THE DEVIL'S PREY
CHAPTER EIGHT
~TRAINING GROUND~
Gigi and Betsy stood where they were until Blade reached the fiftieth stroke. Blood was all over Sarah's yellow flowery dress. She had lost all the strength to move or to open her eyes. At some point, she couldn't scream anymore; she just had to surrender to the whip lashes. Her delicate body was weak and lifeless as she lay still on the cold, hard floor. She was broken by the whip lashes, which had drained her spirit of all vigor.
Xavier remained on his spot, his mind only focused on destroying her, his frigid eyes fixed on her, and when he realized how helpless she was and how broken he had made her be, a dry smile emerged on his face and vanished almost instantly.
"Nobody should help her until I say so." He said, stepping out of the training ground.
Blade gently picked up his whip off the ground, like he just didn't almost whip someone to death, but who cares? His job here was to punish the offenders, and Sarah was not only an offender, she was also an enemy. He walked out of the ground.
Madam Tessa gazed at Xavier's leaving back, her thoughts aching from recalling what a sweet youngster Xavier was. All she sees now is a monster who deprives others of the pleasure of their tears. "If only Adrian was here." she said, a tear falling from her eye.
She turned back to Sarah, who was still motionless on the ground.
"Perhaps you deserve it." She muttered through her gritted teeth before walking away, too. The small crowd slowly dispersed, everyone facing their business like nothing had just happened. This was one of the usual scenarios in the sin-nation empire, just that, in this case, nobody knew where Xavier got Sarah from. They've all witnessed Xavier's brutality but this was different. This seems so personal.
Gigi sighed for the umpteenth time.
"Can you stop doing that?" Betsy scolded.
"Oh, poor thing," Gigi whispered, her voice barely audible. "She's too young for this."
Betsy nodded "She looks eighteen, I wonder what trouble she had with boss."
"I have never seen him like that before. I mean, we know he is brutal, but this was different," Gigi responded, her mind getting occupied with reasons why Xavier was punishing Sarah. "I wish I could help."
Betsy jolted up a scowl on her face. "We are mafias, whatever the boss is doing to her, trust me, she deserves it."
Gigi inhaled "Maybe you're right."
"Boss doesn't punish without a reason. She must have trespassed." Betsy added.
Gigi nodded, the two girls turned and walked towards the training ground entrance.
Whatever Sarah was facing, maybe she deserved it.
As Gigi and Betsy left, the training ground grew silent. The only sound was the distant sound of music playing in the empire's nightclubs.
Sarah remained still, her wounded body bearing witness to Xavier's savagery. Her yellow floral frock, now soiled, clung to her frail body.
The sky, which was previously a deep blue, became gradually darker. Clouds gathered, and a huge thunderclap shattered Sarah's broken heart. The first raindrops began to fall, gently and tentatively. They landed softly on Sarah's pale skin, mingling with her dried blood and tears.
Sarah gently opened her eyes; her eyes displayed no emotions, no glint, and beneath the coldness were scars of agony and sadness.
The rain continued to fall, and Sarah stayed immobile, slowly closing her eyes and silently wishing for death.
As the rain intensified, it washed away the stains on the floor, but couldn't cleanse the scars on Sarah's heart. The droplets fell onto her closed eyelids, her cheeks, and her lips as if mourning her shattered spirit. Sarah's chest barely rose with each shallow breath, her life slowly slipping away from her fingers.
No one remained to witness her suffering, no one to hear her silent screams.
The rain continued, a constant reminder of her isolation.
Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing eyes that had lost their hope
She gazed up at the rain-soaked sky, her voice barely audible:
"Father... help me..."
The rain swallowed her whisper, leaving only the sound of its sorrowful melody.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xavier stormed through the corridors of his mansion, his mind still pondering from the encounter with Sarah. The rain pounded against the huge windows, mirroring the turmoil within him.
As he reached his suite, Jay, his personal guard noticing his countenance, quickly bowed and opened the door. Just as he entered, his phone buzzed. Godfather's name flashed on the screen.
Xavier hesitated, knowing he couldn't avoid the call any longer.
"Godfather." Xavier answered, his tone normal but cold.
"Xavier, my boy. I've been trying to reach you for days, it seems you're avoiding me." Pa Anthonio, Xavier's Godfather voice dripped with annoyance and Xavier didn't fail to notice the annoyance beneath his usual tone.
"I've been busy." Xavier replied, his jaw clenched.
