Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 144: Haunted Villa

Braelyn’s POV

My hands trembled slightly as I pulled out the gate keys from my bag. The lock clicked open, and after that, I didn’t walk in immediately. "Sorry, I need a moment," I whispered and he seemed to understand

The old iron gates looked taller than I remembered from the pictures. It felt almost imposing. The metal was cold under my fingers as I pushed the key into the rusty lock. It creaked loudly, almost sounding ominous, as it echoed through the empty property.

The sound made Lucien flinch behind me. He was terrified of ghosts. A small smile curled on my lips but I didn’t comment on my new discovery.

The gates finally swung open and we stepped inside dragging our luggage

The property felt almost unreal in the early morning light. Dawn was barely breaking, a faint orange glow spilling over the horizon, catching on the trees that filled the entire estate. Even in late autumn, when most leaves were turning brittle and orange, the place looked strangely beautiful. According to what Gregor mentioned in his letter the villa was timeless.

" Come on. Don’t tell me you are scared." I teased Lucien after pushing the iron gate closed. He sighed, "Let’s hope I am wrong because the moment I spot a ghost I am dragging your ass out of here." Lucien says seriously before proceeding.

Our footsteps accompanied with the rolling sounds of the box wheels continued towards the villa. The crunching sounds of leaves rustling under our feet and the snapping of twigs followed our footsteps

The road leading up to the villa was narrow, lined with tall trees whose branches arched overhead, creating a soft tunnel of shadows. Fallen leaves brushed against my ankles as the breeze moved them lightly.

My gaze darted around trying to take in the scenery. I noticed everything, including the small flowers which were just recently trimmed, dotting the edges of the path.

The surreal way the leaves fell blending with the orange morning light. I couldn’t help but imagine what it would look like in spring... probably breathtaking.

Slowly, I understood why Mum loved it here. It made me feel like I was getting closer to her.

Lucien walked behind me, dragging our two small travel boxes along the stone pathway. He had insisted on handling the luggage himself.

The wheels made a soft rumbling sound as they rolled over uneven ground. For someone who claimed to hate this place, he was surprisingly quiet, his warm breath slightly visible in the cold dawn air.

I drew in a deep breath as soon as the villa came into view.

It was old and dreamy like the villa seen in novels, nevertheless, it was also beautiful. I had to suck in a breath. I still didn’t understand why Dad could never bring himself to take me there. Did the villa remind him too much of Mum?

The tall glass windows reflected the weak morning light, giving the whole structure a dreamy, abandoned charm. Vines curled around parts of the wall, and the wooden shutters were still closed, keeping the inside dark.

We stopped under the light hanging from the front porch. I immediately searched through my purse to find the main entrance keys. The key slid through the lock. The loud click sound echoed after a twist and I pushed the heavy door open.

The heavy wooden door groaned as I pushed it. A rush of cold air brushed past my legs.

Lucien gave a low whistle. "Alright... we come in peace," he announced dramatically as if the house had ears. His voice echoed slightly in the quiet air.

I burst out laughing. "It’s not haunted."

"Sure," he muttered. "That’s exactly what people say before something drags them away." His expression was almost comical

Inside, the villa was almost pitch black. The windows were sealed shut and the curtains were drawn tightly, making the place feel colder than it should have. A shiver crawled up my spine before I could stop it.

Lucien stopped right behind me, close enough that I felt his warmth against my back. "Brae..." His voice was low. "If something jumps out, I am leaving you behind," he said in a low voice, as if he wanted to scare me.

"That is something pretty heroic to say. Leaving the damsel in distress." I snorted and reached for the light switch by the door.

Lucien sighed dramatically. "I might not have a choice because you would be too stubborn to run." He whined although I was certain he was teasing me.

The lights flickered on after I found the switch close to the door. Dust floated lazily in the air, revealing the empty foyer, which felt like it had been empty for ages despite a cleaning crew being here just yesterday to clean up before our arrival.

"Will you seriously leave me alone in danger? You are truly a piece of work," I hissed at him, eyeing him down. His lips twitched. "You know I was joking, right?"

I only scoffed in response and headed for the stairs after closing the door behind him. Although I didn’t want to admit it. There was truly something strange about this villa.

I just hope an actual ghost wasn’t going to jump scare me. There was this cold feeling that didn’t go away. It wrapped around my arms and settled deep in my chest

The kind of cold that wasn’t just temperature, more like a premonition. For a second, I wondered if Lucien was right, if something was lingering here or maybe it was just nerves. I shook my head trying to push off the thought

At the top of the stairs, I glanced back at Lucien, who was handling the luggage without a hassle. It felt like he was showing off with his effortless lift; he lifted them each in one hand.

"Are you sure you don’t need help?" I asked him out of concern. He stopped next to me at the top of the stairs. A waft of his scent hit me as he got too close. I had to crank my head to meet his gaze.

"It’s nothing. Where is the master’s bedroom? I need to catch some sleep." He replied as his gaze darted around the empty hallway. I reached out for another light switch which flickered on and brightened the way immediately.

Without a word, I proceeded in the direction of the master’s bedroom. I had a mental picture of the Villa’s house plan so it wasn’t a big deal. Down the hallway, I noticed several landscape paintings, but there wasn’t a single picture of my parents, which I found weird since they supposedly had been here a lot of times.

Strangely, walking through the fall felt like walking into a place filled with ghosts of my parents’ memories. It left a heavy weight on my heart.

I stepped through a door which felt like the master’s bedroom. My parents’ supposed bedroom. I was curious what it looked like

Lucien nudged my shoulder lightly. "You okay?" he noticed the way I felt uneasy. I nodded slowly, even though I wasn’t sure.

"You will be staying in the opposite room." I pointed at the door opposite me and Lucien stared at me like I lost my mind.

"You really think I would leave you alone in this place. What if something happens and I am too far away?" He retorted leaving no room for arguments.

"Nothing is going to happen." I stubbornly argue.

"How certain are you?" He wasn’t giving up. Lucien pushed the door open then switched on the light. "I am staying with you, there is no room for arguments. This place gives me the creeps, and the only way I can be assured is next to you." He deadpanned before adding in a teasing tone.

"Unless you are the one who doesn’t trust herself around me."