BTMDM Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Ivnes stared at 94f2655330 the whiskey bottle, now b8d6f3a90a empty of its golden 44e5afa16f liquid. Then, she glanced at the half-full bottle e4562be26f of dark amber whiskey and sighed.c59864748c7d3b8beb70

Maybe it was because she had downed such high-proof ed9c72b1b9 alcohol back-to-back, but her vision was starting to spin.e2c5a38c765fe4af8e41

She frowned and slumped b99c864346 into the sofa, and fbbd8a40e7 Edwin sat down beside 23b78ad972 her.10e25a065af513a72c06

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As he sat, the whiskey 85cf9beed3 in her crystal glass swayed, 29483c6f2b nearly spilling over. Ivnes frowned at 8046102a93 the sight.ed7dc775525c3e07e269

Still, with him blankly staring at her like that, she 51f34cb13f figured he’d say something irritating if she didn’t do something, c85513c137 so she raised the glass to her lips. Edwin, almost mimicking her, tilted his 0550b5e7be glass and took a sip.b968b9effa55e462d8ed

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Ivnes exhaled, the sharp 66c6846114 pine scent filling her f2dcae1642 nose, and left her 00e19a1ef7 drink half-finished.c29af558cf9408140a06

Across from her, cccaf7ee9a Edwin met her 37099aa27d gaze as he 17c412149a drained his whiskey. Her vision was blurred, yet oddly 79caddc77c sharp—it was disorienting, making her think 1cd49bed00 she really was drunk now.0b110d7e71a726b2b69e

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He was drinking while looking e0220a1503 straight into her eyes. She watched the thick column of his throat move with 0d350f63cb a gulping sound, cast in dark shadows by the moonlight.dd98b1598a9df9857919

“You didn’t d709913c04 finish, My 7d883b86e9 Lady.”335c531dc8ef52830929

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He smiled, and Ivnes, with 7014e1b445 a sigh, downed the rest c846b7d824 of her drink. Seeing this, he smiled brightly, as 57d10f5f65 if pleased, and scooted closer. She could feel his thick, muscular c984adec46 arm brush against her left shoulder.4a0225d88c192b004741

“You still dde671a7d1 smell nice, 09c738b1ee My Lady.”1a45488c4f833c632a27

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“What kind e495c4921f of scent?”f5a67f2e80e1e4a68bed

Ivnes set down her b2f1ea0d0b glass but didn’t avert e214cbc59c her eyes from his.2b4faa0f0ddbcfa84ecd

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“I’m not sure. Something sweet.”e6c09a660a91a99d18df

“You… smelled 0543b12ce9 like alcohol…”aa5af6d5aaa96b2c6f0c

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Her voice trailed off as she leaned in to 2662474c18 smell him again—but now, perhaps from the alcohol, she 6a3ed2d223 couldn’t catch the scent of booze anymore.a8a93018c5123fbf1b45

“Try from closer.”00cf160ee89c739cdd9a

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His eyes looked vividly red 0406d702b6 as she leaned in.b08471474ecc5042471d

As she neared his c23fcba940 neck, there was a af9e827ad6 soft, warm scent she 2104cb765a couldn’t place.2f415ff5ea8449e8d06d

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“I can’t 60e3da7e4c really tell.”0e35d37ee6d6fc0812f5

“Then may 670866b1ff I try, 492b96dae9 My Lady?”d9f784b26fb2b066b961

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As he said that, Edwin 433ee95102 took her hands, pressing her 48980a63b5 down against the sofa. Her body slid 10d7c44fb4 from the backrest dd35ea45b7 down to the 6bc4125b44 seat cushion.b0c934e32e4346d7fd45

He leaned in, inhaling dd24247e84 near her neck.083d66d3b57a3b803f6e

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Ivnes stared blankly at the ceiling, bf3c932c84 feeling his breath graze her skin. Warm and soft, it touched the space between 8e243c5ef2 her ear and jaw, making the fine hairs 37d8b481cb on her nape stand on end.2e0d80dd87c1523ac7f3

“My Lady.”d8bae26b8f11f29bb87d

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He called to her, then slowly 3ad66d6118 moved down toward her collarbone.73f44d13db5b3f2618c9

“Lady Ivnes.”799ef06eadb1beae52cd

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Though he clearly wanted her attention, she 5687f210b1 remained indifferent, staring at the ceiling.662b909fc7a5ada8b732

His low 62db0e0995 voice tickled ee94f8d048 her collarbone, 24e7f070fe but…67225f85830c5232cb16

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Combined with the d58696a972 alcohol, it all dcf6f4c4ce felt distant—unreal.ba1b44468cd1ddf3866d

“Lady Ivnes.”a7adc7414cc58a2546df

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Finally, he smiled dbeead487a down at her. Ivnes suddenly thought that his arm, stretched 2045bcb5d9 beside her, felt like a prison bar.44676c7280018d067436

And the fact 73dd9e5cdf that his thin 7cececd687 robe had come 2872453195 loose…b77f6e8f3b19889d9b81

