"When I was in the confinement cell, there was a nail lying on the ground which I didn’t know of," no one could know with the full darkness one was surrounded by and left to spend time in. "I stepped on the nail."
"Must have hurt really bad," his words suddenly turned gentle, but Sherry wasn’t sure if she heard it right. Dallion ran his thumb much more gently from one side to the other, making her heart leap and her body jerk. His grip remained firm around her ankle. Sherry could feel his hand touching her skin, the warmth of it making her fret. "Dallion?" she spoke softly, for him to respond with a hum. "What is it?" What was what? He was holding her ankle without letting go. "Could you please let go of my leg?" She kept her speech docile, with a certain passive aggressiveness in it, wanting him to drop her leg. But instead of listening to her request, Dallion only ran his finger over her feet. "Why, little mouse? Let me demonstrate something for you, so that you can keep it in your mind. Alright?" At first, she didn’t understand what this demonstration was about until he ran his fingernail sharply against the back of her foot, making her cry out in pain as it pierced her skin. "Please, Dallion." She could feel the burn on her feet which started to hurt. Dallion’s eyes fell on the girl in front of him, her face contorting in pain as he had scraped her skin, leaving a small streak of blood in the same place where she had previously been hurt, without letting it heal properly. Instead of letting go, he then took the same kerchief he had offered her before and tied it back around her foot. Sherry didn’t understand why he had hurt her just now. This man’s head was messed up for hurting her for no reason, until she heard him speak. "Keep this in mind before you do anything where we’re going. One toe out of line, and the punishment will be far worse than what you’ve experienced right now." "I didn’t do anything," she said, pulling her foot away to drop it down when his grip loosened. "But you will. Having studied you, there’s a possibility you might do something I won’t be happy about." She didn’t understand what he meant by it. She had been careful with her words too, after getting drenched in the rain like a wet dog, yet she had been punished. Sherry was sure that Dallion needed his head checked. When the car finally pulled over, Sherry was the first to step out, her footsteps uneven due to the kerchief wrapped around her left foot. A massive mansion stood mighty in front of them, its black walls making it feel eerie and causing her to feel suddenly cautious. Dark grey clouds hovered all around in the sky, growling threateningly. She wanted to ask where they were, but Dallion didn’t wait for her and instead started to walk towards the entrance. Two guards stood on either side of the open double doors. Following his footsteps, Sherry stepped inside. For a moment, she was sure he was going to make her remove his coat, like he had made her help him wear it. But he didn’t. He continued walking, eventually meeting a group of three people—a man and two women. One of the women sat on a plush couch, with the man a seat away from her. A boy sat at her feet, massaging her legs. He looked to be around sixteen, with freckles on his face. Another woman stood nearby, holding a whip and staring down at a girl who knelt on the ground. "Dallion, how good to see you. We thought you wouldn’t come," the man—undoubtedly another member of the Cross empire—greeted Dallion. "I wouldn’t miss such an occasion. You did say it was two million dollars that would be met. How could I miss it?" Dallion answered, a lopsided smile on his lips. "Whom have you brought?" the woman on the couch, questioned as her eyes fell on Sherry standing behind Dallion. "So, the rumor is true," the man said, looking at Sherry, who kept her head up, watching the people. "What rumor?" asked the woman, still seated on the couch. "The rumor about Dallion buying a captive for himself," the man gauged Sherry up and down, a smirk crossing his lips, his eyes filled with ill intention. It made her uncomfortable, but the way the women in the room gawked at her only made her want to return to the room where Dallion had locked her before. The man laughed. "I was curious what made you spend five hundred thousand dollars on a lone slave." Sherry, lacking the experience of being a blue Beard captive, abashedly stared back at the man before averting her gaze. His neatly combed brown hair and open shirt buttons made him look like he didn’t belong to a good group, and everything in the room screamed danger. "Eyes off my little mouse, Rivers ," Dallion warned the man with a bright smile etched on his lips. Rivers raised his hands in mock surrender. "I wasn’t doing anything." "Of course you weren’t. You wouldn’t want to lose your eyes, would you?" Dallion laughed, leaving the room in eerie silence.Sherry was taken aback by the mild threat, and for a minute, she wondered if Dallion was joking about gouging the man’s eyes out. When she turned to look at the man, Rivers seemed to have stopped staring at her and had instead gone to fetch himself a drink. Dallion walked to one of the empty couches, where no one sat, leaning his back completely as he crossed his legs, eyes locking on the woman who was standing in the room with a young girl sitting down on her knees. "I see your little mouse has been taking good care of you," he chimed in, glancing at the boy who hadn’t raised his eyes to anyone but his mistress' legs, massaging her ankles now. "Luke is a lovely boy, isn’t he?" the woman smiled, looking down at her captive, whom she had personally acquired from a hidden auction, unlike Dallion, who had snatched Sherryl from the black market. "Your little mouse hasn’t learned the code of conduct for captives," the woman remarked, her red eyes sizing Sherry up. Sherry hadn’t dropp
