"War is a slippery slope;
What would you do?
becomes,
What will you do?
becomes,
My god, what have you done?"

**********************

Emma's POV

"Ma'am, are you okay?" One of the guards inquired in concern as I approached the mansion's main gate.

My eyes glanced down at the blood splattered over my shirt, and I nodded, "Not my blood." It was rarely ever my blood.

Relief washed over his face, and he took a respectful step backward, pressing his finger to his earpiece to announce my presence. As I made my way toward the mansion, my steps slowed down, getting heavier as they carried the weight of the tumultuous storms brewing within me — a cacophony of emotions, a mixture of both good and bad.

Yet, amid my internal struggle, a looming darkness persisted, intensified by Isaac's fucked up words, those that kept echoing in my head over and over again. His presence flipped my world upside down. The few sentences we shared, left me grappling with the motive behind his unsettling disclosure.

What did he mean?

The vast land unfolded before me, a canvas of memories and untold stories. Despite the shadows that now danced in my thoughts, I couldn't muster the hatred this place might deserve.

I could never hate it here. It's my home.

It's my only home.

The only place I felt a sense of belonging to.

In every nook and cranny, Roman and I had left traces of our shared memories, intertwining our tainted past with our now-corrupted present.

As the memories threatened to resurface, I consciously shook them off and crossed the threshold into the mansion, only to come halting to a sudden stop. The man who consumed all of my sanity was right there, inside, in our home, no, in my home.

He doesn't have a place in my home anymore. 

My gaze fixated on Roman, as he paced around, anxiousness and worry radiated from him as he engaged in a heated conversation with Nikolas, one that my brother responded to with a couple of glares and a roll of his eyes.

My sudden appearance caught their attention. Roman's head whipped to the entrance and his eyes widened. Before I could take my next breath, he was in my face, his arms wrapping around me tightly, pulling me to his warm beautiful embrace and I froze.

"Emma, what happened?" He asked, breathless as he edged backward. He cupped my face between his hands, his eyes caressing me with such tenderness, it...it left me speechless, "We went to the precinct, and they said Isaac took you," Lines etched between his eyebrows as he looked all over me, trying to search for any sign of harm, "What happened? Are you okay?"

My hand went up, resting over his and I pried it off me, "What are you doing here?" I said, my cold tone a total contradiction to everything he makes me feel. I took a step backward, building necessary distance between us and I shook my head, "I don't want you here."

My instant rejection and the hostility radiating off me in waves intensified the lost look in his eyes, the softness in them tearing at the seemingly indestructible barrier around my chest, ripping at this stupid thing they call a heart, this stupid muscle thought it could do more than just pump blood and look at where we are now...

"Emma, can't you see it," He said, taking a step forward, diminishing every distance I built, obliterating the carefully built walls, "She is doing all of this on purpose," I know she is, she got me arrested for god's sake, but still, it doesn't mean she faked those pictures too. They were real. He would do it. He did it.

I was brought up to expect anything from everyone.

"She is driving us apart on purpose and you are letting her," he added, bewilderment dancing in the emerald depths of his eyes.

I shook my head, not willing to succumb to the vulnerability of my weakened heart, "Get out of my house, Roman," I ordered, leaving him no space for negotiation.

"This is my house, too," He answered, being an asshole as usual. An asshole I should've stayed away from. If only.

I shook my head, "No, you don't have a place in here anymore," Gesturing pointedly toward the exit, "So, you either leave, or I will make them throw you out. Your pick."

Being a dickhead, he stayed in his spot, he crossed his arms over his chest, "Make them throw me out, Emma," He said, his eyebrow arching, the dickhead challenging me.

My jaw ticked, he was playing on my fucking nerves and I turned to my right, where three of our men stood, and barked, "Take him out, now!" My voice held a stern authority. Hesitation mingled with fear in their gazes as they glanced nervously between us.

Frustration tightened my jaw further, "What the fuck are you waiting for?" I snapped, my hand fisting at my side, ready to unleash my fury on them.

"But, Ma'am," one of them stammered, their uncertainty evident. Despite my murderous glare, they remained indecisive, unsure of their next move.

A growl rumbled in my chest, my patience wearing thin and I was ready to march at them; killing someone would probably make me feel better than this suffocating thing tearing at my chest. But the dickhead wrapped his hand over my arm, pulling me back before I go a rampage on our own loyal men, those who had stood by us, through good and bad.

"Don't," Roman grated out, "I will leave," He said, a tinge of anger in his deep voice. I shook my arm out of his grip, taking a step away but he edged closer again, blocking my airways as he crowded my personal space, consuming me into a whirlwind of emotions and feelings I am not equipped for.

I acted unaffected, defiantly holding my head high as I glared at him. However, my stoic exterior crumbled in the face of his frustrated gaze, my jaw ticking as I fell weak again. His demeanor had me holding my breath. His familiar scent and warmth threatened my sanity and I wanted to dissolve, to push myself into his arms.

God, I got so used to him, so accustomed to his effortless charm, to every imperfectly perfect thing about him. To his sweet idiocy, to his affection, to his dirty words, to his touch – to everything about him.

He shook his head, determination etched across his features, "I am not giving up, Emma," His voice was so low yet it had something explode in my chest, "Our story won't end here, I won't allow it, so keep that in your mind," He added, the idiot, the stupid idiot.

With a gentle gesture, he lifted his hand, brushing a loose strand of my hair, his fingertips grazing my cheek before tucking it behind my ear.

