Chapter 24 - Bloody Sheets

"Stop crying!" Alessandro's frightening voice rang in the room and everyone stilled. They held their breaths to hear his next words. 

"It's fake," He said next and when everyone realized that Alessandro was right, they sighed in relief. 

As if at the right time, a burst of loud robotic laughter was heard in the room. It was coming from the chopped hand. 

"As always right, Don Marino. The hand doesn't belong to your sweet Bambina. But something else in the box does. Scuderi, Marino's dear son-in-law, why don't you take it out from the package?" 

Nico didn't know why but his feet walked on their own and stopped beside the package. Leaning down, he found black polythene out of the package.

Nico's body went cold when he saw what was inside the polythene. 

A white sheet with blood marks. 

Sofia who was previously calm when she had seen the bleeding heart couldn't control her tears this time. She was wrong earlier. She thought her sister was taken by her lover. But no, she was kidnapped by an evil man. 

She couldn't believe that the man r*ped her and sent the bloodied sheets to their home. 

It was proof that he had taken her virginity. And there was a tradition in their family-- after the wedding night, the bloody sheets are shown to the family as proof that their daughter was pure. 

As disgusting as the tradition sounds, it still prevailed in many societies. 

On the other hand, Sofia was blaming herself. It was all because of her. If she had told them the truth before, perhaps, her sister could have been saved. 

She was so stupid. A big idiot. 

The robotic voice began speaking again, "Oh Scuderi, I must tell you how your bride felt under me. She begged me to stop as she belonged to someone else. But you must agree that it tastes different to snatch and then taste the forbidden fruit. The sweet pus--"

Before the robotics voice began again, Nico stomped on it again and again until it was broken and silent. His face was red, anger and frustration visible on his face. He couldn't believe what his Persephone was going through right now! 

He vows that whoever did this to her would die at his hands. He would not stop until he brought his bride home and then, avenge for her honor. 

______

As initially planned by Persephone, she decided to spend the day exploring the island with Raven who was following her like a bodyguard. Yes, she was hurt by Santiago's betrayal more than she was letting herself believe. Then again, who hadn't broken her trust till now? She was too used to getting hurt that she was numb to the pain of betrayal. 

Still, she didn't regret the deal that she had made with the Villain. Now that she was exploring this paradise, she slid all her feelings aside and began to hike. She was happy! Villain's words don't affect her. She didn't care what he thought about her! Yes, she didn't care about anything at all. These were the words Persephone had been telling to herself. 

"Percy, who are you cursing under your breath?" Raven asked her. 

"Just a certain Villain." 

"He is not as bad as you think," Raven said and offered a smile to Persephone. But the latter didn't stop walking. 

"Of course, he is not as bad as I think," Persephone said, still walking ahead of Raven. "He is far more wicked and villainous than we think. I also used to believe that a man couldn't be so evil but thanks to him, all my doubts are cleared now."

"Percy---"

"Wow!" Persephone exclaimed. She was so fascinated by the scene before her eyes that she forgot that her mouth was still wide open. 

Standing on the top of a cliff, Persephone could see the vast island and the blue ocean as far as her eyes allowed her to. She could also see the different structures built over there. 

She had to agree that one had spent billions in creating this paradise. But every dollar spent there was worth it. 

"What are these structures over there?" Persephone asked Raven as she pointed in one particular direction. 

Raven seemed to have hesitated before replying to Persephone. "Those are not just structures. They are kind of mini Palaces just like the one you were living in." 

"Are they as luxurious as the one I was staying in?" Persephone asked. 

Raven nodded. "They are far more luxurious than the wing you stayed in." 

"So, who lives there? I have seen people roaming around the beach. Are they the same people who live there?"

"Percy, Boss's employees stay on that side of the island. And please, do not ask questions about what kind of work they do or demand to visit them. It's a forbidden zone for you. You are not allowed to enter that territory." 

"He said as long as I accept his deal I can go anywhere on this island. So, Raven, back off."

"Percy, just because I'm treating you differently from before doesn't mean that you can give me orders. I work on Boss's orders, not yours." 

Persephone Long stiffened, realizing her mistake. She admitted that she was impulsive. Not everyone keeps their words like her. 

So, she just nodded at Raven and kept her eyes straight. Not letting the tears that gathered at the corners of her eyes fall. 

"Look Percy, I didn't mean to hurt you," Raven said, calming her emotions. " I know you are already held here against your will. But not all captors are lucky to roam like you. You must understand that not going to the forbidden zone is good for you. Take my words seriously. Do not enter the territory you are told not to." 

Before Persephone could reply to Raven's words, a masculine voice was heard. 

"I didn't know hiking was allowed on the Island." 

Persephone veered around to find a gorgeous man standing, his hands tucked inside his jeans pocket. His dark blond hair and tanned skin were shining under the sun. This man was more attractive and handsome than any Hollywood actor out there. 

"Ah? I didn't know Villain brought a beauty to his deserted castle," the man said, an amused smile playing on his lips. 

Raven bowed in a very respectful way. "Greetings to His Majesty, the ever shining sun of our land." 

The man's eyes were still on Persephone's face who was staring at him in equal fascination and bewilderment. She blinked her eyes as Raven's words sank in her mind. His Majesty? A greeting to royalty? A freaking King? 

What should she do now? Greet him like Raven did? Or ask him if he really was a king? But what kind of King roam on an Island in jeans and shirt? And how on earth her captor was acquainted with a freaking King? 

Stop it. She took a deep breath and then stared at him with double intensity. She was an American! The proponent of the oldest democracy in the world! Of course, she wouldn't bow to him. King or not! And she was held as a captive here against her will. 

"But you are still on my land.. A greeting to your King won't hurt you, Villain's captive who is held against her will like all the captives in the world," The freaking King who was as gorgeous as Kostas Martakis (Sofia's favourite Greek celebrity) said, a playful smile dancing on his lips.