Chapter 34 | Her
Vuk arrives in time to take me to his master, the monster - King. And I have to play along to get out of this hell. Only by playing along can I plan an escape.
But with the devil lurking right behind me I’ll have to make it fast. Or I’ll get fucking eaten alive before even getting a chance to escape.
He approaches me, “You’re ready?”
I roll my eyes and leave the room, making him hurry behind me.
“You are not supposed to be walking around here all by yourself.” He speaks catching my pace.
Did I mention how irritating his voice is?
As we walk through the halls, I am met with so many different versions of the same painting. Decorative mirrors line the walls for no real use. But then I’ve seen that before. Did not know two entities of absolutely different dimensions can sometimes have a lot in common.
As we walk through the magnificent chamber that Vuk told me was mostly used for parties and gatherings, many different things catch my eyes. There are multiple luxury class sofa sets on either side of the aesthetically pleasant red carpet running midway. The man is living the delusion of being a real-life king.
“Does your boss host fashion runways here?” I taunt, earning a glare from him.
Silk curtains hang down the painted glass windows on the ivory walls shining like shimmer under the warm white lights coming from a series of modern styled chandeliers. Everything around here is stinking of money. Illegal money.
At the other end of the hall is yet another chamber. A glass chamber to be precise, but the insides are barred form vision by blinds drawn in such a way that even a peek inside is impossible.
“What’s in there?” I ask him.
He smiles wickedly, “I hope you do not get to know. However, that’s impossible.”
“Looks like a stage to me... Theatre lover, I see...” I follow him out through another set of hallways before we make a final left.
“Sit inside and wait. He’ll join you in five minutes.” He says plainly before turning to leave.
“Vuk” I call out, “I don’t want to meet him... I don’t feel very well suddenly.”
He pulls me aside by the arm and whispers, “Don’t keep saying that. You’re here because he summoned you. And you’ll do exactly what he expects you to.” His eyes narrow, “Don’t test him Ruza. You want to survive, then don’t mess with him. Okay?”
I nod in response, when he releases my hand to the sound of footsteps approaching. The bland food they gave me an hour ago is making its way back to my throat as a fresh doze of pure adrenaline rushes inside my head.
I need to run. I need to hide. I can’t stand another conversation with the sick fuck. No.
Shivers run down my spine as I turn around to watch a tall man with a nefarious smirk on his chiseled face walk in my direction.
“Czarina...” He calls me out in his deep baritone. That delight is threatening.
“Hello Rosa, I am Konstantin.” Extending his hand graciously he continues to scan me, “You can call me King.”
He looks monstrous. His eyes are a ditto match, unfortunately, with my beloved. His skin hardly has the trace of his age; wrinkles so light-so dull that you wouldn’t notice past the spotlessly smooth pale skin angled sharply at his jaws.
For a few moments, I’m engulfed by the darkness the man towering over me is emanating. Shortness of breath, the beating inside my chest coming to a complete halt – does not even begin to describe the fear this man’s pleased face is radiating. It’s hard to imagine what he must be capable of when he’s angry.
A sharp nose flaring above the thin smirk. And I instantly realize what I’ve been doing. I’ve been paralyzed to the point that even when I know how dangerous being rude to him can be, I’m still unable to unblock my senses to meet his greeting.
Sensing my non response, he takes my hand and places a kiss before flashing a salacious look at me. “Don’t be afraid of me. I promise to be on my best behavior.”
Something tells me to not believe a single word that comes out of this man’s mouth.
His cold gaze falls on the man beside me, “Thank you Vuk. You can leave now.” His tone formal, unlike the man who was smiling just two seconds ago.
Vuk leaves without even looking in our direction.
“I hope you are more comfortable here now. Let’s head inside and talk...” he speaks, directing me inside what looks like a study. Books lined up in rows taking an entire wall of space, a large desk sits in the middle of the room, with couches on either side of the room to sit and read, and floor to ceiling windows on the other end. Everything smelling of bad money.
I gawk at the pretentious luxury before taking a seat opposite to him; realizing suddenly that he’d been scanning my every move like making an evaluation.
He leans back on the revolving chair, “Naksh has developed quite an impressive taste in women, I see.”