I inhaled a stuttering breath, the proximity too overwhelming, "I will prove to you that my heart is only yours, always has been, always will be," He edged closer, his lips, warm and soft, pecked my cheek, "I love you, my crazy girl," He whispered into my skin, a plea in his tight voice, "Don't do this to us, I am begging you."

With that, he released me, and my heart stumbled once again. As he left my side, his shoulder brushing mine on the way out, a sudden coldness enveloped me. Shivers ran through my body, I was trembling and I wanted to sit down and just cry my eyes out.

My lost eyes met Nikolas at a distance. He stepped closer, eyebrows furrowing as he assessed my wavering state, not used to seeing me all flustered over a guy, an idiotic guy nevertheless.

"I was gonna give you two some privacy, but that sounded interesting so I stayed," He said, his eyebrow raised playfully. My lips formed a pout, feeling so drained all of a sudden. Nikolas closed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms. A low sigh left my lips as I sank into his hold, my head falling into his comfy chest.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Nikolas asked, his hand soothingly running over my back.

I shook my head, my eyes pressing shut, attempting to erase him from my mind, though it seemed near impossible, "No."

"If you want to, I can easily kill him, you know that," He added, part serious and part joking.

Sniffling, I punched his chest, "Don't you dare touch him."

His chest vibrated lowly before he pulled back and nodded, "Okay."

His eyes met mine again, more serious now as he asked, "What did Isaac do?"

I shook my head, attempting to shake that weakness away and focusing only on my fucked up father, "That's the thing, he didn't do anything."

Confusion tightened his brows and I carried on, "It's almost like he knows, not just know, almost like he accepted his defeat," I explained what I was able to understand from the few sentences we shared, "It's insane because Isaac wouldn't just accept his fate." He'd fight the devil himself to turn things his way again.

Nikolas shook his head, "He doesn't have a say in it this time," He said, "That's why I am here, actually, I need you to come with me."

"To where?"

"To Sicily," He answered.

My eyebrows pulled closer, "To Italy?" I mumbled, confused at first before it finally clicked. Sicily was the center of all of our work. It holds the threads of tradition, and secrecy as it stands as the nexus of our empire. It's where the HEX is located. It's the base where important decisions carved destinies.

Especially the anointing of the next king.

"The higher table finally agreed," I commented in realization and he nodded.

"After I gave them enough proof, everyone is convinced that he killed my grandfather," Nikolas explained, "There is no escape anymore."

A small smile pulled up my lips, "It's almost surreal, you know."

Nikolas nodded, a hint of uncertainty in his expression still, "But even though he is going down, Isaac won't go down without one hell of a fight."

I nodded, sure of that too. Blood will be spilled, it's obvious, "We will be prepared," I said. We have to.

Isaac took a lot from us. It's about time we take everything from him too, including his very last breath.

Nikolas sucked in a deep breath, "By the way, I talked with Vivian," he said, catching me off guard. My eyes shot back to him, "She said you haven't given her the chance to talk yet."

I shook my head, "Not now, Nikolas," I mumbled. To confront my past, I have to deal with my messy present first. So, all in good time.

He chose not to insist further and gave me a nod. Worry flickered in his eyes, and before he could say anything more, my attention was drawn behind him. Noah paused to a stop by the stairs, his eyes on me. A soft smile broke across his face, and he jogged closer.

I crouched down to meet his little self, "Hey," I mumbled, brushing my hand over his hair, "Did you eat and rest?"

He nodded his head, "Yes, where were you?" He added, tilting his head to the side as he gazed at me.

"Who's that?" Nikolas's voice pulled my attention back to him, his horrified eyes on Noah, and I just realized how we hadn't spoken about this situation yet.

I sighed and pulled myself up to my feet, "I will tell you all about it on our way."

His confused eyes stayed focused on the kid and Noah offered him a small smile, "I am Noah."

Nikolas's bewildered eyes kept their focus on the kid before they looked at me, his eyebrow raising, "Emma?"

I rolled my eyes at him, he was really Alex's brother, wasn't he?

"Be nice," I ordered, my hand falling on Noah's little shoulder, "I can't take him with me there," I mumbled, just now realizing, "And I can't keep him here alone-"

"I have a place," Nikolas answered and I faced him, questioning and he sighed, "I am keeping Nathan there, it's now safer than any other place."

"Here is a thought, why not take this Nathan with us to Sicily and blow him alongside our father-"

Before I could finish my sentence, Nikolas's hand smacked the back of my head, "He is a kid," he grated out.

I shot him a glare and rubbed at my head, "Isaac's kid," I pointed out.

Nikolas's eyebrows raised, "You're Isaac's kid too, aren't you?"

I groaned, shivering in disgust, "Don't remind me."

My gaze flickered down to Noah and I rested my hand on the top of his head, giving him a soft smile as he gazed up at me, "Okay, arrange for it," I said to Nikolas, "But if anything happens to him, you will be my first target," I threatened and Nikolas rolled his eyes before he pulled his phone to get it done.

*****************

Sicily, Italy

Nikolas's POV

My confused gaze remained fixed on Ronald as he fussed over the details of his outfit, adjusting the collar of his crisp white shirt and smoothing out the lapels of his dark blue suit jacket for what felt like the umpteenth time. It seemed as though he believed he was here for a modeling competition rather than to partake in the impending confrontation with my father.

