His Dark Moon

The demand

Luna

"You are getting married! "

I should have known this.

My father who didn't even look for me for four damn years comes to my doorstep early in the morning saying he wants to discuss something important. I should have already known that the 'discussion' would be about me.

My demise and his benefit, to be specific.

I cannot believe he is demanding my life for his benefit. The life, he wasn't even part of.

I knew marrying for love was never in the bargain but that didn't let me desire it. I knew that he somehow will use me as one of his assets to gain what he wanted. I knew he would go to any extinct to get what he desires irrespective of what I thought. He never really cared about me. He was always like that.

Cunning. Business-like. Crafty.

But I didn't expect the marriage thing to come my way too soon.

I am not ready for this.

"No."

I decline as he glares at me like he wishes to throw me out of the window.

"No?"

"I am not going to marry some aged Spanish mob boss just because you gain something from him," I say as anger and irritation fills my insides.

"You will do as I say", he warns.

Yeah, yeah, over my dead body.

"No way in hell I am going to do it. If this is what you wanted to discuss, then this conversation is over. You can see yourself out", I say gesturing to the door. Fury fills his features, his face turns red, and his muscles stiff as he glares at me like he is going to attack me any minute.

"Lun-", he tries to speak but I cut him off.

"I am not one of your assets, nor am I one of your possessions that you will use me to get what you want. You cannot put a leash on me, but you are welcome to try." I say flatly, his nostrils flare, his jaw clenched so tight that I am surprised that it didn't fall off, and his eyes see red.

"I am not asking you, I am demanding you to do something." His voice was cold, hard, and dangerous. He looks like an angry wolf who is out to hunt. However, I am not a prey he can hunt, nor am I terrified. I can not let this happen, for fu*k's sake.

"And that demand of yours is to sign my life off to a stranger, whom I haven't even seen before. "

"I am doing this for a reason, Luna." His face is still hard, jaw clenched.

"Enlighten me."

My father stares at me for a long second and says, "I am doing this for Lia".

Lia.

My chest feels heavy, nausea fills my insides, and I feel uneasy as I try to process his words. Regret and shame spread in my gut while I try to cope with the feeling. I gape at him, too stunned to utter a word.

He can not be serious, he knows really well that I have a soft spot for Lia and I'll do anything for her. He wants to convince me to approve of the marriage using my sentiments toward her. And I hate to admit that it's working.

He's manipulating me.

I know it, yet, I let the guilt control me.

I am allowing him to manipulate me.

"What about her?" I question, my voice barely out.

The man in front of me takes a deep breath in and out, and continues, "The Spanish will help me take my revenge for Lia's death which is by the Russian's demise, but to do so, you will have to marry Samuel Sanchez. We want a-" His voice drifts away in the background, and my thoughts speak out loud.

Revenge.

Russian's demise.

Samuel Sanchez.

He wants to offer me to a stranger so that he can have his revenge. So that the Spanish mob will help him to get vengeance for Lia's death.

I wish for revenge too.

A lot of what-ifs come to my mind as I try to think straight.

But is it good to surrender myself for retribution? What if the Spanish mob boss doesn't treat me well? What if I become miserable for the rest of my life? What if I become a prey for my father's unpleasant intentions? What if I become a pawn in the game of vengeance?

" How could you, sissy? "

"You could have saved me from all the misery I have experienced"

The voice from my nightmare calls to me, the sound of Lia's screams, her cries, her confront, everything plays in my mind like a tape recorder while I try to subdue them and calm myself.

A part of me tells me to not accept the proposal and find a way to get away from there. To get someplace where nobody knows me.

Whereas, a deeper, darker part of me tells me to seek vengeance.

I should take revenge for her death, she isn't here between us because of me, the only reason she is dead is because of me.

Is it not my responsibility to seek justice for her death?

I should seek retaliation for the peace of my mind. For the peace of her mind. The Russians are going to pay for what they did to her years ago. I am going to make him pay for what he did to trap me in this pain. To trap me in the pain of regret and void.

Guilt and remorse get the best of me as my soul fills with darkness and emptiness, again.

I feel like I am drowning again.

I feel like-

"Luna?" his voice loud and clear snaps me back to reality as I blink away from the thoughts.

"Were you even listening to me?", he doubts as he sends a glare my way.

I ignore his question, my expression blank as I answer, "I will marry him, but don't expect anything else from me."