Viktor stood still in the corridor, his hand resting on his stinging cheek. The heat of the slap seemed to boil his blood. He slowly turned to look at Anashia. His eyes were now steady and calm a sign of impending doom.
Viktor stepped closer to Anashia and asked in a low, heavy voice
Viktor: "Tell me, Anashia... when you did this with her last night, from the washroom until this morning how exactly did she cry? Was there only fear in her tears, or was she wanting something more deep inside?"
A distorted curiosity flickered in Viktor's voice. He wanted to know every detail of Alia's breakdown. Anashia, holding onto the window grill, let out a twisted smirk at the tone of Viktor's question.
Anashia: "Her crying? Viktor, she wasn't just crying... she was sinking into a painful trance. When she sat on my chest, choking me, those tears weren't ordinary. She doesn't want to lose you, that's true, but the way she leaned into my touch it felt like she was looking for an excuse to surrender completely."
Viktor's jaw tightened once more. Anashia stepped closer and continued
Anashia: "As she sobbed, there was a strange kind of satisfaction in that agony. She's seeking refuge in me because you're humiliating her. Believe me, the more she cried, the more I wanted to hold her tighter."
Viktor let out a breath that sounded like a hiss of fire. He punched the corridor wall and said
Viktor: "Good. That's exactly what I wanted. Let her cry, let her die bit by bit. But after 10 days, I will be the one to change the tune of her tears. You will possess her in such a way that she forgets herself and only chants our names. Don't stop her tears, Anashia... I want this mansion to grow heavy with her cries."
Anashia looked back with those mysterious red eyes. Between Viktor's twisted ego and Alia's heart-wrenching sobs, the Dark Lord's game was heading toward a devastating climax. It was 1 AM. The mansion corridors were draped in dim shadows. Alia stepped out of her room in a completely different look. She wore an oversized black shirt, the top two buttons left undone, with a tie hanging loosely around her neck as if worn in a rush. Below, she wore short pants that highlighted her long, smooth legs. A pair of stylish glasses sat on her face, giving her an air of sophisticated yet provocative charm.
Alia was staring intently at her mobile screen, scrolling through something as she headed toward Anashia's room. The light from the screen reflected off her glasses. She was so absorbed that she didn't notice who was approaching.
Suddenly, she collided hard with something solid. The impact almost sent her phone flying, and she stumbled, falling right against the person in front of her.
Alia looked up, adjusting her glasses, only to find herself pressed against Viktor's chest.
Viktor stood there firmly, his black shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Seeing Alia in this unusual but devastatingly beautiful attire made his eyes narrow. He gripped her waist tightly to steady her, pulling her closer.
Viktor: (In an incredibly low, heavy voice) "Where are you planning to go at this hour in this outfit? Staring at your phone through glasses are you looking for a new prey in my inner sanctum?"
Alia could smell the familiar scent of Viktor's perfume from this close. She froze for a heartbeat, but then a rebellious spark flickered in her eyes behind those glasses. Without even trying to pull away from his chest, she gave a crooked smile.
Alia: "I'm going exactly where your orders sent me. Anashia is waiting, and you were the one who wanted me in his custody. Did you bump into me on purpose, Viktor? Or has the Dark Lord lost his senses seeing me like this?"
Viktor's grip on her waist tightened. In the silence of the corridor, their hot breaths mingled. On one side was the door to Anashia's room, and on the other, Viktor's burning vendetta.In response to Alia's crooked smile and challenging words, Viktor's gaze darkened even further. His grip on her waist was so tight that there was no room for her to move. In the dim light of the corridor, the reflection of Viktor's fierce expression flickered across the lenses of her glasses.
Trying to hide the inner turmoil racing through her, Alia snapped her gaze away from his chest and said in a firm, hushed voice
Alia: "Let me go, Viktor. Take your hands off me."
Viktor didn't budge an inch. He leaned in even closer, his hot breath brushing against her lips. He spoke in a slow, demonic tone
Viktor: "Let you go? You dress up like this, looking like this, and expect to walk right past my eyes into another man's room while I, the Dark Lord, just stand aside? Do you really think this is your affection for Anashia, or is it just a cheap attempt to burn me to ashes?"
Alia looked directly into Viktor's eyes. Behind her glasses, her eyes were no longer fearful; they were burning with humiliation and defiance.
Alia: "You were the one who pushed me into this hell, Viktor. Now that I am following your demonic orders and heading to Anashia's room, why does it burn you so much? I am in his custody for 10 days you made that rule. So don't try to break the code you created. Let go, he is waiting for me."
Hearing the words 'he is waiting for me' escape Alia's lips made Viktor's pride and jealousy collide violently. Instead of releasing her, he pinned her roughly against the corridor wall. The impact caused her glasses to slide slightly down the bridge of her nose.
At that exact moment, the door to Anashia's room slowly swung open. Standing by the frame, Anashia leaned against it and let out a strange, mysterious smirk at the sight. His crimson eyes gleamed even brighter in the dead of night.
Anashia: "What's the matter, Viktor? Keeping your captive stranded right outside my door at 1 AM? The 10-day countdown has already begun... or is the Dark Lord having second thoughts about his own decree?"
The air grew heavy with the three-way tension vibrating through the corridor. Alia gave a final wrenching twist to break free from Viktor's hold, while Viktor's gaze snapped away from her, locking directly onto Anashia's eyes. While pinning Alia against the corridor wall, Viktor brought his lips dangerously close to her ear. His hot breath brushed against her skin. A terrifying, twisted, and demonic smirk played on his lips as he began to speak slowly and softly
Viktor: "I know everything, Alia... no one knows the real secret behind your title, the 'Symbol of Beauty,' better than I do. You've made four different influential underworld leaders dance to your tunes, weaving your 'Honey Trap'... but it's not that easy to deceive my eyes."
He gently slid his finger over the collar of her oversized black shirt. His voice grew even lower and more sinister.
Viktor: "From an ordinary woman to the first wife of Russia's biggest mafia lord, and then rising to become the 'Mafia Godmother' was this journey just a game of fate? Or does it hide a CIA master plan? The Dark Lord figured out long ago that you are a highly skilled secret agent, executing missions while maintaining your dominance in this empire."
Hearing these words, Alia felt a chill run down her spine. For a fraction of a second, her eyes widened behind her glasses. The realization that Viktor knew her deepest secret as a CIA agent sent her heart racing. Yet, despite the extreme mental stress, she didn't let her face betray her.
Viktor tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her flush against his body, and whispered even softer
Viktor: "I actually enjoy watching your untamed charm and strategy. Gathering intelligence, executing blackmail, creating rifts within rival gangs you've done it all flawlessly. But remember, no matter how skilled an agent you are, for these 10 days, you are merely a captive in Anashia's custody. Your 'Honey Trap' won't work on us."
Anashia, leaning against the doorframe, listened to their hushed whispers, his crimson eyes scanning her long legs with a wicked smile.
Anashia: "What's the matter, Viktor? What spells are you whispering to the Godmother? The night is slipping away; let my guest step into my room now."
Viktor brushed his fingers against her chin one last time before releasing her, but his demonic gaze left Alia fully aware of the life-or-death situation she was trapped in.