His eyes met mine, and he flashed me a self-satisfied smile. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"I look good, don't I?" he asked, seeking validation.

I shot him a bored look, "You know that you are my least favorite person in the world, so why do you ask stupid questions like that?"

My words earned me a frown between his eyebrows, and he shot me a glare before looking away, muttering under his breath, "Alex is so much more fun than you."

Deciding to ignore his petty comments, my gaze wandered around the venue, observing the growing crowd and I waited for Isaac to make his appearance. As guests mingled beneath towering marble columns, the sound of their laughter and the clinking of crystal glasses created a delicate symphony, a stark contrast to the clandestine dealings that lurked beneath the surface.

Beneath the veneer of elegance, these people dressed in their finest, were orchestrating a grand ball against the backdrop of a hidden world stained with blood.

The marble floors beneath our feet reflected the shimmering gowns and tailored suits of the attendees. A sweeping staircase, adorned with a velvet carpet, led to an upper level that overlooked the festivities below.

Each echo of laughter, each swirl of a ball gown, masked the undercurrent of tension and danger. The clash of extravagance against the shadowy realities painted a portrait of a world where appearances were so deceiving, and the beauty of the ballroom concealed a deeper, darker bloody truth.

I sensed an alarming shift in the atmosphere, like an impending danger and when my gaze flickered to the entrance, I froze. The sight that welcomed me was like ten buckets of cold water being thrown at me. There he was, my dear father, the puppet master of this twisted realm, making his way inside, but his sight wasn't what stripped my sanity and shook my being. No, it was who he had by his side that left me reeling and on the verge of losing my fucking mind.

Natalie.

Fuck, is she trying to kill me?

Anger, like molten lava, surged within me, erupting like a volcano in my chest and seeping into my stomach. Seeing her beside my father stoked the flames of betrayal that still lingered within. My fists clenched at my sides, fingernails biting into my palms, as the desire to fucking destroy everything burned within me.

"Are you seeing this too?" Ronald whispered in utter shock, his wide eyes focused on the entrance as well.

Isaac leaned closer and whispered something in her ear and whatever sanity left in me unraveled. His words, whatever they were, had her eyelids drop down, her jaw tightening and her fingers on the side trembling before they curled over her dress, clenching her grip over the fabric in an attempt to contain herself.

When he edged back, the sick fucked-up smile curled his lips up and Natalie turned to look at him. Silently, she only glared at whatever he said, only feeding into his sadistic self. Isaac's eyes left her and drifted around, meeting only mine from a distance. If possible, his sadistic smile widened before he threw me a wink.

Natalie followed his path of sight, her blue eyes meeting mine and something seemed to tremble and die in her expression the second we locked gazes. The force of my palpable rage almost made her stumble back and run away, escape from me and the wrath I wanted to unleash. I was ready to fucking kill him and her and myself and just end this here. The monster in my head was screaming, ripping at my nerves and cells, tearing through the logic and feeding into my dark twisted thoughts.

The monster wanted to bury them all underground.

I wished to surrender to him again, to make him take the lead and obliterate everything and everyone.

I didn't want to fucking care anymore.

I was much better when he was in charge.

Natalie averted her gaze away, unable to face me, unable to look me in the eye. A coward, that's who she is, who she's been since the very start. My gaze traveled down to Isaac's hand, the one he placed on her lower back, and urged her to walk further inside. Something wild broke in my chest, something so dark enveloped my eyesight, and I wasn't thinking or breathing, I was on the brink of madness as I slammed my fisted hand over the cocktail table, "Fuck it-" I grated out through clenched teeth and I was ready to march forward and ruin everything.

Ruin them, myself, my plans, and just everything.

Nothing else mattered to me now.

But Ronald grasped at my shoulder and harshly pulled me back before he hurried and stood in front of me, blocking my way, his hands on my shoulder, stopping me, "Nikolas!" He said in bewilderment, trying to reach for me but I wasn't here anymore. My gaze and focus were only on them. On him. On her. On his fucking hand. Fuck. Fuck...

"Nikolas, look at me!" Ronald shot out again, my expression, dark and twisted must've sold me out. 

The last time I felt something remotely similar was right before I went ahead and ruined Alex's life. Now, I was ready to do much worse.

"He is doing this on purpose, you can't let him get to you, he is trying to trigger you!" Ronald's frustration reverberated in his voice, but the echoes were muffled, his voice felt like it was coming from under the rubble, my ears still suffering the aftermath of an explosion. But, this time the explosion was within me, in my chest, deep in my heart, and in my mind; coursing through my veins, a wreckage swimming in my blood and thoughts.

"Nikolas, for the love of god," Ronald pressed on again, his hands on my shoulders pushing me back because I wanted to go there, to kill him right on the spot, among everyone. They'd kill me right after, but who cares?

"Nikolas, just look at me, control yourself," This time, Ronald's words finally broke my trance and my gaze fell on him ahead of me. His eyes were wide, bewilderment etched over every edge of his face as he drank in the intensity of my own. He retreated his hands back, hesitant still, ready to hold me back again if he had to.

"Look, this face looks a lot like that face," He said, pointing at himself, "If you want to do something, please just punch this face," He urged and my chest was heaving, almost panting like I've run a marathon.

My gaze flickered down, to my shaking hand. I grasped at the edge of the table, trying to get a grip, and pressed my eyes shut, "I can't breathe," I mumbled, trying to catch my next breath but the tightness over my chest was too suffocating.

