A bride between bloodlines

Deal

VELVERA

Everyday for the thief, one day for the house owner. In a situation where you're the thief, you can only accept whatever the owner offers.

There were two rules I never broke.

Never steal from the poor.

Never get caught.

But the excruciating sting of the bruises and cuts on my face that shot through my spine, as the icy water hit me, reminded me that I had broken the second rule. The rope that burned against my wrist dangled from the iron hook bolted into the ceiling of the dimly lit room. My toes brushed against the rough gravel floor, inflicting more pain on my sore heels. The room smelled of cedar wood, smoke and a masculine cinnamon scent. Even though my vision was limited, I could make out the figure towering before me.

“You could at least let me sit while you threaten me.” I blurted.

The loud echo of my weak voice floated to my eardrums, followed by a cold silence that belonged to predators.

The figure retracted from me to the far end of the room, pulled a chair that made screeching sounds while scraping the floor as he moved towards me. When he was just few inches away, he set the metal, lit his cigarette and reduced his length on it.

Then i felt it.

His intense stare as the cinnamon flavoured smoke hit my nostrils, causing the hairs on my neck to shoot up. Good heavens! I despised cinnamon. His fingers tapped against the armrest as he seemed to carefully observe every part of me with his dark almond eyes. Now closer, I could make out his brown hair that fell on his shoulders, a perfect blend to his Laurent shirt and black tailored pants. His lips stretched into a vicious grin, highlighted his sharp cheekbones that were cut from cruelty.

The infamous Louis Vladimir.

The man I had broken into his vault two nights ago.

Second in command to the mysterious king of Grayes, whom a handful knew his name and CEO to the Imir conglomerate. When he stepped into the room, I immediately recognized him as a gifter, the most powerful of his kind. Compared to me who was a doomer, nonetheless a powerless one at that, I knew my death was unavoidable. But I would never give up without fighting.

“I know I'm good looking.” I shrieked. “You don't have to gawk.”

Damn! My heart raced faster than a sport car.

He didn't reply.

Instead, his face dissipated into a dead stare.

“You broke into my private vault.” he said at last. His voice was smooth and refined. The way it filled my head, made me suddenly wonder what it would be like to kiss him.

Focus Vera!

“For someone of your caliber, your security was insultingly easy.” I should be begging this man, having heard stories of his malevolency.

His lips curled into a faint smile as he struck my stomach with his fist, sending pangs of pain through my ribs.

“Is that all you can spare?” I taunted with a wry smile.

“Considering your stance.” He replied. “I wouldn't like to smear your cheap blood on my clothes.”

“Nice try stroking your ego.”

He flashed me an unreadable stare. It was dark, alerting my instincts. His polished shoes clicked against the gravel as he closed the space between us and gripped my chin, wiping the blood on my lips. His scent nauseated me, causing me to jerk away from his hold, while he looked at the red smear in his thumb like it fascinated him.

“You’re either brave,” he murmured, “or catastrophically stupid.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “I'm just poor.”

And for the first time, amusement flickered in his eyes.

“For a powerless doomer, you have quite the audacity to steal documents worth more than your entire bloodline.”

This time, he was back to his seat.

“I don't even know what was in them.”

His gaze sharpened.”Who hired you?”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

And I meant every word.

I worked under an agency and never had any information about my clients. It was risky yes, but I was well paid. Enough to keep Eloise fed for months, buy medicine and pay my nanny. I was paid enough to make stupidity feel reasonable. A little desperation never hurt anyone.

Or so I thought…

“Miss Velvera Blues,” he coaxed, “I think I have a little surprise for you.”

With a snap of his fingers, a guard bounced into the room and handed him an envelope. Then he walked to me and released the rope from the chain. My body gave in immediately, hitting the floor with a loud thud. It felt both relieving and painful.

Peeking into the envelop, he tore it and emptied its content on the floor.

A yellow hair band.

Silver chained locket.

And the pink hair pin with the letter ‘E’ engraved on it.

My heart sank into a hollow pit as I glared at him. “Where is she?”

He laughed. “You recognize them?”

“Where is my daughter?!!” I yelled, already crawling towards him, not minding the stones that pierced through my skin. “What the hell did you do to her you monster?!”

Before I could get to me, his guard hoisted me off the ground and flung me to the nearest wall. I struggled to stand, but my legs failed me.

“Eloise was such a beautiful well mannered kid. You really raised her well.”

He knew her name.

“What..did..you do to her?” I stuttered, spitting blood from my mouth. My insides throbbed and I knew I wouldn't last long.

“Relax Velvera.” He took a puff of his cigarette. “I would never harm a child without reason. They make such a good leverage. I mean look at you.”

“You monster!”

“I have been called worse.”

“Don't you dare lay your filthy fingers on my daughter!!” I thrashed and cursed as the guard dragged me back to him and tossed me like a sack of salt.

He pushed his chair back and crouched to me. “That’s all up to you.”

The realization hit me like a cold wind, piercing through my skin.

“What do you want?”

He ignored me and rose back to his chair, grabbing a drink from the lady who had just entered the room.

“Nothing too hard.” He twirled the drink in his hand. “I want my stolen documents.”

I bit my lower lip in frustration. “I don't have them.”

“I know.”

The world seemed to have stopped at his utterance. I had messed with the wrong person.

“Then why am I here?”

“That's because I found a second use for you.” His reply made me swallow a lump of air.

Just then, the guard handed him another envelope which he tossed to me. “Open it.”

Heart thudding, I slowly picked the package and tore it open to reach a blue file. When I flipped the thick cover, my jaw dropped at the headings. I quickly shut the file and dropped it.

“I can't agree to this.” I shot back with a shake of my head. "In fact, this is ridiculous! Are you being serious?"

My voice had lost every element of fear, replaced by fury.

How dare this man try to take advantage of me?

“Well,” He shrugged. “Rest assured that I know where to find your daughter.”

The mention of my daughter was alone to snap me back to reality.

"But how.."

“You have just two hours.” he cut me off, grabbed his drink and left the room.

I opened the file again and stared at it. Unless my brain was playing tricks on me, the words boldly inscribed in the paper, indicated it as a marriage contract.

Either I marry the devil.

Or I lose my child.

Two hours later, as I dipped my finger into the blood red seal and stamped it on the white paper, a tear slipped from my eye.