Chapter 19&20
1609 Words
The woman turned slightly—
And Rosalia recognized her.
Viper.
The air in the room shifted.
Her red eyes slid back to Killian, who now had a towel wrapped securely around his torso. Water still traced down the carved planes of his chest, but there was nothing vulnerable about him. He looked composed. Untouched.
Untouchable.
“Get out,” his authoritative deep voice said.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just final.
Viper stood, the blindfold still covering her eyes, and walked toward the door with slow, deliberate confidence. Each step was measured. Controlled.
She passed Rosalia.
Then stopped.
She tilted her head slightly.
She felt the presence in the doorway.
Vanilla.
The scent clung softly in the air.
Only one person in the empire carried that scent.
Rosalia.
A mocking smile curved Viper’s lips. Purposefully, she bumped into Rosalia’s shoulder, forcing her to stumble a step back.
A silent reminder of rank.
Tears fell freely down Rosalia’s face as she lifted her gaze to him.
“W..why?” she asked in a cracked voice.
Killian’s eyes met hers.
Cold. Detached.
“Since when do I need to explain myself to you?” his dulcet voice asked.
There was no emotion in it.
She ran toward him, hitting his broad chest with her tightly folded fists. The blows were weak. Desperate.
“I thought i m.. meant something to you,” she cried, pounding against him. “W..why, why did you do that?”
He didn’t grab her wrists.
Didn’t shout.
He simply pushed her off him.
Coldly.
“I can order and will order for your head the next time you try this” he remarked.
The threat wasn’t dramatic.
It was administrative.
The last ounce of hope she carried—the fragile belief that he might feel guilt—shattered.
Not loudly.
But completely.
She could feel it splinter inside her skull.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Because you are of no use to me now, I had what I wanted already,” he coldly said.
The words were precise.
Calculated.
“Y..you used me,” she hiccupped.
“Glad you are not too dumb to understand…”
“… now get out, I don't have time for your tantrums,” he ordered.
“I hate you,” she sobbed.
“Good.”
No hesitation.
No regret.
Her heart broke.
In all her years of existence, she had never felt pain carve through her this deeply.
So this was what people called heartbreak.
Betrayal.
“Out,” he coldly said.
“I hate you so much!” she screamed before running out.
Killian watched her go.
He inhaled deeply.
Not with conflict.
Just observation.
Then he turned away.
---
1 WEEK LATER
It had been a week since she last saw Killian.
A week since she was reduced to a lowly maid.
A week since Viper made sure to bully her and order her around.
A week since Viper was constantly called by Killian.
A week since the mockery began.
A week of absolute shame.
And—
A week since she had grown attached to Nero’s presence.
---
Rosalia weakly scrubbed the empire’s kitchen counter.
The marble had long been clean.
She kept scrubbing anyway.
Till she could see her reflection.
Her once olive, glass-like skin had dulled into something lifeless. Dark eye bags framed her tired yet hardened hazel eyes. Her lips were pale. Her once-rosy cheeks had lost their color.
In just one week, she looked drained.
Hollowed.
She hadn’t lost weight though. Nero made sure of that. He force-fed her even when she declined, ignoring her protests as if nourishment was an order, not kindness.
“You have been scrubbing that thing for almost an hour now, go and serve the sins,” a maid yelled at her.
“Okay,” she shortly replied.
The maid hissed and walked away.
Rosalia dragged her body toward the Sins’ private dining room.
She had been awake since three in the night. They allowed her to sleep at twelve the previous night.
Three hours.
And every day, her hatred for him grew.
It was no longer loud.
It was becoming quiet.
Controlled.
At the dining room, she began serving them—but as usual, they didn’t allow her.
“I can serve myself, no need for a beauty like you to stress,” Blade said with a wink, though the pity in his eyes betrayed him.
She chuckled dryly.
Suddenly, Nero dragged her into a chair.
A small, genuine smile appeared on her lips.
“Snow and Vixen are coming back today,” he told her.
“Really?”
He nodded.
They had been sent on a mission since the day her misery began.
“When?” she asked.
“This morning.”
As if summoned, the dining room door burst open.
“The only full package is back!” Vixen dramatically declared, Snow following behind her like a silent storm.
Rosalia grinned and rushed toward them.
Vixen opened her arms wide—
But Rosalia sidestepped her and launched at Snow, who caught her easily.
Vixen frowned playfully.
“I miss you,” she pouted at Snow.
“You look like s**t,” Snow commented calmly.
Rosalia laughed softly before hugging a fake-offended Vixen.
Vixen ruffled her hair immediately.
“I won't allow anyone to bully you now that am back,” Vixen promised.
Rosalia only smiled.
Promises meant little in the empire.
She dragged them toward their chairs.
And that was when Viper entered.
“Who allowed this stinky thing to our private dinning room,” she growled.
The room changed instantly.
Blade. Speedy. Nero. Vixen. Snow.
Every expression hardened.
Rosalia bowed her head.
“Chin up,” Snow instantly ordered.
Rosalia looked up.
“Held your head high,” she commanded coldly.
Rosalia obeyed.
Her shoulders lifted.
Her spine straightened.
“Good,” Snow nodded.
“Now, I don't ever want to see you bow for her, do you understand?”
Rosalia nodded slowly.
“Do you understand?” Snow glared.
“Y..yes, I u..understand,” she meekly said.
“Not in that tone.”
“Yes, I understand,” she replied, voice steady and firm.
“Good.”
“What do you think you are teaching her?” Viper angrily shouted.
Snow’s eyes snapped to her calmly.
“Am talking to you—”
A knife flew before she could finish.
Fast.
Precise.
The pocket knife sliced across Viper’s cheek.
Blood rolled slowly down her skin.
“Never raised your voice at me,” Snow calmly said.
No shouting.
No chaos.
Just consequence.
Snow dragged Rosalia up and led her out of the room.
Just before leaving, Rosalia turned and stuck her tongue out at Viper, making her fume.
A small rebellion.
But rebellion nonetheless.
---
TRAINING ROOM
Rosalia was being taught how to use a gun by Nero.
He stood behind her, guiding her hands over the weapon, adjusting her grip while the rest of the Sins trained separately.
“Your breath is tickling me,” she giggled, swatting him lightly.
For a moment, it almost felt normal.
Then the air shifted.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Authoritative.
They felt him before they saw him.
Killian.
He entered.
Kruz followed closely behind.
“Boss,” the Sins bowed.
Killian barely nodded.
His gaze swept the room once before landing on Rosalia.
Frozen.
With Nero standing closely behind her.
The room fell into silence.
“Since when do maids have the privileged to enter the training room,” his heavy voice echoed.
- Writer
