[Third Person’s Point of View] — Nikolai
The sound of rushing water slapping against the granite floor resounded on the corners of his bathroom floor. Nikolai stood under the intense pressure of his shower, letting the freezing water cascade on him, cooling down the hotness spreading on his veins like a contagious disease.
He was drunk. He didn’t know how he managed to slip into her room. He just came to his senses when he heard her crying.
He wanted to kill her. She wasn’t as flawless as he deemed when he saw her in person. He was watching the entire auction process through Akim’s live feed. The moment he set his eyes on her, he knew he wanted her so bad even only through the monitor.
She was like a
[Erin]In the wide expanse of the estate, I got lost for a couple of turns. Fortunately, I saw a woman dressed just like Micah dragging a vacuum cleaner and one large box of empty garbage bins. She was cleaning the portrait with a feather duster, wiping them with a clean rag.I gingerly look around to see if there is anyone aside from here cleaning in this part of the hallway. Only to find out that she was alone. I kept my gaze fixed on the woman, hoping for a moment when she would leave the bin unattended, and I prayed to God that the bin was completely empty.She then took the vacuum cleaner, turning it on. Loud noise suddenly reverberated on the hallway walls. I patiently waited. She dragged the nozzle towards the nook in the wall, squeezing it to remove the almost nonexisten
[Erin]It has been a while since I was trailing down the weedy path. I could no longer see the way I came into this forest, and the mud began to accumulate on the pad of my feet, creating soles of thick mud.The low temperature makes the tiny hairs on my arms stand upright, wee bumps appearing on my skin. The sheer, thin fabric of my dress provides no less than a smidgeon of warmth in this chilly weather.For a fleeting moment, I regret going in here. I could still be in my bed, warm and cozy. However, on the second thought, the prospect of spending the rest of my life in that grandeur place like a pampered bird in a cage is something I could not bear.I just can’t.The forest
[Third Person’s Point of View]—Nikolai Nikolai stared at the terrified handmaiden as the words slowly sunk into his head. “What do you mean by gone?” He asked again, making sure that he didn’t hear it by mistake. As she shifted her weight away from her feet, the girl looked down at her feet, wringing her fingers nervously, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. “S—she has managed to get away.” She muttered slowly, confirming the bad news. “You let her escape?!” Nikolai snapped as if the blood on his body rushed through his head, tipping his temper to the edge. The woman flinched in response to his thunderous voice. It boun
[Erin]A loud blaring noise jolted me back to my consciousness.It is so cold. I couldn’t feel anything other than the freezing cold that had covered all over me, and the pain blasted on my feet. Am I dead? I don’t think death would also feel this way. I think they will be more peaceful, no pain and suffering, except if I am in hell.Was hell supposed to be this cold? I thought there would be scorching fire, a blazing lake of fire. But there were none like them. There is only darkness, cold, and pain.I couldn't even bring my eyes open to look around to see where I had ended up. One of the last things I recall is that I was trying to get away from the mansion and ended up getting lost in the forest. If I were still ali
[Erin]After I heard their conversation inside the hospital room I was in, Nikolai and Akim went outside. Whatever they are talking about, I could sense that it poses a threat to them. I'm not sure how it became associated with me. Throughout this time, I am still taken aback by the realization that they have been searching for me in the midst of a thunderstorm.Well, come to think of it, Nikolai spent millions of dollars gone wasted just because he purchased damaged goods like me. He even tried to kill me, and I thought he wouldn’t bat an eye if I ran away. Hence, here I am now, laid in a single mattress bed, alive.He didn’t just search for me. He saved me from the venom as well.Nikolai confuses me to the highest le
[Erin]The full blast of air met us just as I felt Nikolai step into a flat surface.The sound of the whooping blade reminds me of a helicopter. There was frantically shouting all around us, but I couldn't make out what they said.The rapid-fire of gunshots reverberated below the building, but it is getting louder and louder the longer.As I felt Nikolai lift me and place me on a cushioned surface, I heard him yell over something in the distance. Then he came up behind me and cradled me in both of his arms.“Go!” I heard him shout, instructing someone to lift the aircraft.A barrage of bullets whizzes past, pinging against the helicopter's side. As we rose higher in the sky, Nikolai wrapped his arms around me and covered me with his body.I don't know how long the time passed, whether or not we made it back to the mansion. The last thing I remembered was Nikolai s
