Revenge

[HAZEL'S POV]

My outburst caused a grave silence to fall on the auction hall. Everybody looked shocked.

The Slave Master lost his colour. He couldn't believe my audacity.

"Why you bitch. Do you know who you're yelling at," he raised his whip to lash at me but Nikolai caught his eyes and casted him a death stare.

"Don't you dare," his voice scared the Slave Master white.

Things started happening fast. Nikolai turned to his men and ordered. "Take her away to the penthouse. Use the helicopter."

Before I knew it, strong arms grabbed me and I was immediately blindfolded and gagged.

Someone threw a coat over me to cover my sheer dress and I was led away from the auction hall.

The men around me spoke in Russia, making it difficult for me to comprehend what they were saying or what they planned to do to me.

My nerves were jumpy and my heart was pounding so hard, threatening to break through my ribs.

I thought about my new master, Nikolai. I never dreamt that one day, we would cross path again.

How long has it been? Five years. Five long years since I lost everything to those hands.

I remembered everything. The blood of my family dripping off his hands.

Those same hands slaughtered every trace of whatever I held dear to me. He could have killed me but he didn't.

He disappeared, leaving just five words behind: "YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, PRINCESS!"

Hatred. Hatred like I've never felt before invaded my heart.

I'll kill him. I'll make him pay gruesomely.

* * * *

Fifteen minutes later, we touched down on a helipad and I felt strong hands on me again.

This time I was led all the way downstairs through series of corridors and pavements then an elevator and finally into a room.

One of the men unshackled my wrists and neck and left, shutting the door behind him.

I was left alone in this air-conditioned room, still blindfolded. By now my heartbeat had returned back to normal but my anxiety was still there.

My hands slowly went up to my face and I took off the blindfold.

I caught my breath sharply.

I was in a bedroom large enough to throw a party for a hundred people.

The colour scheme of the room was dominated by black and red.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the lavish king-sized bed which was draped in velvet red and black attire.

The inbuilt bar captured my attention. There were Skull-shaped cups in full display, stocked collections of the finest wines and spirits, aged Scotch whiskies and blood-red cocktails.

Beneath the bar's polished marble was a lion rug sprawled on the floor.

I took all these in, my mind racing with disturbing thoughts.

Suddenly the door opened and three maids walked in, bearing folded dresses.

They stood before me. "Master Nikolai would be here shortly. You must be cleaned and dressed before his arrival."

Before I could utter a word, they grabbed and dragged me into the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later, I stood before the wall mirror, unable to believe my eyes.

These maids had transformed me from the dirty girl in worn out clothes to a refined person.

Just then the door swung opened and there he was—the murderer.

He stood by the doorway, surveying me with those remote eyes that showed no emotions.

"That would do," he said and walked inside.

The maids bowed slightly and left us alone. The way they moved told me they were scared of him.

But I wasn't scared of him. My only fears is to keep watching him living.

Nikolai walked towards the bed, taking off his coat and throwing it over the chaise lounge.

I was right about his body size. He was lean but well built. Looking at him now, I couldn't help but notice how young he was.

My bet, he should be somewhere in his late-twenties.

"What's your name?" He walked over to the inbuilt bar and began mixing a drink for himself.

The way he moved his cross tattooed hands, his cold demeanor, the rings in his fingers and the ice in those crimson red eyes gave me an eerie feeling of death.

"Veronica," I balled my hands into fists. "My name is Veronica Flamecrest."

He finished mixing his drink then walked over to the bed and dropped on it. His gaze never left mine as he took a sip.

"You won't be answering Veronica no more," he pointed his finger at me. "You're an empty shell and I shall be the one to fill that shell. Me. No one else."

I didn't say anything. He was my master. He could say whatever he wants.

"On that note," he stood up and walked up close to me. "I'll give you a new name."

His big hands snaked up to my face and he brushed a strand.

I shivered at his touch as I remembered the blood that dripped from these same hands.

The blood of my family.

My throat swelled. "A name?"

A low growl escaped his throat, his eyes boring into mine. "Your hair. It reflects the same colour of my eyes....Hazel. Henceforth your name is Hazel."

Is this guy serious? Don't mess with me!

"How dare you!" I grabbed his hand and sank my teeth into his flesh with all my might.

Nikolai didn't react. He stood still like a statue watching me, a deadpan expression on his face.

I bite him so hard I tasted blood and only then did I let go and backed away.

I expected the bastard to finish me off but he did nothing. His hand was bleeding from my bite—good.

Bleed and die.

"You have no rights to name me," I snarled, my voice laced with bitterness. "You took everything away from me and now you're going to take away my name? How dare you!"

Nikolai brought out a silk handkerchief from his waist coat and whipped his bleeding hand.

"You know, when I saw you at the slave auction, I was surprised," he said. "I never imagined you'll live to see another day."

His last words rang in my head again. YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, PRINCESS.

"I have no regrets," I was breathing hard as I voiced my rage. "Maybe fate kept me alive to enact my revenge on you."

"Don't get your hopes up, Hazel," he rolled his eyes, mockingly. "You can't kill me."

"Stop calling me that," I yelled. "My name is Veronica Flamecrest. I'll never let you replace my family name with yours, you devil."

"I'll call you whatever I want," Nikolai scoffed then turned and walked towards the vast window. He pulled aside the curtains, letting in a stream of sunlight into the room. "And there's not a damned thing you can do about it, Hazel."

My face burned so much I looked frantically around the room, trying to find some weapon, any weapon to finish him off.

I was blinded by my own rage. I can only feel at peace when I know he's dead and only when he's dead.

He watched my desperate search, an amusing looks in those red eyes.

Then he sighed and leaned against the wall and brought out a gold cigarette case.

"Hazel, do you have any idea why I bought you?"

"I don't give a flying fuck!" I retorted like a mad woman finally settling on a bottle of scotch.

I smashed it against the wall and held it as my weapon to stab him.

Even that action didn't get any reaction from him. He was so calm and relaxed.

"Before you make any futile attempt to kill me," He finally lit a cigarette. "Perhaps you might want to listen to what I have to say."

I would have dashed at him and stab his throat. We were alone and I have a weapon but I didn't kid myself I'll harm him.

He was a bloodlust killer. If he wanted to, he'll end me in seconds.

"I'm not listening to whatever you have to say," I said, tears welling in my eyes. "Just. Let. Me. Kill. You!"

He smiled slightly. "Everyone wants to kill me, Hazel. Sadly you're at the end of a long queue. But I'll make an exception. If you can kill me before the others do, my life is yours."

I couldn't believe him but I was past caring. " It would be my pleasure."

"However," he frowned. "For every attempt you fail to kill me, you shall do what I said without questions."

I wasn't thinking straight when I barked at him. "As long as I kill you with my own hands, I don't care."

His smiled returned but it gave me chills. Chills that told me I've made a mistake.

He drew opened a drawer chest and placed a gun on the bed and backed away. "It's loaded. Give it your best shot, Hazel."