Chapter 4

Faith awoke with a start, her heart pounding as the shadows in her room seemed to close in around her. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table—3:17 AM. The mansion was eerily silent, and the only sound was the soft ticking of the clock. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. It was just a nightmare, she told herself. Just a nightmare.

But the silence was soon shattered by the sound of her bedroom door creaking open. Faith's breath caught in her throat as she saw a dark figure standing in the doorway. The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated his face, revealing Nox Blaze Dan. His clothes were drenched in blood, and his eyes were wild with a sinister gleam.

"Faith," he whispered, his voice sending a chill down her spine. "We need to talk."

She felt paralyzed with fear, unable to move or speak. Nox stepped into the room, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. The smell of blood and sweat filled the air, making her stomach churn.

"Nox, what are you doing here?" she finally managed to whisper, her voice trembling.

He ignored her question, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that made her skin crawl. "Get up," he commanded, his voice low and menacing. "We're taking a shower."

Faith's eyes widened in horror. "Nox, please. I don't want to—"

"Get up!" he roared, his eyes flashing with rage. "Now!"

Trembling, Faith slowly got out of bed, her legs feeling like they might give way beneath her. She could see the madness in Nox's eyes, the psychotic edge that made her blood run cold. He grabbed her arm roughly, his fingers digging into her flesh, and dragged her towards the bathroom.

As they entered the bathroom, Nox slammed the door shut behind them and turned on the shower, the sound of the water cascading into the tub doing nothing to drown out the terror in Faith's mind. He stood there, staring at her with a twisted smile on his face, his clothes still soaked with blood.

"Take off your clothes," he ordered, his voice devoid of any humanity.

Faith's hands shook as she slowly undressed, tears streaming down her face. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and utterly terrified. Nox's gaze never wavered, his eyes drinking in every detail of her fear.

Once she was completely naked, he stepped closer, his bloody hands reaching out to touch her skin. She flinched at his touch, the warmth of his blood leaving a sticky residue on her body.

"You're mine, Faith," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "You belong to me, and no one else."

She nodded, too afraid to speak, her body trembling uncontrollably. Nox stepped back and began to strip off his own clothes, revealing a muscular body marred by scars and fresh wounds. The sight of him, covered in blood, made her stomach turn.

He stepped into the shower and pulled her in with him, the warm water quickly turning pink as it mixed with the blood on his skin. Nox grabbed the soap and began to wash her, his touch rough and possessive. She stood there, numb with fear, as he scrubbed her skin, his hands lingering on her most intimate areas.

"Do you know why I killed that man?" he asked suddenly, his voice calm and measured.

Faith shook her head, unable to form words.

"He disrespected me," Nox continued, his tone dark and cold. "And in my world, disrespect is met with death. Do you understand that, Faith?"

"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the water.

Nox's eyes bore into hers, searching for any sign of defiance. Satisfied, he continued to wash her, his hands moving with a twisted sense of ownership.

When he was done, he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel and tossing it to her. She quickly wrapped it around herself, desperate for any barrier between her and the monster standing before her.

"Get dressed," he ordered, his voice a chilling command.

Faith hurriedly dried off and put on her clothes, her hands shaking so badly she could barely manage the simple task. Nox watched her every move, his eyes filled with a dark satisfaction.

Once she was dressed, he grabbed her arm and pulled her close, his grip bruising. "Remember this, Faith," he hissed, his breath hot against her face. "You are mine. And if you ever try to defy me, I will make you regret it."

With that, he pushed her out of the bathroom and back into her bedroom. Faith stumbled, catching herself on the edge of the bed. She turned to see Nox standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

"Sleep well, Faith," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "And don't forget what I told you."

He turned and left, closing the door behind him with a soft click. Faith stood there, her body shaking with fear and adrenaline. She knew now, without a doubt, that Nox Blaze Dan was a monster. A cruel, inhuman psychopath who would stop at nothing to exert his control over her.

As she crawled back into bed, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Her life had taken a dark and terrifying turn, and she had no idea how she was going to survive in the world Nox had dragged her into. But one thing was certain—she would never be the same again.

The following days were a blur for Faith. She moved through her routine like a ghost, haunted by the memories of that night. She barely spoke to anyone, and her friends noticed the change in her demeanor.

"Faith, are you okay?" Lily asked one afternoon, concern etched on her face.

Faith forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil inside her. "I'm fine, just a bit tired."

But Lily wasn't convinced. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

Faith nodded, but she knew she couldn't share the horrors she had witnessed. How could she explain the monster that lurked in the shadows of her life?

One evening, as Faith sat alone in her room, she received a message from Min inviting her to another gathering at the mansion. The thought of returning to that place filled her with dread, but she knew she couldn't refuse. Nox's control over her was absolute, and any defiance could lead to dire consequences.

The mansion was as grand as ever when Faith arrived. The opulence and luxury seemed to mock her fear, a stark contrast to the darkness that lurked within. She greeted Min and the others with a forced smile, trying to hide the terror that gnawed at her insides.

As the evening wore on, Faith found herself drifting away from the main party, seeking solace in the quiet corners of the mansion. She wandered down a dimly lit hallway, her footsteps echoing softly against the marble floor. The walls were adorned with portraits of stern-faced ancestors, their eyes seeming to follow her every move.

Suddenly, she heard voices coming from a nearby room. Curiosity getting the better of her, Faith cautiously approached the door and peeked inside. What she saw made her blood run cold.

Nox was in the room, standing over a man who was tied to a chair. The man's face was bloodied and bruised, his eyes filled with fear and desperation. Nox held a knife in his hand, the blade glinting in the dim light.

"You thought you could betray me?" Nox's voice was low and menacing. "You thought you could get away with it?"

The man whimpered, his voice barely audible. "Please, Nox, I didn't mean to—"

But Nox silenced him with a swift, brutal slash of the knife. The man's scream echoed through the room as blood poured from the wound. Nox watched with cold detachment, his face devoid of any emotion.

Faith felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She wanted to run, to escape the nightmare unfolding before her eyes, but she was rooted to the spot. Her mind screamed at her to move, but her body refused to obey.

Nox looked up, his eyes meeting hers. For a moment, they stared at each other, the room filled with a tense silence. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, Nox wiped the blood off his knife and took a step towards her.

"Faith," he said, his voice calm and controlled. "What are you doing here?"

She felt a surge of panic, her heart pounding in her chest. "I—I didn't mean to intrude," she stammered, her voice shaking.

Nox's expression remained unreadable as he approached her. "You shouldn't have seen that," he said softly. "Now, I have to make sure you understand the consequences."

Before she could react, Nox grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room, closing the door behind them. He shoved her towards the chair, the lifeless body of the man still slumped over.

"Sit," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Faith obeyed, her mind racing with fear and confusion. Nox knelt in front of her, his face inches from hers. She could see the blood on his hands, smell the metallic tang in the air.

"Do you understand what happens to those who betray me?" he asked, his voice a dangerous whisper.

Faith nodded, her eyes wide with terror. "Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Nox's gaze bore into hers, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Good. Because if you ever try to defy me, if you ever try to escape, this will be your fate.