CHAPTER 44

MIA POV.
I watched Vivienne closely as her hand slipped into the pocket of her jacket, producing a small, folded note. As she placed the note in my palm, her fingers brushed against mine, sending a shiver of anticipation down my spine. The paper felt cool to the touch, its texture smooth, but its significance of what it could mean, sent my heart racing.
"Mia, I need you to do something for me." she said, her voice low and urgent. "I need you to give this to your father." My eyes widened as I felt a surge of shock and trepidation, my mind racing with the implications. Why would Vivienne give me this note to give to my father? Why couldn’t she deliver it herself? What was Vivienne's role in all of this? I wondered. But whatever it was, it was not an ordinary one. I had more questions than answers at his point but what I did know was that I was going to face serious consequences if Dominic discovered I had a secret note. What those consequences were, I wasn't sure but my ears suddenly ringed with the screams from earlier.
“Mia?” Vivienne’s voice brings me back from my thoughts and I lock eyes with hers. “Can you do this one thing for me? Please?” She pleaded. Conflict wrestled within me. Loyalty to Vivienne, who had shown me kindness and concern, or my own self preservation to protect myself. How could I ensure my safety while fulfilling Vivienne's plea? The weight of responsibility threatened to suffocate me. Vivienne's expression was resolute, yet filled with worry. Her eyes seemed to beg me to understand and to trust her. But could I really do that? I asked myself.
"What...what if Dominic finds out?" I stammered, my voice barely audible. Vivienne's pale face looked at me worriedly, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You must be careful, Mia. Very careful. If he discovers this..." Her voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken threat hanging in the air between us. She swallowed before she continued. “I am not going to lie, Mia. I don’t know what he will do to you but he will do worse to me.” Vivienne said and the hair at the back of my neck stood up.
As the weight of Vivienne's words settled upon me, my mind spiraled into terrifying possibilities. I envisioned Dominic's rage, his eyes blazing with fury, his hands closing around my throat. I saw myself trapped, imprisoned in this mansion, with no escape from his wrath. And Vivienne, what would happen to her? Would she be able to protect herself, or would she suffer the same fate? The thoughts bombarded my mind, each one more frightening than the last, until I couldn't bear the uncertainty. I turned to Vivienne, my voice barely above a whisper, "Vivienne, are you...are you a spy for my father?" I asked, the words tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them. I searched her face for answers. Something in her expression faltered before she regained control, her eyes locking onto mine with an unreadable intensity.
My words hung in the air for a good couple of seconds before Vivienne's expression took on a mix of sadness and resignation. A faint, melancholic smile pulled at the corner of her lips, but she remained silent, neither confirming nor denying my suspicion.
"Goodbye, Mimi." she whispered, her voice full of emotion. "Take care of yourself. Deliver the note as soon as possible and please… Please be careful. If you ever need help, you can always count on your father for it." Vivienne spoke. Her eyes locked onto mine, burning with an unspoken message.
I felt a lump form in my throat as Vivienne got up from her kneeling position and stepped back, her movements stiff and pained. "We will meet again, Mia," she said, her voice firm, but sad. With those last words, she turned and disappeared into the hallway. As the door closed behind her, I sat back against my pillows, my mind reeling with the aftermath of our conversation. The note, still clutched in my hand, felt like a burning coal, searing my skin with its secrets as my mind drifted to memories of my time at the manor up until now.
Meeting Vivienne and immediately being taken under her wing with her gentle guidance, her subtle interventions and her words of encouragement. I realized now that it was all of significance. I had assumed Dominic was behind her attentiveness, that he had instructed her to keep me happy. But now, I realized it was Vivienne's own doing, her way of protecting me from the darkness that lurked within these walls.
As I sat there, the note still clutched in my hand, I felt torn between two conflicting scenarios. Part of me yearned to trust Vivienne, to believe that her actions were genuinely motivated by kindness and a desire to protect me. Yet, another part of me was acutely aware of the treacherous path I navigated. I was caught in the middle of two powerful family feuds and I was the pawn that could go either way at this point.
Getting this note to my father would mean taking the Crescent Moon’s side and if I didn’t give him the note, then it would mean that I was favoring the Dark Moon pack. I was torn between what to do or what was the right thing to do until I made a sudden decision. I wouldn't give my father the note… At least not yet. I needed more time to think, to get my thoughts in order.
Feeling better about being able to make a decision, I got out of bed and started looking for a hiding place for the note. My eyes scanned the room, settling on my wooden dresser. I pulled out the bottom drawer. It was filled with socks and other types of underwear, but just as I was about to shove the letter under a pile of socks, my curiosity got a hold of me. My fingers glided over the edges of the folded paper before I folded it open with trembling fingers. My nervous curiosity turned to confusion as I stared at the note. It was blank! There was nothing on it. I turned the piece of paper over but there was nothing as well.
I stared at the note, willing words to appear, but the paper remained stubbornly blank. With a sigh, I placed the note in the bottom of the drawer before closing it. As I went to get into bed again, my thoughts raced with questions. Why would Vivienne give me a blank note? What had Vivienne intended? Was it a test? Or just a sick joke? I wondered as I switched off the light and buried myself once again in the covers.