Chapter 6: Shadows of the Past
The sound of footsteps echoed down the narrow hallway, each step growing closer, closer, until Ava felt as though the air itself was closing in on her. Her pulse quickened, the heavy thud of her heart drowning out all other noise. Panic tightened its grip around her chest, threatening to suffocate her.
Dominic moved faster than she thought possible, crossing the chamber in two strides to reach her side. His hand gripped her arm with surprising force, pulling her toward a darkened corner of the room. The flickering light from the stone lanterns cast fleeting shadows against the cold stone walls, their dance frantic and erratic, much like the thoughts swirling in Ava's mind.
"What's happening? Who are they?" she whispered, her voice trembling. The overwhelming rush of fear made it almost impossible to think straight. She could see the panic in Dominic's eyes, something she had never expected to witness. But what did it mean? Who were these people he was so afraid of?
"They're the ones who took her from me," Dominic said, his voice low and strained. "They're the ones who think they own me. They think they control me."
Ava's breath caught in her throat. She had heard enough to know that Dominic was no ordinary man. But hearing him speak of someone taking him—controlling him—felt like a dagger twisting in her chest. Was there something deeper at play here than just the secrets of his first wife?
"Who are they, Dominic?" she repeated, desperate for an answer.
He hesitated, his hand still gripping her tightly. Then, as if the weight of the truth finally cracked his stoic facade, he whispered, "The Valemortis."
Ava's body went cold. She had seen that name—etched into the mask, written in those ledgers. She had felt it linger in the air like a dark omen, but now, standing face-to-face with Dominic's sudden confession, the reality hit her harder than a punch to the gut.
Valemortis. The name that had haunted his past. The legacy that had led to her first wife's tragic end.
"Are you telling me they're still alive? That they're still... controlling you?" Ava asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dominic's jaw clenched. "They never left, Ava. And they won't stop until I'm either with them... or dead."
Ava's mind spun. What had she gotten herself into? The man she thought she was beginning to understand was tangled in something so much darker and more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. The Valemortis weren't just a name; they were a shadow stretching over everything Dominic had built.
Dominic glanced toward the door. His posture stiffened, his gaze narrowing as though calculating every move.
Ava swallowed hard. "What are we going to do?" she asked, her voice shaky, but resolute.
"We run," Dominic said simply. "Now."
Before Ava could process his words, he was pulling her toward the back of the chamber, his grip strong and determined.
Her feet struggled to keep pace, but she followed, heart racing with fear and confusion. The hallways felt like a labyrinth now, the walls pressing closer, the weight of their secret trailing behind them like a shadow. Every creak of the floorboards, every whisper of the wind outside felt amplified. They were no longer alone.
As they reached the narrow corridor leading to the estate's outer courtyard, Ava's mind whirled. She didn't know who these people were or why Dominic's past had come back to haunt them, but she knew one thing: there was no turning back now. She had crossed a threshold into a world that was dangerous, hidden, and full of secrets—secrets that had already cost someone their life.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps reverberated through the corridor. A familiar voice, low and mocking, broke through the silence.
"I wouldn't go that way if I were you," the voice said. It was cold, dripping with malice.
Ava's heart sank as she turned toward the voice, seeing a tall figure step out from the shadows, his silhouette framed by the dim light of the chamber.
"Sebastian," Dominic muttered, his expression darkening.
Ava didn't need any further explanation to understand that this man was no ally. The look in Dominic's eyes—the tension, the anger, the fear—spoke volumes. Whoever Sebastian was, he was someone from Dominic's past, someone who held power over him.
"Did you really think you could escape us?" Sebastian asked, his voice laced with amusement. He stepped forward, his long coat flowing behind him, and his eyes locked onto Ava with an unsettling intensity. "The Valemortis don't let go so easily, Dominic. You know that."
Ava's stomach twisted. The Valemortis. The very name she had heard only moments ago seemed to haunt her, stalking her through the very walls of this estate. It was all becoming too real, too fast.
"Stay out of this, Sebastian," Dominic warned, his voice cold but tinged with something darker. "This is between me and you."
Sebastian chuckled, his grin wicked. "You think I care about that? The only thing that matters is the mask, Dominic. The one your first wife tried to take from us. The one you were foolish enough to hide."
Ava's pulse quickened. The mask. It wasn't just an artifact—it was something much bigger. Something that had power. Something they were willing to kill for.
Dominic stepped in front of Ava, his posture protective. "You won't touch her," he said, his voice low, dangerous. "I'll kill you first."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence, and for a moment, it felt as though time itself stood still. Ava's mind raced. She had never seen Dominic like this—ferocious, untamed, and absolutely determined to protect her.
Sebastian's grin faltered, just for a moment, before it returned with even more cruelty. "We'll see about that," he said, his tone dripping with venom. "The Valemortis always get what they want."
Before Ava could react, Dominic grabbed her arm and yanked her towards the back exit. They didn't have time for a confrontation. They had to escape, to disappear before the Valemortis found them.
As they sprinted through the halls, the sound of footsteps behind them grew louder, closer, more threatening. Every instinct in Ava's body screamed at her to keep running, but her mind was clouded with questions. What was the mask? Why was it so important? And how had they gone from a simple marriage to running for their lives?
But before she could voice another question, the front door of the manor crashed open. A group of men, dressed in dark suits, poured into the room like a flood, their eyes scanning every inch of the hallway.
Ava froze.
Dominic cursed under his breath. "This is bad," he muttered.
Ava's breath caught in her throat as the men moved toward them.
"We've found you, Dominic," one of them said, his voice gruff. "And this time, you won't escape."
Ava's heart hammered in her chest as she realized the stakes were higher than ever before.