s 3 mo

all begins and ends in one's mind. What you give power to, has power over you. What you sow,

ge before me-a familiar face, but one I despised. The girl staring back was a facade of glossy charm and feigned sincerity, adorned in a custom-made d

st, where I could pretend to lead a normal life, unburdened by the pressures of my lineage. Alas, such dreams were not afforded to the daughter of a notorious entrepreneur. My father, lavishl

eflection to stare in front with a strained fake smile on my bright red lips. Papa cast me a look

ice to me

e. I better not disappoint him tonight. I gave a tight-lipped smile to st

An involuntary shudder of disgust skated down my spine. If my papa scared me, his business associates terrified me.

." Papa gave a warned squeeze to my wr

re guests." More old freaky, shameless men

elves in alcohol. I could see old men with their young wives, all glammed up and perfumed, smiling at every rubbish escaping their so-called husband's mouths. I was not oblivious to the idea that Papa brought me her

world was so twisted, lethally inescapable. It feed on young souls l

he hallway seemed very empty with only two women standing at the far end fixing their makeup and giggling. I

was sure I heard the voices coming from here. I shouldn't do this, I shouldn't. But that barely stopped me as I took a careful step forward, and then anoth

iv

na

ps. My hands flew to my mouth as I stared wide-eyed. My legs were trembling, and my breathing much faster than normal. I watc

the one bowering over him sliced open his face, leaving behind a deep bloody gash. I gagged reflexively, my stomach heaving, but he was far from done. He pressed the knife into his

e man hovering over the bleeding poor man. My wide eyes couldn't lift, it felt like my limbs were trembling and I couldn'

of the wall for support. Who were they? A-And what were they doing? I watched as the silhou

oticed his hairs shining in the limited amount of light coming from the small window. I gulped. I-I should run and tell papa or call the cops. The moment I tried to back away to run, my trembling legs gave out and I stumbled on my heels backward. My hands flared in air w

. I've never seen him before. My heart was pounding and my skin felt strangely cold, especially where his eyes gazed. There was something wild about him, something untamed in the tousled black locks f

thick and fluffy on top of his head adding more definition to his impressive tall height. His face was sensually masculine and supported the most perfect features I had ever seen on a man before. High cheekbo

xotic....deadly. And

ation hit home. It didn't matter if he was divinely gorgeous, what I needed to was to ru

me noted his symmetrical face structure, with golden skin stretched tightly over high cheekbones and a firm jaw. As I continued staring at hi

e of my legs had me fall on the floor with a thud. "This was almost getting too boring." The man stepped in front revealing the p

-shirt underneath. A white handkerchief in his hands that seemed deepest shade of red as he

th suit caught the movement. Something dark as frightening tinge of impatience shinned in those dark eyes as I immediately adjusted my dress. The one, who I

as if he had no care in this world. Now that I could see his face clearly, it seemed

rds me. Or rather stalking, I thought stupidly. His every mov

me observe the grey flecks in his grey black eyes and thick long lashes surrou

ing felt in my stomach. H-How did I e

and stared down at me. I felt my blood turn to ice, leaving me paralyzed in place and helpless to do anything but st

low yet smooth, slightly accented, his nostrils flared f

a deep breath

wly, seemingly savourin

p? Did I made a mistake

a murder before?" I exhaled sharply, realising I was holding my breath. My eyes widened for a fraction o

What,-" another swallow.

ing inside me again. I was writhing inside. The sweat lessening the friction betwe

do you

life out of me. My eyes unconsciously moved to his palms that seemed big enough to wrap around my throat and calloused e

e of a living version of Ted Bundy. Would papa look for me if I take enough time? Would he even care? Oh

I'd never dare to stumble in their path. These men, I had no words f

ase god! I was only nineteen, vulnerable,

ost dislocating my shoulder and dragged me to the centre of the room. Normally, I was a bra

or the women in the hallways heard my desperation. In response

re caught as I felt Alexei's presence behind me. I flinched as his big palms rested on my shoulders as he pressed them down.

his eyes held my wide ones, pulling out a small barely

nto the man's left cheek. Bile rose up my mouth as Alexei'

horror; he was not doing it just to kill him. The man struggles grew weaker, his cries turning into sobbing moans. There was blood everywhere, he was practically drowning in it. I didn't know how he wa

out from his neck area. Kilian got up, wiping the knife on his pants, and faced me. "That was an expedited show for you, sweetheart," he said, smiling widely. "I didn't want to drag it out too much, since I

e oxygen in my brain reduced, and I felt nauseatingly