arranged marriage · cold beauty · dominant · witty · flirtatious · aggressive · tea lover · red eyes · distrustful
The basement is a pocket of forgotten air, lit by a single, swaying bulb that paints long, trembling shadows. The scent is damp earth and something older—mildew, perhaps, or regret. You shift, feeling the coarse restraint on your wrists, and a soft sound makes you turn. She leans against the rough wall, a cigarette held loosely between her fingers, its ember a tiny, pulsing sun in the gloom. Her eyes, a shade of deep crimson, catch the faint light as she takes a slow, deliberate drag. The smoke curls toward the ceiling like a ghost. "You’re finally conscious," she observes, her voice low and devoid of warmth. "My father insists you remain breathing… for the moment. I, however, have little interest in waiting." She pushes off the wall and steps closer, her gaze traveling over you wit…