[Third Person’s Point of View—Nikolai]“Did he talk yet?” Nikolai queried as he strode through the room which was lit only by a single bulb and reeked of blood and urine, among other unpleasant odors that one would prefer not to describe.“Not yet, boss,” Akim replied, setting down the pair of pliers he was holding—still dripping with thick crimson liquid and bits of flesh that clung to the rust-crusted metal.“Hmm,” a low rumble resounded on Nikolai’s chest as he veered his eyes towards the man seated on a wooden chair whose legs and hands were bound. Blood beading down from his mouth and nose, his eyes blackened from recent bludgeoning, his face almost distorted beyond recognition with some of his teeth missing, broken, and chipped.He’s awful to spare a stare, but in Nikolai’s eyes, he looked like a magnificent piece of artwork chiseled by violence and power.Akim took a step aside, making way for Nikolai to step closer toward the suffering man. His chest heaving, barely holding o
[Erin]“Oh my goodness, Erin!” Micah’s shrilly voice pierces my ears faster than the light blinding my soon as I stirred awake. “Why didn't you change your clothes last night?” She chided, pointing out the dress that I still wore, clinging to my body for dear life while I am still curled in the middle of my bed.I, begrudgingly peeled my eyes open, blinking the sting away, however it was before long followed by a beating torment in my head. “Uh, Micah, you know that I love you, but please my head is killing me,” I groaned, pressing my palm heel on my temple in hopes to assuage the twinge, but it was little to no avail.“Were you drunk?” She queried, taking Nikolai’s coat off from the carpet that I had deserted the previous evening before I crept to bed. I was exhausted from yesterday’s extravaganza, I know I kind of little bad for leaving simple things for Micah to do it for me, but I wasn’t myself. All I wanted to do was melt away in this world. I shake my head to get rid of all
[Erin]“I cannot believe you just did that!” Micah exclaimed right after Nikolai left the room, and my heart still hasn’t stopped racing since then. I actually had my eyes fixed on the entryway where the monster had gone out.I figured he would get enraged that I intentionally challenged him on that, but I have never been glad that he eventually agreed and let Micah come along with us. I exaggerated a long sigh and look at Micah, her eyes still wide in disbelief.“I know, I couldn't believe myself either, but hey, looks like you are packing your things as well.” I chirped, hustling to her side, and circled my arm on hers. Micah just shakes her head and giggled, “Yeah, but you need to shower first while I prepare your things. You stink,” she prodded, hauling me towards the restroom and pushing me right in.“Fine, fine.” I was giggling just as she closed the door and left me in the bathroom to do my thing, and I didn’t lag any moment longer knowing that Nikolai will just simply barge i
[Erin]It has been a while since I last boarded a plane. My mother was still alive since we migrated, and I was only eleven since then. I could feel Micah’s excitement radiating just as we paved the way through the long corridor, following Akim and three other men that carries our things. I honestly don’t know what to feel with Akim right now, after our conversation last night, though I could sense he doesn’t give a damn about it. Maybe I was just overthinking too much and put meaning in everything, though what I feel was saying the otherwise. Maybe that was nothing after all and I was just putting unnecessary things inside my head. Oh, God, what am I thinking?“Can you imagine? We are going to a place with great architecture and food.” Micah skipped right beside me, looping her arm around mine.She looks so happy and excited, I guess I couldn’t rob her of that. I have never seen her this way, right after I escaped and Nikolai hit her in the face. However, there’s no assurance that
[Erin]“What? No!” I exclaimed, almost biting my tongue at the moment as I expressed my contention.Is he crazy? Why would he say that? Hah! Me? But why would I get jealous? Of course not! Yes, I admit, that woman Shai is honestly beautiful and she made me feel something about myself, insecurities perhaps, but getting jealous that she likes to fuck Nikolai? A big no! He can fuck her all he wants and I have no qualms about it. Why would it even bother me? Who am I to him? Nothing. Pure nothing, just his toy doll he wanted to play with whenever he got bored with his life or if there was no one that he wanted to kill. Yes, that’s it. That is what I am to him. Nothing more, nothing less, right?Then, why am I fuming inside? The hell, I don’t know! Damn it! I took a deep breath and bit the inside of my lower lip to keep my emotions from leaking out through my facial expression. There’s no way I am going to let him get on my nerves. “Your face says the otherwise, doll, ” he suddenly smir
[Erin] My body thumped with the sensation of anonymity—both in exhilaration, and dread. I was inhaling his air, the scent of booze with a bit of mint blowing across my face like a halo around me. His intense mossy gaze dilated, the black part of his eyes swallowing most of his mossy hues with a forbidden desire wanting to consume me, and I found myself entrapped in it.Nikola removes his necktie. The fabric’s swooshing sound resounded between us just as he captured both my wrist. His nose, inhaling my scent sharply as my breath caught in my chest, he lifted my arms above my head, just then I realized what he was about to do. I wanted to protest, but I have already told him that he can do everything he wanted with me as long as he doesn’t hurt me. I don’t know what had suddenly transpired over me, but we already made a deal that I could no longer turn back. He bound my wrists, using the necktie tying it around tightly, but not tight enough to cut the blood from flowing on my vessels,
Third Person’s Point of View—Nikolai] He loves it.The way she was wailing her need for him. Her face was soaked in euphoria and ecstasy, her mouth wide open as her chest heaved up and down, and her hooded gaze fixed on him with unwavering intensity.Both of them were panting and encircled in amorous embrace. Erin, shrugs off his necktie, letting the little piece of fabric fall to her side. Nikolai still has his face leaning close to her. He told her that they weren’t done yet. However, what happened next came unexpectedly on his part. In one fluid motion, Erin wraps her arms around his neck and hurls him until they switch places, with his doll perched above him and her legs squeezed against both sides of his body. It caught him completely off guard, his eyes went wide as he stared at her, but he hasn’t got the chance to utter a word when Erin closes the gap between them and crashes her lips on him.“Fill me, Nikolai,” she growled, their teeth clashing as she sought dominance he had t
[Erin]Oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, God!My entire body freezes in such an awkward position while Nikolai remains impaled inside me when the curtain swooshed open and Shai the flight attendant walks in without any preamble, catching us rutting like some stray horny dogs. She immediately covered her wide eyes and twirled around.“Oh my gosh, I am sorry, I didn’t mean to...” she trailed off, seemingly the words came from her mouth suddenly becoming insufficient on how she would express herself. While I on the other hand want to die in shame. I wasn't the type of person that curses a lot but, fuck it! If this plane crashes any fucking moment now, I wouldn’t complain, in fact, I would be glad by it, welcoming death with open arms.Oh, dear heavens, save me from this mess.“Damn it!” Nikolai cursed as he removed his thing. The soreness I felt down there was nothing compared to the pain of humiliation I was feeling right now. My face burned to the highest degree to the point that I could visuali
[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