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And as sleep overtakes me, an unsettling question snakes its way into my heart: would it have been better for me to fall?
14
NIKOLAI
The next morning,I quietly push open the door to Eden’s room, and I’m immediately struck by the sight of her sitting up in bed, her hazel eyes wide open. The curtains are drawn back, and soft morning light filters through the room, casting a warm glow over her auburn hair like a halo.
“What do you want?” she asks coldly.
The familiar ferocity of her boldness makes me smile.
“To make sure you are all right,” I reply.
Her gaze flickers down to the bruises on her arms and legs. A bandage is wrapped around her wrist and knee. But when she looks back at me, there’s a quiet determination in her expression.
“What happens?” she asks.
“Safety nets,” I said. “Put in place after a previous … incident.” My words trail off, unwilling to delve further into the painful past.
“No,” she replies harshly. “Your housekeeper already told me about those. I said whathappens, not whathappened.What next? Do you already have a wedding date picked out? Is that it?”
I stand at the foot of her bed and fold my arms across my chest. “You won’t cause trouble again,” I reply simply.
“Is that an order?” she asks bitterly.
“Call it a strong suggestion,” I reply stoically. “Your courage is impressive, Eden, but your lying needs improvement.”
“I don’t know what’s going on here.” She narrows her eyes. “But when my father finds me, you are going to jail.”
For a long moment, I stare at her, speechless at her naivety. And then I begin laughing until my eyes water.
“Jail?” I shake my head. “Have you forgotten who brought you back to me?”
I quickly sidestep the pillow that goes sailing past my head.
Without another word, I leave the room, my footsteps echoing down the hallway. Behind me, I hear the door softly open and turn around to see Eden peering at me before she quickly steps back.
“Breakfast will be served shortly in the dining room,” I call to her. “If you’re hungry, I suggest you come down and eat.”
Her head reappears, and Eden watches me briefly before slamming the door shut.
My steps are light as I bounce down the stairs. I haven’t felt this way in years. I look around at my surroundings and my gaze comes to rest on the Nevelson dividing the room in half. The geometric sculpture is breathtaking. A metallic grid of opensquares and rectangles in gold and black from the ceiling to the floor. It’s beautiful to my eyes, and I reach out my finger and touch the hard, cold metal as I think of Eden.
A simple surface, concealing boundless depths underneath.
Frowning, I turn one final gaze up the spiral staircase and wonder what she will try next.
15
EDEN
I’m allowedto wander the penthouse after my ordeal. Nikolai doesn’t realize how desperate I am to leave the confinement of my room. The freedom I’m afforded tells me that he knows I won’t dare try it again. My previous dress was shredded. What’s left of it lies on the floor by my bed. A reminder of how close I came to my death.
I don’t want breakfast, but I don’t want to stay in this room. The view is breathtaking, yes, but there’s no art in this room. And despite everything going to hell impressively, I want to see what other artwork this madman owns.
How dare he laugh at me?
The walk-in closet in my bedroom is empty. I guess a designer wardrobe materializing out of nowhere only exists in fairy tales. I yank the flat sheet off my bed and wrap it around me, twisting the ends together to make a rudimentary dress. My reflection looks passable, if a little trashy.
