Damon Bodies hung upside down, bearing a striking resemblance to a butchery. Beside each body was a tag and a picture. From where I stood, I could see each picture perfectly. Each one showed Cassandra standing over the bodies with a crazed smile. Underneath each picture was an inscription: "It was a mistake," written in a shaky handwriting. "What the fuck is this?" Miguel finally managed to ask. "An overindulgence of a madwoman," Alessandro answered as he entered the room. There were a total of seven bodies, signaling seven murders. "Take the pictures. When you're done, we burn it to the ground," I said as I exited the room. Barely an hour later, I stood outside the building with Stefano beside me. He conjured a ball of fire in his hand, grinning as it grew the size of his head. He leaned back suddenly and threw the ball like a baseball pitch, with perfect form. The fireball hit the door hanging off its hinges and went straight into the building, engulfing it in flames and sendin
Damon "That literally makes no sense," Alessandro said behind me. "This man clothed you. He gave you purpose. He gave you a family. And all you can think about is your own?" Ted, whom I expected to speak, said nothing. He just looked at the man he called brother and turned his eyes away. "I'm tired of this," I said as I stood up. "I will give you one day—two days—to get your shit and get out of my city. If I catch you anywhere near my shores, I will hack you to pieces until there's nothing left. Let's go," I said to my men. Armed with the new evidence we had, we decided to take the sea route back to the city. I bid Joseph and the captain goodbye as the vans pulled away from the ship with us inside. The ride back to the upper city was silent. I replayed the sight of Michael over and over again in my mind until my heart began to ache at his betrayal and potential loss. Perhaps no one had ever recorded a withdrawal from the mask like that, but I began to feel as though a door was cl
Isabella I stood in front of the large double doors of the manor. The wood was so familiar, as was the entire environment. It was so nostalgic standing there one more time. I reached out toward the door handle and slowly pulled it down, remembering the feel of the last time I did it. I pushed the door open and stepped into the marble foyer. It was grand, pristine, and beautiful, just as I remembered. Above a small fountain stood a large chandelier made with gold and diamond crystals. I remembered the first time it was brought inside. Father was standing by the stairs, watching the men wield it in different parts. They mounted their ladders and began to assemble it slowly. Eventually, after three days, they finished putting together the chandelier. Frederick came out of the door to the left, which I remembered led to the dining and kitchen areas, as well as the walkway that led to the West Wing. "I remember when this was brought," I pointed at the fountain. "I must have been five.
Isabella "For the first time in a while, I slept quite well, even though I had a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that something was going to happen. I woke up to find Paula staring at me with her hands on her hips and her lips locked in a pout. "What did I do?" I managed to croak out as I pushed myself to a sitting position. "You didn't tell me about what happened in the lower City. I had to squeeze the story from Ted. Look what he made me," she suddenly broke out into a smile as she sat on the bed beside me after climbing over my body and even pulling on my hair with her hands. "Look," she said again as she opened her hand to reveal a small rose made of metal. "This is so cute," I told her as I picked up the rose. It suddenly turned into a bracelet and then back to a rose. "It's not for you," she said. "It doesn't really turn into a bracelet on my hand and stay that way. It also has these beautiful patterns of roses all around it. Damon said he saw Michael. He said he loo
Isabella I smiled and then crossed my legs, tapping my finger on my knee, a habit Damon taught me. "She would have had to have help on the inside," Donatella said, just as Julio walked into the room. "You're here," he said to Alessandro, then turned to me. "Pardon the intrusion, Princess, but I'm sure he must have told you already." "Yes, my cousin escaped. I'm well aware of that," I said, leaning back into the chair. Suddenly, I realized something. "Frederick? Where is he?" "I had someone watch him," Alessandro said. "He said Frederick only made a few calls." "Heard Frederick loves Cassandra," I said. "There's no way he would love her. After all, he was the one who brought her to you in the first place," Julio said with a laugh. "Then let's invite him here and have a talk." "No," Alessandro said suddenly, startling me with the tone of his voice. "The Master certainly does not want that man here. If anyone will meet Frederick, they will go outside." "Fine. Outside," I said as
Isabella Frederick looked at me with guarded eyes and a face that seemed to hold information. His mouth was set in a hard line, and his eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. "Do you love her?" I asked him again, and this time he shook his head fervently. "So, why did you help her?" "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his eyebrows still knitted together. "I see," I said as I sipped the tea brought by the manor staff. "When are you moving out, Frederick?" "Moving out of where? I find that look of confusion on your face to be simply remarkable," I said with a giggle as I set down the teacup. His face looked puzzled, then his eyes widened in recognition, and his face colored pink with embarrassment. "I don't understand what you mean by moving out," he said. "You're in my house, Frederick. My parents' house. Whether or not you have a place to live is of no consequence to me. I generally don't want you here." I lifted the cup again to my face and took a sip. He look