[Erin]I was left stunned after Nikolai left my room. I was staring at the closed door where he had disappeared, my heart racing with fright in my chest.I collapse on my bed, my eyes fixed on the horrible colored ceiling above me, my mind racing through everything that has just happened in my life. A snake, venomous at that, bit me. Hence, I got to live another day. Fire of bullets rained down on us, yet I am saved. I don’t even know what will happen to my life next.After half an hour, my room door suddenly opened. Micah emerges with a tray of food in her hand. Her gaze scanned the area, and relief washes on her face upon seeing that the two gentlemen had been already gone.“What happened to your face?” I asked
[Erin]A fat bead of tear rolled down from the corner of my eyes. My sobs drowned to his mouth as he bit my lower lips, clipping it in between his teeth, drawing some blood. The heavy irony taste busted on my buds, twisting my guts with revulsion. Nonetheless, he did not cease his assaults and continued to devour my lips as if he were a hungry lion in search of some flesh. His weight is pinning me down, rendering my body immobile. The only thing left for me was to cry. His rough kisses left my mouth but did not lessen his assaults. Instead, he was nipping the soft flesh down my throat, tugging my skin until they turned enough to draw blood to accumulate the surface. He was leaving bite marks in its wake.Nikolai pressed me further into the mattress, the rough texture of his palm sliding down to my waist, tracing the curves of my body, and then stopped at the section between my legs. Thumbs pressing on my crotch. Nikolai hit my sensitive spot, jolting me with a sudd
[Erin] The smell of poppy and roses filled my senses as I set down a basket of them right in front of a lead grey tombstone just. The wind around me gushes in chilly temperature, picking up the autumn leaves, swirling into the air, and ruffling my hair in the process.“I miss you, Pa,” I whispered, pushing back the tears pricking at my eyes as I stared at his name engraved in bold black characters.It has been five years since that tragic day, but still, it played back inside my mind like it happened yesterday. I remember it so vividly that the horrific memories haunted me in my nightmares for years. I was traumatized by the sound of gunshots, I froze whenever I see blood and trembled even at the subtlest banging noise. Nikolai had always been by my side, calming me down whenever I have panic attacks, when I woke up screaming in the middle of the night, and when I sometimes get so violent to the point where I didn't realize I was already hurting myself and the people around me. One
[Vereena]If there's one thing I could use to my advantage, it's the element of surprise. He didn't know I am capable of manhandling a person, and he doesn't know that I am nimble for my size.Taking a deep breath, I drew my elbow and pummeled it hard into the soft flesh right under Mikael’s ribs. His pained grunt blows on my ear utterly caught him off guard. Twisting against his grip, I tried knocking his gun, but he was able to pull the trigger. My head spins and my eardrums rang deafeningly at the proximity of the blast. My action messed with his aim, and instead of blowing my head off, the molten hot bullet seared through my shoulder blade. “Fuck!”I'm tired, but adrenaline shot through my veins, and in one swift motion, I bring my knees to his gut. His grip finally loosens on me, and I quickly remove myself away from him. Pivoting on my heels, I watch Pa’s terrified expression, Nikolai’s bellowing voice sounded muffled in my ears just as the crossfire started.I ran to Pa, rain
[Erin]“Linda, come on.” I tug the terrified woman’s hand right after I shot those men dead. I am still trembling, my fingers could barely hold the handle of my gun, but I keep my head leveled, knowing that if I gave in to my panic, we would both likely be killed.Fortunately, Linda was too terrified to even asks me a question. She just obliged, nodding excessively as we both wade along the wall. I keep my vigilance high, gun right before me, the safety pin unlatched, and with the knife poised, ready to stab anyone that would jump right in front of us. Linda creeps closely behind me, holding the hem of my dress like a little child to her mother. As we rounded the corner, three more men emerges through my line of sight. However, before I could pull the trigger, a hand clasps around my gun, knocking it out of my grip. My quick reflexes took over me, slashing the knife into his face. He hadn't anticipated my attack and he stumbled backward, clutching his bloodied face, but I didn't let
[Third Person’s Point of View—Nikolai]“Took you damn hell long enough.” Nikolai groused in annoyance to Akim while he slightly limped on his legs towards their posts just outside the palace.The blast detonated from the bombs he planted all over the place the night during Erin’s ball. He had planned it all along in case the Seraglios won’t heed his request upon taking back his wife. And he's right. That leeching son of a bitch double crosses not only him but Tommaso as well. Nikolai couldn't help but be amused by the thought that the old man got swindled by the own boy he took in years ago. But that amusement immediately faded when the realization hit him that Erin is the one that suffered the most. Trapped in the middle. “I thought you’re bidding your time,” Akim responded, handing him a bulletproof vest, and arming him with guns. A part from the medic team also came to his side, examining the cuts and bruises he got but he immediately dismisses them with a single flicker of his
