Chapter 15 - Don't Play The Game You Can't Win

"Wear the jacket. This place is no longer safe for you," Santiago said, making sure not to touch her anywhere. He couldn't believe that the woman was afraid of getting r*aped by him. He had kidnapped her, surely, but he would never touch her body without her consent. For heaven's sake, he was a villain, not a f*cking monster who fed on a woman's soul and body. Especially not Persephone Marinos. 

"No place is safe for me anymore," Persephone whispered back. "I killed your comrade. You must kill me to avenge him. Take the knife. Cut me into pieces and free me of this life. I can no longer hold any more. I'm tired, Villain." 

Santiago gripped her chin and made her look at him. Her piercing green eyes were now covered with frost. It seemed like there was no fight left in them. He wanted to break her. Make her submit to him. Yet, he couldn't bear to see her crestfallen. 

Has he gone crazy? Or was he losing his mind? Why was this woman affecting him so much? 

Persephone's eyes behold Santiago's face for the first time. He had a very beautiful face and she must agree with it. Hair as dark as a night. Lips as flawless as if they were bespoke by the God of masculinity himself. He truly was the epitome of refined beauty, masculinity, and charm all in one. Only if she wasn't a girl with lots of baggage… 

"Where is the Persephone Marino who had the guts to talk back to me? Where is the Persephone Marino who would never let the word 'death' come near her? Where is the Persephone Marino who was desperate to attain her freedom?" Santiago's questions stopped  Persephone's whimpers." Did you finally stop faking your strength?" 

Santiago's callous words worked as a balm on her damaged soul. Edward hadn't just left the bruises on her body but also her soul. His face would haunt him for eternity. If fear had a face, it would be him for her. 

"Why are you so beautiful yet your heart so ugly?" Persephone raised the question as her fingers caressed Santiago's face." Why are you called Villain when you should be called a monster? Why are you tormenting me for my father's sin?" 

Santiago caught Persephone's wrist before it could stroke his eyes. His hold on her hand tightened as she mumbled, "I can raise the questions too, Villain. But you don't have the guts to answer. The one who is masquerading to be something else, who he is not, is not me in actuality, but you," Persephone added, looking at him. "Let's not waste the moments that I'm left with arguing with you. Please end me. So, you can exact your revenge. I'm not worth the trouble at all." 

"Wear the jacket and stand up. We don't have much time until your father's dogs come sniffing you, "Santiago spoke in a bored voice. He appeared as if half-naked Persephone did not affect his resolve to not-want-to-want her anymore. 

"Aren't you going to kill me?"Persephone asked him in surprise. 

"You are more precious to me than this fool who chose to act according to his d.i.c.k," said Santiago as he caught her by her arm. 

A flash of relief ran through her. She wasn't dying. 

"Persephone Marino, not even for a second think that I'm lending down my pity to you by not killing you," said Santiago as he made her stand up. "You are important to me...for now. As long as you listen to me, your honor would be intact. You will return to Nicolas Scuderi with your chastity untouched." 

"Your threats don't scare me anymore," Persephone smiled at him as she stood up on her feet. "If anything, it makes me feel that I'm still the one who carries the power to control your destiny. You perhaps don't know me but let me tell you one thing, you unknowingly gave me the biggest hope. I now know that I will be alive for as long as I wish. You can't kill me for...now. I'm still important to you."

"Don't play the game which you can never win," Santiago warned her. 

"Who plays the game for the sake of winning?" Persephone smiled a sad smile. "I thrive on games to survive. Clearly, I need to make constant efforts to live every moment." 

Persephone zipped up the Jacket which was reaching a little over her thighs. Since she was a petite woman, his jacket was enough to cover the necessary parts. She didn't tell him that his jacket just smelled like him-- callous and wicked, luring her into the kingdom where wicked fantasies took reign of her sanity and in lieu of operating upon her reason, began functioning upon her female hormones. 

Villain-- the man who was hellbent on breaking her. But little did he know she was all shattered pieces begging to be put together. 

With a sigh,  Persephone took a step ahead, but as she was about to put forward her feet to take a step ahead, blackness suddenly enveloped her senses and she fell on the floor with a loud thud.