Riven stepped inside the bedroom and locked the door with a quiet click.
He looked at the lady lying on the bed. She lay there with her eyes half-closed. Her breathing looked slow and heavy, like someone who had too much to drink. Her blouse was a little messy. One arm hung off the side of the bed.
Riven smiled to himself. His heart beating faster.
Though Livienne had told him the instructions: Undress her and set everything up as if she had forced herself on him. But looking at her timid, helpless figure on the bed, he couldn't help being greedy for more.
Livienne had told him stories about Elara. How she was quiet but still a possible threat to her in the future, easy to push around, someone who would not fight back. Now she looked perfect: helpless, alone, unable to say no.
He walked closer with slow steps so the floor would not creak too loud. He stood right next to the bed and looked down at her. His eyes moved over her face, her neck, her body. He licked his lips once.
"Elara," he said in a low voice, almost a whisper. "You awake?"
She made a small sound—something confused and weak, like a mumble that did not make sense. Her head turned a little to the side, but her eyes stayed mostly closed.
Riven laughed softly under his breath. "Good girl. Just relax."
He sat on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped under his weight. He reached out and touched her cheek with the back of his fingers. Her skin felt cool. He moved his hand down slowly—along her jaw, then to her neck. His fingers stayed there for a second, feeling her pulse. It was steady, but he thought it was because she was too drunk.
He leaned in closer. His breath touched her face. He could smell the faint sweet drink on her. His other hand went to her shoulder, pressing lightly like he was testing if she would move. She did not. She just let out another small, slurred sound.
Riven's smile grew bigger and he shifted closer on the bed. One knee came up so he could lean over her more. His hand slid from her shoulder down her arm, then to her waist. He squeezed a little.
"You're so pretty," he murmured, his voice sounding both eager and excited. "No one will know. Just us."
He moved his face closer to hers. His lips were almost touching her ear. He whispered something dirty—words that made his own breath come faster. His hand started to move again, this time toward the bottom of her blouse, like he was about to lift it.
Elara's lips moved. She said something very soft and messy. It sounded like nonsense—"no… lights… turn off…the lights"—but it was enough to make Riven pause for half a second. He chuckled. At least,she has a bit of conscience.
"Shh. Don't worry. I'll go turn it off."
Impatiently, he stood up and went to turn off the switch. He then came back to the bed and leaned down more. His body was almost over hers now. One hand reached for her waist. The other reached up toward her face, ready to turn her head so he could—
–
Back at the party, someone whispered into Livienne's ear. Then she nodded, with a satisfied expression.
"I should check on Elara." She said excusing herself while people started praising her again. "She's so caring."
Livienne knocked on the door gently. "Elara?"
No answer. She smiled.
She returned to the party and asked, "Has anyone seen Riven?"
Someone replied, "I think he went that way."
Livienne froze, then looked shocked.
"Elara is drunk, I hope she hasn't done anything crazy..." She muttered to herself, but said it in a way that others would hear her. The people heard,and they were rendered curious.
"Does anyone know how to unlock doors?" she asked urgently.
A man stepped forward and she led him quickly to the room she'd prepared for Elara. The other people followed her.
Lyra was a bit confused, though it hadn't been long since she became close to Elara,she couldn't believe the thoughts forming in everyone's mind is something Elara could do. But she followed.
When the door was opened, the room was very dark. So dark that they couldn't see the 'entangled figures on the bed' clearly.
"Turn on the lights!" the man who had opened the door shouted, anticipation clear in his voice.
A lady standing closest to the wall stretched out her hand, feeling around blindly. Her fingers slid across the wall awkwardly, knocking into something hard. "Where is it?" she kept muttering. Everyone waited impatiently urging her to be quick.
Click.
The lights came on and for half a second, no one spoke.Then—
"What?!"
The figures everyone thought were intertwined, was not on the bed at all.
Riven was on the floor. Tied up. A wave of humiliation washed through him.
His hands were bound tightly behind his back with his own leather belt—yanked from his waist while he was still reeling from her sudden, vicious knee to the groin.
His legs were lashed together at the ankles into an ugly knot with a twisted length of bedsheet she'd ripped from the fitted corner in one furious pull.
His mouth was stuffed with one of his own socks, balled up and shoved in deep during the struggle when he'd tried to shout, then secured by wrapping the thin cord from the bedside lamp charger around his head twice, pulling it tight enough to muffle everything he says into angry grunts.
Riven's face burned crimson with fury and humiliation, veins bulging at his temples. His eyes were wild and wide, locked onto Elara as she sat calmly on the chair across from him.
She had played the part perfectly, making him think she was eager and ready to give in. He'd relaxed, letting her push him back onto the bed—only for her to flip the script in the dark, using his own momentum and overconfidence against him.
Now he glared at her with pure hatred, convinced she'd deceived him, tricked him, and turned his own arrogance into this pathetic, helpless display. The embarrassment was worse than any pain.
Elara's back was straight and her eyes were clear. There was no sign of drunkenness on her face at all, as if she had just been sitting there waiting.
The room exploded.
"What is this?"
"How did this happen?"
"Is this a joke?"
Livienne gasped loudly, one hand flying to her chest. "Riven?" she called out, her voice shaking. "What happened? Elara, what is going on?"
She looked around as if trying to understand the scene, but her feet stayed firmly in place. Her mind was racing. How did it led to this?
Riven tried to talk, but all that came out were angry muffled sounds.
The people stared at Elara in shock. Some were already whispering.
"Did she do this?"
"She looks fine…"
"This is scary."
Elara finally spoke up. Her voice calm and clear. "Livienne, is this how you take care of your guests?" She asked sternly and the room went quiet immediately.
Elara stood up.
"Riven came in and tried to force himself on me. But luckily, I became a bit sober in time." She continued looking directly at Livienne. "So I defended myself. You didn't know about this?"
Livienne froze for a second, then she shook her head quickly. "I… I didn't know," she said weakly. "I only asked someone to take care of you because you looked so drunk. I didn't expect this."
People began to murmur.
"She couldn't have known."
"She's always kind."
"This must be Riven's fault."
"I'm so disappointed, I've always admired him." A lady said amidst tears.
Someone even said, "Poor Livienne. She was just trying to help."
Elara suddenly snorted loudly. Everyone froze again.
Lyra, who had been standing at the back, suddenly said loudly, "Wow. So this is what 'taking care' means now? Should I try it sometime?" Thousands of eyes glared at her and she smiles back at them, awkwardly.
Elara walked forward slowly, stopping right in front of Livienne.
Livienne forced a smile. "He was probably drunk, don't be angry." She said softly while Elara scoffed.
Drunk? Who was supposed to be drunk here?
She turned away without shouting or arguing with her. Then she walked out. Lyra hurried after her, still shaking her head in disbelief.
Behind them, whispers exploded again and Riven's furious, muffled sounds echoed uselessly in the room...