HATE OR LOVE: Devils In Obsession

Discipline.

Eve.

"Take him? Take him where?" Danielle demanded.

Cedric and Rolland led Eric out, shutting the doors.

"Eve, what do you plan to do?"

"Daddy made it clear. I will uh- discipline him," I sneered. "Don't worry, he'll be back in no time."

Danielle turned to the elders, standing at the center as she looked up. "You can't allow Eve to do this!"

"We can, and we approve," said Millicent as she took a luxurious sip of her tea. She'd tried, she knew she'd tried. It wasn't her fault the boy couldn't read the room.

"I believe Eve is well-suited to teach him some basic morals," Jonas added, relaxing his tensed back against his chair. Meetings like this were meaningless- that was definitely what was on his mind.

"Case closed!" David banged his gavel once before leaving the stage. He was in his usual rush; time was of the essence to him. If he wasn't making money by the minute, it was laziness. That was probably why his voice wasn't heard much in this meeting either.

"Basic morals, you say? Eve has basic morals? Is that what you'll believe, or don't you realize she's manipulating you, you, you, you..." She pointed her finger at every elder, then, when the same finger landed on Flavian, my eyes fluttered. No...

"All of you! This woman who goes by the name Eve is a..." her voice died as she turned her cold eyes to me. She looked flustered, at a loss for words to describe me. Psychopath. Rebellious. Devil. Lilith the demon. So many words, but she and I both knew she couldn't use them. Her words would spark suspicion and doubt, and we don't want that, not when she hadn't solidified her place in this family. They'd have her eliminated the second she spilled her little secrets about my past.

"Eve is a.." Flavian pressed, stepping out of his corner with a smirk.

"Fine, then. If she's allowed to discipline my child, then—" She swept forward, snatching a glass bottle of water and smashing the base of it on the floor. "I'll discipline the kid too."

I didn't need brain activity to tell me what she'd do next. I moved quickly toward Sydney as she launched forward, holding the neck of the bottle, the base was gone, all that was left were jagged edges and pointy shards.

"Hold them down. Right now!" she commanded cynically.

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when two security men stepped into the kids' way as they tried to escape. s**t- Flavian. Of course... we're back to the testing... This man shows no loyalty to me.

My jaw almost dropped when Benjamin, standing beside Flavian, came forward, beckoning the men to bring the kids over to Danielle while my dear uncle Flavian just f*****g watched with vivid amusement.

"Let them go!" I yelled, pacing faster.

They didn't yield. I followed at a distance as they approached Danielle. So she wants to attack, and Flavian won't do anything? And nobody will say anything?

When Danielle raised the shattered bottle, aiming to stab Sydney, I was already sliding in and seizing her wrist high in the air. I held it with a burning desire to turn the weapon back on her. If I stabbed her here and now, half of my problems would certainly die along with her. I squeezed her wrist harder at the idea— only to hear my father's weary voice behind me.

"Eve, let her go."

I didn't want to. I didn't need to. Who would give me a reason not to kill her? I don't like it when people mess with my precious things... She messed with my boys, I don't like her. Not anymore.

I only meant to ease the pressure of my hold, but she was faster and more reckless, and in the process of breaking free, my arm bled from a long, deep cut from the glass she dragged down my arm. My blood trickled down my forearm to my fingers, spotting the white marble floor with red.

"You're bleeding!" Alan called out, drawing my attention. I knew- I glanced at it once and gritted through the pain... Except that it didn't hurt more then the betrayal and disappointment this people brought me.

Danielle cackled in triumph, admiring the broken bottle in her hand.

"He's your son, yet you couldn't defend him," she murmured under her breath. The embarrassment must have set in, she no longer made an effort to look at anyone but the glass in her hand.

"He's my son, and I'll have him disciplined if I must," Keaton wheeled himself close and snatched the broken bottle neck from her loose grip.

"By her, of all people? She's not even your biological daughter! These kids aren't even her biological children... they're outsiders. Keaton, would you let these outsiders go? Wouldn't you do something?"

Who was she trying to fool with her tears?

"Enough! Haven't you had enough, Danny? I married you, just like you always wanted. Welcomed you into the family, just like you always wanted. Don't you ever— none of you... ever stand before me and disregard or disrespect my one and only daughter! All of you! who do you think you are? You all sat and watched my poor daughter do all the dirty work and get hurt. What do you take her for, an entertainer? On no account should this repeat itself again. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?"

Daddy wasn't just speaking to Danielle but to the whole family present, including the elders, and his words carried the full weight of a warning. A proud smile tugged at my lips as I stared at him. This was definitely the man who raised me. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be this version of Eve.

"Thanks, Dad. You're the best." I blew him a flirtatious kiss. Still, I was annoyed, I didn't like that he had to raise his voice. He'll be tired now.

"But Father, they're outsiders. Eve welcomes outsiders and we're all just made to accept it?" Fredrick folded his arms hostilely.

"Shut your mouth, boy, otherwise you'll join your brother where they've taken him—"

"—And where's that?" Danielle interrupts desperately.

"The Mad House," I answered quickly, applying pressure to the injury on my arm.

"This meeting is over. Flavian, get my daughter to the hospital immediately," Keaton instructed loudly as he wheeled himself toward me.

"I can't leave these kids alone," I cried out, going to my knees before him. The pain was finally catching up with me, something stirring in my belly had me feeling nauseous.

"Crandon will take them home," he said, winding his arms around me.

"She won't hurt them?" I leaned in, resting my head on his shoulder as I shifted my gaze to Danielle.

"She would do no such thing again," he promised.