Jack wanted Charlotte. "There's something special about her." Said Cassius "Carl, do you have an idea why they want her that bad?" Carl hesitated then spoke the truth: "Lottie is not my sister. She is a girl my family's protecting…" Carl talked for almost ten minutes, and when he was done, Cassius was looking at him in astonishment. Claude bit his lower lip and announced: "they shall never get the kid. Cassius, exactly at seven o'clock, gave them a refusal. We shall start the purification before." "Sir," asked Cassius"May I accompany you? I know many of their faces, I can be a great help!.." "What are you saying kid!" Interrupted Cassius Flora opened her lips, hesitating to talk. She wanted to say anything to get over this very uncomfortable situation . But lying was fruitless, even fatale, when truth seemed impossible to tell. While hesitating, Claude kept shoving her with his eyes. Then he looked at her swollen red lips and felt something strange down his abdomen. He wanted to
"Don't hurt a woman, a child, an elder, or a man surrounding himself. You are not mercenaries. You are the righteous men. You are going to serve justice and purify your territory. Don't you become the monster you're fighting!"Claude made this speech in front of his men before every mission, this one is no exception. They answered "Yes! Sir!" And they joined their units. Claude's mind was not only clouded by the risky mission but also by Flora and Lottie he left behind. He felt ominous. And he didn't know why.Flora was on pins and needles, she tried her best to let go of bad thoughts, but fruitlessly. Claude confined her in the kids' room till he gets back and makes a decision about the matter of her punishment. And the small space made her even more anxious. To resolve it, Flora opened the door slightly and looked through it. Vlad was standing there as expect
Some minutes later, a woman got into Claude’s vehicle. She was Veronica:“I owe you!” She nagged, “You disturbed me in such an hour!”The woman cut her parole seeing Claude charging his gun and pointing it to her mouth:“You owe me your life,” responded Claude with a solemn face. “I ought to kill you long ago, ho*e.”Veronica hurried to the door, fruitlessly. It didn’t open. “F*ck!” she screamed.“It won’t open. Don’t waste your efforts.”Veronica was the plaything of many men in the region. Claude knew it well. But is also the sl*t of Jack Black as Flora saw, meant Veronica may be a spy or a double agent, or just a woman too fool to be alive:“What’s wrong with you?!” cried sheClaude seemed as terrifying as a soul reaper. He looked at her in an intimidating way she never saw despite being his sex partner for so long. He did
Mr. Goldmen was solemn. He felt by the mafia’s sixth sense that something was wrong. One of the mafia bosses just told him he didn’t come to contact his men in the south. Plus, Goldman was there when the blowing crashed into the old palace. It is a matter of time before Jack calls or orders a general assembly. It seems the members of the syndicate are worried, yet the syndicate itself is stable. This means the damn Jack is having a plan. Or maybe, all the accidents happening are part of his f*cked-up plan.Goldman usually doesn’t drink. He is already old and he cares infinitely about expanding his lifetime. But given the situation he didn’t refuse when his beautiful Veronica proposed to him a cup of Scotch:“Honey, you look stressed!” Said she “Let me pour you some liquor and prepare you a hot bath”Goldman took the cup and drank it all without taking a breath. Veronica drank some of hers too. Then she looked at the two guards who were accompanying them in the study. Those two are her
"This is the forest separating the north from the south! Hurry up before he manages to get out of our territory!"Claude was extremely serious. The situation was very sensitive."Stay close, Carl.""Yes, sir!"Carl was floating in the adrenaline. Never has he ever been in such an adventure! But even so he was attentive and obedient to Claude. Carl already knows how fine the link between life and death is."Once you catch him, will you get him to the police station?" asked Carl."First I shall catch him. Then probably I will interrogate him for a while. He could be quite useful for us " responded Claude."You won't give him up to the police" concluded Carl.Claude didn't laugh loud this time to not break the silence:"I can't let him go easily" added Claude "Never will I"Carl understood the motive of Claude. Joel, the man they were searching for, was the one kidnapping the kids and torturing them. Carl was not sure if he would manage to not break in tears once he saw his torturer. It f
Vlad got shot in the arm. It was not a big deal for him. He still has three men to kill. Judith is one of them. Vlad rested a moment behind a flipped table and covered his arm with a sheet. His men managed to open the door he blocked and took Judith by surprise."The support is near!" Yelled Judith.But despite his warning, Vlad’s comrades were first. His men couldn’t fight them for too long.Vlad got the information: "Ilnero is coming!" Down, Flora felt her heart beating fast. Her father is coming. He's coming searching for her!As much as she was worried about Vlad and the boys, Flora was happy. Her father is really coming for her! She shook her head: "Calm down stupid Flora" said she to herself "You are Claude's now, you can't be happy his men risking their lives for you!.. Claude, please come back fast. I feel I'm getting dumber. I may commit a big mistake" Vlad almost came to kill Judith when the Don came in. And may God be mighty! The Don was accompanied by an army!"Listen me
