Chapter 19

Adrian....

Maria Waterfalls is quite annoying for being a gangsta lady. But I have managed to deflect her advances for the most part of the evening.

Keep calm, Black. The evening is coming to an end, you only have to tolerate her for a few more minutes.

The other guests around the table keep gawking at me in astonishment but whenever I turn my head to meet their eyes, they shift away and look at everything but at me.

It's really infuriating.

I'm holding on to my self-control by a thread now.

I don't know why they are acting so strangely. My presence here is not such a big deal. I had stopped coming here a long time ago, but that didn't mean that Carson stopped sending me the invitations. I would always decline his invitation with a formal statement and a half-hearted apology.

But still, he isn't staring at me like I'm a different species.

I tune them out of my mind and go through the next phase of my plan inside my head. My eyes roam down the table, to the empty seat where Balthazar was sitting just a few minutes ago. I know why he excused himself and walked up to the stage and disappeared behind the drawn curtains.

It's time.

It's her turn now.

I'm going to claim my Esclave as mine today, in front of everyone.

Nobody can stop me now.

My heart is thrumming with excitement and my mind is set on my goal. I can't stop fantasizing about her. I just hope that Balthazar has kept her safe and sound with him, or he'll have hell to pay for causing any harm to her.

Control yourself, Black!

You can't get all worried about a girl, damned you!

Think about your reputation!

By the time, Balthazar is back on the stage as a representative, my subconscious has beaten out the excitement from my system.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you've all enjoyed yourselves tonight.” Balthazar greets everyone, his voice personified by the speakers to be heard by everyone. “And the invaluable treasure I have brought for all of you here today, will give your evening the best ending imaginable.”

The overhead chandeliers dim down, scarcely illuminating the room and casting dark shadows around the corners. I can only make out the dark silhouette of Balthazar, who's standing on the edge of the stage right now and the curtains behind him are being pulled apart, to reveal what's on the other side of the stage.

A hush falls over the crowd as everyone goes silent in their seats with shock and surprise.

The whole stage is immersed in darkness, even the paneled ceiling above the raised platform is not visible. But right in the middle of the stage, a number of lit candles are arranged in a circular pattern. Inside the circle, the floor is covered with blood red petals of rose, which glow under the soft light of the candles.

And in the center of the circle of candles and scattered petals, there's my Esclave…. Who appears to have stepped right out of a majestic portrait from the 16th century.

She's perfectly still, standing with her feet slightly apart, her hands raised over her head and tied together with a strip of red silk. The strip is connected with a long rope which goes vertically up towards the sky and disappears near the ceiling, swallowed by the darkness.

Her eyes are casted down, in the universal sign of submission.

My breathing stops as my eyes take in the sight of my Esclave in the most ancient form of Bondage.

Is this the same small and skittish girl I had seen back in Balthazar's basement? Is this the same weak but courageous girl who had dared to slap that merciless Mafia?

Her fragile but flawless body is covered with designer black lace, the dark outlines of her strapless bra and black panties is perfectly visible under the see through material. She's totally nude, except for her underwear and the lace gown is barely doing anything to hide her pale skin from my view. I'm completely awestruck. I never knew that beauty existed in darkness too.

Dark Beauty…. That's the only thing I can think of right now, to explain that dangerously alluring girl, who's the centre of my attention.

She looks like a Goddess….

I don't think I could have thought of a better scene to create around her. The dark atmosphere with glowing light is complimenting her in such a sensual manner that it's hard to take my eyes off of her. It's bringing out the true meaning of beauty in the darkest and somehow, the purest form. I knew at first sight, she's not some usual girl…. She's something really very special, unique and…. utterly bewitching.

Am I even worthy enough to hold this delicate but sensually ferocious flower in my palms? Is anyone present here tonight, even close to deserving her?

I don't think so.

“Oh. My. Fucking. God. Who the hell is that creature!?” Maria's astonished voice breaks me out of the spells and for some inexplicable reason, my lips quirk up in the corners.

“She's stunning…. I am going to have her.” Tax Maclaren, the American Underground Mafia who's sitting down at the table, right beside Maria, speaks up with a ridiculous amount of confidence in his voice.

“No shit, man. But that much confidence is not good. She's the most enticing thing I have ever seen in my life. I'm ready to give up my everything to make her my queen. Balthazar is an idiot. Instead of keeping her for himself, he's selling her! Fucking Moron.” John O'connor speaks up from his seat on my left side and no matter the circumstances, I have to agree with him.

Balthazar is, indeed, a fucking moron. He's letting her slip out of his hands so easily.

I think about that for a while. Is Balthazar really going to let her go, just like that? Actually, I'm having a hard time believing that. Based on his past actions, there has always been an ultimatum behind his every move. You don't get where he is today without big sacrifices, great planning, quick executions and corruption. A moron can never reach the heights he has and even if somehow manage to get there, it's impossible for a real moron to maintain the level of his position or take it higher.

Balthazar is up to something really big…. Something so big that even I can't guess his intentions. He's managed to maintain himself ahead of me this time and the thought is really very unpleasant and irritating.

Suddenly, I'm really glad that I brought my force with me tonight. Once I am out of here with my Esclave safely, then I'll think about Balthazar's real intentions.

“I'm surprised to know that Balthazar isn't keeping this jewel for himself.” Maria's suspicious statement slams me back into reality and an intense urge to prod her for some answers starts gnawing at me.

But refrain from opening my mouth. I am already considered another species by everyone, I don't want them to declare me an alien now. I wisely keep my mouth shut and avert my eyes back to the Irish girl but this time search her face and body with shrewd eyes, instead of gawking at her like a creep.

