Chapter 16: A Summons to Darkness
The nightmare clung to Isabella like a second skin as she jolted awake, sheets tangled around her legs. The space beside her was empty—Marco’s absence more jarring than his presence had ever been. Pale dawn light seeped through the curtains, casting the room in a sickly gray haze. 5:37 AM blinked on the clock. Too early for this. Too early for anything but the slow creep of dread.
A sharp rap at the front door shattered the silence. Her pulse spiked as she fumbled for clothes—sweatpants, an old tee, whatever her hands found first. The knocking came again, louder, impatient. Like whoever stood on the other side already knew she was hesitating.
She peered through the peephole. A chauffeur in a crisp black uniform stood rigid on the porch, face blank as a mannequin’s. Behind him, a sleek town car idled at the curb, exhaust curling into the cold morning air. Her stomach dropped. Nothing good ever arrived before sunrise.
She cracked the door. “Yeah?”
“Isabella Rossi?” The chauffeur’s voice was smooth, impersonal. “Ms. Donna Hayes requests your presence at the estate. Immediately.”
“Requests?” The word tasted bitter.
He didn’t blink. “She was clear. You have one hour.” He extended an embossed card between two gloved fingers. The address glared up at her—that fucking mansion, all marble and bad memories.
She took the card, fingers trembling. “Tell her I’m coming.”
The door clicked shut behind her. She pressed her forehead against the cool wood, breathing through the nausea. Donna. After all this time. Why now? The kids needed to know.
Tony was already at the kitchen table, laptop glow painting his face blue. He glanced up, wary. “What’s wrong?”
“Donna.” Isabella’s voice was flat. “Summoned me to the estate.”
His fingers froze over the keyboard. “For what?”
“No clue.” She rubbed her temples. “But it’s not a social call.”
Marco and Sofia shuffled in, drawn by the tension. Sofia yawned, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Why’s everyone up?”
“Donna wants to see me,” Isabella said.
Marco crossed his arms. “And we’re all going.”
“What,” Isabella's head snapped up, “really?” The entire family nodded.
The car ride was silent except for the hum of tires on asphalt. Isabella stared out the window, watching the city blur past. The sky bled from black to bruised purple. Every mile closer to that house felt like stepping into a trap.
The estate loomed ahead, its wrought-iron gates swinging open like jaws. The chauffeur parked at the grand entrance, gravel crunching under the tires. Isabella exhaled slowly. No turning back now.
The foyer was worse than she remembered—all cold marble and that goddamn chandelier casting jagged shadows. A grand piano sat in the corner, keys gleaming like teeth. The air smelled like lilies and something sharper, metallic.
Donna stood at the top of the staircase, blonde hair spilling over a silk robe. She smirked down at them. “Isabella. How… prompt. And you brought the whole circus.”
Isabella clenched her fists. “Cut the shit, Donna. What do you want?”
Donna descended, heels clicking like a countdown. “To show you what your dear Richard left behind.” She clapped once.
A maid wheeled in a garment rack. Two uniforms hung there—black lace, white aprons, the kind Isabella hadn’t worn in twenty years. Her throat tightened.
“Recognize these?” Donna plucked one off the hanger, dangling it like roadkill. “Your ex had a whole collection. Even got one tailored for me.”
The maid held up the second uniform—larger, cut for curves.
Donna’s lips curled. “He wanted us both to play dress-up. Can you imagine?” She flung the uniform back. “I thought you should know what a sick fuck he really was.”
Isabella’s vision tunneled. “He’s dead. Let it go.”
“Oh, I will.” Donna grabbed the larger uniform. “Starting with this.”
Before Isabella could react, Donna yanked it over her head. The silk clung to her, skirt riding up her thighs. She looked absurd—blonde bombshell in a slutty maid costume.
Silence.
Tony’s breath hitched. Marco’s grin turned feral. Sofia bit her lip.
Donna struck a pose. “Well? How do I look?”
Tony lunged. “Like fucking dessert.”
Marco blocked him, eyes dark. “Easy. Plenty to go around.”
Sofia giggled. “This’ll be fun.”
Isabella’s stomach lurched as her kids advanced on Donna, hunger in their eyes. The foyer felt suddenly smaller, the air thicker.
Donna backpedaled. “What the hell—get away from me!”
Tony grabbed her wrist. “Time to earn your keep.”
Marco seized her other arm. “Bet you clean up real nice.”
