"If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees."

-Khalil Gibran

Roman's POV:

Darkness seeped into the room, save for the frequent rumbling of thunder and jolts of incandescent lights. Rain hit the glass pane in a thrumming melody, an orchestra of nature being played out in the effulgent darkness. For a moment it seemed as if the only souls that beat within it were us.

"What do we do now?" I queried, trying to arrange the papers by the best of my ability, stealing occasional glances from her.

She took a seat on the sofa beside me. Her jasmine and lily scent overwhelmed my senses as it veiled me in its potent warmth. The soft light from the phone casted a dim shadow over her profile. At that moment, I decided that she couldn't look more otherworldly.

Her presence burned my soul.

"Let me think," She crosses her arms and leans back on the sofa, "You should go check on Azure. My room has candles, right wing, very right corner of the shelf. You will find plenty of them and a lighter. I will need to make some calls."

"Yes, mam," I said, clearing my throat, turning on my flashlight and hurrying out of the room. Being in the same darkness as her, I found, did unexplainable things to me. It invoked thoughts I should not be having as her assistant but they barreled in my mind anyway.

A long sigh escaped me as I tried my best to shine the light around. There was not an ounce of luminescence in the vast manor, as if a mantle of black surrounded the pertinent infrastructure. 

I walked towards the left wing, heading to my room first. I hoped Azure was sleeping and didn't get spooked. A loud creak resonated through the hallway followed by a small,"Meow?"

I exhaled in relief, running towards him. He was huddled in a corner, looking at me with his big blue eyes.

"Are you okay, baby?" I lifted him up, cuddling him to my chest and placing a kiss on top of his little head. He only purred in response but I noticed his heart was beating frantically inside his tiny body.

"It's okay," I patted his back, grabbing his meals. A quick work of putting him and his food in a big shopping bag and then I let myself out.

I lit the flashlight, more for Azure than me but remembered that he is a cat.

"Of course, you can probably see everything clear as day," I rolled my eyes, switching off my phone to save its battery.

The right wing, unlike the left, had two doors only. I could see the hallways getting narrower as I walked through. Something prickled at the back of my neck.  The first door was open and I walked to the place she had instructed me to. The rows of scented candles were stacked in the shelf and I grabbed some, all while having my fill of the immaculate room.

Avyanna was an extremely organised woman. Not a single thing out of place, even her post it notes were arranged linearly. It was difficult to make anything out in the dark, as most of it were grey but something caught my eyes.

The only piece of colour that existed in the room was a piece of album cover framed and wrapped in purple ribbon, the pink gradient album read "LY" and something in Korean.

I locked the door behind me, lighting one of the candles and putting my phone inside my pocket.

The scent of vanilla wafted around as I slowly walked through the hallway, the sound of my shoes resonating through the house. The wind was getting stronger, louder. A noisy Bang! resonated from the hallway. Azure whimpered. I whimpered and froze.

Living with ghosts and demons. I wouldn't expect anything less from Ms. Witch.

"It's okay," I cooed with a shaky voice, mainly to calm myself down. It was, in fact, not okay. I was moments from running out of the door. However, curiosity got the best of me and it took me a minute to decide whether I was feeling extra suicidal today.

Fuck it, if you see a ghost run to Avyanna. She is enough to scare their whole lineage away.

"They left the door open," I muttered with absolute relief as I walked closer. The open door banged against the wall, the wind hurling it to-and-fro.

"Stay here," I sat him down, walking to the door and stepping inside the room with a false bravado....

.....Which instantly dissipated as I took in its contents.

The candle casted yellowy shadows over the dark maroon walls, on which rows of equipment hung. 

Equipment of the sexual kind.

I gulped, the sudden feeling of parchedness residing in my chest. A titillating warmth fluttered in my stomach as I slowly walked in, holding up the candle to get a better view.

Handcuffs, paddles, ropes, toys shaped like dildos, chain balls- and even things I couldn't name.

I took in the bed, with 4 cuffs placed at the four corners. A  cage was beside the bed and a giant mirror on the wall.

This was the perfect sex shrine.

Ms. Mikhail was-

Lust coursed through my blood in an angry hum, it reverberated against my soul and drove me crazy. Unwanted imageries played in my mind like a reel. Ms. Mikhail on the bed, tied as I fucked her from the back. Her riding me as she held me down in cuffs. A droplet of perspiration crawling down her toned back as our bodies joined....  

I shook my head, trying my best to not pop a hard-on in the middle of a load-shedding. These inappropriate thoughts about my boss will only cause me to spiral deeper into an abyss of fantasies that were never going to happen.

I closed my eyes, giving myself a moment to calm down. The storm outside matched my inner one, violent, potent and angry. I was angry at myself for having these thoughts.

She is forbidden you dimwit.

I shut the door behind me, grabbing Azure and trying to process whatever I just saw.

It was a playroom. Playroom of Ms. Mikhail.

My skin broke out in cold sweat as I tried to control the small tremors raking through my body.

I couldn't possibly be aroused by this prospect?

Get yourself together.

I was in a haze, I didn't want to think about it yet my mind was running miles. knocking on the door of the study room, I let myself in.

"Did you find-" Her husky timbre that reminded me of honey and sin resonated through the dark. She stood up, a dream in white. Avyanna's skin glowed golden under the candlelight. She stopped in her tracks as her kohl-lined eyes fell on Azure.

