Aurora had enough. As the man leaned in to kiss her, she saw her chance. With a burst of strength, she kneed him between the legs. He gasped in pain and fell to the side. Taking advantage, Aurora rolled off the bed and onto the cold floor. She didn't care about covering herself; she felt stripped of her dignity.
Her bare feet slapped the floor as she ran out of the room, ignoring the laughter behind her. The hallway was a blur, and she gasped for breath, searching for a way out. The mansion was a confusing maze, and she felt lost and scared.
Damian watched her escape with a blank look. He was surprised by her courage; he had expected her to be afraid, but she fought back. This could make her either valuable or a problem.
Aurora raced down the hall, her heart pounding. She didn't look back; she feared the guards would chase her. She looked for the room she shared with Luna. When she finally got there, she collapsed on the bed, shaking. She pulled the covers over her head to block out the sounds of the party, feeling overwhelmed. Tears filled her eyes as she cried into the pillow.
Luna quickly sat beside her, her own eyes red from crying. She hugged Aurora tight. "It's okay," she whispered. "You did well. You didn't break."
Aurora held onto Luna, shaking as the night's events flooded back. Luna's warm hug felt comforting against the cold reality she faced. For a moment, she let herself believe she could find solace here.
"Thank you," Aurora said through her tears. "I don't know what I would have done without you."
Luna squeezed her tighter. "You're strong," she said. "Stronger than you think."
Just then, the door swung open, and Damian entered, looking serious. The room felt colder, and Aurora pulled away from Luna, fear in her eyes. He closed the door with a loud bang.
Crouching down to talk to Luna, he said to Aurora, "You have done a lot to keep Luna safe." He glanced at Luna. "And I will keep my word."
He left the room, leaving Aurora gasping. She looked at Luna, who smiled weakly. "See?" she whispered.
But the moment ended when Miss Catherine stormed in, angry. "What have you done?" she shouted, looking at the messy bed and Aurora's state. "You've embarrassed us all!"
Aurora felt scared, realizing she had insulted Damian in front of his guests, which could lead to serious consequences. Miss Catherine's voice cut through the air. "You will know your place!" she yelled, grabbing Aurora's arm tightly. "You're a whore now, and you will act like one!"
Aurora felt the pain of the grip but didn't fight back. Instead, she looked at Miss Catherine defiantly. "Let go of me," she said, sounding steadier than she felt.
Miss Catherine narrowed her eyes. "You think you're special?" she hissed. "You think you can do whatever you want?" She pulled Aurora to her feet, her nails digging in. "You're no better than the rest of us!"
Aurora winced but stayed silent. She focused on the pain and used it to fuel her anger. Luna watched, feeling both scared and proud of Aurora.
Suddenly, Luna stood up, gaining strength from the situation. "Leave her alone," she told Miss Catherine, her voice shaky but strong. The room fell silent, filled with tension.
Miss Catherine looked surprised, then angry. "You dare defy me?" she said.
"Yes," Luna replied firmly. "I dare. Leave her alone."