DEATH CALL

**Aurelia's POV**

The mansion, with its whispered secrets, was a labyrinth of intrigue. I decided to embark on a self-guided tour through its exquisite halls and corridors. Each room exuded grandeur and exclusivity, leaving me in awe of the opulence that surrounded me.

As I ascended to the third floor, my footsteps echoed in the ornate hallway. The air seemed to thicken with history, and my gaze was drawn to an old, weathered door adorned with intricate golden embellishments. It stood in stark contrast to the rest, a polished, gleaming brown enigma that radiated an aura of antiquity.

I couldn't resist the irresistible pull of this enigmatic door. It seemed to beckon me, as if it held a secret meant for my soul alone. With cautious steps, I approached it, my heart racing in anticipation. Intricate patterns etched into its surface resembled a puzzle yearning to be solved, and my fingers tingled with the urge to trace them and unveil its mysteries.

But just as my hand was about to make contact with the mysterious door, Julie's voice interrupted my curiosity. She had materialized with an air of gentle but stern admonition.

"Aurelia," Julie spoke, her concern evident, "that door is the very embodiment of the first rule, the forbidden chamber in the east wing. You must never open it. It's for your own good."

Her words carried a sense of urgency that sent a shiver down my spine. I withdrew my hand reluctantly, sensing foreboding and mysteries concealed behind that ancient door. I realized there were secrets not yet meant for my unveiling.

Julie's warning lingered in my thoughts as I continued my exploration of the mansion, with that tantalizing brown and golden door being a puzzle I was not yet prepared to solve. What other enigmas lay in the mansion's embrace, waiting to be uncovered or forever veiled?

When I grew weary of wandering, I retreated to my room. The balcony provided a breathtaking vista of mountains and distant cities, a serene refuge from the mansion's cryptic charm. I settled on the balcony, allowing the awe-inspiring view to wash over me.

However, as I lost myself in contemplation, a sharp cry pierced the air, calling my name, "Aurelia!" I spun around to see Leo, his expression etched with an unfamiliar worry. In my attempt to rise, I lost my balance and teetered on the brink of an accidental fall.

For an agonizingly brief moment, I surrendered to the belief that I was hurtling towards the end, helpless against the inexorable pull of gravity. But then, strong hands encircled my waist, and I felt a lifeline. Leo had intervened, his grip unwavering.

In that suspended moment, a plea to escape this world consumed my thoughts. Yet, fate had other plans. Leo gently lowered me to the ground, a sudden and unexpected act I couldn't have foreseen from him.

As I gazed into his eyes, I was met with a startling transformation. The once icy blue pools had metamorphosed into fiery red orbs, a disconcerting contrast to what I'd known. His visage revealed a tumultuous blend of anger and concern as he addressed me with raised voice, "Why, Aurelia? Why do you persist in attempting to elude me? Why?"

I struggled to articulate my intentions, my vocal cords faltering as I stammered, "I... I... I just..."

Leo's unwavering gaze, laden with sorrow and ire, seemed to demand an answer. "Don't ever entertain the notion of self-destruction as an escape from me. That choice is not yours to make. Only I possess the authority to decree when you live or die, Aurelia. Do not harbor dreams of an easy escape. You shall endure every torment you've subjected me to."

His words left me in a state of profound shock. I couldn't help but question the path my life had taken, the inexplicable entanglement I found myself in, and the haunting mystery that was Leo. Was I truly as wretched as his words suggested? What had I done to incur such relentless enmity? The enigma surrounding us deepened.

**Leo's POV**

As I returned from the depths of the forest, morning had already bathed the world in its light. My destination was the mafia platform, where the gang I led, known as "VORACIOUS," awaited my presence. My reputation was that of a leader to be feared, and it was an image I cultivated with intent.

Upon reaching the platform, I set about my work as the head of the mafia. Fear was my greatest ally, and I wore it like a shroud. My influence over the gang was absolute, and it was a power I wielded without hesitation.

I approached one of the lockers where a man awaited, his eyes clouded with tears, his face marred by blood and suffering. "Hey," I called to him, and his gaze met mine. He began to plead, his voice trembling with desperation. "Sir, forgive me. I'll never do it again. I have a family waiting for me." He clutched at my shoes as a symbol of his remorse.

I was unyielding. "Then you should have considered them before betraying us." He had been one of our employees, a part of the Knight gang, but he had defected to the rival gang, "RAVENSHADOW." His actions had led to the deaths of two of our own.

His pleas fell on deaf ears. I kicked him, a cold, calculated gesture that conveyed the price of treachery. "You must understand the depths of your selfishness," I said, my voice steady. I took a staple and etched lines onto his body, each mark a painful reminder of his betrayal. His cries resonated through the air, and I could only think that he deserved it.

I handed him over to Ethan, my trusted assistant for the past four years, a man whose loyalty to me was unwavering. Ethan, in his own way, ensured the man paid for his actions with excruciating torment. I continued my rounds, instilling fear in every room I entered. It was a language they understood, a language of dominance and consequences.