Call For Ruins. (Playing Him)

Chapter 1- It All Started With Him.

Chapter 1:- It All Started With Him.

To mess with the ones I love is to mess with fire. And this fire knows how to burn you with it's rage, leave you in ashes and then you'll be gone with the wind, like you never existed.

~~

The car rolled down to a stop as a smile made it's way through her lips. Finally, she was home and this time, she was going to stay.

"Thank you, Sir." She passed to the taxi driver with her ever enchanting smile that had everyone in the palm of her hand. Bending down to pass the money to the man in his forties, she pushed the locks of her dark red hair away from her face, revealing her beautiful blue eyes. The driver nodded at the polite woman, grasping hold of the money and stepping out of the car to help with her luggage.

The night had covered the sky while a mischievous smile played on her lips.

They'd definitely be surprised. She grinned at the thought as she stood up to her full height, holding her bags in her hands as she dragged them behind her, heels clicking against the concrete path as she reached her gate, furrowing her brows at the already partened gates.

Shaking her head to get rid of her ever suspicious thoughts, she walked ahead inside the gates of her mansion, the shine in her eyes at it's peak as she heard the voices drift through her ears. Guessing it was her family, she walked ahead only to find herself frozen at the scene displayed before her eyes.

"Please, this is unfair. You tricked my wife!" The man in his early fifties pleaded as he fell on the feet of the young man, the stranger's face hidden in the darkness. "I beg of you, I'll do anything. Just don't do this." The poor man wailed as he bent his head down as he did so, his palms on the soils of his garden that was designed by his wife. The man was her father.

Chuckles drifted through the air, chilling her bones in rage as she stared from distance. Still in shock at the scene of her father falling on the stranger's feet, her hands clenched within fists.

"Please!" The stanger continued to chuckle before placing his foot on her father's head and pushing away with a force that made him stumble back on the ground.

Leaving her hold on the suitcases, she stepped forward, deciding to punch the man who dared to lay a finger on her family, on her Dad. But before she could reach the stranger's line of sight, she was pulled away from behind, a hand covering her mouth. Failing to see the face of the intruder, she struggled against the hold until she was dragged away to her home from the back door of her house. "Who the f**k-" She started to howl only to be cut off by her cousin.

"Hera, you need to calm down." Joseph whispered in a harsh tone, glaring down at his cousin as she tried to push him away, intending to run back towards her father. He needed her. Her mother needed her.

"Let go of me, Joseph." She warned, her innocent blue orbs shooting fire, making him want to flinch but he stayed put.

"Listen to me!" He whisper-yelled, making her go still.  With her jaw clenched, she listened to him but her eyes remained to the door from which they had entered her house. "You cannot go out!" He declared. "It's not safe for you."

"What do you mean?" She did not understand. How was her going to defend her parents was going to put her in a danger.

"Are you telling me, Joe, that a bloody stanger strolls into our house, kicks my father and makes him beg! And I do nothing!" She screamed the last part, fuming with every word she let out of her mouth. Tears of rage pricked her eyes, the image of her father on the ground, stopped her from thinking anything but to bash the stranger's head. "I cannot." She croaked, finding difficult to hold out on her anger. "Let me go, Joe!"

"It's not our house..." Her wrists in his hold stilled, her eyes pinning his in interrogation.

"Wh..What do you mean?" Their heads turned towards the living room as the front door opened making Joe panic as he hid her behind him, trying to hide her view at the sudden entrance. From afar, they heard the start of an engine and soon after, the faces of her parents came into her view as Joe relaxed moving himself away from her.

Hera's eyes took in the sight of her parents, her mother crying in the arms of her father, their faces bearing a mask of melancholy on their faces. "It was all my fault..." Her mother spoke in his arms while Alvin Silvinok tried to console his wife, just as his eyes fell on the figure of his daughter. Following the silence, Meera Silvinok followed the husband's gaze only to stare at her daughter's eyes filled with tears.

It's all my fault... Meera grimaced as her daughter neared them.

"Mom... Dad..." On instant, Hera ran towards her parents taking them in a hug as they reached back to her, her mother crying her eyes out, while her father allowed soft tears to flow from his eyes. "I am sorry, my dear. It's all my fault." She heard her mother whisper, making her pull away.

Her mother looked down at her feet, avoiding her question. "Dad..?" She pushed next. "Please tell me, what's going on." After seconds long, her father nodded. "I will." He nodded. "Why don't you freshen up and come meet us down here, we'll discuss about it." Remorse visible in his words as she nodded with hesitance.

Kissing her forehead, Alvin sat himself in the living room as Joseph tagged along her father. "I too will rest for sometime." Meera spoke, not meeting the eyes of her family. Few moments passed by when Alvin nodded kissing the cheek of his wife, watching her climb the stairs with her daughter beside her, all the way the eyes of her daughter fixated solely on her mother.