She looks alright, no scars or scratches. Her hands are gloved and her head is bowed down so it's hard for me to inspect that area but all in all, it does not look like she has been abused in any way.

“And now that you have seen the treasure, let's begin the bidding.” Balthazar announces and takes his place behind the podium and begins the bidding.

Tax McLaren jumps in head first, stacking one thousand pounds, thinking that he's got this all in his control. I smirk and wait patiently for John O'connor to say his price.

In all honesty, I'm very disappointed to find them making such deals for her. She's an invaluable asset, nobody can afford her. But who is going to explain that to all these idiots? At least, they are trying and showing more interest in her than they showed in other girls on the stand-alone sale.

When the last amount is said and there's no further attempts at raising the stack, I decide to move in. Scrapping my chair against the floor, deliberately, to get everyone's attention, I stand up from my seat and button up my coat before walking around the table to the front.

And before Balthazar can seal the price, I step in, quietly and confidently. “One Billions.”

The entire room goes silent, all the heads snapping in my direction like a whip and I feel more than a hundred pairs of curious, shocked and surprised eyes burning holes in my back. I turn around, slowly, taking me time and driving them crazy with anticipation.

When my body is fully turned around, I skim my eyes over the cluster of people and meet everyone's eyes. I stop when I reach the end of my table, where The Great Carson is sitting. I meet his eyes with a single brow raised, challenging with my eyes to beat me and take her in front of me.

Carson is leaning forward in his seat, his elbows propped up on the table, his fingers clasped under his chin and the expression on face impassive. He's studying me with silent appreciation in his eyes. A smirt tugs on his lips when I raise both of my eyebrows, taunting him to accept the challenge.

We continue trying to stare down the other in defeat and at last, Carson lets out a deep hearty laugh and looks away but not down before giving me a nod and tipping his invisible hat in my direction, in a manner of wishing me luck.

I let out a smug smile as my confidence reaches another level. “Anyone else, who would like to try?”

Everyone remains quiet but their eyes never leave my face.

Satisfied, I turn around and stride towards the stage without wasting another second. “Balthazar, you may start the countdown. I just need to see her for myself, to be certain that she's in perfect condition.”

The dark beauty's eyes are still downcast but she has started trembling now. She's scared, the irrational amount of negative energy radiating out of every single cell of her body, is only attracting me more towards her and heightening my excitement.

It's fucked up, isn't it?

But to tell you the truth, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I approach her, quietly and calmly, giving her time to stew in fear and anticipation of what's going to happen next, what I'm going to do with her, now that I have her. Climbing the staircase, up to the stage, I pause near the last flight to take her from this close.

Fuck! Is she stunning.

I want to do nothing more than claim her right now…. wrap her toned pale thighs around my waist and inch her higher up my body, so close and so intimately, she'll moaning under the light caress of my fingers, the torture of my lips on her sensitive skin and the promise of the kind of high, which I only I can give her. When she won't be able to take it anymore, she will beg me to kiss her, bite her, mark her, claim her and fuck her so hard, all the while wriggling her hands in the restraints to free herself. Because she'll be then dying to touch me, move her hands down my body and crave to know how to please me….

My cock interwines and twitched inside my pants in complete agreement. Now my sexual parts are responding to this stimuli too, without any foreplay. Nice….

A devilish smile plays on my lips as I command my legs to carry me forward. I can't wait to see her up close. I stop outside the circle of candles, which are about to burn out, and slide my eyes up her lace clad body. I can read the patterns more clearly now and it's fascinating. Rose…. Everywhere. The whole black lace gown has got the patterns of small black roses. The intricate hand work is so precise and delicate that the roses stand out in the dress and the pale skin peeking out through the small gaps left in between the lines only add another erotic touch to the whole get up.

Spellbound, I step inside the boundary of candles, crushing the blood red petals underneath my leather clad feet and halt right in front of my Esclave. She has refused to lift her eyes up to see me but that doesn't mean that I can't force her to look me in the eye.

I want to see her depthless eyes right now, I want to know what she thinks of me and why she's suffering so much. Her quavering hasn't stopped and in fact, it has gotten worse.

Smoothing out my frown and putting on a mask over my face, I lift my hand up to her face and trap her wobbling chin between my fingers. I tilt her head up and back, leaving her with no choice but to meet my eyes.

But she keeps her eyes squeezed shut, causing me frown in annoyance.

“Open your eyes and look at me.” I command her in a soft but authoritative voice.

She doesn't.

My jaw tightens and my fingers release her chin to slide back in her dark mane and tangle in the locks to pull it back to the point of pain. Her eyes fly open and meet mine, unbelievably wide and brimmed with pain and fear.

“That's better.” I whisper distractedly.

Damn…. her eyes are so dark, so alive…. The most beautiful pair of chocolate brown eyes that are so expressive. I can clearly see the waves of emotions clashing together inside her depths, mixing together then splashing apart, tearing her up in dual directions….

Something has happened with her…. She has lost her innocence that had caught my attention at first sight.

I've got a feeling like this all has to do everything with Balthazar.

My body tightens and my fists clench, turning me rigid in front of the soft little girl.

And without thinking about the consequences, I whisper with her scared eyes fixated on my fierce ones. “I own you now. You are my slave and I am your MASTER. You're mine. Mine to take pleasure from and mine to give pleasure to. I can break you down, tear your soul apart and shred your heart into pieces and only I can put you back together, fix up your soul and restore your heart. But most of all, I'll take care of you and protect you. Protect you from every harm and danger, protect you from your threats. You don't have to be scared of anyone now…. Except me.”