At Helios' Torture Chamber.
Xaphael furrowed his eyebrows while wiping a drop of blood splattered on his hand. The soiled cloth was then given to a man standing near him.
To think this rat had a tenacious side, he mused. His men have already tormented her for days to make her spill all she knew, but she shut her mouth tight.
He stood up and approached the wretched being. His eyes were cold, indifferent to her tearful supplication. He looks at her as if she
was merely a trash that breathes.
" How about we trade? I will grant you death if you tell me who your fellow rats are." The husky voice was pleasant to hear, however, his words were enough to make her tremble in horror.
Ada, whose eyes have been gouged out, clearly couldn't see the enchanting demon before her, but her body couldn't stop shivering. She could feel the bloodthirst emanating from him. She is terrified but is more desperate for a respite from all the pain. At this moment, she only yearns for death.
" I-I don't know. " Ada weakly groaned. She lacks strength, and everything hurts. She just wanted to die right now. How long has it been? She doesn't recall anymore. Since that girl left, she underwent more misery. She was shut in a place shrouded in darkness, only given the luxury of light for her tortures. When everything is finished, she is returned to that abyss to savor the pain of her body. The mental and physical torment was enough to make her crumble.
" It seems you enjoy this ordeal. Tell me, which limb do you want to say goodbye to this time?" Xaphael raised his hand, and a person passed him a sword, stained with blood she had shed when she lost her foot and her pair of ears.
Hearing the sound of metal hitting the concrete floor, Ada implored through snot and tears.
" P-please kill me."
Her woeful cries, as she beseeched the man before her, echoed within the dimly-lit room.
" Please."
Ada mustered all her remaining energy to drag her body towards the source of sound to implore.
Xaphael narrowed his eyes as he examined the traitor groveling at his feet. Her outstretched filthy hands over the floor, reaching out
in search of something, caught his focus. He stepped back when she nearly touched him.
He recalled a particular devilish smile and pair of cunning blue eyes.
A low chuckle responded to Ada's appeal.
" I almost forgot your pair of unruly hands." Then without warning, he slashed her limbs, producing two successive clanging sounds. Her doleful howl instantly followed.
Xaphael passed the sword to his men before walking out of the chamber.
" Don't let her die that easily. Let her enjoy what hell feels like." His lingering voice intertwined with Ada's miserable scream.
***
Dinner has proceeded without a hitch, and it was how Eve deemed it would be.
Lucian being Lucian, serving her food as if she doesn't have hands of her own. Tess, eating elegantly, exhibiting what a perfect aristocrat he is, and Lyka, showcasing his excellent multitasking skill of eating and gossiping at the same time.
The third son wasn't present, and nobody knew his whereabouts, but she didn't care. There was a feast in front of her so she wouldn't have extra brain cells to ponder about him.
The only peculiar event that happened was when Lucian gave her a pair of brass knuckles, which he was even considerate enough to have in pink color. He said that she could use it as "anti-annoying brat control" if she ever encounters a scoundrel with blond hair and blue eyes. He even added that he wouldn't mind if she breaks some of the rascal's bones, so should hit as hard as she could with no reservation, and whispered that she should think the other as her adversary. His hopeful gaze showed no room for disagreement. In the end, she could only accept the "murder weapon" with an indifferent face.
Later that evening.
Eve examined the portrait hanging on the wall containing a life-like image of a lady wearing an intricate royal blue Victorian-style gown. Her eyes faintly curved, and her pink lips bent to a gentle smile. Dazzling gems and flowers accessorized her wavy blond hair making it more vibrant. She is simply enchanting.
Just by looking at the pair of azure eyes, Eve can infer it's her mother. For the first time, she finally saw what her appearance is. It should be noted that while Sylvius pampered her to a ridiculous degree, he never showed her a picture of her mother. She doesn't know why, neither does she want to ask.
( Host, your mother looks like a fairy.) Halfsie chimed but failed to receive the other's response. However, it knew the host felt the same.
[ Indeed, like a fairy.] Eve was reminded of her uncle's countenance the moment she viewed her mother's face.
It can be said that Lucian and Lilian resemble each other to a frightening degree. It's just that her uncle has that resting-proud-face and innate prominent aura that her mother lacks. If Lucian is akin to the scorching sun, then Lilian is like a moon; gentle, noble, and alluring yet seem fragile and equally distant. Their contrasting aura clouds their resemblance but, if one observes closely, one will notice the similarity. If only they were born in the same year, they could be considered twins.
