There was a skip in his step. His heart—no, his whole body—was shaking with excitement. And who could really blame him? Today was the day. He would finally become a man. Today was the day he would lose his virginity!
A bit of his messy black hair fell onto his face, partially hiding his ruby-red eyes that subtly glinted in the sunlight. If Raven was being completely honest with himself, he had no clue how he had managed to get a date with Aria—the girl so beautiful that the college referred to her as the Literal School Fairy. Initially, he was confused about why she had agreed to go out with him.
He wasn't ugly by any means. Most girls even considered him attractive, especially because of his striking eyes. But he was nothing compared to the literal pretty boys in his class.
There was Jason. He had jet-brown hair with matching hazel eyes, a sharp jawline, and a shredded physique to top it off. He was a star, and girls practically melted wherever he walked.
And then there was Samuel. If Jason was a star, Samuel was the sun. He had a rare variation of albinism that gave him pink hair and pink eyes. His pale skin and soft features made him look like something out of a vampire novel—like one of those Twilight men girls fawned over. The fact that his condition made him unable to go out in the sun only added to his allure. They called him their living vampire.
And yet, Aria had rejected both of them. In fact, she had rejected every boy who had approached her.
Aria wasn't the type to indulge in boys. She was one of those types—perfect at everything. Top student in all her classes. Always carrying herself with an air of superiority. Her beautiful face was always set in a cold expression, like nothing in the world was worth her attention.
So you can imagine his confusion when Aria accepted his confession.
The boys in class had practically wanted to rip him apart when they found out.
Despite his misgivings, he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. After all, regardless of everything, he was going out with Aria. THE Aria.
The afternoon sun gently caressed his skin as he stood in front of the gate.
Looking up, Raven froze in shock.
The gate stared down at him like a divine guard looking upon a mere mortal. It was made of solid gold, glistening under the sunlight. Various carvings and engravings adorned its surface, their meanings unknown to him. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that this gate was worth more than some people's lives.
"Damn, I knew she was rich, but..." Raven muttered, his voice laced with incredulity.
He and Aria had agreed that the date would take place at her house. Well, more like she stated it as a fact, and he nodded like a little puppy. But still.
Raven pressed the buzzer.
"Good afternoon, it's Raven. I'm here for a date with—"
Before he could even finish his sentence, the gate silently opened before his eyes.
"You are permitted entry."
A deadpan voice echoed in his ears.
Not needing to be told twice, Raven stepped past the gate. And the sight before him once again left him frozen.
A massive, all-white villa towered over him, surrounded by the ocean on all sides. Guarding the estate were what looked to be highly trained agents, decked out in SWAT-like gear, all armed with various guns, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
A shiver of fear ran down his spine as he took in the overwhelming security detail.
Raven exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the ocean air brushing against him, helping to calm his nerves. "All right, man, you can do this."
Just as he was about to knock, the door opened on its own.
And there she stood.
Aria, in all her glory.
Her imperial golden hair gently flowed in the wind, revealing a smooth, beautiful heart-shaped face. Her gaze fell on him, showing off clear, emotionless, ocean blue eyes.
She wore an elegant yellow sundress that clung to her curves, doing little to hide her figure. Her large, full breasts strained against the fabric, seemingly eager to escape their confines. This was further accentuated by a waist most women would kill for and a round, perky bubble butt that jiggled slightly with every movement.
'Damn, she looks even more beautiful than usual', Raven thought.
In response to his thoughts, his little brother immediately made its presence known, forming a visible tent in his pants.
Aria's eyes flickered downward for a brief second. The only indication of her reaction was a slight raise of her eyebrow before her face returned to its usual cold expression.
Feeling Aria's gaze on him, Raven's face heated up as nerves took over.
"Uhm... you look ah... beauti—"
"Follow."
Aria's smooth, commanding voice cut through the air, silencing whatever he was about to say.
---
Inside the House
Upon entering, Raven's gaze was immediately taken by its opulence. The walls were painted in a pristine white hue. The ceiling was adorned with golden chandeliers, their shimmering crystals casting mesmerizing reflections. And the furniture? Even the smallest piece looked like it could set him up with wealth for a lifetime.
Then, something caught his eye.
Raven stopped walking, his attention drawn to a large portrait on the wall.
A man with a muscular build stood there, dressed in an all-white three-piece suit. He had a chiseled jawline, dark hair eerily similar to Raven's, but what truly sent a shiver down his spine were his eyes.
Emerald green. Cold. Lifeless.
A pit formed in Raven's stomach. Isn't this Reginald? Aria's father?
The patriarch of the Aurelius family...
Rumors about this man were terrifying. They said he led one of the most dangerous mafia families in all of America.
Some stories claimed he peeled his enemies' skin off slowly, making the process as painful as possible while reciting historical facts. Others said he bathed his victims in acid, ensuring they were alive just long enough to feel their flesh melt off their bones.
Raven's thoughts spiraled into a frenzy. Was this date even worth it anymore?
As his internal panic reached its peak, Aria's soft voice whispered in his ear.
"Relax."
Raven jumped slightly, turning to see her standing closer than he expected.
"They're just rumors," she said, her tone unreadable. "People always come up with interesting stories about how the rich make their money. And, for some reason, the darker ones seem to gain the most traction."
Her beautiful face was dangerously close to his, her blue eyes holding something… unreadable.
"Let's not focus on that now," she continued smoothly. "Come, let's eat."
Raven still wasn't fully convinced. His instincts were screaming at him to run, and for a moment, he almost did.
That was until he remembered Aria's face so close to his, the heat of her body against his own.
'Come on, man, like she said, they're just rumors. How many people can brag about going on a date with Aria? You can't waste this chance.'
Listening to his thoughts, Raven sat around the table.
The dining table was unlike anything he'd ever seen.
Piled high with an insane amount of food—shrimp, lobster, chicken, rice, mac and cheese, collard greens—some dishes he couldn't even name.
"HOLY CRAP! There's so much food here!" he blurted out, his hunger overpowering him.
Without hesitation, he began stuffing his face, marveling at the flavors. Everything was seasoned to perfection.
Then he paused.
Looking up, he saw Aria watching him, the slightest, almost imperceptible, smile on her lips.
Just as he was about to speak, she raised a hand.
"Don't worry about it," she said. "Eat as much as you like."
Then, she added with a smirk,
"This will be your last meal anyway."
'Raven let out a small, relieved sigh. Good, she doesn't think any less of me for—'
Wait.
Last meal?
His chewing slowed.
What is she talking about?
Then, his vision blurred.
The last thing he saw was Aria's cold blue eyes glinting with malicious intent.
"Shit," he muttered as his body collapsed, plates clattering to the ground.