I warned you.

The words stared back at me. And I didn’t know what to do. There were two possibilities, it was either the stalker or whoever that strange was, or someone was playing with me. Whatever it was, I wasn’t going to be a scared lamb anymore. It was too much. No one had any business or right to frighten me like this.

I decided to take control. First, I blocked the number. Whoever it was, they wouldn't get the satisfaction of seeing me scared anymore.

I thought about calling the police, but then I remembered I was in a different country. The local authorities might not take a foreigner's complaint seriously, and involving the police back home would be complicated and slow.

I needed to do something else.

Staying alone in the university till this fest was over suddenly felt too risky. My thoughts turned to the dorms. They had security, and there would be people around. It was the safest place I could think of right now.

I quickly wiped away my cheeks, not wanting to waste any time. My heart pounded as I left the bathroom, double-checking that no one was following me. The cool Russian air hit my face as I hurried down the street, my eyes darting around nervously.

When I arrived at the dorms, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I’d explain my absence to Alina when she came to the room, and no teacher would look for me since I had already submitted my Fest report. There was no way I was going back to that crowded place where that demon was.

Just thinking about him made my skin crawl.

He wasn't just dangerous; he was a hunter.

Even though he couldn’t see, it felt like he could sense my every move. His presence was dark and menacing, making the air heavy and suffocating.

Whenever he was near, I felt a cold dread. His voice was low and harsh, and his aura made everyone around him feel small and scared. People probably avoided him taking his ugly personality, and trembling in his presence.

The few times he had spoken to me, I could feel his eyes, though unseeing, piercing into my soul. His smile was more of a snarl, promising pain. I hated how there was so much less about him on the internet though he was a billionaire.

Not to be over–dramatic but being in the same room as he felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, one wrong move, and I would be lost.

I shuddered at the flash of his face, grateful to be in the safety of the dorms, far away from his reach. For now, I could finally breathe a little easier.

I pulled out my phone before changing out of my dress and texted Alina.

Seraphina: Hey, I am back at the dorm.

I put my phone down and took a deep breath.

 I was still scared, but being in the dorms made me feel a little more in control. I lay down on the bed, hoping I could finally get some rest.

As I closed my eyes, I reminded myself that I wasn't alone and that I was stronger than this fear.

When I finally woke up, the room was bathed in the soft light of late afternoon. I blinked, disoriented. My phone's screen flashed with notifications, and I realized with shock that I had slept through the entire evening and the next day.

I had basically hibernated.

Not that I minded, I felt refreshed. Moreover, it wasn’t like I had any classes today.

"Well, there goes my productivity," I muttered. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn't eaten since... who knows when? My heart raced as I grabbed my phone. I had missed several messages and calls from Ivan and Alina. Among them was a text from Kyle.

Kyle: Mr. Romanovski expects you at the mansion by 5 in the evening.

To my relief, there was no text from any unknown sender.

I felt a wave of reluctance wash over me. The thought of going back to that mansion, of facing the demon again, made my stomach churn. But then I recalled the contract I had signed. He had practically forced me to work for him, and I had no choice but to comply. 

I checked the time. It was already 4:00 PM. I had an hour to get ready and make my way to the mansion. Just two more days, I reminded myself. Two more days, and then I could go back to Texas for a few weeks. Maybe that was what I needed to clear my head and regain my strength.

With a heavy sigh, I got up and started to prepare. Despite my fear and reluctance, I had to face him one last time before my break. I just had to make it through these next two days by any means.

Grabbing my jacket and almost tripping over my own boots, I huffed and puffed out of the room and jogged down the stairs. When I reached the entrance, the warden called me over.

She was a beautiful lady in her mid-thirties, holding a box in her hands. I frowned, utterly confused.

"Hi," she greeted me, extending the box toward me. "This is for you."

I took the box, weighing it in my hands and frowning deeper. "I didn't order anything."

I read the receipt and saw my name written clearly on it. "Oh, well... I'm going somewhere. I'll take it when I come back."

She nodded, understanding. "Sure, no problem."

I handed the box back to her and rushed out of the dorms, hoping the mysterious package wasn't another complication. I had enough to worry about with the walking-talking demon.

It took me another forty minutes to reach the mansion. I paid the fare and walked towards the gates. As always, it was snow-covered. The small snowflakes fell from the sky, and the sky was already turning a light shade of grey. Such a beautiful man, but the owner, was a special breed who had absolutely no brakes. He probably had no limits.

From my perspective, he was unhinged—wild eyes that never seemed to rest, like a caffeine addict at an all-you-can-drink espresso bar.

He had this unsettling energy, buzzing around like a hyperactive squirrel on a sugar rush.

It was as if he thrived on chaos, drawing power from the disorder he sowed, like a kid who just discovered glitter and glue.

His charm was dangerous like the lethal blend of allure and unpredictability, making him both irresistible and as terrifying as a clown at midnight.

Yes, a clown. That’s what he was.