“Let’s get you back to the mansion. The police took over the city but still, it won’t be safe till a week later,” said Claude while taking Charlotte from Flora’s embrace. Gimmy helped Flora get out. The poor woman looked pale as a leaf. Claude saw it and bit his lower lip secretly: First, the truth will hurt you, torment you to the core. Then, it will set you free. “How are Vlad and the others?” Asked Flora. She concealed her agony for a second so she could come back to take care of others around her. Flora never failed to surprise Claude. “Vlad got shot. But it is not life-threatening.” “Goodness me!” Flora hurried out to check on Vlad outside, while Gimmy asked his boss: “Was her hiding voice proof?” “I don’t think so” “The poor lady. I can’t believe such an angelic woman is the daughter of that b*stard.” “Nor do I… Nor do I…” Flora reached the outside gasping. She found Vlad by the car, discussing with some of his buddies: “Vlad!” Vlad turned to Flora and moved his head
"Madame Flora! Mr. Vlad! Are you both alright?! Where’s Lottie and Mr. Knightly?!” “Carl!” Flora immediately hugged the boy. She seemed full of the joys of spring for seeing him alright. Carl was taken by the warmth. He hugged her back and accepted her maternal kisses on the head: “Lottie is fine” answered Flora while caressing the boy’s cheek “However we had to operate on her ear and she should see a doctor as soon as possible”. Frightened by the news, Carl was about to inquire about the location of Lottie, when he saw Claude coming over holding the little girl: “Get in the car. We are going home” ordered Claude. Flora asked to drive with Claude. He accepted by shaking his head. So on the road, she had the chance of talking to him: “What will you do to the kids?” “For the moment I will get them and you to my manor. It is the safest place around” “Charlotte needs a doctor. And they better get scanned. Maybe something else was implanted in their bodies.” “Okay” Flora explained
Flora woke up the next morning to the sound of knocking on her chamber door.“Yes?!” She asked“Are you decent?”“A moment please.”Flora jumped off the bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face. She knew the voice owner: That was the voice of Mr. Wolfgang! Flora changed her clothes and did her hair then she stood up in the middle of the chamber, head high, straight posture, and severe facial expression:“Please, come in.”Wolfgang came into the room and smirked looking at Flora: She tried to appear solemn and severe but the excitement in her eyes failed her:“How was your night, young lady?”“Cozy, thank you. How have you been, sir?”“You can call me Father. Or don’t. That silly son of mine shall marry you first.”Flora got as red as a cherry and she looked down shyly. He knew she was emotionally entangled with his adopted son! “Calm down Flora. Don’t mess it up this time.” She whispered to herself.“Mr. Wolfgang.” She said to him, “I want to talk with you.”“Here I am.”“First,
“Are you happy?” said Mielle. Cassius barely added a word after Claude left him and Mielle. He asked her to give him her seal and gun if she had any. Mielle took off the necklace she kept under her clothes. That necklace had a seal on it: The seal of a thorny rose. With that seal, Mielle has the access to the Brotherhood’s database and has the right to communicate with other members. Without a seal, she is just a hanged member who has no voice. Cassius was not afraid of her. Even if she asks for help, his position as enforcer will prevent her from getting any. Plus, he knew she didn’t want help. Mielle was far too proud to not accept the consequences of her free actions. But he respected the protocol. From the moment she is considered a sinner, to the moment she accepts redemption, Mielle shall stay isolated from the rest of the brotherhood to not spread her sins among them. It was ridiculous, but it was the law that protected this brotherhood for centuries. Mielle gave him her gu
Mielle, the witty coffee shop owner, is an assassin.Cassius, the kind guy, is an enforcer.The enforcer’s job in the Round Table was not complicated. He has to keep order. Every member of the secret society should respect his place, his mates, and the law. And Mielle just broke all of it. Cassius was an enforcer linked to Claude, and Mielle was the assassin linked to Claude. Claude was a knight. Which is a very advanced position. To each knight, the Round Table attributes a functional unit. In the unit, there is an assassin who shall enforce the knight’s orders outside the brotherhood. The Round Table attributes every knight an enforcer in charge of keeping order and punishing those going berserk, even if they were the knight himself.Mille acted without her master’s consent two times. The first time was on the Orient Express where she killed a mafia man: Mr. Fortnight, to avenge her family. The second was in the peace masquerade where she poisoned a guest: Mrs. Ilnero gives her fri