Noticing that its host seemed lost in thoughts without signs of looking away from the painting, it can't help but question her.
( Host, what are you thinking?)
( I'm just wondering why they keep a massive portrait in the room.)
She knew they had settled her in Lilian's old room. Though she doesn't mind the princess-style boudoir, the massive portrait just across the bed was unusual. Shouldn't it be displayed in the hall together with the ancestor's portraits?
Though curious, she decided not to give it further thought. Eve turned her foot towards her bed, ready to sleep. Nevertheless, a word from Halfsie notified her of a visitor. She gazed at the door and softly chuckled.
[ I guess the third son is the most interesting one.]
Eve opened the door and finally got a glimpse of the notorious Cross's third young master, Carlaeon.
Blond luscious hair, familiar azure eyes, and a handsome profile greeted her. The point is, Carla is the carbon copy of Lucian. It was like her uncle merely became shorter.
Presently, he is leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed on his chest and a haughty expression plastered on his face. The cunning smirk on his thin lips was frivolous, having a different taste from Tess's smile.
He blatantly scanned the young lady in front of him, scrutinizing Eve as if she's a potato that had grown wings.
At first, he came intentionally to disturb this cousin of his and show her who's the boss, but upon seeing her immaculate eyes, somehow, for an unknown reason, he felt his soul tingle.
He can't explain the feeling, just that he had an unexplainable yearning to stick to her and pull her into doing crooked things. Maybe it's her pure eyes tempting him to taint her to be as black as him.
Eve returned Carla's unscrupulously gawking by scanning him from head to toe.
He is wearing ripped jeans paired with a shirt under a black leather jacket. She could also see piercings on his ears as he moved his head from side to side while examining her at different angles.
After a full minute of silence, he finally broke the "showdown".
" Nice to finally meet you, cousin Linlin." There was a strange twinkle within his eyes.
" Same, Carla." She impassively returned.
The corner of his mouth twitched when he heard that nauseating nickname. He stood straight and look down on Eve, whose height
barely reached up to his chin.
" Let's make a deal." Out of the blue, a proposal was suggested causing Eve's eyebrow to raise in curiosity.
" I'm listening."
" Call me Leon, and I'll call you Eve."
" Leon." With no further ado, they reached a consensus. Leon didn't expect his cousin to be so agreeable that she didn't even voice out any demands. It made him look at his cousin in good light.
Eve, on the other hand, acquiesced because she is not used to the different names given to her.
" Eve."
A devilish smirk bloomed on his lips.
Leon was about to say something but panicked when he saw the door closing. He swiftly inserted his body in between the entryway to hinder her actions.
" Cousin Eve, what are you doing?" Contrary to his hasty move, his voice remained lax. If it weren't for his awkward state, being sandwiched in the entryway, he'd appear as if he is out appreciating the scenery.
" Sleep." She furrowed her brows seeing his unexpected move.
" Sleep? Come on, cousin Eve. The night is young and should be enjoyed. How about we go somewhere nice?"
" Not interested." She unceremoniously pushed his face away using her palm, trying to get rid of the unwelcome visitor.
Leon tried his best not to be shut off. He tried enticing her while struggling to enter her room.
" Eve, let's go to a club!"
" How about the Black Playhouse?"
" The Red Light District?" He spouted every exciting place he could
remember but failed to lure her. In the face of a sloth about to meet her true love (bed), nothing could ever stop her.
" The East Food District!" Leon spouted the last word that popped out of his desperate mind. To his surprise, the nearly-closed door suddenly opened.
" Let's go." Without saying more, Eve strode out the door. Leon could only gape at the girl who flipped her face, musing that women's minds are genuinely hard to fathom. The only way to comprehend their way of thinking is to become one yourself.
Still, since he successfully convinced his cousin, Leon didn't think more. He stamped towards Eve and walked by her side.
Upon noticing her clothes, he raised his brows and asked.
" You going out wearing that outfit? Are you not going to change?" He glanced at her knee-length sleepwear. Though he doesn't mind her going out with her pajamas, wouldn't girls act fuzzy about stuff like that?
" No time." There are only two hours before midnight, and she has to maximize the time she can relish food before sleeping. Now that there's a volunteer to introduce them to her, of course, she won't be polite.
***