[Erin]I snatch the lighter off the table, cracking it a few times before it sparkled into flames. I first melted the rope around my ankle, ignoring the heat and blowing the fire out before it could burn me alive. The ties loosens and I was able to free my feet first. I can now stand with ease but my hands were quite difficult to release since I cannot hold the lighter properly to burn it from my wrists.There must be something in here.I rummaged through his drawers and closets, trying to find anything until I found a Swiss knife buried under the layers of scratch paper. I flicked the blade and quickly dropped to the floor, sandwiching the handle in between my feet then started sawing the rope. It takes longer than burning it, but eventually, I finally cut the rope in half. Using the Swiss knife, a picked the lock on the doorknob, just like how Tiara taught me. Surprisingly, without her guidance, I managed to twist the knob and unlock the whole thing. I wanted to celebrate but, I st
[Erin]“Move bitch!” Mikael’s voice roared at my side while I struggle to keep my footing as he drags me harshly into the stairs. I tried not to trip, one hand holding my belly, cursing the bastard.I have no idea where he was taking me, but as I look over my shoulder, I could no longer see Nikolai, just the thick cloud of dust and the loud gunfire reverberating. Nothing left but chaos and it’s everywhere.We came to the corridor, but instead of going to the wing leading to my room, Mikael was taking me to the opposite. My feet strained from following his brisk steps. “Where the hell are you taking me?” My attention went down the hallway we were weaving. I have never been to this place in the palace. “Let me go!” I cried, clawing Mikael’s wrist, but the bastard just won't budge. Damn it! He steered me through the darkened hallway, and then we stopped in front of a door, he twisted the knob and kicked it open. Mikael forcedly tugged me, hurling me inside.A yelp tore through my th
[Erin]He could end this now. He could talk to Mikael and hope to change his mind. The bastard told me once that he cared for Pa, and he respects him as he was the one that took care of him and pulled him out of the gutter.Guards surged inside right behind him, circling around us with their weapons drawn, most of them pointing at Nikolai and the rest at Mikael.“Mikael!” Pa barked out furiously. His eyes fixed on me with perplexity. “What do you think you’re doing!? Get that gun away from her!”Instead of listening, Mikael only snickered and bared his teeth to everyone, ignoring Pa’s order.“What are you all standing at!? Take that cretin immobilized at once!” He snapped his fingers and turn to his guards before he finally notices Nikolai standing in the middle and fixed his eyes on him in bewilderment. “And you, what the hell are you doing in my place?”He doesn’t know?No one spoke, not move. Even a pin drop could be heard in between. But the tension was so palpable in the air that
[Erin]Weeks passed and I still have no news about Nikolai. And yes, I am turning five weeks pregnant. I told Linda to book me an appointment with an OB under an alias last day. I asked Pa if I could go out, and have leisure time for myself outside the palace and he let me. Though not without a dozen of guards following me behind. I went to the clinic for a short visit to make sure that everything was going well with the baby, and the doctor provided me with several medications. Vitamins and other supplements to maintain the health of my bones and to provide the vital nutrients for the growing baby inside my womb. For the first time, I heard my baby’s heartbeat. It was so loud that it bounces off the wall and I couldn't help but shed a tear thinking how Nikolai could have missed such a precious moment. Pa didn't know yet, and Linda is getting suspicious each day since I am having terrible morning sickness every now and then. It is only a matter of time until my belly started showi
[Third Person’s Point of View—Nikolai]Mikael Seraglios was the only one who stepped down from the chopper before it lifted back into the air and rounded the sky. “She’s not here,” Akim growled beside him, but Nikolai held up his hand to calm him down and motioned him to go according to his plan.Huffing angrily, Akim complied and take the speedboat to a safe distance right after Nikolai sets foot on the island.Something is definitely wrong.His shoes sunk into the sand and the soft waves crashing on the shore somehow counterfeit the tension burgeoning in the atmosphere.The armed men immediately went to surround him, pointing the nozzles on their guns, keeping their fingers on the trigger. “Where is she?” Nikolai didn’t hesitate to ask soon as he came face to face with Mikael.“Back in the palace. Living like a princess.” He shrugs and pushed his hand down to his pocket.Erin’s absence is quite understandable, knowing that the Seraglios know how to play their card, but what he was