While Sherryl was lost in her own thoughts, the people in the room couldn’t help but keep their ears on Dallion's words. Captives, reduced to nothing but dust beneath the feet of mafia bosses and their powerful elites, were treated with derogatory remarks, degraded by their owners, as their lives belonged to the ones who had bought or captured them. Yet, very few actually called the captives by their real names—something that once in a while raised the eyebrows of the others in the room. Dallion, though noticing the gaze, didn’t bother with such trivialities when there were more pressing matters on his mind. While Sherry behaved as a good captive should, keeping her eyes and head down, she couldn’t shake the feeling of two pairs of eyes locked on her. Both belonged to mafia elites, but neither belonged to her captor. One was a man, the other a woman, the one who had wanted Dallion to allow her to punish Sherry, and the third eye she was now sensing was of the woman who had earlier
Sherry could somewhat relate to this as she had seen or gone through things like this before. The city she used to live in, especially after her mother passed away, was far from what one would call decent, let alone luxurious. As Dallion had pointed out, if a person failed to bring in money, someone else in the family would have to step up to keep them afloat. Her city had been in a constant state of crisis, where jobs were scarce, and opportunities for a better life were even scarcer. The people barely made it through, and everything from food to basic necessities was overpriced, making it hard for anyone to live a decent life. Most of the city’s residents knew the dealings between the local officials and those in higher power. Money that was supposed to be used for development or relief always disappeared, never reaching the people who needed it most. The corruption ran deep, affecting everyone. "You think it’s right?" she asked Dallion. "Which part?" he replied casually.
The weather today seemed strangely better, with the sunset beginning to cast its fading glow, illuminating the horizon. It must have been because it had rained last night—enough to grant a break to the lands. Even though the sun's rays didn’t break through the window fully and weren’t warm, Sherry could still feel the heat just by the light touching her skin. It had been so long since she had seen sunlight, and an unconscious smile crept onto her lips. She turned her face toward the window, her eyes closed, savoring the fleeting warmth. Dallion noticed the small smile on her lips. Such a simple girl, he thought. He could see how she found joy in the smallest of things, completely oblivious to the darkness surrounding her. 'Dali, do you know what’s beautiful about this flower here?' echoed a voice from his past, without him even closing his eyes. 'It’s the simplicity. The flower doesn’t stand out like the rest.' Young Dallion had stared at the flower in the woman’s hand. 'Place a
Reaching back the mansion, Sherry got down to follow right behind Dallion. Before becoming a captive, her hands and time were usually full—working endlessly to make her living, saving every dime so that one day she could use it—Her money! She realized the cash she had been stashing away must still be there unless someone had found it! More than anything right now, Sherry couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened to the money she had saved all those years. It wasn't much, just a good sum of seventeen hundred dollars, but it was the most she'd saved until now. Thinking about how her foster aunt May and uncle Larry had sold her off like a commodity for chump change made her stomach churn. She wondered if sharing a piece of it with them could’ve avoided this, kept her from becoming someone’s property. But then, she shook her head internally—there was no reasoning with scum like that. Her relatives didn’t deserve even a penny from her pocket after what they had done. Who knew peop
Nickison, the butler, was making his way from the dining room to the kitchen when he caught sight of Lady Rose doing what she did best—scolding and belittling the workers of the Cross empire. On a second glance, he realized it wasn’t one of the usual servants but Master Dallion’s little mouse, Sherryl Rain. His footsteps faltered. Rose didn’t spare anyone, not even those who weren’t part of the empire. The young mafia queen enjoyed watching the staff cower, asserting her dominance to remind them who held the real power. Even he, a long-standing butler, had not been spared from her biting tongue. After overhearing Sherryl’s defiant words, Nickison pressed his lips together, knowing trouble was brewing. He was well aware that the walls of the mansion were about to shake. "He’s my brother, so you’re indirectly obligated to serve me the same way you serve him," Rose taunted, shoving Sherryl’s head as though she were a toy to be played with. "Didn’t you hear me? Come to my room," she o
Before Rose had left Sherry's hand, she'd had a good exchange of words with her step brother which Sherry had really found it... She didn't know how to really term the words, because one was surprisingly angry while the other was really composed. This is how their banter had gone before Rose finally released her. Rose out of anger only turned Sherryl’s arm to another side where the furrow between the captive’s forehead increased. Dallion, noticing this, looked at his butler who was quietly standing by. Raising the rolled-up document, he handed it to him. “Take this to Gray's mansion,” the butler bowed his head, not spending another minute as the order had been given. He walked towards the main doors and away from them. “Let go of her, sister.” Rose tilted her head in curiosity, “Why? She doesn’t even know who the mistress is. She even shows the courage to deflect me.”
