Chapter 3 - THE WHISPERS OF THE KEEP
-3
The interior of the Alighieri estate was a monument to wealth, power, and absolute isolation. High vaulted ceilings, dark mahogany paneling, and towering marble pillars dominated the grand foyer, where a massive crystal chandelier cast a cold, brilliant light over the checkerboard floor. There were no bright colors here—only blacks, grays, and deep burgundies, accented by priceless oil paintings of stern-faced men holding swords and resting their hands on the hilts of hidden blades.
Two female servants, dressed in severe black-and-white uniforms with downcast eyes, hurried forward the moment Dante stepped through the double doors. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw me holding Leo.
For a fraction of a second, I saw shock ripple across their faces before they instantly flattened their expressions back into rigid obedience.
"Prepare the nursery suite on the third floor," Dante instructed without breaking his stride as he marched toward the grand staircase. "And bring a doctor to examine her. I want a full medical profile, including DNA sequencing, completed by midnight."
"Sir, wait!" I protested, struggling to keep up with his long, purposeful strides while cradling the sleeping baby. "You can't just imprison me here! This is kidnapping! If you run a DNA test, you'll see I'm nobody special—"
"If the DNA test proves you're just a random girl from the slums who happens to look like a ghost, I will personally drive you back to your apartment, hand you ten thousand dollars for your trouble, and never cross your path again," Dante said, pausing at the top of the grand staircase to look back down at me. The harsh chandelier light caught the jagged line of his scar. "But if the test confirms what my gut and my son already know... you will never leave this house."
The threat hung in the air like a guillotine blade. Before I could formulate a reply, one of the female servants stepped up beside me, her hands clasped respectfully in front of her apron.
"This way, Miss Mara," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Let me take the young master so you can get settled."
"No," I said instinctively, tightening my arms around Leo. The baby stirred, letting out a tiny sigh, but didn't wake up. His tiny hand found the collar of my shirt and curled into the fabric. "I'll carry him."
The servant—whose name tag read Hanna—hesitated, her eyes flickering toward Dante for approval. Dante gave a slight, imperceptible nod and turned down a long, dimly lit corridor.
Hanna led me through a maze of winding hallways until we reached a pair of heavy oak doors at the end of the east wing. She pushed them open to reveal a suite that looked more like a luxury prison cell than a bedroom. The windows were fitted with reinforced security glass and heavy iron bars concealed behind rich velvet drapes. A plush king-sized bed dominated the center of the room, flanked by a fully equipped nursery corner with a crib, rocking chair, and shelves lined with expensive toys.
"You'll be staying here," Hanna said softly, stepping inside to turn on a bedside lamp. "There is a private bathroom through that door. Fresh clothes have already been laid out for you."
"Hanna," I said, my voice shaking as I gently placed Leo into the bassinet where he immediately settled with a soft coo. I turned to face the older woman, grabbing her forearm with a desperate grip. "Please. You have to help me. You work here—you know what kind of man he is. Is it true? Was there really a massacre here twenty-six years ago?"
Hanna’s face drained of color. She glanced nervously toward the open doorway, making sure the hallway was empty, before gently peeling my fingers away from her arm.
"Miss Mara, Mr. Alighieri is a dangerous man, but he is a just man," Hanna whispered hurriedly. "If he believes you are who he thinks you are, running won't save you. Nothing will. The best thing you can do right now is cooperate, answer his questions, and pray to God your blood matches the ghosts of this house."
Before I could ask anything else, Hanna bowed her head and hurried out of the room, clicking the heavy oak door shut behind her. I heard the distinct, heavy clack of a deadbolt sliding into place from the outside.
I was locked in.
I rushed to the window, tearing back the velvet drapes, but the iron bars stood firm against my frantic shoves. Outside, the sprawling stone courtyard was illuminated by floodlights, guarded by armed sentry patrols walking in synchronized, rigid lines. There was no way out. No phone, no internet, no lifeline to the outside world.
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From the bassinet, a soft gurgle caught my attention. I turned around to see Leo sitting up, rubbing his big, dark eyes, looking directly at me with an eerie, knowing calm.
"What are we going to do, little guy?" I whispered, collapsing into the rocking chair, burying my face in my hands as the terrifying reality of my new cage closed in around us.