The name instantly makes my heart flutter and in the moment all I think about is flying away to him. To safety.
“How do you know him?” The question just slips from my mouth giving me little to no chance to shut the fuck up.
He smiles and rises to his feet, walking away towards the huge ass windows. Hands in the pockets, while he gazes into the distance of the vast blue expanse of the sea.
“To answer that question... I’ll tell you a story.” He says, “There was once a businessman... a powerful and corrupt businessman, who fell in for with this young, beautiful, passionate and extremely ambitious woman. She was the most gorgeous thing he had ever seen, and he was too infatuated to not pursue her...”
So, this monster has a weakness too... because he seems absolutely zoned out talking about this woman.
“The woman was pregnant with his child when she was married off to another. Little did the world know, they were not done with each other.” He huffs before continuing, “She had no interest in the husband so she kept visiting the lover; kept inviting him to her new home... They found their happily ever after, but only when she died in the eyes of the world to join him in his world, abandoning the husband and children for far greater things – money, sex and power.”
“How does this have anything to do with my question?” My brows furrow at the perplexing storyline.
He turns to face me, smiling on his way as he walks back to take his seat, “Don’t you want to know who the child is?”
His stare hinders any active connecting dots going on in my mind as dread fills my throat, “Who – who is the child?”
He lowers his greyish pits of hell to meet mine, “Nakshatra is my heir, my son. Maya and mine.”
All hell breaks loose when those words escape his filthy mouth. My Naksh – son of this monster?
How can it be? I have met Anushka’s father once or twice.
The suggestive look on his face grows into an eviler grin as realization sets in my features. His father never knew about the baby when he married his mother.
What a sick way to live... Deceiving someone into marriage. Both his biological parents deserve a standing ovation for the kind of life they’ve chosen.
“And still, you chose to rob him of his one true?” Disgust lingering behind that question.
His expression turns icy cold instantly, “You are not his one true; he’ll realize it soon. And then he’ll throw you out of his life... Good thing you have me. I’m a keeper of beautiful things.”
“He won’t ever do that. You have no idea how many years he’s spent obsessing over me...”
“See that’s where you’re wrong...” He interrupts me, tsking in frustration, “What makes you think I would have stopped keeping tracks of my own son. In fact, I’ve been trying to push him towards this lifestyle for a long time now... Perhaps, he hasn’t told you yet. And I was quite successful in breaking him. But then you happened.”
His eyes darken, “And destroyed years of grooming in only a matter of few days. Maya was devastated. Our most promising boy swooning and falling head over heels for a woman not even closely suitable for our business. He kept digressing after that into useless unprofitable emotions. Whatever your presence made him into...”
“You don’t talk like he means anything other than business to the two of you...”
Sighing a deep breath, “See... you keep proving how catastrophic you are for business. But then I had to come up with a plan. So, I took matters in my hands. Now, I’ll get my heir back. On the bright side I’m also getting to taste the sweetness he has been drooling over. Perhaps, you could be of some use to us after all.”
His eyes narrow as he rubs his chin thoughtfully, “You know... I never understood what could be so special about a woman that my Naksh would be so enchanted by, that he forgot all the trauma that I subjected him to groom him for the business. But when I saw the clip...” he lifts his hands in defeat, “I mean who wouldn’t, I thought.”
“So, you are aware that he’s, my boyfriend. And that at this moment, he must be finding ways to reach me. And you still choose to talk to me so blatantly? What kind of father are you?”
“The kind who gets the desired results no matter what. I don’t care who sacrifices what. I’ve put way too much in building this empire and I am not letting it fall for some stupid emotion. I’ll destroy everything that threatens my business, including his one true, if that’s what he thinks of it.” He retorts angrily. “And just for your information, he is my son. You’ve seen just how deceptive he can be. How ill-mannered he can be for something that he wants to acquire. Today or tomorrow, you’ll learn how similar he is to me, he’s my son after all.”
“He is nothing like you. Don’t compare him to yourself.” I speak with harsh authority, my tone filled with hatred.
“Oh, he is just like me or he wouldn’t lie to you about his knowledge of your situation.” A smirk rising on his face, “Don’t you know who you were getting off with on that webcam call?”
