Deep Down (UNEDITED)

Deadly Amusing

+P.O.V AMARA+

There was icy silence in the room as Vladimir and Nikolai looked at me expectantly. Their looks of disgust made my whole body tremble As I tried to get my breathing under control

"Rosaline Verondale was forced into a marriage with Vladimir-" I began in a shaky voice, but before I could continue Nikolai interrupted me.

"That wild blonde?" he asked amused as he gestured to me to continue. My gaze was furious as he spoke so condescendingly of Rosaline. I clenched my fists to control my feelings. How did he even know Rosaline?

"Yeah, I'm surprised Vladimir hadn't shared with you who his real fiancée was" I said nonchalantly which caused Vladimir to let out a low growl. I stared at the tips of my shoes to avoid Vladimir's gaze. "She wasn't ready to give up her freedom yet" I continued "So we saw clean the chance to switch Indities when Vladimir had switched us" I bit the inside of my cheek "At least that's what he led us to believe" Nikolai looked from me to Vladimir amusedly.

"Aha- so it was my nephew's so called ignorance that led to this" He clacked his tongue " Typical" he scoffed

"That still doesn't explain where you got audacity to think you could deceive one of the most feared men in the country" Vladimir bit me "You're lucky I don't kill you on the spot even though your reasons were disgustingly noble" he continued. I shuffled my feet as I felt a fire burning inside me.

"I'm sorry" I whispered almost inaudibly. I could have hit myself on the head, you sound like some toddler who broke a vase, Amara. Vladimir laughed.

"You're sorry? Do you hear that Nikolai? she's sorry" Vladmir spat out the words like poison as he abruptly stood up and came storming towards me. I could feel his warm breath brush against my face. As a soft whimper left my lips. I had squeezed my eyes tightly shut. I had given Vladimir every reason to take my life here and now. "Lucky for you we can still use you" he whispered in my ear. Use?! his tone did not please me at all.

"What do you mean?" my voice broke in the middle of my sentence even though I tried to be strong. Nikolai cleared his throat.

"We did a background check" Nikolai declared. My eyes widened, but actually it wasn't that surprising. "And we found out some interesting things about your past."

I narrowed my eyes to slits as Vladimir's presence still burned. "What sort of interesting things?" My voice had become a dangerous calm as Vladimir walked away from me with a grin on his face. He stopped at the antique desk in the room connected to the balcony and pulled open one of the drawers. A cream-colored leaflet appeared in his hands as he began to read aloud.

"Born on December 9, 2000, Only child, born to a single mother, attended public school, blah blah blah nothing unusual so far" He turned to the next sheet "Only on August 18, 2007 do things really start to get interesting" Nikolai watched with beady eyes as I struggled to stay upright. They knew. "Can you tell us what happened the 18th, Amara?" Vladimir's tone was sweet "or should I call you by your real name" he paused for a moment "Crystal"

It seemed like the ground disappeared from under my feet, my despair and fear turned into something much worse. Anger, pure anger. I had been working for far too long and endured too many therapy sessions to let them two dredge up my past and open up old wounds.

"Listen up bloated bastard, you have no right, but no right whatsoever to think that my past is any of your business" I shouted at Vladimir. All Vladimir did was look on amused, deadly amused. He slowly put the leaflet back down on the antique desk

"Let's try again, Can you tell us what happened August 18, Crystal" his voice was dangerously cold as if his control was leading. I shivered when he called me by my birth name, it rolled his tongue even better than Amara. I took a deep breath as I tried to control myself again.

"I wouldn't know what you're talking about" Nikolai frowned as he glanced at Vladimir who was clearly enjoying himself.

"Tell me do your friends know about your past?" He looked up, his golden eyes seemed to shine in the sun like stars. I held my breath as the temperature seemed to drop below zero. He was playing a game with me. I was a pawn, he the player. He tilted his head a little "No?" he tsked "It would be a shame if I had to tell them" He took his phone out of his pocket. Panic began to bubble up. I couldn't let this happen.

"Wait, wait! I'll tell you anything you want!" I took a few steps forward my hand already extended to the cell phone "As long as you don't tell them anything" my voice was nothing more than a whisper. Vladimir grinned in satisfaction as he slipped the cell phone back into his pocket.

"Glad we can negotiate, tell me what you remember about that day, you were seven right?" I nodded as he waved his hand "Start at the beginning"

"August 18 is the day my mother was murdered, or as the police brushed it off, committed suicide." I looked down to hide my emotions. I remained silent for a moment.

"Go on" Valdimir urged me, I shook my head I couldn't. Valdimir sighed as I averted my gaze. "Then I will do it for you, You came home after a day of school and found the bloodied body of your mother." Valdimir began to circle around me.

"The police didn't believe she had been murdered, no one believed you. Since that day you have not been inactive Crystal." He clacked his tongue "You were placed in a family like a foster child and given a new name and identity. You tried to put that one traumatic event behind you but you couldn't." Vladimir came closer "It ate at you from the inside. So you went on a search for your mother's killer, you left quite a bloody trail though I say so myself" I shook my head violently as I put my hands in my hair. "You are a good actress Crystal though I say so myself, living a double life is not something everyone can do"

"Stop, stop!" I shouted as I felt tears threaten to slide down my cheeks. But Vladimir wasn't listening.

"What would your friends think of you if they found out that their best buddy is a ruthless killer looking for her mother's murderer, hmm?" something inside snapped at me.

"You're no better than me, Valdimir" I snarled icily calmly. Valdimir came and stood in front of me. His hands were in a firm grip around my chin.

"I don't pretend to be something I'm not, you do darling" We didn't break eye contact until Nikolai coughed and we were both brought out of the trance.

"We have a suggestion" Nikolai folded his hands. I frowned. Were they really serious now? I laughed mockingly. "You marry Vladimir if you help him with some things and we keep our mouths shut about your double life as we help on search for your mother's murderer"

I looked at them skeptically as I jerked out of Vladimir's grasp. "I don't see what you guys have to gain from that deal?" I looked from Nikolai to Vladimir as I folded my arms. The anger was beginning to quietly ebb away.

Vladimir swallowed hard "enough" was the only answer I got. I trusted this for nothing, but I saw more advantages than disadvantages. An entire crime organization would help me search for my mother's killer, Rosaline didn't have to marry and my double life remained a secret.

Vladimir held out his hand to me "So what do you think do we have a deal?" I hesitated for a moment and looked at his hand emotionlessly for a moment, but the bloody image of my mother made me push on. I took his hand. His skin felt like satin against mine

"Deal" we shook hands, but when I looked into Valdimir's eyes again I couldn't help but think that I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.

My mask had finally fallen.