Marked by The Devil Don

CHAPTER TWO

Elena's POV

I woke up to cold.

Not the gentle type that caresses my skin.

This one lived in the stone beneath me, in the iron biting into my wrists, in the air that smelled of rust and dust.

Where was I?

I opened my eyes slowly.

My gaze met the dark ceiling.

A bulb swinging on it.

Chains protruded from the walls, some of which were binding my hands and ankles, forcing me to kneel.

Suddenly it clicked, I knew where I was.

It wasn't a cell or prison. It was something worse.

A dungeon!

A real dungeon!

The same one I had heard about, where they torture people and leave them to die.

My cheeks still ached from where I had been struck by Dante but the blood on my lips had dried.

I winced in pain as I raised one of my hands, however, I couldn't raise it further because the chains weighed them down.

Then I heard footsteps echoing in the corridor and suddenly, the rattling of chains as the door opened.

I listened for the first stride.

Second stride.

Third stride.

The pace was measured. Calculated. And beared dominance.

I saw Dante step out into the light, the only one that seeped in through the high window. His dressing appeared mournful as usual. A black shirt opened at the collar. Black trousers. And an expression that sent shivers down my spine.

“You are awake.” he said to me with a low and rough voice.

I did not say anything. I was struggling to keep my breath steady, that was more important to me.

Just then, Dante walked to where I knelt, his footsteps sounding across the dark room. Then he paused before me, causing me to look up to him.

“How has it been staying here for the night?” he asked me. “Awful, right?” he asked again without waiting for my response.

I wanted to roll my eyes at him but before I could he lifted his hand to his neck and touched the cut lightly.

“You have some guts.” he told me with a sharp tone.

“You ordered me.” I said quietly, “I delivered.”

His jaw ticked.

Was it a smirk or–

“Delivered?” Dante smirked evilly.

Yeah, I was correct. It was a smirk.

He stepped towards me and grabbed my chin with force, his fingers digging into my jaws as he lifted my face to meet his.

“You tried to carve my throat open.” he said within gritted teeth.

“I missed.” I blurted out.

Despite the heat, I can't imagine I could still utter some words to the most feared man. But at that moment, I knew I no longer possessed any fear for him.

Either way, he would still kill me, so of what use was it?

Before I could think again, Dante released me abruptly and my head hit the wall.

“You attacked with fury, of course I expected you to miss.”

My eyes widened.

How had he noticed my rage?

Maybe Salazar was right. Perhaps that was why he did not flinch when I swung the blade at him. He had already seen that the cut won't go anywhere deep.

Fuck!

“Do you know how many people have tried to kill me?” he asked in a cold tone. “Rivals. Politicians. Even my own blood.”

I smirked. “None of them wore heels.”

There was silence.

It was short but controlled.

Then we heard a growl. It was low and feral.

I felt my stomach tightened.

Dante looked at me, his face observing my expression before he smirked evilly.

“You hear them?” he asked.

I fell silent.

Was it what I was thinking?

Just then, a second growl sounded. It vibrated through the floor.

“They are patient,” he told me, “I trained them that way. They don't bark. They wait. Patiently.”

I gulped hard and watched as he crouched down to the floor, feeling the ground with his hand.

“They don't care about fear,” he said calmly. “They care about blood.”

I averted my gaze as he stood up.

“Who sent you?”

My heart skipped a beat.

“No one.” I managed to answer.

No matter what, I was not going to spill any details.

“I am granting you a chance towards survival.”

Survival?

I almost scoffed.

Then I recalled Salazar's voice ringing in my head. His warning not to reveal anything.

“He will hurt you and make you think death is mercy, but you must not say my name. You must never reveal anything.” Salazar had told me.

Dante studied me closely.

“You are hiding something. Are you trying to protect someone?

I held my breath and kept quiet.

“Loyalty,” he smirked, “captivating quality for someone who dances for men she despises.”

I immediately gave him a glare. “I dance for money. Nothing else.”

Dante shot a glare by staring hard at me.

“You tried to kill me for free,” he pointed out.

I quickly looked away. His gaze was too fierce for me to concentrate. Even the hidden fear was already resurfacing.

“Tell me his name. I don't spare people, but I might spare you.” he told her.

Might? It wasn't even guaranteed.

How can I betray the man who brought me up, the same who had trained me to defend herself?

“I have nothing to say.” I blurted out.

I was ready to maintain my ground.

Dante did not remove his gaze from me. I knew he could perceive a shift in my emotion, his keen gaze says it all. Yet still, I was unwilling to speak.

Then he clenched his jaws.

I watched his expression hardened.

“Open the gate,” he commanded.

Suddenly, I heard the rattling of chains and the growl that was now resurfacing. Then two guards entered and bowed behind Dante.

“Who. Sent. You.” Dante asked me within his gritted teeth.

“I came alone.” I insisted with a firm tone.

Having had enough of me refusing to bulge in. I watched him retreat by taking two steps back, allowing the men to approach me

“To survive my world,” he said in a calm tone, “you either became useful to me or…useless.”

Then he directed his gaze to his men who nodded in answer.

In a deep cold tone, he ordered, “throw her into the den! She will be a feast for the dogs!”