Rose his younger step sister, as she liked to be called—was a fierce opponent. For a split second, Sherryl had believed Rose would snap her arm like a twig, but then Dallion had arrived, saving her from an imminent breaking. Still, grabbing Rose’s hand in reflex had been a mistake—a direct challenge. And now Sherryl was sure she’d made it onto Rose’s personal hit list. As she lay there contemplating her options, her mind drifted to escape plans. She had to get out before it was too late. Two hours, Dallion had said in the car earlier. It was all she needed to flee the city. Maybe she could make it to Cross empire’s neighboring districts, but first, she'd need to be careful, as she bide her time. To he she'll either run to the eastern part of Bone lake into Indiana Valleys or maybe move towards Blue city Somewhere out of his reach. But what about the photo and fingerprints he claimed to
In the early hours of the evening, where the city’s lights flickered against the thick clouds looming above, Sherryl Rain found herself seated on a sleek, black leather chair in Dallion Cross’s personal chamber—a space far removed from the glamour of his grand estate. This room, lined with shadowed corners and polished steel, exuded control and mystery, much like the man who ruled it. Sherryl, now accustomed to the unconventional life she had been drawn into, was working on her assigned tasks. A modern tablet lay before her, the glow illuminating her delicate features as she practiced the art of precision—handwriting exercises. Although this seemed an unusual task in the digital age, Dallion valued the elegance of penmanship. To him, elegance equaled discipline. Her focus wavered when a droplet of crimson ink fell from the quill-like stylus she held, staining the parchment she used to replicate letters. Frustrated but not wanting to anger Dallion, she carefully tilted the paper to s
Sherry's heart thundered in her chest as if she were prey, and the predator before her was ready to devour her completely. She swallowed hard, the soft glow of red lights in the room casting ominous shadows on the walls. Dallion’s voice was as smooth as dark velvet, low and commanding. “What’s got you so scared, little mouse?” “It’s going to hurt,” she whispered, the idea of his tools cutting through her barriers spiking her fear. He smirked, leaning closer, his towering frame enveloping her as he braced one hand on the leather-padded wall beside her head. “Do you know, Sherryl Rain? Even pain can turn into pleasure.” Her throat bobbed nervously. “The person must be a true masochist to think pain is a pleasure,” she shot back, trying to mask her trembling voice with forced confidence. A dark hum rumbled from his chest as he studied her, the corner of his lips quirking. “If you haven’t experienced it, you haven’t lived at all. Don’t be so tense.” His voice dipped lower as his fing
They left after Sherryl had settled scores with her foster family, in the car Dallion kept on staring at Sherryl something she found too odd. She knew Dallion loved looking at her face but not to the extreme he was looking at her at the moment. "Do you think I did something bad to them? Like I'm being unfilial to them?" She brushed her brows before looking at Dallion who was engrossed in looking at her. " I think I just got back at them for what they did to me, but I feel like a fool by stooping to their level." Sherryl didn't get any response from Dallion , not like she was expecting any answers from him anyway, she silently moved closer to the window and focused on the scenery outside, when they arrived at the mansion Dallion took her hand into his and led her. Dallion’s lips twitched into a faint, humorless smile. as he looked at Sherryl closely, it seemed like they had arrived. This was another territory Sherryl had no idea of in the vast mansion of the Cross family. "True enou
Sherry Rain’s uncle, who had only just stepped inside, froze mid-step, his mouth opening but failing to form words. His expression mirrored the one her aunt, May, had worn upon seeing Sherry appear at their door, an uneasy combination of shock and guilt. They hadn’t expected her, and it was clear they had sold her. Sherry clenched her fists, questioning why she had agreed to come here, even with the gut feeling she’d had about what transpired the day she was sent to the Cross empire’s underground auction. "I don’t understand what you’re talking about, mister," her uncle, Larry, stammered, his voice faltering as Dallion shifted his cold, predatory gaze to him. Larry's throat bobbed as he gulped nervously but continued his charade. “Where have you been all this time? When we came back, you weren’t there… we assumed you ran off.” The man’s obliviousness to the barely veiled threat Dallion had issued to May earlier made his
