On a remote island, secluded from the world, an elegant woman sat on a plush couch in the sprawling mansion's grand hall. Her figure was striking –long legs, a curvaceous silhouette, and phoenix –like eyes that gleamed with sharp intelligent and danger. Her porcelain skin glowed in the dim light, but it was her gaze, sharp as hawk's and brimming with a murderous aura, that could make even the bravest cower.
A sleek black panther lounged at her feet, purring contentedly under her hand. The room was silent save for the faint crackle of the fireplace and the soft rhythm of her stroking the panther's glossy fur. The beast was fitting companion, an embodiment of Luna herself: beautiful, silent and deadly.
"Boss", came a low, hesitant voice.
Bishop, her most trusted sub-ordinate and one of the few to earn her loyalty, stood at her side. His chiseled features betrayed a storm of emotions, his sharp eyes simmering with restrained fury. His voice, though measured, carried an undercurrent of menace. "The man we've got in the basement….He's still keeping his mouth shut. Shall we apply more pressure?"
Luna's eyes flicked toward the basement door, her lips curling into a cold, humorless smile. Her tone was calm, yet it carried the promise of violence. "Still refusing, is he?"
She rose gracefully from the couch, the panther lifting its head as though sensing the shift in her mood.
As she walked toward the basement, her heels clicked against the marble floor, each step echoing ominously. "Let's see how long his resolve lasts," she murmured, more to herself than to Bishop.
The basement was a stark contrast to the luxury above –a world steeped in blood, sweat, and despair. The air was thick with metallic tag of violence, but Luna remained unfazed as the scent assaulted her senses.
Chained to the wall like a caged animal, a man hung limp, his body trembling. His clothes were drenched in sweat, his eyes wild and bloodshot.
"Did you wet yourself?" Luna's mocking laughter echoed in the cramped space. She crouched before him, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "How pitiful".
The man's head lifted weakly, his bloodshot eyes meeting hers. His face turned ghostly pale and cold sweat trickled down his temples.
To her enemies, Luna was no mere mortal. She was a devil incarnate, a walking nightmare. Stories of her ruthlessness had spread far and wide and now faced with the source of those tales, the man's last shred of defiance crumbled.
"Uncle Dave," she drawled mockingly, crouching to meet his terrified gaz. "I want the truth. Confess now and I might grant you a painless death."
The man's lip quivered. "Boss, p-please…. I never meant –"
"Spare me the excuses," she interrupted, her voice as sharp as blade. "Do you think I'd go through the trouble of dragging you here without evidence? I know what you did." She leaned in, her voice dropping to menacing whisper. "I just wanted to hear you admit it yourself before I tear your pathetic life apart."
Her grin was devilish, her eyes gleaming with cruel delight. The man trembled violently, his words catching in his throat.
Luna straightened, brushing invisible dust off her hands. "Knight," she called out coolly, not sparing the man another glance. "Skin him alive. Use the consciousness-preserving serum I developed –I want him to feel every second of it. Then. When he's broken, feed him to the sharks."
She paused, her lips curling into an even colder smile. "Oh, and his family as well."
Hearing this Dave lost his mind and started shouting frantically "Luna, you psycho witch! I curse you to die!" he bellowed, his voice breaking into a crazed laugh. "Yes, I killed your master! I killed him because I was jealous –jealous of a weak, incompetent fool who didn't deserve the empire he inherited! He didn't have the guts to rule! So, I took what should have been mine!"
His laughter rang hollow in the damp confines of the room, his wild eyes meeting hers with a flicker of defiance. "There's your truth, Luna! What now? What will you do?" But even as he spoke, his voice cracked with desperation. "Please –leave my family out of this!"
Luna's expression didn't change. She stared at him with chilling indifference, her lips curling into a small smile. She straightened with a calm grace, her steps deliberate and controlled as she resumed her approach.
Her voice, low and menacing, echoed through the room. "Knight," She called out softly, her eyes never leaving Dave. "Make him beg for death".
Dave's bravado shattered. He thrashed against his restraints, his laughter turning into panicked screams. "No! No, please! Luna, I –"
But she was already walking away, her steps measured and deliberate. The screams followed her as she ascended the stairs, echoing in the silence like a twisted symphony. She didn't look back. She never did.
Above, the mansion's grand hall awaited, it's warmth a cruel juxtaposition to the horrors below. As Luna emerged, the panther at her feet rose and padded silently to her side. She resumed her seat, the beast curling up once more as though nothing had happened.
Luna's gaze flickered to the fire. Her expression unreadable. She had no need for theatrics. Her actions spoke louder than words, and those who dared to cross her knew one truth: the Devil always collects.