Beneath The Ashes - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Ivy's POV
The moment we stepped inside, I felt like I'd wandered into a dream. The mansion was breathtaking. Warm golden light spilled from ornate chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings, casting soft shadows along the polished marble floors. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, intricate carvings curling along the edges, and there was a grand staircase that swept upward, splitting into two directions at the top. Everything felt old, but not in a dusty, forgotten way — more like it held stories in its bones.
I barely resisted the urge to spin around like a kid in a candy store. My gaze darted from the arched doorways to the towering windows draped with heavy velvet curtains. "Wow..." I breathed, tilting my head back to take it all in. "You guys actually live here?"
"Unfortunately," Zayn said with a grin, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "It grows on you."
"Like a tumor," Vale added, his voice dry.
Massimo cleared his throat, drawing my attention. His sharp gaze swept over his brothers. "Zayn, Vale, Jaxon. Office. Now."
Zayn sighed dramatically, giving me a mock salute. "Duty calls. Goodnight, sunshine." He winked before turning toward the hallway, whistling a low tune.
Massimo glanced my way, giving me a small nod that felt almost like a silent acknowledgment. "Get some rest."
Jaxon didn't say anything. He stood there for a moment, arms crossed, before stalking after the others. Vale shot me a parting glance, arching a brow like he couldn't quite figure me out, then followed.
That left me and Declan.
I turned toward him, offering a hesitant smile. "Guess that makes you my tour guide."
Declan shifted slightly, his broad frame casting a shadow across the floor. He nodded once, silently, then started walking.
I hurried to catch up, the heels of my worn sneakers squeaking against the marble. As we walked, the silence stretched between us, heavy and awkward. The only sounds were our footsteps and the distant hum of the wind outside.
"So..." I started, glancing up at him. "I was thinking — you and Jaxon should have a match."
Declan slowed, brow furrowing slightly.
"Yeah." I grinned. "To see who's the quietest."
He didn't answer, but I caught the faintest flicker of amusement in his dark eyes.
Feeling a little braver, I walked backward, facing him as we moved down the hall. "Okay, if it's not a competition, then what is it? Are you always this quiet, or is it just me?"
His gaze met mine, unreadable. "No."
I hummed, tapping my chin. "Hmm. So it's not me. Must be because you've never met anyone interesting enough to talk to." I grinned at him, puffing out my chest dramatically. "Don't worry. I'm very interesting. You'll be talking in no time."
Declan stared at me, his face blank. I shifted nervously under his gaze, my joke suddenly feeling a lot less funny. Oh god. Did I just insult his brothers? I backpedaled, words tumbling out of my mouth in a rush.
"I mean — not that your brothers aren't interesting! I'm sure they are. I just — I ramble when I'm nervous, and I don't mean to disrespect anyone. I'm sorry, I—"
My foot caught on something, and I stumbled backward. A small yelp escaped me as I flailed for balance, but before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms. Declan steadied me effortlessly, his hold firm but gentle.
My heart pounded in my chest as I stared up at him. Then, to my utter shock, he crouched slightly, bringing us eye level.
"No need to apologize." His voice was low, and I felt it more than I heard it. "I'll look forward to our... interesting chats."
I blinked. Did Declan just tease me?
Before I could say anything, he straightened and continued down the hall like nothing had happened. I hurried after him, cheeks burning.
Finally, he stopped in front of a door, pushing it open to reveal a cozy-looking room. The walls were painted a soft cream color, and a large bed sat against one wall, A window overlooked the grounds, and a plush rug stretched across the floor. It was... beautiful. And warm. I'd never had a room like this before.
Declan stepped aside, motioning toward the room. "If you need anything, our rooms are nearby." His voice was quiet "Sleep well."
I opened my mouth to thank him, but he was already walking away, his broad shoulders disappearing into the shadows.
I stood there for a long moment, staring after him
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Declan's POV
The hallway stretched before me, dark and quiet, save for the distant hum of the wind outside. My footsteps were soft against the polished floors, but my mind felt loud. I shoved my hands into my pockets, my brow furrowed as I replayed the last few minutes over in my head.
Ivy.
That girl was... something else.