Ronald's hand rested over my arm, "I just gave you the chance to punch me, you kind of need to breathe for that, you know," He said, trying to sound playful but panic resided deep in his voice.

I pressed my eyes tighter, trying to pave my way out of this madness but couldn't, everything was crashing at once and at an overwhelming pace. What the hell is happening to me?

"Nikolas," Ronald said again in worry as he sensed my deep inner struggle, "Do you want me to hug you?"

I sucked in a deep stuttering breath. My eyelids glided open and I shot my head up, glaring at him and ready to take him on his offer to mutilate his fucking face.

He broke into a smile, "See, I knew the thought of me hugging you was more terrifying than anything else, so you'd force yourself to breathe in order to avoid it," He commented while tapping his hand on my arm, "See, I know you very well and you dare say I am not your best friend."

I pushed my arm out of his touch, pushing him away from me, still glaring at him as I rushed a shaky hand over my face. My hand went down to my neck, rubbing at it before I unbuttoned the first few buttons of my shirt, allowing more air to seep through.

"I need to go outside," I said, unable to bear staying here any longer.

Ronald's wary eyes stayed on me, "Do you want me to come with you?"

"If you want me to mutilate your face, then sure," I grated out and he rolled his eyes at my threatening tone, "I just need fresh air, I will be back," I added, turning around and heading into the opposite direction, blinding myself from this reality as I walked down the hallway, my destination set for the balcony at the other end.

Once I was outside, the much-needed air rushed into my lungs with a force that pushed me forward, my hands falling over the rail, grasping into the cold metal with desperation as my eyes fell into the sea unfolding below us, its waves composing a symphony that struggled to drown out the tumultuous voices in my head.

I lifted my head up, staring at the star-lit sky, a very raw pain scratched at my insides, and after all this time, I found myself thinking of her, "Can you hear me?" I whispered into the nothingness of the night, into the darkness of the sky, trying to reach for her, "If you do, please give me some strength to do this," I added over a low whisper, my eyelids falling down as I felt the cold wind whip my face and tangle into my hair, "You asked me to fight, to keep fighting, but everything is spiraling out of control, I feel like I am about to lose my mind," I added, ever so helplessly.

I let go of the rail and rushed both hands over my face, roughing it up my head and through my hair, trying to keep myself intact, needing a safe ground to steady myself on because everything was shaking and falling apart.

With my eyes closed still, I felt the gentle graze of the wind over my face and I sucked into a deep calming breath, grasping control over my wavering thoughts. It's almost over, I am so close. I can do this. I have to do this.

I pried my eyes open and looked at the sky one last time before I turned around, ready to head back inside. As I moved, a sudden pause gripped me as I caught sight of her again, walking down the same hallway I had just traversed. Her head hung low, steps hurried, seemingly attempting to escape something—much like I had minutes ago.

Surveying the empty surroundings, I seized the moment. My gaze shifted to the small coat room on my left. Without a second thought, determination fueled my steps as I closed the distance between us. My hand curled around her arm, shaking her from her reverie and her head shot up, shocked as I pulled her into the coat room with me. I slammed the door shut just as I pushed her into the wall, trapping her within the confines of the narrowed space.

Her eyes widened as they stared up at me, my body almost consuming hers. The confined space forced us to share the same air, and I could see the pulse on her neck throbbing, the sound of it pounding in my ears. She turned her gaze to the door, ready to move and escape my shackles but my arm fell forward, my palm slamming beside her face, trapping her from all sides.

"What do you think you're doing?" I grated out.

Her throat bobbed, her eyes meeting mine again, eyes so big, so blue, they pushed me under the water and suffocated me, "I think you underestimate me, Natalie," I added with such rawness, "You are refusing to acknowledge the lengths I am willing to take this," Every word that left my mouth fed that vulnerable look in her eyes, "If you haven't figured it out yet, Natalie, let me enlighten you," I said, "I am sick in the head and the things that go in my mind could make you lose yours—if you hear a few of the things I want to do to you right now, you'd go running for the hills."

Her chest heaved, pushing up and down, almost brushing mine from how close we were and still, she refused to speak, she remained silent as the storms brewed around us, only feeding my monster, allowing him to rip through and push forward.

But even he, even he would crumble by her feet.

That's the extent of her powers over me.

She managed to ruin my monster too.

I slammed my hand into the wall by her face, frustrated at every fucking thing, "For god's sake Natalie, say something!" I grated out, my harsh voice bellowing into the small space and enveloping us from every corner.

Fuck, I wasn't breathing again. Realizing if I stayed here, confined with her, I would only ruin myself further, my hand fell from beside her and reached for the knob, but this was the second she awoken. Her hand fell onto my arm, her fingers desperately clutching into it, "Wait," She whispered, her voice, delicate still had me pressing my eyes shut.

"Nikolas," God, she shouldn't be allowed to say my name, not like this, "Look at me, please," The plea in her soft voice urged me to turn my head and face her again.

Lines etched between her eyebrows and over her forehead, stressed and anxious and terrified, "You know exactly why he is doing this," She mumbled, shaking her head, "You can't let him win, you can't let him get to you like this, he is doing it on purpose, he wants you to fall weak in front of everyone out there, he wants you to lose your control, you can't let him win, Nikolas, not now, not here," She shook her head again, so helplessly, like she was shackled from every corner and I was her only savior, but I was never a savior, if anything, I could be her villain too.

