"They said he's Lucifer. They called him legion. Today makes it his seventh day locked in the tower. So I want to know- when do I see some fucking action?!"Â
Darting gazes exchanged startled glances before returning to the direction of the thunderous voice. Leonardo Thornton or Hades like he was popularly referred to simply because he considered himself, THE DARK GOD, walked back and forth within a small distance in the large room, a bottle of raw whiskey dangling from his right hand.
With every turn of his heel, his heavy steps echoed. The acrid stench of fear mixed with reverie emanating from the room pleased his nostrils. He paused, and flared his nose, inhaling as much as he could.Â
They feared him because his gun fired faster than traveling light. Respected him because he had money; a lot of it.
By the time he turned thirteen, he had already made his first million. Everyone had a different story on how he managed this feat. His mother would tell you it was an inheritance money passed on to him by her distant uncle who didn't have an heir to his name. The streets said he murdered his first victim; a lonely seventy year old millionaire who he worked for at the time, and stole his money.
He welcomed all these theories because they contributed to his legendary status.Â
Years and years of accomplishment had set him above his peers. But all of those were nothing in comparison to the day he finally caught the bastard; Ares Arseny, a.k.a, Lucifer.
Whipping his head around, his body followed as he strode purposefully to the center of the room. He stopped in front of the man on the chair, his head lowered to the ground. His eyes darkened as he raised the bottle of whiskey over his head, and let it trickle down on him.
"That's right," he chortled mockingly. "I'm pissing on you, and you can't do shit about it. But I would love to be proved wrong. Show me some of that legion power. Defend yourself!" he laughed maniacally.
Fury coursed through him when the man didn't flinch. He was just as proud as his father. Maybe even more. Nothing would please him more than killing him, in a way worse than he killed his father.
Emptying the last of the whiskey on him, he flung the empty bottle across the room. It landed on the wall, and smashed into pieces.
"Hear that sound, bastard? Next time, I promise it will be at least fifty of your bones making it," He spat on him, and turned around. "Seal the doors after I leave. No one comes into this room until he decides to lift his head, and speak. Double the security at the tower gates and walls. Anytime now, his people will come for him. I want them to watch when he takes his last breath." He directly ordered no one in particular, as he made his way out of the room.
The three comrades left in the room with the prisoner exchanged glances again, as the door slammed shut.
"Well, you heard the boss. We let him rot a little with no food, contact, or sunlight, and let's see if he won't be singing like a bird by the morning," Scar said.
"Bet. Aye, ain't you boobies a little bit curious what he looks like?'' Giovanni asked.
''Curiosity kills the dog, and I don't wanna die yet,'' Anto replied.
''it's the cat you fool.''
''Huh? Why would it be the cat when it supposed to have nine lives?''
''I don't know,'' he shrugged. ''take it up with the people who started the rumor I guess.''
Scar knew from their trembling lips, an argument was about to ensue, so he stepped in. ''you two can stand here arguing all day. I'm going to go see if I can sneak in one or two of Matilda's chicken, before the choppers starts to sing.''
He checked to see that the prisoner was tightly secured, before he walked away. Both men followed suit, after moving their beef for another day.
The door closed behind them, and the prisoner finally lifted his head. Thick, matted black hair covered his face, and blurred his tired vision. He could barely see. Even breathing proved to be difficult.
His tongue craved water, because his mouth had run out of moisture. Yet, he knew he had to endure. He only needed to speak a word for Leonardo to feel a sense of victory. He would much rather die, than allow that to happen.
Slowly, he began to lose consciousness. He didn't hear the door open. He didn't hear footsteps approach him. He didn't see the buxom girl walk behind him, and bend to her knees.Â
It wasn't until she touched the cuffs that kept his hand bound behind the chair he hadn't moved an inch from since he was captured, he buckled reflexively.
''Shhh. I want help you," she said in broken English, and a thick Italian accent.
Although she was close to him, her voice sounded distant. He had to listen very closely to understand what she had just said. But when she touched his cuffs again, his body relaxed. She was either going to harm or save him. Either way, there wasn't much he could do defensively in that state.
With the keys forged specifically for this purpose, she released him from all his shackles. ''follow me,'' she said after.
He tried to stand, and almost fell to the ground as his knees buckled. Overcoming her initial shock at his height and build, she touched him, and signaled that he could lean on her.
He thought she had gone mad. Even in his state, he could crush her with his weight. Ignoring her request, he gathered all the strength he could muster, and ever so cautiously, began to walk.
They slid into the hallway in one piece. From that point, she led him towards an exit. There was no one around, because the boss had ordered everyone to disperse.
The artificial forest that graced the surrounding of the tower as it was called, became visible. She slowed down so the big man could keep up with her.
''This is where it difficult,'' she said.
Immediately after she spoke, successive gunshots saturated the air. He barely flinched, she noticed, after it went silent.
''Here, drink some of this,'' she said.
He collected the bottle of water, and chugged all of its content down his throat. He felt slightly rejuvenated. Still, he didn't speak.Â
Not even a word of gratitude. She was disappointed, but coined ahead, anyway.
Finally, they arrived at a path that led to a secret exit. She stopped, and pulled the small backpack she was wearing. ''This as far I go. Careful in border.''
Before he could say a word, she turned around, and fled through the same direction they had come from, leaving him confused.
The Buxom girl returned to the tower, and went straight to her mistress' room. She knocked once, and opened the door.
On entering the room, she found her mistress with her back turned to her, as she stared through the window.
''Did you succeed?'' Angel Thornton asked without looking back.
''I do. He free.''
''Good. You next. I have everything prepared for you and your lover's escape. Once it's---'' another successive shot fired into the air, interrupting her. She closed her eyes, and her ears, until it stopped. ''Once it's midnight, you'll leave.''
The Buxom girl ran up to her. ''I afraid. What if Hades find out?" she held, and clung desperately to her hand.
Angel's eyes briefly stared at the girls trembling hand around her. "You'll be long gone by then. Don't be scared.''
"If Hades find out, you dead.''
"As long as greed exists, Hades will not kill his only daughter who he thinks will lead him to paradise."Â
One last shot went into the air right after she spoke. As if to say, "Don't be too sure."
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