My eyebrows furrow as my skin creases between them in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
His head falls back as he laughs in joy at my perplexity, “Did he deceive you again into thinking he wasn’t playing around with you? Oh, Rose you’re so ingenuous. Literally walking into the same trap every single time.”
“What trap? What are you talking about?”
“The trap set by my dear son that you came walking into. Do you want to know who Black Knight is?” He grins at me holding a steady eye contact, “Your lovely boyfriend is who made you do dirty things in front of the camera safely concealed behind the alias of Black Knight.”
Panic strikes my insides as the words leave his mouth making me wonder if that can even be true.
What would this man get from lying about his son to me?
My head feels dizzy but I swallow the uncertainty in my own words, “He does not lie to me anymore. And if he ever did, it would be to protect me and not destroy me. End of story!”
The expression on his face turns sour, “He lied to your face multiple times, only to take advantage and you know it. You want to ignore it, sure go ahead. But listen to this once, and listen it well... you are not his property. I’m keeping you, so technically you belong with me. And that you can call the end of story.”
“I don’t believe you. In fact, I find you sick enough to try to frame your own son in front of his girl. Despicable enough to kidnap her and wanting to keep her. You’re a disgusting human, really.”
The venomous words find its way out of my system without giving my mind a second chance.
He pulls out a Glock and places on top of the table. The feeling of freezing crushing terror freshens up inside my systems at the sight of a real loaded gun.
Divit had given me a tour of their collection but they were all unloaded harmless weapons. I could die right here, right now if I did not choose my words correctly.
His hand lingers on the semi-automatic pistol for a moment longer than needed, before he speaks again. “Do not try that tone with me Rosa. I am not a patient man, unfortunately.”
He visibly softens his expressions as he pulls out something out of one of the drawers on his right and placing it on his tongue. A few minutes passes by in silence as I stare at him returning to his usual sick demeanor.
“This dress is not doing you justice. I wonder how you look beneath all those layers.” He eyes the neckline, gradually drifting below. “I’ll tell them to get you a more befitting one for later sweetheart.”
His eyes shift back to mine, “Oh, I forgot to tell you. We are having a party in a few days. I hope you’ll be amicable because your presence is absolutely necessary. And don’t embarrass me in front of my guests.”
“I am not participating in anything.” I say politely but adamantly, trying not to get shot.
“You don’t remember what I told you last time. I don’t mind your disagreement. And I would love to show you how bad I love taming brats like you.”
“Have some minimal sense of respect. You are my boyfriend’s biological parent, even if you never treated him like one. He is still your son. How can you do this to me? And you’re almost my father’s age. How can you even...”
He glares at me while cutting in, “Say that again. Talk about age again and I’ll burn your tongue before having my way with that lovely mouth of yours.”
The rest of my words die an instant death on my lips before he continues.
“I’ve had whores less than half your age, Rose. None of them ever complained of a longer length or a hungrier mouth. But I understand you haven’t seen any of those till now.”
He walks to lean on the desk before me with the pistol right in front of me while his one hand rests on the grip. His other hand rubs on my bottom lip making me suck in a sharp breath.
His laughter on my reaction to his touch is a window into how less I might have anticipated this man to be.
“He might be my son but he doesn’t own you, and even if he did, I love snatching things away by force if I like them. Even it is my son that I am stealing from. Look into my eyes...” He forces my face to look into his emotionless eyes, lunacy and ruthlessness dancing side by side in them, “Do you see stupid morals anywhere inside them? I’ve burnt the sense of moral judgement in many poor souls before. You – noobs are nothing. Nothing!”
And I see clearly what he is talking about. His eyes may be similar to my love’s but his looks dead.
I try to look away but he tightens his hands around my cheeks, leaning in close before whispering huskily, “You’re going to make such a pretty bride sweetheart. Such an appetizing meal. Can’t wait to ravish you.”
A sudden need to swim away from this place this very instant rises in my guts.
I look outside the window on my way back, the bitter taste of bile numbing the sweet taste in my mouth, as vast stretches of sea engulf all of the vision. Even the periphery painted in rich blue.
Why did you do this to me Jessica?
My mind screams as I make my way back to the luxurious prison in hell.
The question rhetorical still ringing inside my mind... Will he be able to find me?