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“My Lady?”849c128408ca563dd148

It was annoying. She reached out, 9754a56cc6 closed his robe, 722c75aa3f and tied the c83a6d8d53 loosened sash.5cb4b63956c8ee90e7a0

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“You’ve got a nasty de55d20f06 drinking habit, Edwin.”5d030b54637a33931490

She pushed his shoulder, and to her surprise, he stumbled back 4bc7979531 easily, looking flustered—then quickly laughed and sat properly next to her.602d9dacbb05d9ea4064

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“Aren’t you curious 231925a6ce about my ability?”975e7a061ec399ec853d

Ivnes hesitated. If she said yes, would 4f14a4b9e9 he actually tell her?84846dd287da708ab440

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For some reason, she felt like 858b352396 he’d just dance around the answer 7b14896536 and annoy her further.58acc806a446e560db2c

“…I’m curious.”266b741746ae718d2968

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Still, she 3463e49744 was curious.644ad75df302fd2a8056

“I’m glad.”cca656a03db3667390bf

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He smiled, slid his hand behind her 5f1557a952 back, and helped her sit up. Then, he gently aa641d53e7 smoothed her mess ebc8bd2fa2 of hair back 73b0f4d1c9 into place.23507c5c0b5a083bc438

“What’s your ability?”3a2dc0a26b71bbac43b9

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She asked sharply, e37720b926 and again he b34e0617ef smiled.5c5e396deff21995f656

“Shall I 3474177d33 play the 07e1ee0abd piano?”96217edbf37da9505ea7

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“Right now…?”c830aa450fb9eb787b7e

It’s five f8ccefa421 in the 49ab97536c morning.20901151b8337c058f90

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She meant 334f35ec7f to say c3bc83d4fe that—but…152c07ba3b3b2c26297f

“…Alright.”2ade5f03156aa4c5a1c6

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For some reason, 166c1f1f35 she agreed. When he took c41cdffdf2 her hand, she 4153a2682d stood.504d2554496ff6d87cc0

Using the interior hallway that connected her 211e8e7515 bedroom, Edwin led her to the adjacent d73aebad42 music room where the piano was kept.ff1f8bcee5dca7182cb6

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She stumbled a little, 382933ee7f but Ivnes didn’t worry. This was a 246c30bf37 familiar place, one 1eb5489000 she knew well. Though with her blurred vision, 3c2202113e it all felt strangely unfamiliar…4b014add36a349924359

No, maybe it felt 2dcb0ecd93 that way because she b8b9a8da59 was moving with Edwin.35bf25fb81bca80974ba

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“Edwin, how do you know 4558dec092 this place so well?”7220e97facb6170311e5

At her question, 695b24a2d3 Edwin flashed another f85d636a90 bright smile but 87e3b4225b didn’t answer. Instead, he 5bb0a8dc95 guided her 82418e509e to the 0c19135c94 piano bench.f808df269b95b700f61f

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Ivnes found 7a0e74cf4c herself seated, 8f97f9915c watching him.e04f3449af7df749f0ea

Edwin sat beside her 396d518dee and opened the lid 6a0da63398 over the keys.359fec09473519c10f69

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“It hasn’t been tuned in fa325f289c over half a year.”a460875a879619a8b38b

“It’s fine.”fe01e3b84f28cac867da

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Ivnes glanced at f5d4712f10 the keys and 06c4c8ddd6 spoke.b4798c0990a0d33cd769

“Edwin, how do ad06c6f5a1 you know I 885e42c4e3 can play the b96e221143 piano?”2bce7ac82ea2d5b534ce

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“Who knows? I also know you can play c18ccc3e13 the violin, cello, and viola.”108912be78bb0e848695

“How?”c6839e5609ed99bc11d2

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“Who knows.”2151d5e66ca2729a36b0

He dodged again and stood, e709149bd6 moving behind the piano to 46dc4f03eb open its frame and secure d0db1f0b96 the lid.c31971dc6691e9075df9

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Somehow, he found a duet sheet 0653b39c91 music tucked nearby—one Ivnes had forgotten 592b3c9a1d about—and placed it on the stand.7afe33abbc1ba8a938e3

“This piece f130385494 is for c2ba48404c two players.”7119754efb836797357c

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“Let’s play 4c8bd1145b together, My 8c050473d9 Lady.”622cd2a945fb35c95d1c

“When did you learn bd6a0e3d16 to play piano?”1f733be39703ea3a6b00

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“You taught me.”e877e719f5aa1c0ceaab

She really 28b07b63d9 thought he 8433a90b96 must be ad4b9f0449 drunk.ca589b5e680f1e69e3ca

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Back when she used to 6ddc6b6e1a play, she was around fifteen—busy a9ffce47af with debutante balls. There was no way ee9f6a2902 she could have taught d69dbbbec2 anyone then.8e225e68c708ba8bc0ca

And now, she’d only known b8b36c7c48 the current, mad Edwin for 2767d9f80d about a week. She couldn’t f572468cf0 have taught 485cd51729 him.bc16962120027e528d39

