Gia has been living a life of luxury, not even caring who lives and dies in her tyrannical kingdom.

I force myself to stop from clenching my hands into fists, knowing that the Enforcers behind us will spot it instantly. Instead, I keep my head low, Poppy still in my eye line. I don't trust Gia either...

"Here we are," Gia exclaims, turning back to face us with her red lipped smile. "You can take these two rooms." She gestures to either side of her. "I hope you don't mind that I'll leave an Enforcer or two along this corridor," she pauses. "I'm not sure I can trust you."

"I don't trust the Enforcers," I spit out. "I've hardly had a good experience with them."

Gia sighs, shifting on her feet, her eyes darting to Poppy. "I told you before... if they had known you were family, they wouldn't have touched you."

I bite my tongue, wanting nothing more than to rain hell down on her, but knowing that now isn't the right time. We need answers.

"I'm not happy about it," I choose to say and Gia shrugs.

"They will give you no trouble unless you make trouble," she replies before shaking her head. "Both rooms have their own en-suites. Shower and clean up, and then you can join me downstairs for a late dinner," she finishes before gesturing behind us to the Enforcers. Whirling on her heel, she heads down the corridor, heels clacking against the hard marble floor worse than Emilia's damn boots used to.

Emilia... She's going to kill me.

I glance at a worried looking Poppy and nod my head at her. Her face clears of emotion and she looks towards the door beside her, clearly worried. Reaching out, I haul her in for a hug, resting my mouth at her ear so that no-one can hear us.

"Scream if you need me," I tell her, feeling her nod slightly against my head. "Promise?"

"Promise," she whispers. "You do the same."

I grin. "I won't need help. I'll be okay."

Poppy pulls away, rolling her eyes. "That shit might fly with Emilia, but you're not invincible," she whispers.

I smirk before shooting a glare at the remaining Enforcer who's standing only three feet away. Turning to my wooden door, I reluctantly reach for the handle. Curling my fingers around it, I slowly push down before letting it open on it's own.

Glancing back at Poppy, I watch as she shuts the door behind her, entering the room and greeting whatever lies beyond. 

Stepping forward, I enter my own room, slamming the door behind me. My eyes nearly fall out of my fucking head at the sight. A four poster bed dominates most of the room, layers upon layers of blankets on top of it. A fire is burning bright in the corner, providing enormous heat to the rest of the room.

The dark blue curtains are drawn closed, shutting out the ruined world beyond. I imagine that's what Gia does every day... keep herself away from the broken reality of what she's done. I can't bear to think that she's truly as cruel and heartless as to immerse herself in the blood and death.

Fifteen minutes later, I finally step into the shower in the bathroom, nearly sliding onto my knees at the feeling of the warm water against my skin. It's gorgeous, it's magical... and Emilia would love it.

I feel guilty for being here, knowing that she'd want to be here with me.

I can only imagine what would happen if the two of us were here now. I would pin her against the wall, shoving myself inside her and watching the way her face contorts every single time I fill her. I fucking love it, the sight giving me almost as much pleasure as the feel of her around my dick. Fuck.

I lean back against the tiles behind me, unwilling to reach for the temperature dials, yet knowing that I need to turn it down to cold in order to leave the shower.

I curse out loud when the icy cold water covers me, but it's what I deserve. 

Emilia wouldn't let me pin her against the wall and fuck her right now. In fact, if she was in front of me, she would be screaming and yelling at me for being so reckless.

Cold water is what I deserve. In more ways than one.

*~*~*

"Poppy!" I practically yell as soon as I step out of my room. I glare at the Enforcer, liking that he cowers away at the sight. The door opposite opens quickly, Poppy instantly grinning at the sight of me.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you in a light blue t-shirt." She smirks.

I roll my eyes. "Likewise. Didn't you grow out of pink fluffy dresses?"

Poppy shrugs. "What Gia doesn't know, won't hurt her," she whispers before turning to look at the Enforcer. "Can you show us the way to the dining room?"

He nods, swiftly turning and heading back down the corridor we came from. I step forwards, Poppy right beside me as we follow.

It's five corridors and three staircases later before we step inside a large room, a deep oak table in the middle of it. Gia is standing in the corner, her back to us as she pours a large drink.

"Would you like a drink?" she asks us, not even turning around. I glance at the Enforcer as he retreats from the room, leaving only my family behind.

"No, thank you," Poppy answers.

"Me neither," I say gruffly, not trusting my sister to refrain from poisoning us.

"Your loss." Gia smiles, turning back to face us. "Please, take a seat!" She gestures towards the table. "Any seat."