To be honest, after the humiliation he made me go through three nights ago, I didn’t even want to see his face. His handsome features didn’t excuse his gory personality.

I noticed a car parked in the driveway, a luxurious white Lamborghini, curiosity got the better of me. I had never seen Judas having any guests over. There were no employees either—no guards, no chef, no worker. It was like the mansion was running on ghost power or something.

I sighed, whatever, it only meant he’d spare me today, and not bother me. I walked to the door and knocked. Like always, it was Kyle who greeted me. I couldn't help but wonder, were there no employees besides me and Kyle? I hadn’t ever given it a thought since it was not my place to ask.

Kyle gave me his default expression. Gloomy, dark. He was again wearing dark clothes, skull rings I grew tired of and a gold chain. I nodded at him.

“Where is he?”

“His office.”

I nodded determined to get today’s work done as soon as possible. I had bags to pack. And stuff to sort. Oh, that made me wonder, I had to submit the leave application to the hostel and the university. It was a hassle, but anything for Mama’s hug and kisses. Maybe I could convince her this out-of-country life wasn’t for me. I sighed.

And then watch her smile fade?

I was lost in my own thoughts as I walked to his office. Suddenly, I halted in my steps, startled by a grunt. Where did that come from? I couldn't see anyone in the hallway. My heart pounded in my chest as I glanced around nervously. Was someone there?

I looked around finding no one and as I was about to turn, I heard the grunt again but this time it sounded a little weird. I couldn't pinpoint in what way but it left me a little surprised. Gulping down the nervousness and anxiousness, I took light steps towards the left, where I thought the voices were coming from. And somehow I found myself in front of the office. Contemplating if I should open it or not, I finally decided otherwise.

Maybe someone was in pain.

Did Judas tripped over his arrogance and bonk his head finally?

Just as I was ready to see him on the ground, I slowly opened the door of his office.

And like my heart, my hands froze the moment I opened the door. Regret surged through me instantly, an icy wave crashing over my very soul.

Judas had fallen.

Not to the ground, but from the heavens, like a forsaken angel cast down.

Cause there was simply no word to explain it.

His midnight-dark hair swept across his sweaty forehead, his sharp pale blue eyes hooded and half-open reflecting a primal almost savage pleasure.

I watched in terrorising reluctance.

His hand wrapped tightly around the woman’s throat from behind her mouth open in a desperate attempt to draw in breath. But he gave her no scope of escape, no mercy.

I could see the tension in her body, the urgent breaths she tried to gulp down, and the way her naked chest heaved with each futile attempt. Yet, what unnerved me most was the way she seemed to enjoy the brutality. Her eyes were covered with white lace underwear and I forgot how to breathe.

Her body arched into him meeting his brutal thrusts with an eagerness that bordered on madness.

The sounds of their skin slapping together the occasional guttural moans and the ragged breathing pulled me out of my haze. And I stumbled back on my unsteady legs.

From my vantage point, I could see the raw power in his ruthlessness the way his muscles tensed and rippled under his skin. His grip on her throat tightened and loosened with intended precision, ensuring she was on the brink, never fully allowing her the breath she so desperately craved.

My eyes widened. W-what was happening?

"Harder, Judas!"

I never realized a woman could look so helpless in a man’s arms.

Judas pounded relentlessly from behind, and she gasped and grunted with twisted pleasure as he roughly played with her nipples. His tattoos glistened under the dim light, making the cuts of his muscles seem sinisterly dangerous. The suffocating scent of sex and lust reeked.

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched, unable to look away.

Her body writhed under his control, utterly at his mercy, and it filled me with dread. Each of his thrusts echoed through the room with the relentless rhythm that made my breath catch.

I was terrified by how consumed they both seemed to be.

His hunger seemed insatiable, his need for control evident in every move he made. And I felt like I was suffocating. How could anyone find pleasure in such brutality?

My heart skipped several beats as Judas squeezed her slender neck and the moment he raised his head, his eyes met mine.

Oh, dear Lord…

Hastily, I tried to close the door. My eyes widened. What the hell was I doing? What the hell were they doing!?

I couldn't think, possibly couldn't retaliate against the situation anymore. I needed to get away from here and in this panic, I ignored the sudden shuffle behind me. My hands shook as I tried to close the door as fast as possible but luck wasn't on my side like always.

I was this close, this close when I felt a presence behind me. Just as I was about to turn around, my whole body was shoved against the door. A palm slammed on the door beside my head, sending chills so glacial down my spine that my legs began to tremble. The impact left my entire body sore with pain.

"Judas?" I stilled at the sound of a honey-laced sweet voice, sensual and purring.

I held my breath watching apprehensively. His hand on the door slowly lowered making my heart race faster and then settle over the knob.

"The door opened." I could feel a low rumble from his chest seep into my back and settle at the tips of my fingers.

"Well, it’s not like you have any human in this godforsaken place," she purred, amused.

The hand on the knob stayed there for a moment. "Can’t have Kyle sneak in on us. That man loves a good show."

