Sophia's body collided with a solid chest.
She gasped, stumbling back as she looked up, and froze.
It wasn't Kane.
"Who are you?" she asked. Then she saw it the slight resemblance. The same sharp jaw, the same cold eyes, just… wrong. Maybe his brother, she guessed.
"I'm Kane's brother," he said. "Your soon-to-be husband's brother."
He looked her over, slow, assessing. "Why are you running away? Let me guess. You saw the devil he is and decided to run?"
Kario wouldn't deny it. She was beautiful. Of course his brother got the good things. Kane always did. Kario got the scraps.
"Are you running away?" he asked.
"Emmm... no, I'm not," she stammered. "The name… it's Sophia."
"Mine's Kario." And he promised himself: I'll make her mine. Just wait, Kane.
"I can help you," Kario said. "Protect your mother. I'll send her for treatment. You can see her on weekends same as your deal with Kane."
She searched his face for a lie. "What do you want in return?"
"You're smart," he smirked. "Guess that's why Kane picked you. I want help to escape from Katherine."
She didn't move, suspicious.
"Don't worry, I won't harm you," he said. "My brother has a secret camera here."
She stepped closer despite herself. He leaned in, whispered in her ear.
She gasped. "But he's your brother."
"Yeah. He's my brother." Kario's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Are you in or out? You don't have all day. I need your answer after the wedding."
He left.
Her escape plan was ruined. If Kane really had cameras, then he saw her sneaking out. He'd punish her for disobeying. She didn't want to see the monster again.
When Sonia came to call her, she feigned sleep. Sonia left, then came back, tapping her shoulder.
"Sorry for disturbing your sleep, Soph. Master Kane sent for you."
Sonia took her to his room and left.
Kane sat on the sofa, legs crossed, staring at her. The room was silent except for the tick of his watch.
"Come here," he said.
"No," she said, trying to be brave for once. Her voice shook anyway.
"I said come here, Sophia. Don't make me repeat myself."
She was adamant. "No. I'm not."
He stood, angry, and crossed to her in two strides. His hand closed around her neck, choking.
"You dare disobey me? Because I've been nice to you?"
_Nice._ Sophia scoffed in her head. _Nice by making me commit murder? By traumatizing me? By using my mother like a leash?_
She felt herself fading. Black spots danced in her vision. Then he released her. She collapsed, coughing for air, palms flat on the rug.
"What was Kario doing in your room?" he asked. His voice was calm. That was worse.
How did he know? So he really did have cameras.
"Nothing," she rasped.
"Don't you dare lie to me. I'll ask again. What was Kario doing in your room?"
"He came to check if I was okay. Nothing much."
He scoffed. "Do you think I'm a fool? You need to learn your lesson. Then you'll tell me."
He picked her up and threw her on the bed, unbuckling his belt.
She cried, saying she'd talk. "He told me he'd protect my mother. Protect me from harm." Half the truth. The safer half.
"Too late," Kane said.
He didn't. Not like that.
Instead, Kane grabbed her arm tightly and dragged her out of the room. The marble was cold under her bare feet.
"Where are you taking me?" Sophia cried, trying to pull free. Her nails scraped his wrist. He didn't flinch.
He didn't answer.
They stopped in front of a metal door at the end of the east wing. She'd never seen it before. No handle on her side. Something about it was wrong.
Cold.
Final.
A tomb.
Kane opened it. Icy air slammed into her lungs.
Sophia stiffened. "No… please…" she whispered, shaking her head. Her whole body knew what this was.
He didn't hesitate. He shoved her inside.
She stumbled. The cold wrapped around her like hands, like chains, like him.
"Kane, please l!" she lunged for the door.
It slammed. Locked. The sound echoed.
"This is your punishment," his voice came through the steel. Muffled. Indifferent.
"No! Please open it! I'm sorry!" she screamed, pounding the metal until her palms burned. "I'll tell you everything! Please!"
Silence.
The cold got in fast. Too fast. It bit her ankles, climbed her calves, sank teeth into her ribs. Her hands trembled. Teeth chattered. She hugged herself, dress too thin, too useless, but it wasn't enough.
"I'm so cold…" she whispered. Her breath came out in white puffs that died instantly.
Her legs gave out. She sank to the floor. The concrete leeched the last of her warmth. Tears froze on her cheeks.
"How stupid…" she muttered. The sound was small in the huge, empty room. "Tomorrow is my wedding… and today I'm freezing to death…"
A broken laugh slipped out. It sounded insane, even to her. Then it cracked into sobs.
Her vision blurred. Body went numb. First her fingers, then her toes, then her face. The shivering slowed. That was worse.
Kario's voice echoed, clear as if he were in the room with her: I can help you. I'll protect your mother.
Her fingers curled weakly against the floor. No strength. No feeling.
"I hate him…" she whispered, her voice barely there. Fragile. Broken.
"Maybe…" she continued faintly. Her lips were too stiff to move right. "Maybe that's my only way out…"
Her eyes closed.
Everything went dark.