Tears gathered in her eyes, "You can't let him win, I am begging you," She mumbled, and the first tear escaped her eyes and trickled down her cheek. My gaze followed its path as it reached her upper lip and my fingers on the side twitched, the urge to reach forward and caress her tears away so prominent it made me lose all of my fucking control again.

She pressed her eyes shut and more tears seeped through, and her fingers on my arm tightened, "I am so tired of him, of his games, of his threats," She whispered, her internal struggle bleeding. Opening her eyes to meet mine, she added, "Everyone's life will be at stake if you let him win, so Nikolas, don't, you can do this, you can go out there and beat him at his own game."

The back of her head pressed into the wall and she brought her hand to her face, wiping the tears away, "And I know one way to do that—"

"You think I trust you?" I said, interrupting her words.

She shook her head, "I know you don't, and you don't have to," She said, her eyes flickering all over my face, "But you know me, Nikolas, deep down you know...me," She mumbled, her eyebrows quenching in sadness, "The me before all of this, the me you first met, you know me," she added, edging closer as she brought her hand up, letting it rest over my chest, "Just like I know you," She added over a low whisper.

Her gaze drifted to her hand, "Under all this darkness, I know you. I know the man you are," Her eyes flickered up and met mine again, "And I believe in that man."

"You broke that man, Natalie," The words left me before I could stop them. 

I pried her hand off me and her lower lip trembled slightly before she nodded her head, "I know," She whispered, ever so weakly, "And I will never forgive myself for that, but...you can't let me or him break you more."

She shook her head, "For god's sake, Nikolas, I am not here because I want to, you know that," She added, frustrated at herself and the situation as a whole, "You should know how I have no choice when it comes to him. You know him better than anyone."

"This could be another game of yours, how would I know," I said back, the stupid part of me believing her though. Because as she said, I know...her.

"No, Nikolas, no, listen to me," She said, her hand reaching for my arm again, "I can see it, in his body language, in his eyes, in every word he says, he knows he is losing, he knows it, and he knows that there is no way out of this one which is why this is his very last desperate attempt."

"So, please, listen to me, one way to beat him at his own game is for us to walk back in there, together, to show him that you don't care, that we're okay, that I didn't break you, that he didn't break you, you act like none of this matters and you will be the one breaking him."

"Then, you will let this night pass, and when the ceremony starts, you will take his title, and then, you can finally rid this world of him."

A very tired sigh left her lips, "You have to, Nikolas," A hundred different emotions darkened her eyes, "For you, for Emma, for Alex," She shook her head, her voice lowering, "For Nathan," She mumbled with a raw vulnerability that shook my inside, "And for me."

An ache so deep etched every corner of her face and she shook her head, "I can't take more of this," She whispered, her trembling hand, her heaving chest, the tears in her eyes, the pain on her face; all were proof that this took from her almost as much as it took from me.

Her fingers reached for my hand, tangling with my own, and waiting for me to grasp it in my grip tightly, her eyes pleading with mine still and this time her whisper nearly undid me, "Don't let me go back to him, please."

She was asking me to save her from him and how can I...how can I not?

My gaze flickered down, to her fingers, small and delicate, and without a second thought, I wrapped my hand tightly over hers before I pushed the door open and pulled her alongside me back toward the ballroom. My jaw tightened when I paused by the entrance, my gaze leaving the crowd and falling on her by my right side.

Startled by my sudden action, she whipped her head to me and I looked at her, I looked. Her blonde hair cascaded around her face, soft and with a tender curl by its end. Her dress, a midnight blue silk, traced delicate patterns down her body, simple and classy but the way the fabric clung to her curves was so sinful, seductive in ways it shouldn't be. Her blue eyes reflected the color of her dress, which now seemed a shade darker, a bit weaker, and breathless as they looked at my own.

Her delicate beauty was in stark contrast to everything she did and is still doing to me.

God, this woman, she will be my end, my death, and my fucking ruin.

I sucked into a deep breath, my hand leaving hers before it snuck around her waist, possessively pulling her to me as I made my way inside, pretending, acting...but who was I deceiving but myself.

I felt Isaac's eyes tear into my skin and without thinking again, I looked at Natalie only, edging my head closer, "This means nothing," I whispered to her before my lips met the soft skin of her cheek and I gently pecked it. A little show of affection for him and everyone else. But my little show wasn't little for her, the gesture had a shiver rush through her body, and goosebumps erupted all over her exposed skin.

When I edged back just slightly, she looked up at me, breathlessly, gazing into my eyes and searching for me, checking if I was there still, trying to figure out if we could be saved or if we were both just a gone case.

She brought her hand up and gently brushed my cheek. My jaw ticked and I pulled back from her touch, "What are you doing?"

Her lips pulled up slightly, scrunching her eyebrows, "There was an eyelash."

"By the way, if you want people to believe us, you're gonna have to hide that murderous look and smile," She mumbled, low enough for only me to hear.

I shook my head, my jaw tight, "Unlike you, Natalie, I don't know how to act."

She shook her head, refusing the insult, "I never acted with you."

"Really?" My eyebrow raised, "So, you didn't act when you said you loved me and then went ahead to cut the brakes of my car," My blow hit her in a sensitive spot but I wasn't done, "You didn't act when you gave me a gift and then went ahead to switch my pills?"

"I was talking about my feelings," She mumbled, her glassy eyes stayed on mine, "They were all real."

