The silence in the carriage was suffocating. Cold tension circled around a certain someone like a storm cloud, and Artemis felt as though one wrong move might get her head ripped off.
She snuck a glance at Alexander. His eyes were closed, head resting back against the velvet cushion of the carriage seat. She swallowed and turned to the window, watching the blur of trees rush by.
"Where are we going?" she finally asked.
"You didn't even thank me for saving you from that she-devil," Alexander said, smiling as he opened his eyes to look at her.
What's going on with this man? How can his mood change so suddenly? she blinked, startled.
"Thank you for saving me, Master," she said, cheeks flushing.
Alexander leaned forward, a grin tugging at his lips. "Do you think I'll be satisfied with words alone?"
She shuddered. "Wh-What else do you want?"
He noticed how, unlike the day he purchased her, she was beginning to talk to him informally—bold enough to even lock him out of the bathroom when he'd teased the idea of bathing together. And now, despite the blush on her cheeks, she was glaring at him. He smirked.
"You'll feed me later," he said casually, leaning back.
She froze, her face draining of color.
He chuckled and turned to the window. "Falcon, stop here."
The carriage slowed to a halt. The coachman looked around, alarmed—they were deep in the forest.
"B-But, young master—"
Alexander stepped out before he could finish.
Artemis stiffened. This didn't feel right. She looked at Falcon for some kind of help, but he averted his eyes, sympathy etched on his face.
"Get down," Alexander ordered.
She flinched but obeyed, stepping down slowly.
"Don't wait. Return to the mansion."
"But, young master—"
"Don't make me repeat myself," Alexander's red eyes darkened.
Falcon swallowed and nodded. "Yes, young master." He turned the carriage around and disappeared into the trees.
Artemis stood frozen, her heart pounding so hard it rang in her ears.
Run, her instincts screamed.
"Don't even think about it," Alexander said smoothly. "I'll catch you, and you don't want to know what I'll do when I do."
She nearly peed herself.
"Wh-What are we doing here, Ma-Master?" she stammered.
He didn't answer, simply extended his hand. She hesitated, then placed her trembling hand in his.
"I'd like to ask you a few questions, little bunny," his voice was quiet, serious.
"Yes, Master," she whispered.
"How did you end up at the slave establishment?"
Artemis exhaled shakily. There was no point lying. But… what if he didn't believe her?
"I don't know," she replied.
Alexander didn't look surprised. Based on where he had found her that night, it almost made sense.
"What's the last thing you remember?" he pressed, leading her deeper into the forest.
"I… I was being chased. Some men were after me. I slipped and fell off a cliff… during a thunderstorm." The memories lodged in her throat like stone. The only person who'd made her miss home was gone. Even if she returned, there was nothing left for her.
Alexander glanced at her, catching her faraway expression. There was more to Artemis than met the eye.
He halted, catching a flicker of blue in the corner of his eye.
A lake.
Artemis's eyes widened as they approached it. The water shimmered like glass under the filtered light. She stepped forward, drawn by its beauty, unaware that Alexander had let go of her hand.
She crouched near the surface, staring at her reflection. Something about the water… felt strange. Wrong.
She stood quickly, stepping back—only to crash into Alexander's chest.
"What's wrong?" he asked, tilting his head.
"No-nothing…"
"The lake is pretty, isn't it?" he smiled.
That smile made her stomach twist. She forced a small nod.
Then his smile vanished. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you—" she couldn't finish.
He shoved her into the water.
Time slowed. She saw his cold, expressionless face just before she hit the surface.
Why? was the only thought in her mind as darkness swallowed her. She couldn't swim.
She didn't even try to.
Memories flashed in her mind. Just like before, she wasn't afraid of dying.
Alexander stared at the rippling water. She wasn't coming up.
A strange sensation hit him. His chest tightened. His heart—
She's going to die.
The thought roared in his ears. Panic—raw and unfamiliar—gripped him.
Then he dove in.
The water burned his skin like acid, but he didn't stop. He saw her sinking—limp, eyes blank.
No.
He reached her, grabbing her hand and pulling her close. She stared back at him, her gaze distant, lost.
Then his red eyes flickered.
He leaned in and kissed her.
Her eyes widened. Even underwater, her cheeks flushed pink. She squirmed in surprise—then caught a glimpse of something in his eyes that terrified her to her core.
Before everything faded to black.
---
It was dark. Too dark.
Artemis saw herself—young, small—sitting alone in front of the orphanage gates, watching people pass.
Her child-self looked up, directly at her.
Artemis flinched.
The girl's lips moved, but no sound came. Artemis stepped forward to listen, but something yanked her back—a hand on her shoulder.
---
She gasped awake, panting. Her dress clung to her body, soaked. Her hair was plastered to her face. She sat up, disoriented.
"Welcome back," a voice said.
She turned sharply—and froze.
Alexander sat nearby, staring at the lake. Steam rose from his skin—dangerous, thick, unnatural.
Is that… normal?
Her eyes scanned his body, then flicked to his lips. She gasped and touched hers.
"You… you tried to kill me," she said, her heart racing.
"Yes, I did," he replied coolly. "But you're alive, aren't you, little bunny?"
He stood with a smug smile, then turned away—expression darkening.
That lake… it wasn't ordinary. He'd thought it might reveal something. Instead, she'd nearly drowned.
Maybe he was wrong. Maybe she wasn't what he thought.
But there was still something about her—something that didn't sit right. And for the first time, Alexander had felt it.
Dread.
Why had he saved her?
He didn't know.
He looked back. She stood wringing her hair out, muttering curses—probably about him.
He smiled faintly.
I shouldn't have pushed her.
He approached. She stepped back, cautious. Understandable.
"Come here," he said.
She didn't move.
He frowned and closed the distance himself, then reached out and gently cupped her cheek.
She blushed. "Master…"
He leaned in—
—and flicked a spot on her neck.
She slumped forward. He caught her before she hit the ground.
Holding her in his arms, he stared at her face for a moment, then turned toward the forest path and walked away.