Enrapture: The Luna's Three Guards

AKARI- Six Months

It took a while for me to gather my thoughts as I stared out the window, contemplating my next move. The maids had awakened, no doubt from all the ruckus.

The head of the maid, Greta, looked rather shocked when she saw the dead body pinned to the wall.

“You're going to need a bigger rag,” I said to the wide-eyed woman as my gaze rested on the flimsy cloth in her grasp.

She avoided my eyes and nodded.

After making sure I was properly dressed, I left the bedroom, and headed down to the living room to properly meet my new ‘guests'.

I could hear the faint sounds of their conversation as I descended the stairs and sure enough, it died down when my footsteps echoed audibly in the empty house.

It was filled with knickknacks and expensive decorations that were once beautiful to me, after all, this was the house I intended to spend the rest of my life in with Damien.

This was the place where we both decided we would start a family.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to move past the feelings that were suddenly taking over yet again.

The living room was wide, almost as big as a ballroom with a few golden sofas and black pillows that rested atop it. Filled yet empty. The marble floors were a dull cream color and they gleamed, much like everything else in the godforsaken mansion. At the far end was my favorite part of the house, the makeshift bar.

Then again I put too much effort and gold into it for the bar to be considered makeshift. It put the most expensive pubs in the empire to shame.

It had a long counter that housed five bar stools and behind were alcohol racks that were almost as high as the shelves of the Royal library.

And that surprisingly, was where I found my new guards.

Seated on the stools, each nursing a drink in hand.

Then again, I didn’t blame them. It was in plain sight much like the shame the empire had given me.

“Boys,” I drawled, taking slow and calculated steps forward as I observed the men in front of me.

Flynn looked excited, his eyes lit up the second he spotted me and he gave a deep bow with his hand to his chest. For some reason, it made my lips twitch, it felt like a mockery, or maybe it was an invitation.

Oak seemed hesitant to bow so instead settled for a curt nod, his white hair a much better sight than the marble floors and gold-plated walls.

Ugh.

I could barely believe that I’d chosen such a shiny interior design just to impress a man because he was royalty and I felt I wasn’t up to his standards.

I bit back a scoff as my eyes rested on Elias. Sure enough, he wasn’t even paying attention to my presence, in his grasp a green bottle, not even a glass.

A f*****g savage! I thought to myself. Everyone else exuded auras of nobility, he did as well but now I was beginning to doubt my great sense of perception.

My gaze rested on the green bottle again.

So he managed to locate that?

It was the expensive vodka my cousin had gifted for my engagement. I looked at the bottle with distaste.

Good riddance, I thought to myself.

I managed to keep up my sultry smile, guaranteed to get these men to drop their guards around me.

Maybe if they saw me as nothing but a horny powerless prisoner, it would be easier to sneak in the venom hidden in my night clothes, into their drinks. I had to find an opening.

“I see you found where the alcohol was being kept,” I nodded, my smile sweet and innocent as I made my way towards them. Not a hitch in my steps as I approached them.

I took the empty stool right next to Elias, despite the looks I was getting from the men.

They probably thought I was crazy.

Good.

“I see you’ve taken a liking to that bottle, there’s more where that came from if you want it,” I said to Elias, who finally spared me a glance when I mentioned more bottles of the cursed vodka.

“Sure, where?” Came his gruff reply as he turned to look at me, a stray lock of his red hair got caught in his thick lashes which were the same color and for a split second I was stuck staring into those cold and empty eyes of his.

“How about I show you the secret cellar tomorrow morning?”

Elias shrugged at the offer. He didn’t refuse but he didn’t seem too enthusiastic about it either.

“I feel like we all got off on the wrong foot,” I began with a chuckle, meeting their eyes and crossing my half-exposed thighs over each other.

“Let’s start again,” I said, “My name is Akari Quinn and I’m the Luna of midnight—” my words caught in my throat, tasting almost bitter on my tongue, “—or at least I used to be,” I said, still managing to keep on my flawless grin as I introduced myself.