Roxanna was aware of the situation. The moment Cassius told her Claude was waiting for her. She nodded and spared herself successfully from the police. She walked into the study where Claude was smoking and greeted him:- I pay my respect to the glorious silver knight.- Welcome Miss La Rosa. Do me the honor of sharing a discussion.It was a bit dark inside. The smoke made the air thick and gloomy. Roxanna knew that Claude was angry. With his dominant posture and cruel face, he looked quite the dangerous. Claude sat in front of Roxanna and offered her a cigarette. She accepted it and smoked as well. Claude sighed and asked her, with a dry tone:- Long story short, are you the one who did it?- Would you punish the one who did it?- No. I want a painful death for that witch. Yet, choosing this time is just irrational.- It was not me Mr. Knightly. If it was me, I would admit it with no fear.- In that case, do you know who did it?- No, no one told me about something like that happeni
Flora felt nausea. What has she done?! Claude will kill her for this! He will damn kill her!Once they heard Bianca’s scream, Flora was about to run into the building and head to the ballroom, when Vlad caught her hand:“Stay here, I will go to enquire.”“Yes.”The moment Vlad disappeared, Ludovic appeared as if he was waiting for her to be alone. “So? Shall we go?”“What have you done?!”“Nothing. But it is a good occasion to run without Jack and Claude noticing us.”“No, I can’t! I didn’t tell Claude yet that I am going with you! I can’t just disappear again! That would be cruel and disrespectful!”Ludovic grabbed the woman’s arm and growled: “Do you want to meet Wolfgang or not?”“But…”“Yes or No?! Make a choice!”“Yes.”“Then let’s go. We have no time left. Soon the two men will get aware of your disappearance.”Ludovic took Flora to his car and ordered his men to act as secretly as possible. And so, when everyone was swallowing the shock of the unpredictable incident, Ludovic
Bianca screamed as her mother collapsed in the ballroom: “Mother! Mother! Wake up!!!”A line of black thick blood was coming out of the mouth of the unconscious woman. “Poison!” cried a lady “She is poisoned!”Claude came to the ballroom with Jack as soon as they heard the screaming:“Is that your doing?” Claude asked Jack the moment they got to the door.“No. Yours?”“No.”“Who then?”They didn’t need that answer for the moment. Instead, they approached the victim:“What the f*ck is this?” said Jack as he knelt beside the collapsed woman.“Oh! Mr. Black! Mother! Mother got poisoned!” responded Bianca crying.Claude ordered his men to call the police and an ambulance. But Jack said coldly as he examined the woman: “Order them to hurry and bring a doctor along. I do not think she can make it in more than an hour.”“Alright. Ladies and gentlemen, please do not leave your positions. Stay where you are until the police are here.”Inside, Claude was cursing. That was far away from being a
Flora looked around her all the time. Claude was nowhere to be seen when she needed to talk to him as soon as possible. Staying around Roxana was the best. But Flora was anxious so she excused herself and went into the hallway to look for Claude. The anxiety made Flora not pay attention to Jack who came after her. But suddenly as she walked in the long corridor, she felt a shiver. And she immediately knew what it was. She turned to look solemn and saw Jack behind her, smiling as the devil he is:- Did you miss your Daddy, babydoll?He said with a teasing smile and Flora had the desire to vomit. And she did not answer. She just kept looking at him with pride and confidence.Jack’s smile started to fade as he sensed something was different about Flora’s eyes. He saw her arrogant look thousands of times before, but this… this was something different:- Come back to your house my dear wife. Your husband and family, we are all waiting for you- Does that include your wipes and ropes?- Of
It was the time for a Valse. Cassius asked Flora to be his partner and she didn’t let him down. Cassius, as the sweet guy he is, attracted many of the ladies at the ball. First, they got disappointed seeing he had a partner. Then, they got even more disappointed to see him dancing with the ball’s queen: Flora La Candida.Cassius only smiled at Flora. No word was said for a while. He led her softly and naturally. They looked perfect dancing together. But after some time, Cassius bent on his partner and whispered:- Tell me he didn't hurt you that night Flora. Please, tell me he didn't.- He didn't- Thank goodness. Cassius sighed. Now that you are back things will get better. As his close friend, I am truly happy you are back, Flora. Claude was acting strong but inside he was burning. Can you believe Mielle herself was kind to him?- Gosh... I am sorry - Don't be. Or be. If you want to apologize, apologize to Ciel. The poor man was having a VERY hard mouth.Flora laughed. Her sweet la
Back to the present,----------Flora woke up after some minutes. Claude was still holding her tight and caressing her back. When she opened her eyes she saw him looking at her and she felt like heaven."We must go back to the ballroom, don't we?""I think we should. I'll never get enough of the shocked face of your stepmother."Flora giggled:"Neither I !""Let me help you dress then I will go and ask a maid to help you with your hair and makeup.""Gosh! I have a problem. I didn't bring anything to correct my appearance!""That's alright. In the resting room, they are keeping some brushes and makeup simple.""What a relief to be in a masquerade held by a billionaire."Claude laughed and said:"Are you aware you came to a masquerade without a mask? All of that to disturb those b*tches?""Well, in fact, I was planning on wearing a mask and meeting you privately. Then I thought: Why am I scared? Let them know I am alive. Let them burn for my happiness. I think it was worth it. I am not