Emily's POV:

I stare at Alex, my body tense, my mind spinning. He steps out of the water, droplets glistening on his toned body, and dries himself off with an ease that makes my stomach twist. Meanwhile, I remain submerged, my thoughts dragging me deeper than the water ever could.

"Come out now, kotenok."

His voice is calm but firm, and like a puppet on strings, I obey. My limbs feel foreign, weightless as I rise from the water. It's not like he hasn't seen my body before-there's no point in feeling modest now. My mind is too numb for shame, too detached to care.

He wraps me in a towel, gently drying my skin, his fingers ghosting over me like I'm something fragile. Then he slides his shirt over my head. It drowns my frame, the fabric swallowing me whole.

He lifts me into his arms without effort, carrying me from the bathroom like I weigh nothing.

I don't question it.

I don't question anything anymore.

The Kitchen.

Alex sets me down by the kitchen island. The marble is cold against my thighs, grounding me for a fleeting second. My gaze lands on the small white pill resting next to a glass of water.

Something sharp and primal claws at the edges of my mind.

No.

"You're drugging me?" My voice is barely above a whisper, hoarse and uncertain.

Alex steps closer, his heat radiating against my back. One arm snakes around my waist, pressing flat against my stomach. His other hand wraps around my throat, not tight, just enough to feel my pulse hammering beneath his fingers.

"If you're asking me if I'm going to force it down your throat, the answer is no." His voice is smooth, almost comforting. "I'm giving you a choice."

A choice.

What kind of fucking choice is that?

I swallow thickly, staring at the pill like it might sprout fangs and bite me.

Alex's grip on my waist tightens, his breath warm against my neck.

"You'll always get a choice, kotenok."

A slow, deep tremor rolls through my body. My throat is dry, my mind foggy with exhaustion, with fear, with the sick, twisted comfort his presence brings.

I don't know what will happen if I refuse.

I don't want to find out.

Without another thought, I pick up the pill, toss it into my mouth, and take a sip of water. It glides down my throat like poison.

Alex hums approvingly. "Good girl."

A shiver runs down my spine. His praise shouldn't feel this intoxicating.

Before I can react, his hands grip my thighs and lift me onto the counter. My legs dangle off the edge, but Alex steps between them, pressing his body flush against mine.

His touch is slow, deliberate, as he pushes my shirt up, revealing me to the cold air.

I should feel exposed.

I should feel ashamed.

Instead, I feel warm. Dazed. My limbs are heavy, my head light.

He's staring at me like I'm something to be worshiped. Like I belong to him.

"You're so beautiful," he murmurs.

My vision blurs at the edges. My skin tingles. My lips part, but my tongue feels thick in my mouth.

"Alex..."

"Yeah, kotenok?" His hands trail up my ribs, skating over my sensitive skin.

"What... what are you going to do to me?"

He doesn't answer with words. Instead, he pulls me closer, hands framing my face, tilting my head back. His lips hover inches above mine, his breath fanning over my skin.

I should resist.

I should scream, fight, claw my way out of this intoxicating haze.

But I don't.

Kiss me.

The words leave my mouth as a breathless plea.

Alex's eyes darken. For a moment, he hesitates-then his lips crash against mine, slow and deliberate, claiming me like I'm already his.

I melt into him, my body no longer my own. His tongue slides against mine, his hands gripping my face as if he's trying to burn his touch into my skin.

I don't even realize I'm falling until my back hits something soft. The world tilts.

What did he give me?

I try to speak, but my voice doesn't work.

His knuckles graze the inside of my thighs, feather-light, teasing. A soft whimper escapes me.

"Are you going to fuck me?" The words slip out before I can stop them.

Alex chuckles, dark and low. "Not right now."

"Please," I beg, my body betraying me.

"You'll have plenty of time to beg, kotenok."

I can't tell if that's a promise or a threat.

His hands skim over my body, sending jolts of electricity through my nerves. I'm burning up, dissolving into nothingness.

"You don't want me?" My voice is slurred, thick with something I don't recognize.

His thumb brushes my lower lip. "Why would I not?"

I don't know.

I never felt wanted before. But with him, I feel like I matter.

Like I deserve to be loved.

He cups my face, his expression unreadable. "I'll make sure you always feel loved, little one."

I close my eyes.

And then-darkness.

The Basement.

I wake up with a weight pressing down on me.

Something is wrong.

My body feels heavy, my limbs sluggish. A thick fog clings to my mind, blurring the lines between reality and nightmare.

I try to move.

I can't.

My wrists are pinned. My thighs are bound.

Panic surges through me like ice water. My breath quickens, my chest rising and falling in sharp, desperate bursts.

I yank at my arms-nothing. The leather straps dig into my skin, securing me to the cold, hard surface beneath me.

The room is dark, too dark. My pulse pounds in my ears.

"Alex?" My voice is barely a whisper.

No answer.

A choked sob crawls up my throat. I twist, writhe, but the restraints only bite deeper.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to steady my breathing. He wouldn't hurt me. He wouldn't hurt me.

Right?

Footsteps echo in the darkness.

Slow. Unhurried.

I freeze.

Then-his voice. Low. Controlled.

"You're awake."

I turn my head. He's standing in the shadows, watching me.

My lips part, but no words come out.

Alex steps closer, his presence suffocating, his gaze burning into me. "Don't be scared, kotenok."

My body betrays me, a tremor running through my limbs.

His fingers trail along my jaw, down my neck, over the thin straps binding my arms. "This..." He tugs lightly on the leather. "This is necessary."

I shake my head. "Necessary for what?"

His smile is cruel.

"For your initiation."

I stop breathing.

"Welcome to Dayavolicia."

And then he was gone.

Author's Note:

This story isn't for the faint of heart. It's dark, twisted, and dives into obsession, power, and the fine line between love and control. If you're looking for a fairytale, this isn't it. But if you crave a tale where passion and danger intertwine, welcome to Dayavolicia. Buckle up-it's going to be a wild ride.