"Busy rejecting potential clients, huh?" Pa Anthonio's tone turned icy.
Xavier tightened his grip around the phone.
"I want to know why you rejected Rizzo's deal. I'm trying to build a relationship with the Rizzo's."
Xavier's anger boiled over but he gently replied. "Nexus Tech belongs to me. I don't think I need their partnership."
"Ah, but I do, Xavier. I desperately need it. Don't act like the pathetic bastard that you are, I can ruin you Xavier."
Xavier's eyes narrowed, he gritted his teeth tightly .
"You should be grateful at least. You're nobody without me. I made you, and I can break you."
Xavier's control snapped. "I am not nobody!" he growled.
Godfather chuckled. "Oh, Xavier. You're so predictable. Your pride will be your downfall."
The line went silent, Pa Anthonio words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Xavier's chest heaved, his mind racing. He knew he had to regain control.
"I'll make it right, Godfather." Xavier forced out.
"See that you do, boy. You have one week to reconsider Rizzo's offer."
The call ended, Xavier's phone slipping from his fingers.
He stood frozen, Godfather's words piercing through his soul.
"Pathetic bastard... nobody..."
His features contorted into a sneer as he unleashed his rage. Xavier swung his fist into the nearest crystal vase, sending pieces flying everywhere.
The scent of freshly cut flowers filled the air, mocking him. "No!" he said, his voice cracking. He stormed through the rooms, wrecking everything in his way. The lush sofa had been thrown down, and the cushions were scattered. The glass coffee table split revealing the fragments of his crushed pride.
Xavier's rage devoured him like a raging fire that couldn't be quenched. He punched the walls, and his knuckles bled. His groans echoed throughout the apartment, a vital expression of anguish and frustration. He kicked over a chair, causing it to smash into the wet bar. Bottles shattered, sending Xavier into a frenzy.
"ARGH!" he bellowed, his voice hoarse from screaming.
Xavier's vision blurred, his eyes burning with tears but the tears never dropped. He stumbled, his legs giving out beneath him.
He collapsed onto the ruined couch, his chest heaving. His fists clenched, still trembling with rage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~RRB, SIN-NATION EMPIRE~
Damian walked into the Red Room Bar, exclusively for the exclusive members of the Mafia. Damian smirked when he saw Valerie smoking at the corner of the bar, alone.
Damian walked to her and leaned against the wall, his charming smile firmly in place. Valerie stood opposite him, her expression as icy as ever.
"No friends, Valerie? " Damian teased. "Don't you ever feel anything?"
Valerie raised an eyebrow. "Your fuckmate is not here. Leave me alone."
Damian chuckled. "That's what makes you so fascinating. You're like a puzzle I can't crack."
Valerie's gaze remained blank. "I'm not a puzzle, Damian. I'm just a mobster here."
Damian's grin faltered for a moment before he recovered. "Of course, you are. I'm glad you know your place."
Valerie's expression didn't change, but her voice took on a hint of sharpness. "Of course, I do."
Just as Damian opened his mouth to retort, Jay appeared at their side.
"Master, we have a situation," Jay said, his tone low and urgent.
Damian's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
"Boss lost control again," Jay replied, "He's destroying his suite. Again"
Valerie shrugged. "This isn't the first time. What triggered it?"
Jay hesitated before responding. "Godfather called. Boss has been ignoring him, but... it seems Godfather's words got to him."
"Oh damn." Valerie muttered before throwing the stick of cigarette away.
Damian's face darkened. "What did he say?"
Jay's voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't know. We need to contain this before it gets out of hand."
"Let's go." Damian said, already moving toward the door while the two other mobsters tagged along.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rain poured down on Sarah's limp body, her wounds exposed to the air. Her fragile form seemed lost in the vast, empty training ground.
A figure emerged from the entrance of the training area, his face hidden beneath a hoodie. His features were obscured by the fabric.
He approached Sarah with caution, his footsteps silent on the wet ground. Gently, he lifted her into his arms, cradling her as if she were a broken doll.
As he carried her to the nearby shed, the rain drummed against the metal roof. The sound echoed through the deserted training ground, emphasizing the desolation.
Inside the shed, he laid her on a pile of old mats, covering her with a worn blanket. His hands lingered on her shoulder.
Next, he placed a small bag of snacks beside her and a bottle of water. A small gesture of kindness.
And just like that, he quietly left the training ground.