Chapter 10 - Breaking The Marino Princess

Persephone closed her eyes tightly as if awaiting the pain to come but she didn't feel anything for a long time. Yet, she awaited for it.

She figured out she had crossed a certain limit by mocking the Alpha of the pack --- correction leader of the group again. She shouldn't have done it.

On the other hand, Santiago felt the itch to punch the wall behind her. Did this girl think he was going to hit her for talking back to him? Of course, he despised her sharp mouth. Yet, he didn't know why but he couldn't imagine laying a hand on an un-weaponed woman such as her. It was low for even a Villain like him. 

"We are leaving now but do contemplate why you aren't dead yet, Persephone Marino." 

The words were vicious and laced with warning...

Persephone recognized the voice as she opened her eyes. It was the same man who splashed ice cold water on her earlier. She just nodded in reply because she was too numb to react any further.The actual gravity of the circumstance was sinking in her mind like the sinking rock in the water. They didn't kill her and why? They wanted her to ponder upon it. But she had already known the answer. It was just that she refused to answer it now. 

Her gaze lingered on the retiring back of the one particular masked man-- the one with icy blue eyes who would freeze her to death, if he was given the opportunity to. She didn't know what was the reason behind his disdain and disgust for her.  

As she was about to revert her gaze, she noticed that one among them was staring at her body too indecently. She felt exposed, ashamed and even helpless. 

Her skirt was torn as it was too difficult for one to handle. His gaze trailed from her milky legs to her stomach and then settled at her breast. She wanted to run away or hide far from these men. But where could she go? All the paths to her freedom were sealed. It had been sealed a long time ago.

Another man's voice rang and the pervert backed off his eyes from her body but not before licking his lips creepily. Persephone had never felt more relief than she had in this moment. 

However, she knew it wasn't over for her yet. 

As long as she was held hostage by these men, she wouldn't be safe. 

She didn't fear her death but she did fear falling prey to the hunger of these starving men.

Once she had watched a movie with Sofia, her sister, the heroine who was playing the role of a queen willingly stepped into the fire as she didn't want to be held as a slave or worse getting raped by the men who were eyeing her body. She chose to turn into ashes willingly rather than let herself get raped by the multiple men. 

She never understood that heroine more than she did today. 

Hugging her knees, she silently sobbed. Earlier, she refused to let tears ooze from her eyes. She wasn't weak. She would fight for herself. She would resist the game fate was trying to play with her. She was strong. Yes, she was strong.

"If Papa fulfills their condition, they will let me leave this hellhole. I'll go back to my family and then I have to marry Nico again. If Papa doesn't fulfil their condition, God knows what torment they will inflict on me. I do not know what's worse. Marrying Nico or being held as a captive?' 

'God, please help me. I never asked you for anything. I passed the biggest trials of my life. Why must you keep on testing me at every phase of life?' 

_____

" What were you doing behind, Edward?" Santiago raised the question as Edward or the fifth masked man who was previously ogling Persephone's sexy body. 

Edward had to admit that the Marino princess had an ass he would die for. Since she was here, why not he...

"Villain asked you something, Edward," Callum spoke as he saw Edward in daze. He had noticed earlier how he took more time in the dungeon than them. 

Edward looked at Santiago and said in his signature voice, "I was making sure that she didn't try any stunt. Who knew if she would try to kill herself? If she did something like that, your plan would go awry, Boss." 

Everyone who had seen Santigao's face called him 'Villain' not by his name. It was because they weren't aware of his real name. To all of them, he was Villain. It was his name, fame and game. 

"You don't have to concern yourself with her well being, Edward," Santigao spoke, the Italian in his accent became more clear. His indifferent gaze settled on Edward's face rather intensely. " You are supposed to only bring food to her. Do not enter the place for any other reason. As for killing herself? She won't die. She doesn't have inside her what it takes to kill herself." 

Edward bowed his head and left as he saw Nash gesturing him to leave. 

"Get Russo to tend to Marino princess. Edward must not go near her again," Santigao said before leaving the room...

Women like Persephone were the reason for the downfall of the dynasties.Their bewitching beauty as their ultimate weapon could pierce any shield in the world.

He couldn't afford Persephone to cause a fracture in his motherhood. It was better if no one came closer to her. He was sure of that. 

And he was sure of one more thing-- she would never commit suicide. Like he said, she not only faux her bravery but her cowardice too. 

She had the blood of Alessandro Marino running in her veins. Thus, it was enough of a proof that the woman would fight to survive the greatest test she would be going through. 

However, he would make sure she broke before him.