Sofia circled behind her. “Let’s play house.”
Donna’s scream echoed off the marble as they dragged her toward the stairs. Isabella stood frozen, nausea rising. The piano keys glared, untouched.
Upstairs, a door slammed. A muffled shriek cut off abruptly.
Isabella hugged herself, shaking. The air smelled like lilies and something coppery. What had she just unleashed? And who the hell was going to stop it?
The piano's melody twisted into something darker as Isabella climbed the stairs. Each step groaned like a dying animal. Her fingers left damp prints on the banister.
At the landing, the hallway stretched like a throat. Behind the third door—whimpers. Gagging sounds. The wet slap of skin on skin.
She pushed the door open.
Gold drapes. Silk sheets. Donna spreadeagled like a broken doll, her maid uniform shredded to lace scraps. Mascara streaked her cheeks. A pearl necklace dug into her throat.
Tony's groin was buried between her lips. "She's better at this than mom," he mumbled against her skin.
Marco had Donna bent over, his jeans around his ankles. "Fuck, she's tight," he grunted, slamming into her.
Sofia licked Donna's clit with methodical precision. "Relax," she murmured. "You'll enjoy it more."
Donna's scream was muffled by Tony's cock in her mouth. Her manicured hands clawed at the sheets.
Isabella's knees buckled. The room smelled like Chanel No. 5 and sweat.
Tony pulled out of Donna's mouth with a pop. "Mom?" His lips glistened. "You wanna...?"
Marco didn't stop thrusting. "Told you she'd come."
Sofia smiled up at Isabella. "There's room."
Donna sobbed. "Please—"
Marco slapped her ass. "Quiet."
Isabella's pulse hammered in her wrists. Richard's ghost lurked in every corner of this gilded cage. That bastard had known. Planned it. Left the uniforms like fucking breadcrumbs.
Donna's tear-filled eyes locked onto Isabella's. A silent scream.
Isabella's fingers twitched.
The piano downstairs hit a discordant note.
And then—
She stepped forward.
The carpet was plush under her bare feet, swallowing sound. Sofia grinned up at her, lips glistening. "Mom, you gotta try this." A strand of auburn hair stuck to her cheek. "My cheerleader friends taught me a few things."
Isabella's pulse thundered in her ears. Donna's thighs trembled against the sheets, skin flushed pink. The scent of sweat and something muskier clung to the air.
"I..." Her voice cracked.
Sofia rolled her eyes. "C'mon. It'll be fun." She licked her lips. "Besides, Donna deserves it after everything."
Marco laughed, hips snapping forward. "Family bonding time." His smirk sent heat crawling up Isabella's spine.
Tony tugged her wrist. "Your turn, Mom." His fingers were sticky.
Isabella exhaled. Kneeling felt like surrender. The mattress dipped under her weight. Donna's breath hitched—sharp, panicked.
"This isn't personal," Isabella murmured.
Donna's nails dug into the sheets. "What?"
Isabella ignored her, leaning toward Sofia. "Show me."
Sofia's whisper tickled her ear. "First, get her wet..."
Isabella's tongue darted out. Salt. Silk. A flinch beneath her. Donna whimpered, back arching.
"No—please—"
Isabella pressed harder. Sofia's instructions echoed in her skull—flick, circle, suck. Donna's thighs clenched.
"Stop—"
Isabella pulled back. "Here's the deal." She wiped her mouth. "Sign over the estate."
Donna's pupils swallowed the blue of her eyes. "You wouldn't."
The piano downstairs played a sour note.
Silence stretched.
Then—
Marco laughed.
"You're joking."
Sofia's fingers twitched against Donna's inner thigh, nails digging just enough to leave crescent moons in the skin. Her eyes flicked to Isabella's, pupils blown wide.
Isabella exhaled through her nose. The air smelled like Donna's perfume—something expensive and floral—mixed with the musk of sweat and sex. She watched Sofia's fingers trace invisible patterns on Donna's skin, the way they paused just above the trembling junction of her thighs.
"Mom," Sofia murmured, not looking up. "You should—"
Donna whimpered. "Get the fuck away from me."
Isabella's fingers curled into fists. The game had shifted. This wasn't just about revenge anymore.
She stepped closer, the mattress dipping under her weight. Donna flinched.
"Sign the papers," Isabella said, voice low. "Now." Her fingers brushed Donna's inner thigh, higher than Sofia's had dared.