Isabella "Where are your children?" I asked. "And I'm not asking because I want to hurt them. I believe that as next-line members for the family headship, they should know about their birthright. You should teach them about that birthright. And I don't think it's quite right for you to meddle in my business, princess." "I find that rather unfair," I responded. "Considering how you can meddle in my business, but I can't talk about yours. Of course, I understand this might be a sore subject for you, especially considering the fact that your key ally is dead and his family does not sit amongst the six anymore. Granted, it doesn't change the fact that they are still alive, but in some ways, it might negate the generational agreement between you two." "You don't know what you're talking about, princess. If that's how you want to play things, fine. I cannot force you. I'm simply trying to show that I mean no harm, and I want to help. Genuinely, I want to." "I don't need your help, prin
Damon I opened the door long before I heard her knock. My sense of smell is getting stronger, allowing me to smell her from over 100 meters away. But that wasn't all. My ears could pick up the distinct rhythm of heartbeats making me recognise who was coming. "Come inside," I said to her with my arms stretched out. She set her bag down and took off her shoes before accepting the hug I offered. "You know, you're quite the caveman sometimes," I said. "I was beginning to get worried about you," she replied, her arms going around my waist. "Is there something wrong, Mia Bella?" I asked, hearing her slightly erratic heartbeat and the scent of tears from her eyes. "Nothing," she said quietly. "I can smell the tears. It's salty and quite distinct from water. You cried. What happened?" Isabella turned her head upward to look at me. "I'm going to need a bath first," she said. Thirty minutes later, she lay on my chest dressed in my shirt, which she insisted on wearing rather than her paj
IsabellaPerhaps it was Donatella's face that was the most surprising, but the days following my declaration and official ascension to the throne were followed by endless visits to my family's estate.I had to temporarily move there because I was worried about the constant movement and how my son would take it. However, according to Julio, it also applied pressure to bring Cassandra back to the city.She had disappeared a few days ago, and I believed she went to have her child."I must say, he's a very handsome boy," Nicholas said as he carried my son and began to walk around the new nursery. The baby cooed in his arms and raised his little fists towards his face. I smiled but began to miss the little bundle of warmth that he provided. I had once complained to Damon, and his reply was,"You'll just have to get used to it. Or are you going to take my son away from me?" Damon said with a smile.***To my surprise, Cassandra didn't show up over the next few weeks. I began to genuinely w
IsabellaGeorge knelt in front of me in the gazebo. I had given Alessandro the go-ahead to let him come to the mansion. He came accompanied by three more people that I didn't recognize."There was a mistake, Princess. If I had known…”“I know you think that I am a benevolent figure of never-ending kindness that might accept you. But you must understand that given my position, I simply cannot forgive you right off the bat. You have to prove yourself to me. You have to prove yourself to the city. You have to prove your loyalty, and it will cost you more than it did the last time," I found myself saying.Shortly after that, I left the men alone and made a beeline for the nursery where I felt my son squirming and crying in his cot. The maid I had instructed to stay with him was trying to keep him calm, but she was failing miserably, making me laugh.I stretched out my hands, and just as she placed him in it, the infant settled down. Shortly after passing him and singing to him, I felt ar
DamonAfter Isabella told me that I should handle Cassandra, Valentino, and her allies, I got to work instantly, telling Ted to pull out the old files he had on the trust of those she committed."So what do we do with them?" he asked. "We pick the weakest link. We pick the one most sympathetic to the lower City. Find me a couple of them and show them the pictures."A few days later, I received a call from Ted while I was out in town on a meeting with Nicholas."We have a number of them. What do you want us to do?" he asked. "Tell them to come to my place," Nicholas said with his arms raised. "I'm sure we'll do a good job convincing them." I smiled and told Ted to do the same. Six men, members of the lesser families, came through his gate.I recognized Antonio and George to be some of them and stopped myself from snickering behind my mask. The men bowed when they saw me, but it was clear that their initial fear of me was gone. I smirked behind the mask and looked at them.I loved se