In the span of five minutes, she'd made me talk. I didn't talk unless it was necessary — what was the point? Words didn't change things. Actions did. But somehow, she managed to pull them out of me without even trying. She filled the silence with light, with warmth, like it didn't even occur to her that someone like me might prefer the quiet.
And she called herself interesting. I scoffed under my breath, though the corner of my mouth twitched. Interesting wasn't the half of it.
As I neared the office, I pushed the door open without knocking. The atmosphere inside was tense, the air thick with unspoken words.
Massimo stood by the window, his arms crossed, staring into the darkness outside. Zayn leaned against the desk, arms folded casually, though the flicker of curiosity in his eyes gave him away. Vale was pacing, brows furrowed, looking two seconds away from exploding. Jaxon stood near the bookshelves, his back against the wall, face unreadable.
The moment the door clicked shut behind me, Vale let out a frustrated sound, throwing his hands in the air. "Alright, someone explain to me why the hell there's a random girl sleeping in our house right now."
"Not random," Zayn corrected with a smirk. "She's sunshine incarnate. Haven't you noticed?"
Vale shot him a look. "Not in the mood, Zayn." He turned to Massimo, eyes narrowing. "Seriously, what the hell is going on?"
Massimo finally turned from the window, his gaze steady. "That's what I was about to explain." He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his dark hair before facing us fully. "Ivy isn't charity." His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words that made everyone fall silent.
Massimo looked down for a moment, his expression unreadable, before speaking again. "Before Mom died... we used to talk about having a sister." His gaze drifted, almost as if he were seeing something none of us could. "She always said we needed balance. That maybe if we had someone softer in our lives, it would keep us from turning into..." He gestured vaguely, "...this."
Silence blanketed the room. I shifted, uncomfortable. Massimo rarely talked about Mom. None of us did.
He clenched his jaw. "I don't believe in fate. Or God. But tonight... finding Ivy? It felt like more than coincidence." He looked at each of us in turn, his voice low and certain. "She needed someone."
Massimo's eyes met mine, then Jaxon's. "If we'd left her there, knowing what Marco did to her — knowing we could've done something — we would've failed Mom. Blood doesn't matter. I agree She's not our blood.But this is her home now." His gaze sharpened, landing on Vale. "And you'll treat her with respect. Otherwise, there's no difference between us and Marco."
Vale's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Massimo inhaled deeply, running a hand over his face. "I'm not saying we owe her anything. But we have a responsibility now. Don't make her feel like an outsider. She Is Our Sister!"
The room fell silent. Then Zayn cleared his throat, pushing off the desk. "Well," he said, dragging out the word, "if this is her home now, she's going to need clothes. she left everything behind as I told her, so I'll take care of that tomorrow." He shot a grin toward Massimo. "You're welcome."
I raised a brow.
Zayn shrugged. "What? Sunshine deserves a wardrobe."
I scoffed quietly, shaking my head. "She's already assigned me to some sort of... talking session." I frowned at the memory. "Apparently, She is supposed to keep me entertained."
Zayn's eyes widened in mock horror. "Declan? Socializing?" He clutched his chest. "What a tragedy."
"Shut up."
Jaxon shifted, arms still crossed. "She'll need... other things." His voice was quiet, almost reluctant. "Hygiene products. I'll take care of it." He glanced away, scowling as if the words physically pained him. "Don't make a big deal out of it."
Zayn's jaw dropped. "Look at us. Declan's chatting, Jaxon's running errands... What's next? Vale gonna bake her a cake?"
Vale sneered. "Screw you. I'll be supervising while you idiots play house." He flopped into one of the armchairs, crossing his arms.
Massimo pinched the bridge of his nose. "Vale, for once in your life, try not to be an ass."
Vale huffed. "You're all morons. She doesn't even have a phone." He waved a hand in the air. "In this day and age, that's practically a crime. Since none of you are capable, I'll get her one as I am Best tech in the state, naturally." He slouched further into the chair. "But don't expect anything else from me."
Massimo sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Progress, I suppose."
Zayn snorted. "We're doomed."
Massimo's gaze swept over all of us, his face hard. "She's not our blood. But that wont be mentioned in this house ever agin.From this point on, she's family. Don't forget that."