Page 21 of A Twisted Gift

“What happens now?” I ask. Erik has given me some answers, but new questions are sprouting in my brain every second.

“We stay here until you adjust. I know this is a lot for you, and I don’t want to pull you away from all you’ve ever known too quickly. Then… well, I’m not sure. We’ll have to see how Charles reacts to your disappearance. Ivan, too. But for right now, I only want you focusing on the fact that you’re free. Starting tomorrow, we can try to get you more acclimated to… everything.”

Everything.There are so many things I’ve always wanted to do. Go to the movies and museums, travel, make friends. It’s always sounded so lovely in the books I’ve read, although…

Biting the inside of my cheek, I stare into my empty bowl.Is it safe? What about the murderers?

I almost ask Erik, but I don’t want to upset him again tonight. Besides, he promised to protect me. He wouldn’t take me anywhere that he couldn’t do that.

“I know this is all difficult for you,” Erik tells me, “and I want to make it as easy as possible. This is probably the worst time of the year to take you, and I’m sorry, I really am. I just… I couldn’t leave you there.”

It takes me a moment to realize what he means, and then my heart sinks. “I’ll miss Christmas.”

Shaking his head, Erik holds out his hand to me. “Come here. I have something to show you.”

Once I place my hand in his, he leads me through the house. Most of it is dark and empty, just as I imagined it almost all of my life. I’ve never thought of a house as hollow before, but that’s exactly how this one feels. It’s like someone carved out all the happiness and life and left it to rot.

The room Erik guides me into is only lit by dying flames in the fireplace and whatever moonlight has managed to filter through the thick clouds in the sky. It’s warm, though—the warmest part of the house—and Erik seems more relaxed now that we’re not in the kitchen. Before, I didn’t realize he was tense, but his shoulders have dropped an inch, and his steps are lighter.

“Stay here,” he tells me before he disappears into the darkness.

A moment later, there’s a quietclick, and the room fills with soft, warm light. A tall Christmas tree stands in the corner, twinkling and surrounded by presents. Candy canes hang from the branches, and my mouth waters at the sight.

There’s a couch and a few armchairs in here as well, all facing the fireplace, and a stack of books on the coffee table in the center. It all looks picturesque, almost too pretty to touch.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.

Erik rejoins me, his hands in his pockets. “We can spend Christmas together. I know it won’t be what you’re used to, but I’ll do everything I can to make you happy. Tomorrow and every day after.”

Every day after.My heart leaps at the possibility. “You want that?”

“It’sallI want, Raina.”

The urge to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him takes over me, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do, or how I’d even go about it if it was.

Instead, I stare at all the gifts piled under the tree. There are so many, and they’re each wrapped so beautifully. “Is someone else joining us for Christmas?”

He frowns. “No.”

“Then where did all the presents come from?”

“From me, Raina,” he says. “For you.”

“Forme?”

I stare at all the gifts, wrapped so prettily and piled so high. It doesn’t feel right, knowing they’re meant for me. My mind hasn’t even fully registered that Erik came back for me. Add this, and it’s all… dizzyingly overwhelming.

“You’ve gotten Christmas presents before, haven’t you?” he asks slowly.

“Not from Father or Lydia. They gave everyone else loads of presents for Christmas, but the only person who ever got me something was Marissa. But that’s all right. I was just happy that I got to spend Christmas morning with everyone.”

“So you’d sit there and watch your siblings open gifts all morning but never had any for yourself?” he asks, his tone flat. “Except the one from your sister?”

I nod. “It’s all right, though. Father drops almost all the rules on Christmas day. He’s nicer—not as angry. I’m allowed to eat asmany cookies as I want, and he lets me stay out after dinner so I can watch a movie with them all before bed.”

“So he did lock you away at night,” Erik says softly.

“Father likes to not have to be reminded of me all the time. He lets me wander around the house during the day—Marissa would get upset if he didn’t—but after dinner, I’m supposed to stay in my room.”

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