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The hand luggage landed with a light ‘thud’, [Name] straightening her coat with pursed lips. The mansion was nothing like the others she has visited. It was bigger, antique and from the research she had done, it was old. The old doors creaked open, a woman stepped out with a warm smile.
“Hello, you must be [Name],” She extended her hand out and [Name] couldn't help but take in the warmth of the woman as she shook the elderly woman’s hand.
“That I am,”
“Good. I’m Edith and I am the head housekeeper here. Thank you for coming at such short notice. Master Burgess is currently unavailable at the moment so I will be tending to you. Come,”
[Name] had a feeling she knew what to expect upon taking the first step into the mansion. Everything about it was old, from the furniture, to the wall and to the decorations. Her eyes observed as other housekeepers scurried around to complete their daily chores while security guards patrolled the hallways. “Odd..,” [Name] thought. The house was old, yes and she was sure it held treasures belonging to the Burgess family but guards patrolling the hallways? It was odd indeed. [Name] chose to brush the thought off but kept it close in the back of her mind as Edith acquainted her with the interior of the mansion, her room as well as her chores. There was no fixed uniform, thankfully, except she had to dress in black clothing to stand out from the other staff. That was fine by her and [Name] somehow couldn't wait to start work.
After all, it paid very well indeed.
[Name]’s days in the mansion were interesting and as the months passed, she made friends with the other housekeepers. She shared rooms with Sarah, a more senior housekeeper compared to [Name] who helped her familiarise herself with the standard procedures with constant reminder that she should never wander aimlessly around the mansion without motive or else she would end up in the wrong places and end up in bigger troubles.
But [Name] can’t help it. History was her thing and there were rumours about his mansion. About a cult within its walls. She wasn’t afraid, of course. The rumour goes like this: There was a cult back in the 1900s that apparently tangled themselves with the Devil and somehow, they had managed to capture the Devil and kept him in the basement. [Name] had yet to find the entrance to the basement to see if it were all true but there were just too many activities going on in daytime, which was why she ended up exploring the mansion further during nightfall.
The hallways were really dark with the exception of the moonlight pouring through the windows. [Name] swallowed, clutching her notebook close as she peered around corners with quiet footsteps narrowly avoiding patrolling guards. She pressed herself between a wall and a closet as footsteps approached her position.
“Y’know, I don’t get why the fuck we gotta sit down there all day and watch him all day. We both bloody know that he hasn’t gone out for the past 100 years and he won’t ever,” A guard complained. [Name]’s eyes widened, forcing a gasp down and peered over to find one of the guard’s hands closing a hidden door by the main office.
Bingo
“Quit complaining. The only reason why I’m even staying is because the pay is good,” The second replied and the first sighed loudly.
“You know what? Fuck this. He isn’t getting out anytime soon and we need some drinks. Let’s get the fuck out of here,” And as much as the second guard wanted to protest, his friend was right. He really needed a drink.
[Name] waited until they were truly gone before making her way down the hall. She held her notebook tightly, pushing the door open quietly. The musty smell of the basement almost made her gag. Shaking her head, she stepped in, closing the door behind her as she made her way down the short flight of stars.
[Name] swallowed. She didn’t really know what to expect. Were the rumours true? If it was, how should she react? Would he have horns and a tail? Or..
“Snap out of it, [Name]!” She scolded herself, stopping just a few short steps away from the metal gates that led to the inner parts of the basement. She stopped because she had to recollect herself and her thoughts before continuing on…
Morpheus felt the air shift, lifting his head from his knees as he stared forward, cold, cold eyes glaring at the metal gates. There was someone here down with him. He tilted his head a little, anticipation growing bigger as he waited for the being to reveal themself. This one felt different. This one felt nothing like the Burgess boy or the guards. This one interested him.
Said this one took a deep breath and exhaled quietly.
“Okay, [Name]. Whatever it is down here, it’s probably nothing. It’s just rumours and the basement is full of old antiques, treasure and whatnot,” She reassured herself, eyes fluttering open.
Now or never.
[Name] descended the last few steps and turned towards the basement. The lights were dim but she was very sure that the sight before her was something she had least expected. She expected chains and the Devil but not this. The notebook slipped for her hand and the sound of impact made her jump. From afar, she saw the being’s head tilted further, eyes watching her every movement. [Name] inhaled deeply again, calming her racing heart as her hand reached down to collect her book off the dirty floor.
[Name] slowly approached the glass cage and as she did, she studied the man. It saddened her to see him in such a manner and with his humility thrown out the window. They could at least give him something to cover himself? Somehow, this annoyed the girl.
Morpheus watched the girl’s movements. She was someone new, this he realised. He wanted to stand but went against his decision, afraid his own…bareness would scare the girl away. He noted that even if her presence was new, he should not be swayed by it. For the past century, it has been very cruel for him. She could be the same as the others.
“Um..Hello,” [Name] greeted with a nervous smile. She glanced down, markings of gold surrounding the glass cage. Perhaps to keep him in? Or to keep others like him out? She didn’t know.
“I didn’t mean to scare you or anything. Oh, I hope I didn’t,” There was a flash of distress across her face momentarily before she realised that the man barely reacted to anything. Now, she was sure as hell that he was not the Devil.
“I didn’t think the rumours were true but then again, I didn’t know what to expect,” [Name] let out a nervous laughter, carefully stepping up to the glass cage. She leaned in closely, lips parted as she looked at him all over.
“C-Can you talk?” She asked.
No reaction. She guessed he could but just refused to do so.
