Forbidden Knots (Shadow Duet #1)

12. TWELVE

TWELVE

Storm

T ristan was downstairs, comfortable on the couch, while Sophie and I were in his bedroom. Despite his absence, I could still feel his presence, as if his eyes were on me. I was shaken, but not blind. I knew he was sending mixed signals, and I knew he was forbidden for me.

I would never hurt Sophie like that.

Sophie, wearing her pink pajama set with a little kitten drawn on the front and her hair still in a messy bun, looked at me with a knowing smile. I had changed into her blue satin pajama set, feeling the smooth fabric against my skin. We had planned to sleep in Tristan's room together, but her 'new boyfriend' wanted a late-night chat, so she tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

When she left, I stood up and turned the key, locking myself in. I needed the security, the isolation. I lay down, covering myself with the blanket. When my head hit the pillow, I felt peace over me. I felt safe enough to sleep for the first time since I arrived in La Maddalena. My eyes closed, and I drifted off almost instantly.

I woke up with a sudden pressure on me, and before I could scream, his hand clamped over my lips, silencing me. This was the first time he had ever been this close to me, and even though my heart pounded with a mix of fear and a twisted longing for his closeness, my body was screaming to escape. His face was buried in my neck, and he whispered, "You are MINE , Storm."

My body was paralyzed, unable to move under his weight. I tilted my head and realized my hands were bound to the bed. The knots around my wrists were so tight that I had lost all feeling in them. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I struggled in vain. My legs were pinned under his body, making any movement impossible.

I mumbled against his hand, but he just replied, "Shhh, be quiet."

His scent was familiar and intoxicating, and it held me paralyzed. I thought he was finally here to kill me, to end my misery, but then he lifted his head, looking at me with eyes the deepest shade of green. His face was half-covered in a black and white skull jaw mask, but I could see his dark brown hair this time.

I couldn't see his full face, but I could feel the smirk under his mask as he watched me. He started to unbutton my satin blouse, exposing my bare chest. A part of me wanted him to see, but another part was in pain from the liberty he had taken from me. When I thought he might get off me, he reached for his black backpack and pulled out a Polaroid camera . The flash went off, capturing my exposed, tear-streaked face.

He took another photo, and then his face was back in front of me, his eyes darker from the flashes. He whispered, "Say a word and I will kill you."

Slowly, he removed his hand from my mouth. Instead of a scream, a desperate gasp escaped my lips. He wiped my tears with his fingers, then traced his palm down my chest. I shook my head and gasped as he took my breast in his hand.

"You like it, don't you?" he whispered. "I won't stop until you ask for me."

Tears continued to fall. It wasn't my body rejecting him; it was my soul screaming for help. My body wanted him, but my soul wanted to escape, to leave me to deal with the consequences of my physical craving.

His hand slid under my pants, and he slowly entered me with his fingers. My body shivered, my legs instinctively trying to close, but he parted them with his knees, exploring me deeply. Just as my eyes shut and I was ready to accept whatever this was, a loud bang hit the door. His fingers were suddenly in my mouth, pressing down on my tongue. I could taste myself on his fingers as he pulled my jaw down.

"Say something and you are dead," he whispered.

Sophie was behind the door, whispering, "Thalia, are you awake?"

Then another knock, "Thalia."

"I guess she is asleep," a male voice said. "Let's go to your room, babe."

The face of the Shadow turned red with anger, something I recognized immediately. He tilted his head towards the door, but as he heard the footsteps leaving, he began to untie my hands. Once freed, my hands instinctively reached for his mask, wanting to pull it down and see his face. But he caught my wrists, holding them tight.

"You won't like what's under that mask," he said.

Instead of ripping it off, I pulled my hands back to my blouse, buttoning the rest.

"Close your eyes," he whispered as he laid me down.

"No," I whispered back. "I won't let you continue."

"Do it," he commanded.

"I said NO!" My voice was a bit louder, more defiant.

He pressed his palm over my eyes and then kissed me, thrusting his tongue inside my mouth, tangling it with mine in a forbidden knot. He pulled me closer, his hand sliding from my eyes to my jaw, but my eyes remained closed. His body pressed against mine, and my hands rested on his neck as we kissed deeply. For a moment, I forgot he was a dangerous man.

But then his hand was back over my eyes. Our lips parted, and within seconds he let go of me, all the weight lifting as he pulled away. My legs were still bound to the bed.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked as I began untying the knots around my legs.

"Because I want to," he said, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

I rolled my eyes, freeing one of my legs. "You could've said 'hi' on the street and gotten to know me like a normal person."

He chuckled. "You and I both know I'm not a normal person."

"Even crazy people have a reason for their actions," I said as I finally freed my second leg and stood up to face him.

"WHY?" I leaned in, pushing his chest with my finger as he stepped back. "Are you so dark that you became the shadow itself?" I continued, "Or are you afraid of the dark like everyone else?"

He grabbed my jaw aggressively, squeezing until my lips puckered. "I am the dark."

I pushed his hand away. "You are nothing, just a guy who is afraid to show his face!"

He stepped closer, towering over me, his breath quick and his eyes filled with rage. I thought I was done for that moment, but he grabbed my hand, twisted it behind my back, and spun me around until my back hit the wall.

Leaning in close to my ear, he whispered, "I will break you so badly you won't remember your name."

"I'd like to see you try," I shot back, my tongue moving faster than my brain. That reckless challenge seemed to ignite something in him, a twisted game he was all too ready to play.

He chuckled darkly. "You are in control, Storm. After all, I am just part of your imagination," he said, and as I blinked, he melted back into the shadows, disappearing as if he were a figment of my mind.

I stared into the darkness, panic growing inside me. Finally, I let out a loud scream and ran to the door, unlocking it and rushing to Sophie's bedroom.

I knocked frantically, shouting with all my strength, but there was no response. Then, behind me, Tristan's voice whispered, "What's wrong?"

I gasped, air leaving my lungs as I collapsed into his arms. Tears soaked his shoulder as I barely managed to speak, "He was here. He found me."

"But no one was here," Tristan whispered. "Just us."

"No," I insisted. "He was there. I saw him. He..." I turned back to the bedroom, but there were no ropes, no Polaroid photos, no scent of him—just Tristan and me, and my frantic mind.

"But he..." I said, my voice faltering.

Tristan came closer, wrapping his arms around me. "It was a bad dream, that's all," he said soothingly.

No one would ever believe me. No one would ever know what happened tonight, and no one would ever know he truly existed. This time, the Shadow had won. Maybe it was all just a twisted game of roulette in my mind, making me question my reality, my sanity.

Am I or am I not? Is it a dream or is it all just someone's sick game, making me lose my mind?

I clung to Tristan, feeling the warmth of his embrace but unable to shake the cold grip of fear and doubt that had taken hold of me. He held me tightly, his presence grounding me as I tried to steady my breathing.

"Thalia," he whispered, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes. "You're safe now. No one is going to hurt you."

I nodded, though the fear still lingered. "I don't know what's real anymore," I admitted, my voice trembling. "It felt so real."

"Dreams can be like that," he said gently. "But you're here with me now, and I won't let anything happen to you."