"Do you know what else is real?" I said, my voice lethal as I brought my hand up and tucked a blonde lock of her hair behind her ear, my gentle gesture a total contradiction to my next words, "My need to flip your whole world upside down, to steal your hopes and dreams, to take everything good away from you, to rip you apart, just like you did to me," I added, my voice dropping lower and lower to a dangerous level, "To let you sink down that dark pit and never find your way out."

Like me, she acted casual, bringing her hand to my shirt and fixing my collar, "You gonna have to try harder than that," Her eyes met mine, "You don't scare me, Nikolas."

"That's because I've only shown you my good side," I grated out, she was threatening my sanity again with her defiance, "You haven't met the monster yet, Natalie."

Her eyebrows raised, "I would love to meet him," She tapped her hand over my shoulder, finishing her fake attempt to fix my clothes, "It's been long overdue."

My jaw ticked, "You're playing with fire."

She nodded, "And I got burned already, so what's the worst thing to happen?"

"You haven't seen a thing yet," I added, the switch ready to flip in my head.

"I am really curious," She said, the stubborn psychologist in her operating now and I wanted to slam her into the nearest wall, kiss, and fuck that attitude out of her, "How would that monster hurt me? Seriously, I am curious, enlighten me."

What the hell is her matter?

"You don't want me to say it out loud," I grated out, my grip on her waist tightening.

"No, I think you don't want to say it out loud," She said back, bringing her hand up and brushing the side of my hair, pretending to fix it, a show for the eyes peering on us, "Do you know why, because you don't have anything to say out loud."

My glare bore into her skin, "What the fuck are you trying to do?"

"I am showing you what you are failing to convince yourself!" She said back, her tone stronger now than before, more determined, more confident as she looked directly into my eyes.

"Which is?" I shot out, unable to bear her mind-fuck questions.

"Which is that there is no monster," She said, "There is only you, there is only a man, there is only Nikolas," She retorted back, frustrated as she tried to convince me, "Grumpy? Yes, always. Unpleasant? Yes, most of the time," She added, "A big pain in the ass? Sometimes," She said, "Annoying as hell? Stubborn? Thickheaded? Caring? Affectionate? Would kill and would die for the people he loves? Yes."

Air pushed in and out of her chest, "There is only you, Nikolas, accept that."

She shook her head, "And you...you won't hurt me. You know that. I know that. So stop trying to convince yourself otherwise."

My inside shook with her words and I wanted to fucking scream, at her, at this fucking world, at everyone. I averted my gaze away, unable to look at her or face her.

My jaw tightened, "Don't trust me, Natalie," I grated out, without looking at her side yet. I could see her eyes, still focused only on me, "I don't trust you," She said ever so effortlessly, "As I said, Nikolas, I believe in you."

Her fucked-up words urged me to face her again, she was gonna give and give and then take it all away from me again, "I believe that you came a long way, and yes, you still have a very long road ahead, but I believe that you are going to make it to the end."

I didn't know what to say, what to think, what to feel...she had left me speechless, breathless, on the brink of utter madness. Why does she do this to me? Why only she can do this to me? Why am I this weak with her?

"Uhm, am I missing something over here," Ronald's voice finally broke my trance and I let my hand drop down, releasing her, tired of clinging to her like she was the air I needed to breathe. Ronald took a pause across from us, his confused gaze flickering between us two, his eyebrow raised, questioning our sudden closeness.

"Don't mess it up, Ronald," Natalie said, her eyes warning him to keep quiet.

"Mess what up? I don't understand what this is!" He shot back in frustration, "One moment he is panicking and not breathing, then the next he walks back here with you in his arms," He added and I rushed a hand over my face at his detailed description of my previous state.

Ronald sensed that and he winced right afterward, "You gonna mutilate my face?" He asked with a low sigh, already accepting his fate.

I nodded my head, "Just wait for this night to be over."

"Damn it," He hissed under his breath before he returned to his investigation, "Anyway, I didn't expect you two to make up and get back together this fast-"

"We are not back together," I shot out, interrupting him.

Natalie's eyes flickered from me to her brother and she explained it briefly to him. As the night unfolded, people came to our side and left, those greeting, those asking questions about Isaac and trying to pry on the upcoming ceremony. You see, all of this was just a front. Fancy balls, fancy attires, old money; all were just a show and in the background, behind closed curtains, so much blood will be shed.

Soft music echoed in the big room, and some people treaded to the dance floor, swaying gently to the music.

I felt Natalie's hand on my arm and I pulled back, her touch burned, "We should dance," She suggested, another show for all the prying eyes.

"I don't dance."

Her eyebrow raised, "I am not asking you to shake your hips," She grumbled, "We'll just...move with the music."

"I don't...move with the music."

"You are no fun."

"I am not here for fun."

"Can you at least look at me?" She asked.

A loud sigh pushed out of my lungs and I turned to her, "Yeah?"

"You are not going to smile?" She asked, insisting on this for some fucked up reason.

"Do you see anything worth smiling for?"

A low sigh pushed off her nose and she shook her head, looking down before her head whipped up, an idea striking, "If I punched Ronald, would you smile?"

Ronald's eyes widened, "What the hell did I do?" He squeaked out from beside her.

She elbowed him in the stomach to shut him up, "Would you?" She asked me again.

"Don't," I said, "He didn't do anything." You did. I wanted to say but kept that to myself.