Reaching the floor of their bedroom, Hera took hold of her mother's hands in hers while her mother stared her with tears in her eyes. "Mom..I don't know what's going on. But I think you should know, we'll get out of this." When she didn't reply, Hera continued, "Whatever happens, we are together, that's what should matter the most." She observed her mother nod her head in reluctance, her hand reaching to caress her daughter's face.

"Now, why don't you rest, I'll call you once I've freshened up." Meera nodded, her eyes not leaving her daughter in a longing stare. Hera smiled. "I love you Mom." With a hug to Meera, she turned away walking towards her room, missing the teary stare of her mother as she watched her daughter in dismay.

"I am sorry..." Meera whispered, her voice broken as she turned around to walk towards her bedroom, her feet heavy with every step she took, until the doors of her room closed shut.

~~

Palms hit the glass of her bathroom as water slid down her body. Echos of laughter playing with her ears, making her groan in anger and rage. The image of her father being kicked, constantly playing in her mind, the heat of the water only making her madder.

Who was he..? She wondered, pushing away her hair of wet locks from her face. Guess she'll find out, with that thought, she hurried with her task and adorning herself in black jeans and a top to match, she marched her way to her mother's room, knocking her door to announce her presence.

Several knocks later, Hera began to worry, hitting the door with her palms on the door. "Mom, can you open the door!"

"Mom, you're worrying me!" Sweat beaded her forehead as she started to shiver. "Dad! Joe!" She screamed before her mother's door while urging her mother to open the door. "Dad, hurry up!"

"What happened?!" Joe rushed towards them in worry, followed by her father and uncle in tow, fear marring each of their faces.

"She..she isn't opening the door, Joe. I'm scared." She admitted as Joe hit the door with his shoulder trying to break open and on a third attempt, the door was finally unlocked as they pushed themselves in. Nearing her mother, Joe shook his aunt trying to wake her up but to no avail.

"Joe..?" A whimper pulled his attention towards his cousin, her eyes fixated on the small bottle of sleeping pills left open and thrown on the floor. Eyes widened, his eyes shifted back to Meera lying without a movement.

"Dad, open the car! We're taking her to the hospital!" And they all rushed towards their cars as Alvin seemed to barely hold on to himself watching the state of his wife.

"She'll be fine." Joe assured as Hera sat with her gaze fixed on the operation theatre's door. She nodded, for she did not want to think otherwise. The doctor stepped out of the door as the light went off, declaring whatever the doctor announces would be final.

"How's my mother?" Hera inquired just as everyone stood up after her. The doctor looked at them with sympathy in his eyes, she hated it, for it only meant... "I'm sorry. We couldn't save her."

"Alvin!" Morgan shouted as he was next rushed by the doctor, unable to bear the loss of his wife, he had become the target of heart attack due to shock.

Hera stood outside the ICU room of her father, simply watching him through the glass doors, not daring to step inside, near him. "He'll be fine." She heard Joe say. She shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes as she snapped her head to look at him.

"But I will not." She quipped. "Tell me, something Joseph." She gritted out, "Just who the f**k was that man?!" She growled out as Joe turned his body fully to face her and with hesitance he replied.

