𝓯𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 28𝓽𝓱, 𝓙𝓾𝓵𝓮𝓼 "Get out" Nico stated before walking over to me, Alexander looked apologetic in some way while Cassian had a grin plastered across his face. They left quickly. I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat betraying the fear that coursed through me like a wildfire. "What do you think you are doing, baby?" Nico's voice cut through the silence like a blade, his tone cold and unforgiving. His eyes bore into mine with an unrelenting intensity, daring me to defy him.

Before I could muster a response, he stepped away from the bookshelf he had been leaning against, his movements deliberate and controlled. With a single, swift motion, he crossed the room and stood before me, his presence overwhelming in its proximity. I felt a surge of panic rise within me, the weight of his anger bearing down on me like a suffocating blanket.

His hand shot out, wrapping around my throat with a grip that left me gasping for air. The pressure of his fingers against my skin was like a vice, cutting off my breath and leaving me struggling for air.

"You dare to defy us?"he hissed, his voice low and menacing. His grip tightened, his fingers digging into my flesh with a punishing force. I could feel the blood pounding in my ears, my heart racing in my chest as panic threatened to consume me.

I shook my head frantically, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps as I struggled to form coherent words. "I-I didn't mean to..." I managed to stammer out, but my words fell on deaf ears as Nico's grip tightened even further.

"Enough!" he growled, his eyes blazing with fury as he leaned in closer, his face inches from mine. "You will learn to obey, or there will be consequences. Do you understand?"

I nodded frantically. Nico's words hung in the air like a death sentence, leaving me trembling in terror.

With a final, menacing glare, Nico released his hold on me, allowing me to gasp for air as I collapsed back against the softness of the bed.i looked around the room, a red blinking caught my eyes as I did "bastards" I shoved the pillows of the bed and grabbed the white sheets, covering myself before sitting under the camera, covering my head as well. Maybe it was silly but I wanted to stay hidden, maybe they wouldn't hurt me if I was invisible anyway. I laughed silently, your really that stupid Jules. I hugged my knees under the blanket, trying to keep myself hidden from the cold, unfeeling eye of the camera. My heart pounded as I fought back the tears threatening to spill. Being invisible wasn't an option, but pretending to be might buy me some peace. Maybe.

The door creaked open, and I froze. I couldn't see who it was, but I could hear the steps approaching. "Darling" Alexander's voice called out, I liked him the most of the three he seemed calm and nice "what are you doing ragazza sciocca" footsteps became louder and closer to me until they completely stopped. I didn't respond, I'm not here. I clutched the blanket tighter, maybe he would leave me alone. With one swift motion, Alexander pulled back the upper layer of blankets, revealing my tangled hair and tear-streaked face. Crouching to my level, his face softened briefly. "You know the rules, darling. Come on." He extended a hand, his voice low but firm. His soft gaze turned dark when I didn't take his hand "Jules" I did not like the way he pronounced my name, almost as if he was scolding a child.

"N-no" I shook my head turning away from him. He muttered something in Italian under his breath, his patience clearly wearing thin. Before I could react, he scooped me up effortlessly, cocoon and all. My protests were muffled as he pressed my head into his chest, his grip strangely protective. "Apra la porta, Cas" Alexander called out, his voice steady as ever. There was the sound of a lock turning, then the door opened, Cassian leaning casually against the frame. His lips curved into a smirk as he stepped aside.

"Giving you trouble, Alex?" he teased, his eyes raked over me before he returned his gaze to Alexander "il nostro adorabile bambino" they both let out a chuckle at what Cassian had said. I frowned but quickly hid it when Alexander looked down on me. The hallway was dimly lit, it's beautiful paintings now holding something dark within them. Cassian walked in front of us, giving me small glances from time to time. Cassian opened the door where I had eaten earlier, it was now covered with a beautiful tablecloth decorated with golden candleholders. My gaze shifted to Nico who sat at the head of the large table. Alexander sat down at a side next to him, holding me still on his lap. Cassian had taken a seat in front of us. His lips curled into a smirk as he folded his arms across his chest, casually leaning back in his chair.

Nico, who sat at the head of the table, his dark eyes cold and calculating. He studied me with intensity, the faintest trace of a smile on his lips as he surveyed the scene. Alexander's fingers brushed my cheek gently, a stark contrast to the coldness emanating from the other two. Two girls in black dresses walked into the room, their eyes met mine but they quickly looked down when Nico gave them a glare. He seemed like he was the boss, even more frightening than the other two. I reached to the fork in front me, but my hand was tightly gripped by Alexander who shoved it back into my lap. "Darling, we feed you. If you want to eat you'll need to let us" i frowned hiding my face into his chest. Cassian chuckled, he frightened me I did not like him at all. Alexander lifted a bite of the pasta to my lips, his other hand brushing my hair back from my face with a strange gentleness. "Come on, darling," he coaxed. "Just eat." I hesitated, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts, but I opened my mouth, accepting the bite he offered. Cassian chuckled from across the table, his eyes flicking between me and the two men beside me. "There we go. Now you're learning." Nico's gaze remained cold, impassive, as though he were above all of this. He never said a word as the meal progressed, simply observing us with a quiet intensity. His silence was more unnerving than anything else, as if he were waiting for something, for me to slip up.

"Eat up, sweetheart," Alexander murmured, lifting another bite to my lips. "You need to keep your strength up." There was a strange tenderness in his voice, but I knew better than to mistake it for kindness. His hands were still firm around me, steady, controlling. I wanted to scream, let it all out. But I did not want to get another punishment from them. Alexander left a couple of kisses in my neck, i tried to squirm away but he kept me trapped in his arms. "S-stop please" i let a tear fall "Alex" he stopped when Nico called him "give her to me" I shook my head multiple times but that didn't seem to do anything. I was picked up by Nico, he walked trough a set of doors leading into a big living room, the fireplace had been lit and the curtains closed. He sat down on the sofa tucking me into his side, grabbing the white sheets in had been wrapped in covering my shoulders with it. Cassian sat down next to me while Alexander sat down in the armchair near the fireplace. the silence hung a few minutes before Cassian switched on the television "what would you like to watch birdie" my eyes went wide and I pushed face into Nico's chest, his warmth offering some comfort. "Smettila di spaventare la ragazza, Cassian" Nico's voice rumbled low, a playful scolding, though it carried a firmness I didn't want to test. "Metti su il lacrimatore."

Cassian shrugged, unbothered, and selected the movie. The opening credits of The Tearmaker began to play on the screen. I recognized it immediately, it was a film I had once watched with friends, its story lingering in my memory. As the movie played on, I tried to focus on the screen, but my eyes kept growing heavy. The warmth of the fire, Nico's steady presence, and the soft glow of the television combined to pull me into a drowsy haze. I leaned into Nico, my head growing heavier by the second, unable to fight the pull of sleep any longer. Before I fully drifted off, I felt Nico's fingers gently brush through my hair, his lips pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. The warmth of the kiss lingered, comforting me in a way I hadn't expected, before the world around me faded into darkness