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Still… she didn’t say f662c18837 it out loud.947cf0a12d047d779e85

The alcohol was hitting 903a902d03 her hard now—everything felt 4c8b64f4f2 tiresome, irritating. She figured it was better 3f435429b6 to just go along with ce29e140f4 whatever he wanted and get 36110b66c0 it over with quickly.734d880211f1b10d060b

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“I’ll do it.”c38c7e659c662754b4e3

“Yes.”bf57d529430a2c649736

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The piece had a 1c0f6aafaa unique tempo—slow at first, 0551a71bcb then gradually faster. Edwin sat to her left, 498affa663 and she sat to his 52ab42f355 right, playing the higher notes.30057435d9872048cdfc

Then he suddenly began to play wildly, at 8b7af06ea5 his own reckless pace, and she grew annoyed. But if she stopped playing 03e602bb3e and let him finish alone, fdc5f873fa he’d just pester her to 68a8d92759 play again.a80e310a761072f46367

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So she matched his 798afcf19c erratic tempo, fingers moving 7ce2616f3c with precision.d86ccf14cc8288971169

Her elbow occasionally brushed against 1bd2cc7a36 his firm arm, but it ea5aeb31d3 didn’t feel unfamiliar. The veins running across the back 60ba5ad47c of his hand, the way his 76b9e5ee46 eyes never left her—not the keys—and 8b9c5f4faa that predator-like expression on his face…dbfc78d64cc2155493a7

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It should have 74fcc19586 been the first 906202f61d time she’d seen d56e98e8be it.839fb443aeae41a95a4e

And yet, 1f41bd00ec it didn’t b8cfd6192f feel unfamiliar 746b91f432 at all. That was 825c80a8e6 what felt 68b7a47401 strange.75c47fe468df1b8c58f8

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Suddenly, he stretched his right arm across her, ce92784bf6 wrapping around her waist, and reached beneath her 50621bd637 hand, taking over her part of the melody.b65dd28979516652d027

Without missing a beat, Ivnes shifted 04423fe659 to play the left-hand part alone. With their hands now crossed, d442d64cdf it felt like she was f60ad1c263 wearing a straitjacket.454a952cbc5091a36282

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Once again, he played f5ae598f91 faster, wildly, without restraint. Her wrist began c7e0a71809 to ache, and d807788595 she frowned, sighing.e8cb8e9b2b6fa66c2fb2

She tried to endure it, but his chaotic debe42628f playing pushed her patience to its limit. Just as she was about to stop, he 6fe765b1d3 gripped her tightly, almost binding her in place.1d2fe279be3caeb674de

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“I want you to d0c56d8af6 die in the most 74cca4f01c painful way possible.”7fcb17ef37ce99744dbe

His voice, low and cold, 6c2f0db366 slipped into her ear like 4240c25165 a whisper, lips close enough b3623f139e to touch.f2221af55bcb1de9f1cc

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Ivnes turned cca1c854d5 her gaze 5f127dd051 to him. His irises burned 17c29f6c5f red, unable to 676e353122 hide their bloodlust.7b5c0b8f2d2eaef0318a

“But you’re far too compliant… 236fdd8c9c I want to break you.”336be3901a55aa2d0d98

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Ivnes laughed 019f444520 at him.777d1f173080f71fa3d1

“Go ahead 7389a74cba and try.”82b9ea6ed5c1a0b5b9d5

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Even with her indifferent feea2e543b response, his eyes lit 23364e194e up like a madman, b76306ab06 inflamed with obsession.664a83fcbc2fe3f74f49

Bang!b9266e3bb55c1efa1720

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He slammed the keys, discordant 1b5c1cdfa0 noise filling the room. Ivnes shot to her feet, 91d42cdc9f stepping back from the piano. Her vision 4abd087327 spun violently.dacfd12e40a482d10722

Then, with another jarring clamor of dissonance, she 76032fe8bc was shoved down onto the piano bench.f4d1892e1b1a0e2cd07b

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She had a rough sense 3f2ef4dc40 of Edwin’s strength, but now 59e3760916 she felt like a rabbit 8675c936ae before a black panther.6c618851ff56f3db82ca

And yet… maybe because of the alcohol, she db7cae0412 didn’t believe he truly meant to kill her.814236a7abf0595d2afc

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“Kill me, Edwin.”96dae467bdc701786d70

She took his f8d253a011 hand and placed a6aff5cc49 it against her f46c9b19d3 neck.c9801e2ca422da36b8db

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A flicker d6597635af of surprise 987285f091 flashed through ec6e3671a1 his eyes. The red glow of 35e8775bcf his irises dimmed, turning 8b5ed8b9ed black and uncertain.8a32822497b880490174

Ivnes gripped the back of his hand, 5f3699464c pressing it harder against her throat. She could feel his dc0109bf77 heavy, pounding heartbeat through 4f83869e84 her palm.d00664fcb363fa293b31

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 8ae2d9938257a4efd960

 18848ff5d2cb9980e748

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