“I have been locked in this mansion for a total of three weeks and I’ve had sixteen different individuals sent by the empire as my ‘guards’, which is funny because each one has either left without their limbs or without their hearts beating,”

As if on cue, three maids descended the stairs with the body of the human guard, struggling to hold up his heavy and lifeless frame as they dragged him rather noisily to the front door.

They were going to dispose of him…or send his body back to the empire for his wife, who gave a f uck?

I gave a bashful smile, looking almost embarrassed as the three men stared at me with expressions that alternated between shock, awe, and disgust.

I didn’t let it sway me.

I was a master at hiding my emotions. After all, I was raised by the strongest women in Midnight Pack.

Inhale. Exhale.

Let them think whatever they want about you.

Underestimate you but also know you are not to be trifled with!

“It’s a good thing we came when we did then,” Flynn said and let out an awkward cough, “If we came a second later, our jobs would’ve been over before it even began, right?” He said with a laugh, not looking the least bit scared but instead, interest blooming in his eyes and he didn’t hide it.

The man was a wonder.

Oak cleared his throat and stood from the bar stool. Fixing the lapels of his coat and dusting away imaginary dust from his shoulders.

“How nice of you to give us a proper…introduction,” He seemed at a loss for words that would describe my rather eccentric attempt to start over.

“I would like to call it a night and maybe tomorrow you will give us a proper tour of the mansion?” He asked with a hint of hope in his tone.

The man was s*x and sin in one body, yet he spoke so politely and held a regal presence that enthralled me. I had to be wary of this one. The fact that he seemed like the mediator made him more of a threat.

“Of course, Oak…who else would give you all a tour of your new home for the next six months?” I replied with a sickly sweet smile.

I saw their eyes widen with shock at the same time.

“Six months?!” Elias exclaimed, stepping down from the stool as well and crossing his large arms over his chest.

He met my eyes with a narrows, accusatory glare that had me lost in his depths.

“The empire said we will be here to watch you for a week, then you’ll be executed and we’ll be rid of you,” Elias explained in a dark tone, no doubt getting upset by my earlier claims. He is quick to anger, I realized.

Seeing how the other two men nodded in agreement, my lips curled up and a burst of laughter escaped me.

My laugh rang loud and clear across the living room and it only served to darken the faces of the men even more.

“Of course they would lie to you,” I said when I’d finally caught my breath, slapping my thigh at the amusement the empire had brought to my doorstep.

“I was wondering how they managed to convince men like you to do something as menial as guarding a traitor,” I voiced, enjoying the cracks in each man's expression.

“My final hearing is in six months and they need people strong enough to keep me in check before then,” I pointed out, “I don’t know what they promised you and how they convinced men like you to do such a menial job like this but one thing is certain, none of you are leaving this place in a week…you can’t!”

“What do you mean?” Oak questioned, his calm façade seemed to have cracked and so did his tone.

“The woods are spelled, Oak darling,” I giggled, “No one goes out unless they want you to, to put it simply, you have all been lied to!”

I knew I was enjoying the situation way too much.

I liked how much emotion my words stirred in them and how easily I could get them to show it on their faces.

At that moment, in my heightened sense of amusement, my secret grip on the deadly venom loosened.

“That can’t be…” Flynn said, looking down at his feet like a man who was lost.

Why exactly were they all here? How did the empire get them to do such a job?

“You can check if you think I’m lying…” I came down from my stool, begrudgingly leaving Elias’ side, “…I think I’ll call it a night as well, tomorrow,” I stood in front of them and blew out a kiss, “We’ll have the grand tour and of course the next few weeks after that…we’ll still be stuck. With. Each. Other.”

Elias growled taking a step forward like he was ready to attack but Flynn held his hand and shook his head.

I was satisfied. Despite the growing feeling of dread that threatened to throw me off, I tried to push it down, rather forcing myself to enjoy the moment.

I have them shaken. Throwing them off their firm footing would be a piece of cake now.

“Goodnight, boys,” I waved. “I’m looking forward to each moment.”

One thing was certain. The empire lied to them to get the job done but, they would still be here tomorrow, they’re just as trapped as I am. I am sure of it.

One thing is certain, if I play my cards right, there is no way I will be spending six months in this golden shithole!

Tomorrow…will be a day to look forward to.