At my words, Ronald's eyes widened even more and he gasped, "Oh my dear god," He mumbled, and when he recovered from his shock, a big smile broke over his lips and he elbowed Natalie, showing off, "He loves me."

"On second thoughts,—" I grumbled while glaring at him.

His eyes widened and he pushed himself away from Natalie, "Okay, okay," He said, raising his hands in surrender.

I returned my gaze to the crowd, searching for Isaac because I couldn't find him. God knows what more he is trying to pull in order to prevent the last ritual from occurring.

Natalie poked my arm again, trying to grab my attention back to her and I had reached my peak. I whirled around, "What?" I shot out. Taken aback, her expression fell down and she shook her head, "Nothing," She mumbled with a sad dejected tone.

"Look, Natalie, unlike you, I can't fucking pretend that everything is just okay!" I grated out.

Her expression shifted, turning serious now, "It's what I do, it's how I deal, Nikolas, I have to pretend everything will be okay because the other possibilities are just too damn scary," She shot back, again with that fucking tone, "My dad getting harmed, Nathan," She mumbled, worry tightened every edge of her face, "You, getting hurt again," She added, shaking her head, "The thought alone would break me."

"Maybe you deal with your issues by killing people and shedding blood," She grated out, anger drawing her eyebrows closer, "But this is how I deal with mine!"

With that, almost like she couldn't handle standing here, with me towering over her, ready to consume her if she crumbled, she whirled around and walked down the hallway, purposely building distance away from me.

Anxiously, my feet tapped over the ground, the nerves twisting and knotting my stomach before I whirled around and walked after her. My fingers on the side twitching, desperate to wrap over her neck and steal her life away. She said that there is no monster, but there is. He wants her dead, because maybe if she stopped breathing, I would stop too and all this pain would just fade away.

My feet halted when my gaze found him out of all people, crowding her space and preventing her from moving forward. Figuring this was my only chance, with silent steps, I veered to my right, concealing myself behind one of the marble columns; a position that allowed me to peek through and eavesdrop on their conversation.

"What's your game here, sweetheart?" Isaac spoke, venom dripping within every word.

"What did you think I'd do?" Natalie shot back, anger flickered from her teary glassy gaze, her hand at the side clutching into her dress, so tightly, trying to get a grip and conceal her fear, "Sit by your side and obediently listen to your every word?"

"I only agreed to be here so I could stand by Nikolas and witness him take you down, once and for all," she added, her teeth clenched, her once soft eyes now hardened, as if the trials of these past months had aged her decades in a mere moment.

"You're aware that by doing this, you're only sealing the fate of the people you care about," Isaac spat out, his back turned to me, radiating tension and frustration as his schemes unraveled.

Natalie's response was resolute, a rawness in her exhausted gaze, "I'm so tired of your endless threats. Why not just end it by killing me?"

"Trust me, if you weren't Maria's daughter, I would have done it already," he retorted. Natalie's glare intensified at the mention of her mother's name. "But this is far from over. You, Nikolas, everyone will understand in due time. I never go down without a fight."

"I always have a plan B; keep that in your mind, and maybe share it with your boyfriend too."

With that, he left her side and walked away. She glared at his retreating figure, frustration evident as she extended her clenched fist, throwing it in the air toward the path he strode, as if aiming an invisible punch. Under her breath, she grumbled, "Asshole!"

My lips twitched slightly, because she was...my Natalie still, and that notion broke my heart even more.

The fury in her little fierce self was uncontrollable and she pounded her feet into the unforgiving ground, a futile attempt to release the torrent of anger within her. The force of her outburst made her wince, "Ahh!" she stifled a moan, clutching her leg, her injured one, and delicately lifting the side of her dress to inspect the bandaged wound.

A visible wince crossed her face before she tried to straighten her posture, determined to conceal her pain as she limped back toward the ballroom.

I wanted nothing more than to go there, sweep her into my arms, and escape all of this chaos.

I shook my head, compelling myself to maintain composure. Turning away, I retraced my steps back to the ballroom through another entrance, settling back beside our table, awaiting her return as if I hadn't witnessed nor heard what happened.

A few moments later, Natalie came back and paused by my side, her arm resting over the cocktail table, in an attempt to lean into something, her injured leg apparently hurting her after being constantly on her feet.

A low sigh left her lips as her gaze flickered around the room before her eyes found mine again. Without speaking, my hand curled over her arm and I pulled her with me. "What—" she began to question as I guided her to the dance floor. Ignoring her protest, I encircled her waist with my arms, drawing her tightly against me.

Her eyes widened, a gasp escaping her lips, "What are you doing?"

My eyebrow raised, "Moving to the music," I echoed her previous words and she blinked in utter shock.

Confusion and a myriad of emotions danced across her face, taking a moment for her to recover. Slowly, she brought her arms up, encircling them around my neck as we moved, slowly and gently to the soft rhythm.

From my peripheral vision, I spotted Isaac walk back into the room and I pulled Natalie even closer, enveloping her senses from every edge. I lowered my head, my cheek brushing hers and with deliberate slowness, I dipped my head into the haven of her neck, my nose trailing the delicate skin. Intoxicated by her scent, my lips left a feather-light kiss below her ear.

In my arms, she shivered. I edged backward, still so close and breathing the same air as my eyes descended to hers. She stared up at me, with that same raw look, in the same way she had always looked at me, and my very weak heart wept in my chest, unable to handle more, too destroyed to love, too exhausted to even beat.

