Chapter 18

"You!"Paula shouted in frustration. "Are you still daring to speak like that after inbeat you up!? Do you need to die first to know who's in charge here!?"

"Stop it, Paula,"her brother touched her shoulder.

"Paul!"

"Getting emotional and killing her here won't be fun,"he chuckled cynically, leading Paula away from Carlie. "We should enjoy torturing her first. Much more than this."

Paula gasped and it wasn't because of fatigue. She was tossed around by waves of her anger. "You're right,"a smirk tugged at Paula's lips. "She can be your plaything first before her life ends. Surely you've never hesitated to demean a woman, have you?"

Carlie clenched her jaw tightly. A man who couldn't control his passion and raped women was the type of person she hated the most.

"Of course. There's a lot that can be done rather than ending it here, Paula,"Paul stroked Paula's hair gently, almost making Carlie nauseous to look at him. "But it doesn't mean we'll just let it slide for now, La."

"What do you mean, bro?"

He stepped closer, approaching Carlie, and placed his gun on her forehead. "You're right. She needs to know her place here. Who's in charge and who's not,"he snarled. "And you!" Carlie whimpered as the gun pressed tightly against her head, sending pain coursing through her skin. "You must know who to respect in times like this."

Carlie laughed. "In any situation. Anywhere. Even in front of the highest queen in the world, I'm the one to be respected,"she boasted arrogantly. "So lower your face and lick my feet like a dog."

Paul clenched his jaw. "I don't understand your way of thinking. This arrogance sounds like a roar without fangs, Eloise,"he said. "You're just giving foolish orders, when we all know here that you're the one on the edge. Doesn't that sound pathetic?"

Carlie chuckled. "On the contrary, i want to ask both of you, who and from whose devil's spawn you were born,"she said. "What makes you so sure that you're in charge now?"

Paul laughed scornfully. "Are you blind?"he asked. "You have nothing. We now have the decision on your life."

Carlie laughed. "That's why i call you stupid, dog,"she snarled. "Didn't i say i'm not here by choice? Don't you think about the meaning of my words from that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your boss. Your damn boss is the one who wanted me here,"Paul widened his eyes, surprise written all over his face.

"And my hands and feet are not tied. I'm not his captive, nor his pet. Do you still not understand from here?"Carlie grabbed the man's shirt collar and pulled him with all her might. "Both of you will learn your lesson. You've been playing with your boss's favorite guest!"

Bang!

Paul's face showed clear surprise. But soon the surprise multiplied when he heard the sound of the gunshot from his own gun. Carlie fired the gun aimed at him, then dodged, just before his head was pierced by the ammunition.

The sound of the gunshot echoed loudly throughout the room. Making everyone in the mansion able to hear its blast.

"What are you doing!?"Paula screamed loudly from behind Paul. Her brother's face looked panicked, and that made Paula feel the same way.

Now tremors were visible in their eyes. But they didn't have time to think from there.

Footsteps, unimaginably fast and powerful, were heard from outside the door and shortly after, the sound of the room door being forcefully opened echoed from there. Carlie's smile instantly widened immensely, finding a lion she managed to summon through her tactics.

Jonathan Austin was there, along with Devan. And from his eyes, Carlie could see.

'He's Jona. The Jona i know. Not Nathan. Not his brother.'

'He's the devil, just waking up from his sweet sleep.'

The woman's smile was etched wide. Full of triumph, full of mockery. "Checkmate,"she said. "My Hades has come. Let your history die, you bastards."

****

The sound of the door being opened startled the two individuals present, Paul and Paula. Both of them stared at Jona and Devan, who rushed in upon hearing the loud explosion. Jona's eyes scanned the room, trying to understand what was happening.

Carlie, injured but with a victorious smile. Paul, pale and gripping his gun tightly. Paula, gaping in shock and fear.

The small pieces of information quickly clarified the situation. It didn't take long for Jona to grasp what had occurred. Even without asking, he already knew.

Carlie Eloise. His favorite captive. Touched and harmed by someone other than himself.

At that moment, Jona's fists clenched, feeling angrier than ever before.

"Devan,"Jona's voice sounded incredibly menacing. "Take these two downstairs."

Carlie didn't understand what lay downstairs. Of course, she was new here. But evidently, it was a terrifying place. Unimaginable horror. Devan looked shocked and Paul and Paula's expressions needed no further explanation. They resembled corpses, pale with fear etched on their faces. As if they had just heard the word "death" and were about to face it.

"M-Mr. Austin, w-we didn't know she was your guest, w-we-"

"Who told you to speak!?"Jona snapped, raising his gaze. His voice was like a storm surge, a harbinger of ill omens. But fortunately, his rage was directed at the two people Carlie despised. The right targets.

'He succeeded in redirecting Jona's anger toward them.'

"Take them away,"Jona growled. "Now!"

****

"Are you okay, Madame?"for who knows how many times, Devan asked, while tending to Carlie's wounds. So skillfully, so diligently.

"I hope you shut your mouth, Devan. Frankly, ip'm tired of hearing your endless concerns,"Carlie growled, full of threat. Devan felt his patience constantly being tested. His boss was furious. The guest he had to attend to wasn't much different. Luckily, the man had long let go of his feelings.

If not, he might have screamed in frustration by now.

Ten minutes ago, right after Jona's order was issued, Devan and a bodyguard - whom Carlie didn't realize was following them before - went to take Paul and Paula away. Of course, they resisted, almost uncontrollably. But evidently, Carlie had underestimated Devan. She was surprised to find him restraining Paul, who was struggling and yelling incessantly without difficulty. Instead, Devan seemed to be handling him like a mere doll.