IsabellaDamon had carried me into the tub filled with cold water. As soon as my body came in contact with the water, I instantly sighed in relief. Marie came to me with a small figure half wrapped in a cloth and laid the pink infant on my naked chest.I leaned my back against the foam headrest and let my child lean against my skin. He squirmed and cried, but Marie said it was all part of the process, even though my heart was aching as I desperately searched my mind for what to do to ease his sorrows somehow."If he doesn't cry, his lungs wouldn't be strong. You have to let him cry, princess," she had told me before I struggled with her, and Damon carried me into the bathroom. Even now, he was still crying, but I felt a bit assured as Damon held my hand and began to rub soothing circles over my knuckles. "You are so strong," he whispered. "I'm so proud of you." He whispered again, and this time his hand reached up to caress the head of the infant that laid on my chest. I smiled, bu
IsabellaDamon laughed suddenly, his shoulders quaking, and the room filled up with the hearty sound of joy. He stopped after a while and turned his head towards Cassandra. "It looks as though this wannabe princess is uninformed about what's happening in the city. Someone please tell her."Andrew cleared his throat. "The King…" Damon took off his mask, revealing his face, causing Cassandra to gasp and cover her mouth, as did Donatella. "The King has been married to the princess for quite a while now. I happen to be one of those privileged to witness the ceremony and the signing of their marriage certificate.This, of course, meant that as one without a surname, he would take his wife's own, making him Damon Montenegro Therefore, your challenge… your stake on the throne is very much mitigated by him.""That's not possible!" Cassandra screeched. "You wouldn't do that," she said as she turned her head towards me and stared daggers at me through the screen. "I did. Would you like to h
Isabella"Do I need to remind you that you are a fugitive?" Damon's voice cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter."Do I need to remind you that your crimes are so great you deserve to be put to death?" Damon stood up from his seat and walked towards the pregnant woman."Get out, or I will pull my gun and shoot you between your eyes, not caring about the child within your belly." Instantly, Donatella gasped and covered her mouth with surprise.She got up and walked towards both of them and set herself in their midst as though to protect Cassandra. "Ouch," I thought to myself. "So much for loyalty forever," I said out loud. Donatella turned to me."You must understand, princess, it's not as though I will not be loyal to you. It's just with the recent developments, we find ourselves needing an heir. Perhaps once she gives birth, she can leave." "I'm not going anywhere," Cassandra said, protesting as she pushed the older woman out of the way."I'm here to challenge her
Isabella“No, Isabella. We still need Cassandra to come out. We need her to show her cards. I'm sure it's not going to take long, but... you have to hang tight, Mia Bella," Damon said, shaking his head.He raised his hand and began to caress my belly before leaning in and pressing a kiss on my swollen abdomen. As if in response, the baby kicked where his hand was."He's saying hello to me," Damon said with a smile as he leaned forward and then pulled open the robe I wore to reveal my naked belly."So perfect," he said as he pressed another kiss on the pale skin. "So damn perfect," he said again as he met my eyes. I could see the expression there, his eyes flashing red before returning back to their normal hazel color. He spread open my legs and slowly removed the outer robe to reveal my naked pussy. Slowly, he kissed his way from my belly button down to my weeping pussy.***The extra wait was grueling, but I didn't mind it. I filled my days with walking, with Paula up and down the
Isabella"It was just a rumor," I told my husband as he paced the length of the room, hitting one wall and then going to the next to do the same."We both know rumors are next to truth. It wouldn't be said if it wasn't seen at some point. But you're the same person that said the city thrived on rumors. Why is this one only different?" I questioned him, but the man continued his insistent pacing. He had taken off his shirt, leaving him half naked and making my eyes wander to strange places."Please," I begged him as I stood up. I took off my coat."You're making me dizzy," I said.Damon stopped suddenly and looked at me. "And if the rumor's true?""Then we laid a trap. And I think traps are your thing… at least Julio's thing.""So let's call the ultimate trap master and have him whip up something for us," I said as I reached up towards my husband's head.***The day after, Julio sat opposite me in the gazebo. "How could you not tell me you were pregnant?" He asked, his eyes wide and f
DamonIsabella's face was pale when I saw her as she came out of the bathroom. She had a stunned look as though she was trying to remember something. I grabbed her hands and rubbed circles over her knuckles until she smiled at me."I am fine," she said with a shaking voice."Champagne?" I asked as I handed her a flute. She shook her head. "I can't keep it down," she said, forcing another smile at me."Isabella, what is wrong?" I asked with my mouth close to her ear. "I'll tell you when we get home," she said as she squeezed my fingers back.The rest of the evening couldn't come fast enough as I began to wish time could go faster. Finally, three hours after we arrived at the party, she tugged on my arm, telling me she wanted to go home. I bade goodbye to my friends and some others who were desperate to see me for some reason. We decided to take the chopper, being impatient and me wanting to find out what was wrong with my wife.I helped her out of her dress when we reached our room. S