Serena's POV
The moment sunlight began to stream through the curtains I opened my eyes. I didn't realize when I fell asleep last night, I spent a long time on the floor hyperventilating, trying to calm myself down and I must have slept off. I stood up from the floor, my back aching.
The conversation I heard last night came to me in a rush and I panicked. I grabbed hold of the door knob and turned it, surprisingly it gave way. I held my breath and stepped outside. There was no guards, the door was unlocked. I didn't wait for permission, I ran. I ran down the corridor, not sure where I was going to, unfamiliar with the dark gloomy hallways. I emerged in a large room, most mafia houses followed a similar architectural design so I recognized this room as the ballroom. Three workers in the corner caught my attention and I stopped. Two of them stood on ladders trying to fix a painting on the wall while the third one seemed to be giving instructions from above. I looked round the ballroom, the walls were decked with different portraits. I walked towards them just as the two workers descended the steps. The three of them turned and were stunned to see me but simply bowed and left quietly.
I replaced where the third worker had stood staring up at the portrait. The man in the portrait had piercing green eyes, that was the first thing that jumped at me. His hair was a dirty brown, slicked back neatly not a single hair out of place. High carved eyebrows, acquiline shaped nose and full set of lips. He was handsome in a way that was almost beautiful because of the serene aura he exuded. I recognized him or at least I thought I did from the brief meeting we had once.
Lorenzo Valeri.
Seeing him in this portrait, I was reminded how different he looked from Damian. While Lorenzo had an aura of warm elegance with a hint of darkness probably lurking somewhere behind his eyes, Damian was cold, dark and you could see the monster in him. Brothers but so different and I was married to the monster.
"That's an interesting choice of morning outfit", a voice said suddenly behind me, startling me.
I turned around and Damian stood there, his eyes trained on the portrait as well, a complicated emotion flashed in his eyes but I couldn't decipher it. I ignored him and continued staring at the portrait.
"Is there a reason you're walking around in just your night robe this early in the morning?", he asked, a hint of amusement in tone. I didn't reply.
"You were talking about me", I said instead, voice sharp.
"I talk about a lot of people all the time", he replied coolly. "You'll have to be more specific"
"You said I should be distracted. That you'd 'move when it's time'. What am I? A decoy? Property? A-"
"- Bride", he interrupted, calm.
"A Rossi bride. A symbol of peace and a good one, judging by how loud you're being", he smirked and it ticked me off.
"Don't you dare reduce me to a symbol", I snapped.
"You think I'm naive? That I don't know how this works?"
He stepped closer.
"No, I think you're clever. Maybe a bit too clever for your own good seeing how your family eagerly delivered you here in a box with a ribbon"
"Oh? Now you're blaming my family? They're the ones solely responsible for where we are now? You think this is some noble rescue? By you?", I snorted.
"Do you think you're your brother? That you're capable of such nobility?", I ranted.
He tilted his head, his face darkened.
"I think you don't know half of what's going on. You didn't know Lorenzo"
"Neither did you", I spat.
His jaw twitched.
"He was my brother"
"And I was supposed to marry him, so tell me why am I married to you?"
He didn't answer. Just took a slow sip and turned his back to me.
Coward.
The silence crackled between us. I wanted to throw something, to scream, to make him feel the burning rage I was feeling inside.
"I want answers", I demanded.
He didn't look at me, just muttered,
"You want answers? Start asking the right questions. Like why Lorenzo was so eager to marry a Rossi... and why he never made it to the altar in the end"
My breath caught.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying,", he said, his voice lowering
"you didn't know Lorenzo, you don't know anything. And if you think I'm your enemy Serena, you haven't met the real ones yet"
He walked away like the conversation meant nothing but it meant everything.
___
Later I met Olivia.
When I walked back into my room she was already there, dusting down the shelves. A maid no older than me, with gentle and warm eyes. She smiled when she saw me and for the first time since arriving, I didn't feel like I was being watched or studied.
"I made you tea", she said softly nodding at the bedside table.
I followed her eyes and saw the tray on there, I was grateful for it.
"I'm Olivia", she introduced herself.
"Serena", I replied.
"Should I draw you a bath? You look like you haven't had a bath this morning", she offered.
"Yes please, thank you", I answered.
We talked, lightly while she helped me take a bath. She said she was assigned to me by Madame Dorathy, she would take over most of the duties concerning me. She offered to bring me something other than black to wear. I told her I'd like that.
"I haven't seen much of the estate yet", I told her.
"Would you show me sometime?", I asked her.
"Sure", she agreed.
"Of course I'd still explore on my own, I like taking walks especially in the evening", I told her.
She nodded, then added with a slight frown.
"You should be careful wandering around at night"
"Why?"
"This house...", she hesitated. "It remembers"
I didn't ask what that meant. And with everything I had learnt today, I wasn't sure I wanted to know.