And for the first time ever, I saw her smile.

She had a gorgeous smile.

I think my heart skipped a beat.

"Is he okay?" She met my eyes. I took this opportunity to study her beautiful face like a lover scorned.

Like a goddess carved from gold and roses.

Something electrifying happened as I stared into her hazel eyes. Something addictive. Like a liquid shock flowing down my bloodstream.

She composed herself, her smile falling, clearing her throat.

Snap the fuck out of it.

"He-" I cleared my throat, "He is fine. He might take a nap."

She nodded, taking him and placing him on her lap. She patted his back, caressing his black fur.

"Do you want to continue or should we resign?" She asked, her eyes glinting.

"I think it is better if we continue tomorrow, madam," I stuttered, I never fucking stuttered. The darkness of the night was messing with my head.

"Okay then," She placed a kiss on Azure's forehead, giving him back to me, "Goodnight. Thank you for fetching the candles."

I nodded, leaving the bag of candles to her and taking one for myself. I stared at her flowing nightgown as she walked with grace, her shadow becoming smaller and smaller.

"Meow~"

"It is way past your bedtime," I cuddled him closer, walking to my room that was opposite Ms. Mikhail's.

A chill ran down my spine as I spared a glance in that direction.

I jogged through the hallway, letting myself in the room and locking the door behind me.

I set Azure down on his bed, where he happily started playing and let out a yawn. I chuckled, exhaustion washing over me.

"Goodnight, baby," I patted his head, taking off my own shirt and jumping on the bed. I closed my eyes, the image of a golden goddess wafting through my mind before I fell into a deep, dark slumber.

________________________________

"OPEN THE DOOR!"

I sat up straight at the loud banging noise that came through the door, breathing heavily. Azure was awake, hissing at the source of the sound.

"Open the door, please!"

Avyanna?

I got up from the bed, running to the door, Azure on my trail.

She looked like a small girl. Her eyes were haunted, her large frame shaking. Her hands were clasped in front of her. Like she was begging or praying, maybe both. Her usually neat hair was a mess, her cheeks were smeared in tears. She was frightened, shivering like a dry leaf.

My larger than life boss, who never feared anything, never looked more fragile and tangible. The thought was disturbing. Perturbating.

A loud thunder crashed outside, making her tremble more.

"Mr. Carlisle," Her voice was surprisingly steady for someone who was frightened, "D-Do you have any more candles left? I burnt all of mine."

"Uh-" Surely, she smelled like burnt wax and vanilla all over, "Miss, please calm down. I think I have only one left-"

"O-One? Only one?"

I stared at her in shock. Her voice sounded desperate, like a small child. She looked possessed by whatever was troubling her and I decided that I didn't like seeing her like this.

"Yes," I whispered, unsure whether I should reach out and take her hand in mine, "Only one."

"I- can't sleep without lights," She panted harshly, "My phone also died and-"

I wanted to give her a hug.

"Mam," I placed a hand on her shoulder, cautiously, "Please calm down. Take a deep breath."

She looked up at me with her big, deer-like eyes and imitated me.

"Okay, repeat it again," I took a deep breath and she imitated me, her tremors dying down. She stared into my eyes, looking helpless.

Her body was cold as fuck. Like ice.

Her eyes.... Something burned inside them.

Something dark, like a memory that left an imprint on her mind.

"Do you want to come inside?" I asked softly, not to startle her.

She nodded, eyeing Azure as she slowly stepped in.

"Sit down," I slowly directed her to the sofa. She was blue, grey and every dull colour in the palette- but I have never seen her so solemn and vulnerable. Like a splash of grey to her blues. Like a blizzard to her wintry night.

"C-Can I hold the cat?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"If you call him by his name, he will come to you," I smiled.

Her face was dim in the candlelit room, but I could still make out the trail of fresh tears that escaped her eyes.

"Azure," She called him, her voice breaking, "Here kitty kitty!"

Azure ran towards her, climbing on her lap immediately and purring.

I smiled as she held him close to her heart. I turned around, walking over to the bed. I should sleep on the sofa and let her sleep on the bed.

A sound of soft sobs broke through the room as I turned around, shocked as she cried silently, holding Azure close to her chest.

"Avyanna?"

"I am sorry," She wiped her tears. It twisted something inside me, "I am extremely sorry. Azure is such a bland name for such a pretty cat."

I crossed my arms, smiling, "You don't have to apologise. Do you want to rename him?"

Her eyes lit up, like a drop of yellow to her blues. She lifted Azure up, surveying him.

"Hm, he has this royal look to him, a round belly and full white whiskers. Pretty cat. I name you Sir Azure Allisteir Fitzcharles the first."

"Meow~~"

"He agrees," She patted his head happily, kissing his temple.

"That's a long name," I smile, feeling happy that she was no longer crying or trembling like a leaf; nor did she look like the remnant of a lost soul.

"You can cuddle him to sleep tonight," I pointed at the bed, "I will take the sofa."

She looked up at me, looking genuinely happy.

"Thank you," She mumbled, letting herself on the bed along with Sir Azure Allisteir Fitzcharles the first, cuddling him to sleep.

I watched them as I drape a blanket over myself, feeling happier than ever.

All the ice queen needed was a kitten to thaw her cold heart.

I fell into a deep slumber, the thunderstorm slowing down to a steady drizzle.