“Um, okay,..uh..” She fumbled, opening her notebook. He was such a fine specimen to sketch.
“Is it okay if I sketched you? I’ll keep the..bad bits out. It’s an odd request, I know but I’m just so intrigued. Again, I’m sorry,” [Name] chuckled nervously, retrieving her pencil. Morpheus could only stare, confused with everything that’s happening in such a short moment.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m [Name]. I’m the new housekeeper here because..well, I need the money and frankly, there were so many stories about this place and..uh..it’s a pretty house on the exterior. I like to sketch everything and..yeah! That’s about it,” She bit her lip as she moved the pencil all over the paper.
Every stroke, every line, every detail led to a growth of sadness that resided in her heart.
Eventually, she stopped drawing and shut her book.
“I’m sorry,” [Name] said.
“Look, I don’t know why they kept you here or how long but I am going to let you out. Yes, I don’t know you, you don’t know me but nobody and I mean nobody, should be caged like an animal. I’ll get you out..I just have to figure out how first..Hang in there, okay?” She smiled warmly, pressing a hand to the cool glass.
Morpheus’s eyes flickered to the hand then back to her face. So many thoughts raced through his mind but nothing made sense and as he tried to make sense of them, he was forced to watch her leave.
Research was never easy and if anything, [Name] didn’t like research. Even if the research involved something she didn’t understand, she swore to herself that she was going to release the man. During her free time, she would visit the library in hopes of finding something about releasing the man in the basement. Then, during the night time, at every opportunity she could get, she visited the man. She didn’t care if he did not talk to her. She would try her best to keep him at ease while her research progressed on.
Each meeting would involve [Name] talking to him about herself and her life as well as her day, how good or how bad it was and Morpheus would just listen. His instincts were true and that she was harmless and innocent. She violated everything just to spend time with him at every chance she got and this made him feel something. Every time she visited him, he took the time to notice little details about her from head to toe. He knew so much about her from her stories and this fueled his primal urges deep within him. Something he didn’t know he even had. She was something he wanted all his life, something so different from the past lovers he had. Her dedication to him was enough to let Morpheus know that she was made for him. His blunt nails dug into the smooth glass, jaw tight as he stared at the two guards with deadly eyes. When he gets out, he was going to take [Name] away from everything.
This was a promise.
[Name] realised the more time she spent with the man, her heart felt for him and it aches each time their eyes meet through the thick glass cage. Work upstairs was beginning to get harder and harder because all she could think of was to see Morpheus again. Those nights where she was unable to visit him, she would flip through her notebook. There were many gorgeous sketches of him and it would bring a smile to her face. Sarah would question here on why she was always smiling and her answer was always simple and that was that her notebook held beauties only she could comprehend. Her visit to Morpheus was always the same..
Until one day, it wasn’t.
[Name] made sure the coast was clear first before sneaking down to the basement and the view before her had her horrified. The glass cage was broken and the man was no more. She brought a hand to her chest, eyes growing hot. What happened here? Did they kill him? Where has he gone? Too many questions raced [Name]’s mind. She was supposed to be the one to save him, to get him out but he was gone and she didn’t know what happened to him.
So, she did what she had to do. She packed her items on the very same night and ran back home, away from the mansion, away from everything that had happened for the man she had fallen for was no more.
It took weeks for [Name] to normalise back and months to forget about the events of the Burgess mansion. She had a new job at a cafe just a few blocks down the road and this job was quiet enough for the girl. She genuinely enjoyed it.
She packed up for the day and left for her home. As [Name] stepped in, immediately the air didn’t feel light. She furrowed her brows, turning on the lights as she brushed off the odd feeling.
Yet somehow, it felt familiar to her.
[Name] placed her bag on her bed, getting out of her dirty clothes for a much needed hot shower. The cool air pricked her skin, goosebumps appearing on her arms as she stood in front of the mirror for her nightly routine. Dark eyes continued watching her amongst the shadows, eyes trailing down her bare back and lower. His tongue wet his lips, a smirk curled on the corner of it.
[Name] stepped into the shower, the warm water was heavenly on her tired body. Her fingers laced between the locks of her hair, mind drifting as she listened to the sound of the water. Her mind reminisced back to the man in the glass cage. She missed him but she chose to firmly believe that he was not gone. Her heart still ached for him after all this time.
Her eyes fluttered close, enjoying the sensation of water falling on her skin.
Then, lean fingers ghosted over her neck before wrapping around it gently. She didn’t need to resist. She knew who it was.
Wet lips ghosted over her ear as the hand around her neck guided her to lean back. His chest was broad and strong and a low moan left [Name]’s lips as she rested against his chest.
“Ever since you came to me, I knew you were the right one for me. Your voice was like music to my ears, your beauty captivating and your determination to save me was..commendable indeed. All I thought about was to have you for my own and I was afraid that you might get caught by the guards..Yet here you are,” Morpheus purred, slowly tightening his grip on [Name]’s neck. Her eyes flew open, a hand shot up to grab his hand that held her neck. Air was slowly running out.
“I will have you and no one else will. Nothing can take you away from me ever again. I will make sure that you..,” Morpheus gripped [Name]’s neck even tighter now, her world began spinning as she desperately clawed at his hand.
“Will forever be bound to me,” Morpheus promised.
The spinning world eventually turned black. Morpheus held her in his arms, a smile curled on his full lips as he took her expression. Though unconscious, she still wore the smile Morpheus fell for.
He would do anything for [Name]
Anything