Part 9: The Hall of Shadows
Hunger clawed at her stomach like sharp teeth. Her pride screamed to resist, but every muscle in her body was screaming louder: eat, survive, just survive.
With trembling hands, Bhuvanya slipped into the dress the maid had brought. The fabric was soft, alien against her bruised skin, but it would have to do. Every second she delayed, her body weakened further, and she knew Aarush would notice her faltering strength.
She stepped into the hall. The chandeliers cast pale light on the marble floor, reflecting the sharp angles of the ornate furniture. Shadows clung to every corner, curling and twisting like living things.
She noticed—immediately—that she was the only woman in the room. The maids were quietly moving in the background, heads bowed, almost invisible, carrying trays and sweeping dust. Every other presence—male, tall, broad-shouldered—moved with a silent dominance, their eyes sharp and calculating.
Her pulse quickened. Fear and defiance collided in her chest. She felt… out of place. Exposed. Small.
And then Aarush appeared at the far end of the hall, leaning casually against a column, arms crossed. His gaze swept over her like a predator inspecting prey. The smirk was there, always there, but tonight it carried something new—a quiet hunger, patient and dangerous.
"Looks… better than yesterday," he said softly, though every word dripped with control. "Hunger suits you."
Bhuvanya's jaw tightened. She refused to respond.
He pushed off from the column, stepping closer, and the room seemed to shrink around her. She realized something she hadn't considered before: every step, every shadow, every male presence in this mansion reminded her of how truly alone she was in this war she hadn't chosen.
And yet… a spark flickered.
She would survive. She would find a way.
Even if the mansion itself seemed to conspire against her.