"Carter. Carter Stein..."

~~~

Her head ached as she tried to open her eyes. The warmth of the bed she was on, brought her no peace. With several groans later, she found herself successful as she stared at the illuminated room. She was here, she realised, in the house of her perpetrator. Her hands reaching for her now dried hair, staring down at herself, she found herself covered in only a white shirt, two times bigger in size.

Bastard... She glared at the innocent color, but the intentions not innocent at all.

"Oh you're up!" Fists clenched under the blanket, her head snapped to the voice of him. Carter Stein. Making sure to begin her act she flinched away as he neared her bed, a tray of food in his hands.

"W..Who are you? What am I doing here?!" She demanded, her voice coming out soft like feathers, like a scared animal. The reaction impressed Carter, making him smirk.

Laying the tray of food in his hands on the bed, he raised his hands as a motion of surrender. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." He cooed at her until she relaxed and in a small voice she spoke. "You're the man who saved me..." A newfound admiration and gratitude shown in her eyes as she stared at him making him howl mentally in pride.

"Yes." He nodded, gently letting his hands fall as he snidely placed his hand on her leg under the blanket, wishing there was no material to separate him from touching her. Hera held that hand between hers, biting her lips as tears formed in her eyes. "Thank you so much for saving me. I..I don't know what could have happened if you didn't save me l..last night."

"Hey..." He shushed her, moving away the tray of food from between them, clutching her face with his other hand, the softness of it making him want to kiss her skin, recalling the kiss he shared with her unconscious body. His eyes instantly traveling to her lips. "It's okay. You're safe now." He added huskily, unable to control the thirst he felt to touch them with his, drink her in like he had while she was asleep.

Being himself to change her into his shirt, he had left no opportunity to admire her beauty. The body of a goddess with curves that he could hold onto while he-

"I'll do anything to repay you back for your help. I owe you big time." She smiled in gratitude making him nod, his brain working in mysterious ways as he nodded.

"I'm Carter Stein by the way." He introduced, hesitantly leaving his hold on her.

Like I can ever forget that... She bit out in her mind.

Sighing mentally in relief, she nodded with admiration, she realised he fed off of that. "Penelope. My friends called me Penny."

"Okay then, Penny." He stood up from the bed, staring long and hard at the beautiful figure on his bed, the image of her naked, wrecking havoc in his mind. "Why don't you fresh up, I'll send you your washed clothes and a shirt of mine." That said, he left the door, closing the doors shut.

"Do you mind telling me, what happened, last night?" He inquired as they finished their breakfast, pulling out a stick of cigarette from his trouser, he brought the lightened stick to his lips. "You don't mind, do you?" He asked carelessly. She shook her head.

I wish that kills you... Interwining the fingers of her hands, her elbows kept gently on the breakfast table she looked him in the eyes, every action of hers not missed by his lustful observation.

"I..I'm here to live with my friend." She started, shifting her gaze, as if ashamed.

The smoke from his cigarette hitting her face, making her cough, not that she wasn't used to it, she simply wanted to display her innocence. "Oh I'm sorry." He murmured, squashing the stick beneath his shoe.

"She was going to pick me up. But she didn't. I had the address though." Her voice seemed to croak as she continued. "I hired a taxi. But..but he took some other route and stopped in an abandoned road. And then he-" Sobs erupted from her as her body shook, the next instant he was on her side, pulling her to his chest, seating himself on the chair beside hers. "Hey, it's okay." He cooed against her ear, her scent hitting his nostril as he rubbed his palm up and down her back in comfort. "You're safe now." He whispered, tightening his hold on her as she nodded gently pushing herself away.

"I was somehow able to run away from him as he chased me and then I sought your help." She stated, looking at him like he was her savior. "I don't know what would have happened if..if you didn't-" She stopped herself, covering her eyes with her hand, covered in his shirt. "Thank you for saving my life."

He nodded, caressing her face. "Anything for you, sweetheart." He muttered.

"But why are you in New York City?" He pushed carefully, making sure she had stopped crying. He didn't know how long he could carry on on his doting act.

"For a job. M..My friend said, she'll find me one, here. I needed money for my brother's operation, he has cancer and I could only earn so much in my hometown." She had no brother. He nodded in understanding.

"May be, I could offer you." Her eyes widened in mock surprise. "What?" She shook her head. "N..No, please. I..I. You don't have to do that. I..I know you pity me-" She was cut short by his finger on her lips as he smirked at her innocent features, the innocence he was so going to have fun ruining it and by the time he'd be done with her, she wouldn't know what hit her.

"Here." He produced the card as one of his young maid, brought it to him. Hera did not miss the way he smirked as his hand touched the maid's in the process.

Rotten b***h! She fought the urge to punch his face, he so seemed to have pride on. Quickly looking away, she shifted her gaze to the card laid on the table before her. "Meet me in my company when you're well settled and I'll see what I can do." Snapping her head in his direction, she smiled in gratitude, boosting his ego further.

Nothing better than acting like a damsel in distress. She smirked, mentally, standing up from the chair.

"I'll take my leave, thank you for your help." She started to leave when a hand on her shoulder stropped her from behind. "I'm sure you don't have anything with you. I'll ask my driver to drop you to your place, do you remember the address?" She nodded in a yes, catching hold of his hands as she turned around. "You're such a nice man, Carter. I'll hopefully see you, soon." She added, like a lovestruck woman.

"Anything for you." He replied, winking at her, making her go red.

Oh the innocence... Am sure she never met someone like me. He smirked to himself as she let go of his hands, staring at her figure, his fists clenched as she walked away.

"Pretty soon. I'll have you at my whims." He murmured, the fire within him undeterred as he grabbed his favorite maid passing by him, pushing her to the nearest wall, kissing her while he imagined them to be the lips of the woman that left, creating havoc in his mind.

"Oh my God! Are you alright?!" Joe rushed taking her in his arms as soon as she entered her new flat, of one single room. She had never lived her life so poor. And it was not the missing space she despised but the absence of her parents in her life.

"H..How was my mother's funeral..?" Her voice broken and empty as she waited for him to speak. Perhaps she was the most unfortunate person in the world, to have to miss her own mother's funeral. "It..It went well. His men were there too." He whispered, running his hands through her hair. "Even Dad had to miss it." The cries increased as Joe nodded pulling away from the hug.

"There's another problem..." Joe began, as her heart thudded in worry. "No one's ready to lend the money for the operation of Uncle." He added as she slumped against the couch, holding her head in her palms. "If we don't hurry..he might die."

"He's not dying, Joe." Hera stood up instantly, furious as she clenched her fists. "Not until he sees the destruction of Carter Stein with his own eyes. He's not dying until I bring him to his knees. Until he takes my father's bed." Joe nodded before answering. "You're right, then we have no other way but to seek help from him."

"You think he'd still help us." He nodded. "You just have to say the word."

*********