(Trigger warnings Ahead:[Spice of violence]read at your own risk]
Something he noted they always put on when they're talking to reporters or been interviewed,Xander curse under his breath sighting groups,troops,lot of reporters lifting their cameras all at onces,Xander drag Isabelle to the makeup room threatening her with his glare to make a sound,she kept mute,smilling as she was hauled away and into the make up room.
"I told you I'd get aunt here,I told you that" Xander yell,Isabelle yank his hand away "You're supposed to be on the cover,not out like this when you know there's a serial killer after you"
"How's that your business Mr Mack?"
"My business? This as become my business the day you married me,we made a fucking deal and you've no right to go back on it,don't you fear humanity Isabelle?,thousands of people are going to die with just this single display of insanity"Isabelle brow furrow,Xander calm his breath and sigh softly " I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that but you've to understand that this could get you killed"
"Why care now?"Isabelle suddenly ask startling Xander "You said I mess with every guy I meet,yeah I do because that's the only way I know how to survive"Isabelle growl "You've no idea how terrible it is to wake up and see that the people you held in high honors are the ones destroying your life,the nightmares...You've no idea how it is to go through that,you've no vague idea of the feeling of helplessness,you've no idea how bad it is to choose who you are and choose what the world forces you to be,you've no idea how hard it is to have an uncaring boyfriend like you,she died,I told you about it but you never cared"Isabelle angrily wipe her tears "I was alone even though you were always right beside me,you knew Alexander,you knew who killed my cousin,you knew Emeryk did it and you still decided to tell the police a different story about my cousin and boy's death,that boy was my life as he was yours,you killed him with your lies,not me"
Xander shake his head in denial "I did it because you were threatened,I was thinking of how it's gonna affect you,i killed him with my decision Isabelle,i blame myself for it I'm the culprit but I can't ruin your life to take care of him,you've your own life too"
"But I never needed that,all I needed was justice,if you think I'm the old Isabelle you can swerve around in your car and tell her the direction you're taking her you're kidding yourself,I loved you,I cherished everything about you,you were my life,my soul but that chapter of our life ended a week ago,I MADE A MISTAKE EVER MEETING YOU,this here is not Isabelle Collins or Mack anymore,I'm Isabelle Augustyn don't interfere or I'll take every of those happy moment you took from me in place of your life Xander"Isabelle pick up her purse and stomp out.
Xander ran his hand through his hair and pull it with all his might,he drop his hand and his breath hardened with every repeated words of hers in his ears.
"Alex"Zuzzana step hurriedly inside she'd noticed the tense moment between Isabelle and Xander and decided to pop in,Xander glance at her,she step back seeing how red and fiery his eyes are,how cold and how penetrating it is.
"Get the hell out or I won't hesitate to shoot you"Xander spell his words bringing out his gun to let her know he would really do it,Zuzzana slowly retract and finally lock the door behind her,her face contort when she saw Isabelle all okay,with smiles like nothing ever happened,yes....nothing ever happened but something will soon.
Xander put the gun on the table leaning his body on the wall for support he clench his fist recalling things about the women in is life, his mother,dagmara,mary,Zuzzana....Zuzzana his recent source of anguish,yes he liked her,yes he slept with her,yes he considered her a replacement for Isabelle but that ended long ago,the feeling faded not because Isabelle is back but because it was lust and not love,Isabelle arrival doesn't stop him from living however he wants but he considered Zuzzana a mistake from all sides,she's beautiful,sexy but she was never something he thought close to as a lover and to top it up she's Gary ex girlfriend,Xander ruffle his hair again pondering on his discussion with Isabelle.
---
---
---
"Aukey caine"Mary close her eyes and the tears of joy drop fully,she press the phone on her ears tighter wishing there's a way she could get closer,embrace him.
"Caine,Caine....my boy"
"Yes it is,miss me?"
"Of course,how can you ask that?"Mary manage to chortle "When did you know?"
"Week ago,she's gone" The masked man sit on the couch toying with a remote "She's gone" his voice masked his anguish "Just like you said,she died"
"I heard,I heard it all Caine dear,I'm sorry I couldn't stop it from happening,I made promises but I wasn't there to keep them"Mary glance around "Have you met Isabelle? She's someone unlike me right?I don't want her to be who I was,I don't want her to become that way"
"She's exactly who you're but different,she's gorgeous,beautiful,strong, shrewd but vile,she's heartless unlike you"Aukey drop the remote on the glass table beside him,Mary hand tighten on the phone "She never told anyone you survived that blast,I thought you and Matt died"
"I don't know if he's alive Caine,I don't know who to ask I've been locked up for ten years in my current cell,all my days have been spent on moving and moving to another cell,how are you? Is everything okay there?"
Aukey groan "Nothing is okay,my hypnosis skills are taking control of me,taking control of my being just as you said, 'Something that isn't part of you and you desperately want it to become your shadow will slowly snatch the power of control from you' and it did,Debra was brutally murdered and oh dear Mary I'll murder your daughter the same way" Aukey open his eyes and click his tongue "You should consider having one from now on"
"What...what did she do Caine?" Mary ask standing rigid.
"She knows who killed Debra and I want to know who did it,that's not a crime is it,your daughter was the only witness to this accident,no one else was there then why can't she tell me"
"Are you sure she's hiding who the killer is?"Mary respond quizzically.
---
---
---
"We're gathered here today to announce who our new CEO is,CEO Alexander Mack stepped down and move to the position as the acting CEO few months ago,now a new change has taken place,may we all applaud our new CEO Ms. Isabelle Augustyn as she comes forward" One of the board of directors announce earning a standing ovation,Isabelle and Xander lock gazes.
'I'm Isabelle Augustyn' Her eyes seems to repeat to Xander 'All I needed was justice' her low grunt repeat itself in his ears,he look away engulfed in the whole situation,he as a sinking feeling about this whole event,people thought the Augustyn's are all dead and now Isabelle just publicly announced indirectly that she's an Augustyn which is fatal.
Zuzzana clench her jaw when Isabelle walk to the podium with head up high,she wonders how the woman manage to be happy when she ruined everyone who she ever get close to,She look on as Isabelle delivers her speech and smirk waiting for that destroyer of peace but what Isabelle did next scared her out of her wit,Isabelle eyes search with keen interest around the hall and settle on her making her uneasy,fidgety,scared,making her think the woman knew something.
Isabelle remove her gaze from Zuzzana and settle it on Ian who's grinning from ear to ear,he made a slow bow,Isabelle grin and remove her gaze and lock eyes with a set of grim red eyes,one burning with rage,burning with intense emotions for the first time in her life continue staring,not that she isn't scared she's scared,terrified, frightened but from today onwards...she vows to always be in control of herself,her emotions and her life.
"I'm challenging you"She muttered,the eyes change colors to all shades getting her message,the eyes suddenly brightened and move away,rolled away like a thief that was caught.