Despite It All

Chapter 3

Three months had passed since I had been taken to America. Viper was out on a business trip, and I had finished all my chores for the day. As I sat wondering what to do, I felt a pang of overwhelming loneliness. For the first time in a while, I missed my brother, my home. 

I just needed something to fill the gap that tore itself into my heart. Remembering the stuffed animals I was told about months prior, I walked to Viper's room and opened the door for the first time.

I walked in and looked around. The room was grand, a large bed with black bedding in the middle of the back wall, blackout curtains covering the one window. A dark wooden desk was propped against the right wall. On the left was another door, which I guessed was a bathroom.

In the corner of the left wall was a weathered brown chest. A key rested on top of it. My mind wandered back to one of my first days in this house, knowing that this was what I was looking for.

I crouched down to unlock the chest. Countless little plush toys bounced up with the loss of pressure from the now-open lid. I grabbed a teddy bear and laid on the large black bed. I held the plush close to my chest and cried for a while.

Viper wasn't supposed to be home for another three days, so I was confident that I had the room to myself. However, after only twenty minutes, the bed dipped beside me. Hot breath warmed the side of my face.

"Hello, Violetta. Time to pay for being in my room," his deep voice sounded in my ear. I wiped my tears off and turned around.

I had no time to process what was going on before Viper's lips connected with mine. His hands landed on my waist and pulled me closer. Our chests were flush against each other. His lips were rough but smooth at the same time. Fireworks and sirens went off in my head. He was slow to pull away.

"You weren't supposed to be on my bed, but I'll give you a pass." He sighed and looked around his room before turning back to me. "The pure white of your room must be exhausting. Maybe we can paint it and get new sheets at some point."

"Are you being serious?" The shock in my voice suprised me, and it seemed to surprise Viper as well, as his expression shifted for only a moment.

"Completely. Your current room is one of the only plain ones in the house. Most are actually quite similar to mine. I only gave you that room because of who you're related to."

I nodded even though I knew I wasn't supposed to, and he kissed me again. I didn't fight it, no matter how much my head screamed at me. I kissed back, passion flowing through the two of us. Viper pulled away again, but he continued to hold me close to him. "We can't have Ludmila knowing, alright? She won't be very happy with me." I nodded, but his eyes narrowed.

I squeaked out a quiet "yes," which made Viper hum in approval

"Now, go back up to your room. You can keep the bear with you if you'd like."

"Yes, Sir, thank you." I walked away as fast as I possibly could. When I got back up to my room, I pulled out my almost-full journal.

July 16, 20XX

Today, Viper came back and caught me in his room. I was holding a teddy bear and crying. When he told me to pay for entering his room, he kissed me without giving me a second to breathe. We kissed twice, fireworks went off in my stomach, and I loved it. I don't know what's gonna happen now. I've heard about myself on the radio a few times, and that Federico is coming after me, but I don't know if I really want him to anymore.

I laid on my bed and held the bear to my chest. Do I really want Federico to come for me, or do I want to stay hidden in this house with the– his enemy?

A knock on the door sounded a few minutes later. "Are all your chores done, maid?" Ludmila asked from the corridor

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm all done for the day."

An unintelligible voice came from downstairs. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be leaving soon. Don't worry, brother." She walked away from the door.

The door downstairs opened and slammed shut. Viper knocked on the door. "Violetta, may I come in?"

"Yes." The door opened a moment later. He walked over to me and kissed me.

"I'm sending a maid out to the store to buy some things. What colour would you like your room and sheets to be?"

"Blue," I whispered. "My room back home was blue with fairy lights."

Viper nodded and yelled to one of the other maids. Then, the front door opened and closed again. "I want you to be more comfortable here. I just have to hide it from Lu. You can't act like this happens in front of her, okay? Act like you still hate me. She'll kill me if she finds out."

"I understand." Viper smiled at my response.

"She'll be out for a while. A few months, I think. She's going to Australia to try and figure out an alliance. We may be a global superpower, but we need some help with your brother." He spat out the word brother like poison.

I nodded. He held me in his arms and kissed me softly. "Thank you for doing all your chores today. I'm gonna give you a little break. Three months must be tiring." I nodded again.

"My birthday is tomorrow. I'm turning eighteen." Viper nodded.

"I'll be sure to do something special for it." A loud ringing came from his back pocket. "Sorry. I'll be right back." He walked off, leaving me in the doorway of my room.

A crash from downstairs jolted me out of a haze I didn't know I was in. I looked downstairs, too timid to walk. Viper stood there with pots scattered around his feet, a large hole in the wall next to him.

"Sir?" A maid asked, reaching toward him.

"Shut up!" He screamed. I ran down the stairs, the floor like hot coals on my bare feet. His expression calmed when I came into his view.

"What happened?" I whispered when I reached him, placing my hand on his cheek.

"My aunt died a while back and no one cared to tell me until now. The funeral is tomorrow." I couldn't tell what he was feeling in that moment; he gave nothing away. I kissed his cheek. "Go. I don't want you to see me like this." He stormed into his room and slammed the door behind him.

Stares of shock were all around the room. One girl, maybe two years older than me, stepped forward and touched my arm. "How did you do that? The master never lets us get close to him." I shrugged.

"I'm not sure, but I'll tell you when I find out." I laughed a little and walked back up to my room.