"It isn’t like I haven’t fucked him yet," she replied. "Can I take off the blindfold now? My mascara will be ruined."

I was trapped between his naked body and the door.

My heart raced as his warmth pressed against me, every inch of him radiating a dangerous heat. His other palm still rested on the door beside my head, and I could feel his breath on my neck, sending chills down my spine.

Fear gripped me as I realized how utterly trapped I was.

His presence was devastating, his body a barrier I couldn't escape. My mind raced, desperately seeking a way out, but there was none. The sensation of his skin against mine was suffocating though I had layers of clothes separating us reminding me how helpless I was.

And the woman’s voice only added to my terror.

Trembling, I turned around to find his pale blue eyes staring down at me, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

He seemed dangerous, exuding a dark vigour that made my breath hitch.

I was scared and confused, caught between his predatory gaze and my own vulnerability.

Feeling faint, I collapsed on the floor in surprise when I heard him clicking the door lock. I closed my mouth and watched him with wide eyes.

Judas just stood over me, towering over me, and I tried not to look at his nakedness.

Do not lower your eyes, Sera.

I reminded myself again and again.

His hand shot up, and that's when I noticed a cigar hooked on his ear and a lighter in his other hand. He lit the cigar casually, as if he hadn’t noticed my presence, the flame briefly illuminating his features.

At first, I was too bewildered to comprehend what I was seeing. My eyes were drawn to his hand, trying to make sense of the dark, glistening trail that snaked from his fingers to his wrist and then up to his elbow.

And then it hit me. My breath caught in my throat as I realized.

It was blood.

My stomach churned, and my head spun.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the crimson stain.

He looked like a bloodthirsty demon covered in blood.

He roughly swept back his hair, revealing his cloudy, unfocused eyes.

To my horror, he seemed highly entertained.

A cold sweat dripped down my back. Fortunately, he was unaware of my presence. Maybe it’s because of the scent of blood. The terrible scent had paralyzed my sense of smell, preventing me from smelling the fear on my body.

Feeling fortunate that he was blind and the woman had her eyes covered, I crept back and hid myself in the corner of the bookshelf.

Smoke rose from his mouth as stayed standing in front of the door for a good second. He looked over his shoulder s if he knew where that woman was and chuckled. Then, he suddenly turned his head around and looked at the exact location I was crouching in with my knees hugged closely to my chest.

Our eyes met again. His eyes gradually focused, and soon sparkled with a cold, eerie glint. Then, as if mocking my presence, he turned away.

From the moment our eyes locked, I froze, unable to breathe.

He was blind. He shouldn’t be able to see me… He was really blind, right?

I hugged my knees, trembling in fear. The warmth from the jacket and the floor did little to stop the violent shivers that racked my body.

I pressed my lips together and closed my eyes, straining to hear his every move.

“I wonder…” There was a long, suffocating silence. “If you’re ready for another round, Veronica .”

Veronica ? The name sounded familiar but my head was too fuzzy to comprehend anything. I could feel my eyes burning as I raised my head.

Our eyes met again. His eyes gradually focused, and soon sparkled with a cold, eerie glint. Then, as if mocking my presence, he turned away.

“I’m sore, but I can’t deny a good dick, you know.”

I opened my eyes and stared at his back, trying to maintain a façade of calm.

His back was like the canvas of intricate, sinister tattoos. Snakes coiled around his shoulders, their scales appearing almost alive. Scorpions lurked near his spine, poised to strike. Skulls stared out from his skin with hollow, mocking eyes.

Despite the terror they evoked, the tattoos were beautifully detailed, making his broad back and rippled muscles seem both mesmerizing and deadly. His tapered waist flowed seamlessly into a round, tight arse leading down to muscular thighs and long, powerful legs with calves that looked like they could crush stone.

He stood tall and his presence only amplified the terror that gripped my heart.

I didn’t know how he acted outside, but inside the mansion, he was as fearless as a man with sight.

Maybe it’s because he was in a familiar place.

I pressed a hand to my heart and continued crouching, and didn’t raise my head even at the sound of him shifting.

I shut my eyes, he came closer reaching over my head perhaps in search of something. Startled by the shadow on the floor, I lifted my head and saw his fierce erection close to my face.

I covered my nose and mouth with both hands, terrified he would sense my breath. I tried to move back as far as I could, but the sizeable… penis… eventually brushed against my forehead.

And it… throbbed.

I just looked in shock. How could… how could something so big and… gigantic… fit…

I was speechless.

My heart began to beat violently at the touch of the soft yet firm flesh.

Trapped against the wall, I knew my life was now in the hands of fate. I looked up at him with eyes full of tears. However, he just smirked and walked away without saying a word.

I breathed deeply, relaxing only after he moved back to the table.

I was so tense that my thighs were numb, and I urgently needed to use the toilet. Desperate to leave the office, I quickly twisted the doorknob, not caring if they heard. And did the only thing I should’ve done earlier.

I ran.