"How much do you hate me?" She asked, her hand moving from the back of my neck and her fingers swiftly fluttering over my cheek, like the whole world around us wasn't about to shatter.

"As much as you hate me," My answer came out before I could even stop it.

My words had her eyes focused on my own, searching in them for a real answer and when she realized that I had none, her lips pulled up into the faintest smile; a smile I just noticed how broken it was.

She smiled, finally breathing, her shoulders drooping down, "That's a relief," She whispered before she edged closer and rested her head over my chest, her arms going around my back, seeking refuge from my dark twisted world in my even darker embrace, "Because I don't hate you."

My eyelids dropped down and my chin rested over the top of her head, "You should."

"I know, but I don't," She mumbled, "And I won't."

"You're insane," I mumbled, because who in their sane mind would still not hate after all of this?

"We insane people always find our way to each other, don't we," She whispered, ever so brokenly, believing that she too was suffering from a gaping crack in her inner self.

Natalie's hand curled gently around the fabric of my suit jacket from behind, and I sensed the dampness of her silent tears on my shirt. Her touch, the weight of her tears, the raw vulnerability entwined with the heart-wrenching rhythm of the music enveloping us—all of it bore down on me, unraveled the seams of my being.

The melody reached a crescendo, a piercing note that hung in the air before plummeting into a fierce, resonant tone. Everything—the past, the present, the very uncertain future—consumed me, a brewing storm within, a chaotic symphony of heartbreak and madness that shattered the remnants of my soul.

The music came to a halt, leaving Natalie and me suspended in a moment that lingered. We hesitated, reluctant to break the connection we shared. The nearing footsteps and the sight of Ronald and his serious expression were the only things to tear my body away from her. I edged back, my eyes on Ronald as he said, "It's time," His eyes drifted to Natalie as she wiped her tears before they fell back on me, "They're calling for you."

I nodded in acknowledgment, swallowing past the lump that had formed in my throat. In my mind, I sifted through my thoughts, narrowing my focus to the one task at hand.

It's time.

As I prepared to step away, Natalie's delicate fingers sought mine, urging me to meet her gaze. She gave my hand a tight squeeze, her glassy tearful eyes telling me the same sentence she whispered; that she believes in me. That I can do this. That I can end this, once and for all.

I gave her a small nod and she finally let go of my hand. My fingers twitched at the absence of her warm delicate fingers and I pushed myself forward, walking and heading upstairs, toward the room where the higher table would be gathered.

The symbolic transfer of power usually unfolded behind closed doors —a cloaked affair known only to a few, akin to the workings of a country's parliament if you think about it. Yet, even though our underworld empire operated by rules resembling the world above, there existed one stark difference—our rules dripped with blood.

I came to a halt before the imposing closed doors, Isaac joining me in this pivotal moment. The transfer demanded his presence; he was to be the one to pass the mantle to me. The irony of the situation was not lost on me—forcing him to relinquish the very thing he had sacrificed everything for would surely inflict a wound that cut deep.

Neither of us moved, we didn't open the door and enter yet. We stood side by side, the tension between us palpable, the unspoken weight of our roles as puppet and puppeteer in a world where bloodshed served as both currency and consequence.

"This is your final chance to back out," He said, still attempting to win.

I turned my head to the left, looking at him, "You could bring my mother from the dead, and kill her again in front of me, and I still won't back out," I spoke, showing him how nothing...nothing will make me waver.

"Blood will be shed, Nikolas," He said, a final warning.

I shrugged, "This is a war, father. Blood should be shed."

He nodded, his eyes leaving mine and falling back on the door, "That blood will be on your hands only, remember that."

A bitter smile played on my lips, "There is so much blood on my hands already, and I am not even attempting to wipe it away," I showed him that I didn't care anymore, that I wasn't attempting to be the hero here, "I won't mind some more."

"You never wanted any of this," He grated out, the tension in his jaw palpable.

"I never wanted to be a king, no," I answered, truthfully, "This world of yours, Father, it took everything from me," My words made him face me again as I added, "My childhood, my innocence, my sanity, my brother, my sister, and my mother, it took it all away."

"Why would I ever want to lead such a world," I asked, shaking my head, "I am only doing this for her, not for me."

And after his death, I have other plans anyway, but he doesn't need to know everything.

"Always a momma's boy, aren't you," He said it with such a distaste, like that fact was the reason for everything wrong.

My smile only widened and I brought around his back, tapping it over his shoulder, "Proudly so."

"Now, how about we go inside and you annotate me as king, so I can finally kill you with no consequences," I added, a dark playfulness in my tone.

"There will always be consequences, Nikolas," He answered, his composure shifting, reclaiming his ego and confidence.

His hand landed on the knob, ready to open it and seal both his fate and mine, a last warning in his words, "At the end of this day, despite everything, I will still be the winner, Nikolas,"  He said, "Remember that for years and years to come."

His eyes met mine for a fleeting second and he said, "I will always win."

"Do you know why?" He said, "Because, you can't dethrone a king, Nikolas," He added, so certain, "My legacy will follow, and it will only grow."

***********************************

Tick, tock, tick, tock....

Hehe, i hope you liked the chapter!

Like i said, so much little is left.

Also, I will not be able to update as frequently for the upcoming months. I have a really heavy schedule ahead, so bear with me. I will still try to write whenever I can so I can end these books.

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See ya :)