Donna's breath hitched. "You're insane."
Isabella's fingers trailed higher, finding slick heat. "Am I?" She pressed—not hard, just enough to make Donna's hips jerk.
The gasp Donna let out was ragged, torn from somewhere deep. "Don't—"
Isabella ignored her, circling Donna's clit with practiced ease. "The estate, Donna." Her thumb pressed down. "Or this gets a lot rougher."
Marco's hips snapped forward, his breath coming in short bursts. "Sign it, bitch."
Tony nuzzled Donna's neck, lips brushing her pulse point. "Think of the children, Donna." His tongue darted out. "You always wanted kids."
Donna's eyes darted between Isabella and the ceiling, her chest rising and falling too fast. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple.
"Fine," she choked out. "Fine! Just... stop."
Isabella smirked and pulled back, nodding at Tony. "Get the papers."
Tony scrambled off the bed, nearly tripping over his own jeans. He grabbed the briefcase from the corner, fumbling with the latches. Papers spilled onto the floor.
"Here," he said, thrusting them at Donna along with a pen.
Donna's hand shook as she signed, the pen scratching against the paper. Her signature was barely legible—just a jagged line of ink.
Isabella took the papers, scanning them once before nodding.
Marco and Tony moved as one, their bodies slamming into Donna with renewed force. Marco's fingers dug into Donna's hips hard enough to bruise. Tony's teeth grazed her shoulder.
Donna's back arched off the bed, her mouth open in a silent scream.
Isabella watched, arms crossed. The piano downstairs hit a final, discordant note.
Then—silence.
Donna's eyelids fluttered like moth wings against glass. A vein pulsed at her temple, throbbing in time with Marco's relentless thrusts. Her mouth fell open, slack-jawed, as Sofia's fingers worked merciless circles against her swollen clit.
"Fuck," Donna gasped, her hips jerking involuntarily. "I can't—"
Sofia smirked, twisting her wrist. "Sure you can."
The air smelled like sex and Donna's expensive perfume gone sour with sweat. Isabella watched from the foot of the bed, arms crossed, as Donna's body betrayed her—arching off the mattress, toes curling into the silk sheets.
"Almost there," Sofia murmured, breath hot against Donna's inner thigh. Her fingers sped up, nails scraping skin. "Gonna make you scream."
Donna's head thrashed side to side, blonde hair sticking to her damp forehead. "Stop—please—"
Marco chuckled, hips snapping forward. "Begging already?" He gripped her waist tighter, fingers digging bruises into pale skin. "We barely started."
Tony leaned in, licking a stripe up Donna's neck. "Come for us, princess."
Donna's back bowed like a drawn bowstring. A strangled noise tore from her throat—half-sob, half-moan.
Isabella stepped closer, the floorboards creaking under her weight. She caught Donna's chin, forcing their eyes to meet. "I gave you permission to come," she whispered, thumb tracing Donna's bottom lip. "But once you do..."
Donna whimpered, pupils blown wide.
"...you belong to this family." Isabella's nails dug into Donna's jaw. "Forever."
Donna came with a shattered cry, body convulsing between them. Marco groaned, thrusting harder as she clenched around him. Sofia laughed, fingers working Donna through the aftershocks.
Tony pulled out with a wet pop, grinning as he wiped himself on Donna's discarded maid uniform. "Told you she'd break."
Donna collapsed against the sheets, chest heaving. Tears streaked her mascara into raccoon smudges.
Marco rolled off her, sweat glistening on his chest."Now what?" He smirked at Isabella, cock still hard.
Sofia straddled Donna's limp body, tracing idle patterns down her spine. "Now we have some fun." She leaned down, lips brushing Donna's ear. "Don't worry." A pause. "You'll get used to it."
Donna stared at the ceiling, tears pooling in the hollow of her throat. Her fingers twitched against the rumpled sheets.
Isabella walked to the window, pushing the curtains aside. Dawn painted the estate grounds in gold and pink—her estate now. The manicured hedges, the marble fountain, the wrought-iron gates. All hers.
Behind her, Sofia giggled as Marco rolled Donna onto her stomach. Tony's hands wandered over Donna's trembling thighs.
A smile curled Isabella's lips. The piano downstairs remained silent—for now. But the house felt different. Lighter. As if it had been waiting for this moment.
She turned back to the bed, watching her family claim their newest member. The game had just begun.