••• Zaniel •••
"You are soaked." I told Cinzel casually who was crying in the rain after being bullied as a freshman by her seniors.
"Besides, this rain can't conceal your tears." I smiled at her, turning to glimpse at her puffy face.
Whiffing, she puffed at me, "What do you want? Leave me alone." Snarling, she was about to walk away but I came after her.
"Crying alone will only make you miserable, if you want, my shoulder is free." I offered her sweetly.
Stopping in her tracks, she turned to me, "Why...?"
"Hmm. Let's see. I saw you crying and it hurt me." I grinned, wiping her tears with my handkerchief.
"You are also a senior, you must be pranking me or something." She muttered.
"I don't know about pranks but this loneliness is surely deadly, so why not accept the offer?"
I continued to smile, trying to lure her in my trap of charisma to get near her heart as per Father's orders.
"You are weird." She mumbled, looking and walking.
"Well, I am glad you stopped crying." I chuckled.
"By the way, I am Zaniel Ayle."
"Cinzel Collins."
I walked her to the bus stop, she didn't raise her head, only walked with me as I couldn't help but to stare at the irresistibly adorable shade on her nose, red from crying. Those big eyes gleaming innocence.
"Why are you looking at me like this?" She asked, finally looking up to me.
"You are very pretty."
"Hearing it from the handsome Zaniel Ayle sounds odd." She mumbled as we stopped at the stop.
"You truly are." I smiled, pinching her nose before leaving and after it, I perished the moment which ever dared to bring tears to her eyes being the guy she ever dreamed of.
That moment only she existed for me.
Not as someone I tended to manipulate rather who she is, someone I adored from time to time as a reminder she was destined to be mine...
••••••
The screeching sound of the slap echoed in my apartment, unfazed my eyes were fixed upon the ground.
"How the hell did that happen?!" My Father, Theo Ayle, shouted.
"I don't know, she was wearing the Poison Ivy's ring, I couldn't control my impulses so I was about to kill her but Prince came and saved her." I explained what happened to him again which infuriated him.
"Fuck!" He cursed, pulling his hair.
But, I ask myself was it necessary for her to pour water on our hollow home of paper? Moreover with my Uncle.
Why did Prince marry her after knowing our bond? He would never deliberately hurt me then why?
"For all these years, we were trying to get our hands on her without letting her know and This Prince came out of nowhere!" He scowled, blaming me for not paying enough heed towards her.
"This girl was the only vessel for Shadows to beat Poison Ivy. Heck not just that but to rule the underworld!"
He continued to burst his rage, cursing at me of how I could lead our Legion Shadow to top.
Sitting bitterly while I stared at my vulnerable hands devoid of how swiftly, without thinking twice I pointed the gun at her. How could I do this?
Of course my gun was empty but it was the first time I became the reason for her tear.
'How could I scare her...?' I thought sorrowfully.
"Are you listening or not?!" Father shouted. Sighing, I curled my hands in a fist and looked up to him with a dead gaze.
"She is married to Prince. Prince is invincible now. That bastard was already leading the Mafia and now he will even become the King, all of us are his slaves now." Father hissed, taking a seat, holding his forehead in disappointment and tension.
"We wasted all these years and he stole our golden bird."
"How did he know she is Cinzel Alroy in the first place?" I asked.
"He is one of the few people who knows, he saved her that day when everyone died. Prince must have come to know our plan and before we could do something he made her his."
Father gave the possible explanation but I was curious why Prince didn't make his move before.
I should have understood when he came to her High school. He told me he had some work to become undercover but in reality he was keeping an eye on me and my actions.
They were right, Prince was a master of maneuver.
"There's nothing we can do now..." Father sighed, irking me.
"Nothing has changed, Father." I told him calmly, the atrocity shining in my eye.
"We just have to whet our blade." I smirked, looking at him with a sinister aura surrounding me. That's what this man has made me, a worshiper of worldly desires.
"What are you talking about?"
"Prince has only caged her physically, It was clear from our last meeting that her heart still belongs to me... " I began to say. He raised a brow, waiting for me to continue.
"She loves me and that's all we need. Originally Cinzel is the one who is going to lead but when naturally she can't, Prince has to do it... so why not teach Cinzel to become... what 'I' want ?" I smirked maliciously, telling him about my intention.
He listened, trying to comprehend my words and spoke up, "Do you think it will work? Prince wouldn't even let you near her."
"Don't Worry, I have my ways But if Prince hadn't brainwashed her then I can still make place in her heart."
A suppressed laugh left my lips as I looked out of the window, watching the sun setting.
The next day, the news spread like fire that Prince married My fiancée. My Mother was absolutely furious. She was the eldest sibling.
"I don't understand why we don't tell everyone she is Cinzel Alroy." I asked Father.
"Because if He came to know his sister is alive and involved in the dark world- all of us would be dead. For hiding her in the first place." He told me nonchalantly as we entered the lift.
"Is he that dangerous?" Father nodded in response and then smirked darkly in return.
"Ever heard of Plague Doctor?"
My eyes widened in appall, jaw dropping to hear Cinzel was his sister.
"T-that demon?" I asked hesitantly and he nodded impassively. The mastermind, the strongest, number one Ace of the underworld...
Nathaniel Alroy a.k.a Plague Doctor.
"He controls black market from the shadows, from human auctions to the prices of stolen diamonds, it's all been decided by him. He believes Cinzel died along with Valencia." He explained.
"I don't get it, if he was that controlling why didn't he claim the throne? He is the heir after all."
Father chuckled emptily, "His devilish mind works beyond dictatorship. Doing this exposes threats. He only exists, no one knows how he looks or where he is except a few of course."
"You do?" I asked, curious.
"Of course, He gave us orders through his man De Villiers and we must obey. We are his fucking slaves."
Father explained with a dry chuckle and I was just stunned by this villainous family, they gave birth to monsters...
And an archangel who is searching for her path.
"Anyways, let's go home and see how your Mother is going to react. I hope she knocks some sense in her younger brother." Father laughed as we went home.
Right in the Silvester Mansion, Prince refused to come home as Mama was on a call with him and her yelling and fury could be heard from afar.
We came and she put the phone on the speaker, she didn't know Cinzel's true identity.
"I can't believe Prince you did this! How could you do this to my baby!?" She said angrily, losing her composure.
"We will talk when I come." I hate how impassive his tone was.
"No! I want a fucking answer. Why did you do that?!"
"I liked her." He replied coldly, making Mama gasp, "You can't be serious! This is wrong! Look at your age!"
"I am and keep one thing in mind from now on, Penelope. Cinzel is now the Madam of the house- she is 'my' wife. You hear it? So it would be better before making any move, all of you keep her status in your mind. I will be home soon with my wife."
With this he cut then called. I cursed under my breath and before Mama could even try to console me I stormed furiously out of the room, not apprehending why when he emphasized on 'my' it made my blood boil.
'When it doesn't affect me then why does it hurt?'