[Erin]So this is what my death feels like.Harrowing. Forlorn. Even though I had encountered death it quite a few times already, I could have never imagined that it would be like this. To fall from such great height. Maybe, if Flavio had just pulled the trigger of his gun, I could have seen myself dead. With my blood oozing from the bullet wound planted on my brain. Flavio’s screams ringed in my ears. His hands flailing into the air, while I, on the other hand, ignored him. Kept my eyes pinned on the shrinking figure leaning over the edge of the railings. His arms were outstretched in futile hopes to catch me, crying out my name.“ERIN!”Nikolai… I remembered his face. The murderous intent on his eyes. Rage and fury mingled in such a catastrophic combination. He’s just the monster I always perceived him to be. Killing in a cold-blooded way, without remorse or an ounce of mercy. Yes, I was scared of him and feared him even more after everything I saw. There’s just so much violence
[Third Person’s Point of View]Miracles.However, despite his lack of belief in the existence of such a thing, nothing could ever adequately explain what had taken place.Nikolai had never been more scared in his life than he was a few moments ago when he saw Erin plunges to her imminent death. He thought he had lost her when he saw her fall off the railings. He's certain that his cold heart had stopped beating. But somehow she lived. His doll is now safe and sound tucked between his arms. He almost lose her twice this night. The wound on his underarms throbbed, but he could not care about it. She had fell asleep, her head leaning into his chest. Her features are relaxed, but he caught a glimpse of a scowl here and there, and some whimpers on her lips. It's likely that the terrifying night had even followed her into her dreams at some point. Nikolai gave her a gentle peck on the forehead before drawing her close to him as if she were about to vanish before his very eyes at any moment
[Erin]His warm and welcoming lips against my lips. When I felt the familiar sensation of heat going down between my legs, my lower belly began to twist up into knots from the excitement that I was feeling. I couldn't care less about my swollen foot or that he was injured. Neither of those things bothers me. My thoughts had pretty much stopped working altogether at that precise instant. Nikolai had a pleasant taste in his mouth that was manly, minty, and tinged with the scent of shampoo from the most recent showers he had taken.This evening seemed like both a whirlwind and a rollercoaster ride all wrapped into one. I had almost died, twice, and there was nothing more than I wanted at this moment but to make me feel alive. That I wasn’t dreaming and that I am definitely alive. The blazingly hot touch of Nikolai, which lit fire to my body and set my spirit ablaze, was in stark contrast to the blasts of icy water that were sprayed on us. In spite of the falling temperature, his body ap
[Erin] My entire body hurts, I'm completely exhausted, and when I move my muscles tense up in protest, and I curse Nikolai for being the reason behind all these. But right after the cold shower and a little bit of exertion, I find the warm water very much appealing. When I finally got into the hot tub, I let out a sigh of relief as the soothing water worked its magic on my aching muscles.His room is a lot larger compared to the one that Micah and I shared. It also had a spacious bathroom, giving such aesthetic scenery. It was made mostly out of glass. A flush filled my cheeks upon remembering what happened under the shower, thinking if someone might have seen us. But as I stared around the surrounding, relief washes over me that it became automatically opaque once the door was closed.What Nikolai said recalled inside my head, and I hold on to the very words that he had told me. After everything that happened this day, I couldn’t help but believe him, and I just hope that I wasn’t wr
[Erin]“Erin!”I woke up from the distant voice that called my name. However, when I peeled my eyes open, I couldn’t see anything within arm’s reach. Everything that surrounds me appeared to be shrouded in shadow. Pitch black.Where am I? What am I doing in this place?The last thing I remembered was falling asleep in Nikolai’s bed after we'd made love with each other. The strength left in my body sapped, and sleep took me soon as Nikolai draped the blanket over my body, and since then I didn’t remember going somewhere. The thought of it made my stomach feel funny, but it was soon replaced with dread as I veered my gaze around me.Had I been sleepwalking? No, I never had some sleepwalking incidents before. However, what could have been the reason behind this? Why am I even in this place? After what occurred with Flavio, I don't remember going out on such a late night or even being given permission to do so.I tried to recall everything that had transpired, and they all went into a b
[Erin]The next morning, I found that I was all by myself in Nikolai's bed. I ran my palm over the edge of the sheet where he was sleeping and saw that it was already quite chilly. He had been gone for a while now. That is for sure. The bright sunlight beaming through the curtain gaps blinded me for a second before I pushed myself up, keeping the blankets to cover up my nakedness. Just at the same time, the door swings open, and Micah comes in, pushing a table cart containing my breakfast. My stomach started growling soon as I sniffed in the smell of freshly cooked pancake wafting through Nikolai’s room. “Good morning,” Micah greeted, transferring my breakfast to the rounded table adjacent to the bed. I only smiled at her in return, giving another look to the side of the bed before I swung my feet on the edge and tied the blanket into a knot around my chest. I slowly and carefully make my way out of the bed, testing my weight on the balls of my swollen foot. It doesn’t hurt that mu
[Erin]After I took my breakfast, Micah pushed me to the bathroom so I could clean up while she set everything before our departure. Not without making fun of the fact that I was loud the night before.It was very embarrassing to say the least. However, I've reached the point where I can no longer stand to listen to it, so I chose to ignore her until she finally gave up and changed the subject of roasting me to death. It seems to have worked, though. She never mentioned it right after I was done taking a bath.While I was in the shower, she also brought me my clothes. Micah noticed that there was a small bruise right at the corner of my lips as she was applying some light makeup to my face. Then I remember Flavio slapping me across the face back at the basement where he had kept us. I don’t know if Nikolai has noticed it too, but he never mentions anything about it.I hadn’t seen him since I woke up this morning, and Micah appeared genuinely serious that she really didn’t know where h
[Third Person’s Point of View—Nikolai]“They are already in the van, boss,” Akim announced just as he opened the door to Nikolai’s office in his villa. He was looking up at the ledger that was perched atop all of the other papers that he had just completed signing while he was seated at his antique oak desk. Clipped in between the pages were the incident scenes and the images of Flavio’s mangled body splattered on the concreted ground, almost unrecognizable. His skull had been shattered in half, and his brain had been liquefied. There was blood everywhere. Now he realized the reason why Erin had such disturbing dreams. This wasn’t the sight that those were of the fainted hearts.He resigned a long sharp breath and looked at Akim, raked his fingers on his head, and flipped the ledger close. Nikolai reached out the bottle of whiskey sitting on top of his desk and poured himself a glass of it, then chugged it down in one go. The burning taste ran down to his throat, but it seemed to hav
[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