Dallion’s lips twitched into a faint smirk, his expression almost mocking. “A fair question, little mouse. Life would be dreadfully boring if I skipped the theatrics every time. There are moments when it’s necessary to walk among the shadows, to breathe in the grit of this city. Skipping steps makes you lose touch. Besides…” He paused, his eyes gleaming with a dark amusement. “I enjoy the convoy rides. It’s the perfect time to plan moves, strategize... or just reflect.” “But there are limits,” he added, his tone dropping, the shift in his demeanor palpable. “Limits?” Dallion nodded, his expression growing serious. “The Time required to satisfy my need in settling accounts is immense. Blood is the fuel for such a gift. And let’s just say…” He leaned in closer, his presence overwhelming as his voice dropped to a whisper, “…finding the right accounts I need from my debtors isn’
Sherryl walked to the edge of the leather couch, sitting down as the weight of her foster uncle and aunt's betrayal bore down on her. The thought that no one she had trusted as her family could be trusted left her feeling adrift. Her father had disappeared, her mother was gone, and now the only relatives she had left had sold her out. Across the room, Dallion leaned against the marble-topped bar, his piercing gaze fixed on her. His expression, unreadable yet intense, studied her carefully. “Are you alright?” Dallion asked, swirling a glass of amber liquor in his hand. Though his voice was calm, there was an underlying sharpness, as if he already knew her answer. “I’ll be okay,” Sherryl replied, drawing in a deep, shaky breath before releasing it slowly. "People like them aren’t worth a second thought,” Dallion said, setting the glass down wi
In the time of the early morning when Sherryl Rain had woken up from her restless sleep, she felt something wet on her feet. The sensation came again, tickling her skin, and just as she was about to dismiss it as part of a dream, the cool breeze from the cracked window grazed her bare legs, making her shiver. Half-asleep, she frowned, wondering if Dallion was up to one of his strange games again. Slowly, her groggy eyes fluttered open to find him still lying next to her, his breathing steady, and his eyes closed. A sharp lick on her foot jolted her fully awake. She yanked her leg back instinctively, pulling herself closer to the headboard. Her heart raced, and her sleepy mind struggled to make sense of it. Stretching her neck cautiously to see what was causing the strange sensation, her gaze landed on a large shadowy form at the foot of the bed. Her instincts screamed danger as she scrambled back, inadvertently yanking the blanket off Dallio
When they finally returned to the Cross Empire estate, the line of luxury cars that had been parked earlier because of the party had already cleared out. It had been hours since they left, and Sherryl felt drained. True to his word, Dallion had her seated in front of a polished chessboard, its black and white pieces gleaming under the warm light of the room. He patiently explained the game to her, taking his time to go through the basics. Despite his reputation for being short-tempered, he surprised her with how thoroughly he taught her, making sure she understood the moves. He left the room briefly, and by the time he returned, Sherryl was slumped over the edge of the board, her arm stretched out and her breathing steady. Her body remained stiff, as if ready to spring awake at the slightest noise. Closing the door quietly, Dallion approached the board and began putting th
Her heart raced at the subtle challenge in his voice. Swallowing hard, she tried to move to the far edge of the car. Dallion followed, shutting the space between them with a decisive smile. The small space felt suffocating as he pulled the window curtains closed, sealing them in. Sherryl stiffened when he reached for her face, his grip firm yet deliberate. “What are you—” Her words turned into a gasp as his lips brushed her lips. Before she could react, his teeth sank into her tongue.Sherryl’s gasp turned into a muffled whimper as Dallion’s teeth grazed her tongue with a deliberate sharpness, a mixture of pleasure and pain igniting her senses. She tried to pull back instinctively, but his firm grip on her face left no room for escape. His dark eyes bore into hers, daring her to resist, daring her to push him away, but her body betrayed her.The sensation of his lips moving against hers was magnetic, each kiss deepenin