Hesitantly, Poppy and I move forward, taking a seat next to each other. Gia watches with what looks like amusement before she downs her whiskey in one, leaving the glass behind. Striding towards the table, she pulls out the chair at the head, sliding onto it and not taking her eyes off of us.

"So..." She trails off. "You found me."

"It wasn't hard." I scoff. "You're in a mansion."

Gia raises an eyebrow. "Where's Emilia?"

I grit my teeth, ready to lie like there's no fucking tomorrow. "How should I know? Your marriage system is a pile of shit. It's hardly like that was going to work out."

"You broke up?" Gia seems interested, sitting back in her chair and holding her glass up high. A young redheaded girl is instantly beside her, filling it with wine.

"Broke up? We were never in a relationship."

"You could have fooled me." She smirks, taking a sip. "You looked very cosy when I saw you."

"We had to be," I retort. "Or we would have been killed."

Gia sighs, placing her glass on the table. "That's not true."

"You could have fooled me," I retort, using her own words against her. Her face contorts into an amused grin.

"You've been here the whole time?" Poppy interrupts, staring at her older sister.

Gia shifts in her seat. "Of course not. It took time."

"How much time-"

"I don't really understand why either of you are here," Gia cuts her off, darting her eyes between us.

"Because you're family," Poppy retorts as someone places a dish of steaming food in front of her. A plate is soon in front of my own eyes and I look down at it, stomach grumbling at the sight. It looks delicious.

"Family?" Gia smirks. "Last time I saw Zac, he tried to kill me."

"You threatened my best friend," I snap, unable to stop myself. "And then killed his wife."

Gia purses her lips. "An unfortunate casualty."

I make a move to argue before Poppy pipes up, shooting me a warning glare. "Zac found me in London! He told me you were in power and I wanted to see you. I convinced him to come back up North."

"How did you expect to get through the wall?" Gia questions and Poppy shrugs.

"We were hoping that an Enforcer would eventually show themselves and that we could surrender to you."

"Zac... surrender!" Gia laughs, a high pitched sound. "Are you serious?"

"Yes! He agreed!" Poppy insists. "For me!"

"She's right," I force myself to say. "She was incredibly persistent."

"Wasn't I always?" Poppy grins, sitting back in her chair before shovelling a load of food into her mouth.

"So... you came to find me. What did you do with Emilia?" she asks before lifting her fork to her lips.

I shrug. "Left her in London with the others."

"And she was okay with that?"

"Who cares." I shrug. "Probably. It's not like we were ever really husband and wife," I pause before repeating myself once more. "Your marriage system is shit."

Gia shrugs, looking down at her plate of food. "Better that than the human race dying out," she counters.

"That's true!" Poppy pipes up. Glancing across at her, I can see she means nothing that she's saying, keeping her eyes on her plate to hide her animosity towards Gia. 

Looking down at my food, I reluctantly heap a spoonful of potato onto my fork before stuffing it in my mouth. A rush of flavours fill my mouth, the roasted delight covered in salt and rosemary. I struggle to refrain from shovelling everything into my mouth at once.

"Gia?" Poppy asks quietly. Our sister nods in response. "How did you get in power?" she asks. I inhale sharply at the question, looking down and eating more food to disguise my emotions.

Gia sits back in her chair, hands slowly resting on the table as she looks at the two of us. I'm wondering what's going through her mind; whether she believes us or not, how much she's going to disclose.

Shaking her head, she stands abruptly before plastering a fake smile on her face. "You should get some rest. It's been a long day," she announces before turning away. "One of the Enforcers will show you back to your quarters."

She leaves without another glance behind, swanning out of the room with her dress billowing out behind her.

Looking back across the table, I raise an eyebrow at Poppy as she rapidly chomps down on the food.

"What?" she exclaims. "This shit is good."

I have to agree, helping myself to four more loaded spoonfuls before standing and telling Poppy that we should go. She pouts at me before following suit, the two of us following the armed guard back to our rooms.

Saying goodnight to my sister, I soon find myself back in the elegant, plush bedroom alone. Reaching up, I run my hand through my hair in frustration by the lack of progress we've made.

It's only been a few hours. But every single hour is more time away from Emilia, not knowing whether she's safe or even alive.

Walking over to the curtains, I slowly pull them aside, looking out into the pitch black of the night. I can't see a thing, the darkness ominous, much like my current predicament. I can't see out, just like I can't anticipate what waits for me when I wake up tomorrow.

This is uncharted territory, and you best believe I'll be on edge the entire time.

Gia cannot be trusted.

And Emilia... after what I've done, she'll probably be out for my blood too.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

At least Zac is having a break from the cold, damp outside!!! A nice 5 star hotel, am I right?!

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