🔞SAVAGE TEMPTATION🔞💀
{. . . Loyalty and Lust . . . }
By 🌺Mayor🌺
Chapter 71💕72
By 🌺Mayor🌺
_______
NOTE: THIS STORY IS SIGNED, SO STAY THE F^CK AWAY IF YOU'RE HERE TO COPY 🧐
GHOSTING IS NOT ALLOWED. DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU DON'T FIND THIS PAGE TOMORROW.
ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ
*RAGE✷
____________
The silence in the room was defeaning, shrouded with tension.
“I’m not your enemy, Carlos,” Taylan finally said cautiously.
“You killed John Harper. You exposed Kyla’s identity on the dark web. And here you are claiming you’re not my enemy? You want to know what I think about that? Let these cuffs loose.” Carlos raised a brow.
“Carlos, I… I know I’m shit.”
“You work for the Serpent.”
“No.” Taylan shook his head. “It was my twin brother who was involved. When he was killed along with my parent, a French woman showed up with ‘evidence’ that John Harper did it. I was depressed, messed up, blinded by anger. All I wanted was revenge. And she gave it to me. If I helped her.”
Carlos gave a humorless chuckle. “Bullshit.”
“She gave me the title my twin carried. The Whisperer. Since I wasn't as skilled a hacker, she assigned me small tasks. I found John and his daughter… and I started my revenge. After exposing Kyla, I sabotaged John’s car. Cordelia covered every track of mine.”
Taylan swallowed. “But when I later found out John wasn’t the one who destroyed my family… I felt worse. And Kyla. Meeting her, getting close. It ruined me more. I fell in love with her. And then I realized she looked at you the way she never looked at me.”
Carlos laughed. Soft at first, then louder until his throat ached.
“Bastard. You little sad story doesn't wipe the stain off.”
“I saved your life. Cordelia doesn’t know I turned my back on her, so you need me to find her. I don't know why she used me to kill John but I'm deeply sorry for that. Cordelia is far more dangerous than Fred Viper. More than you think.”
“And how do you know all this?” Carlos asked, voice flat.
“From my brother’s files,” Taylan said quietly. “Cordelia killed Daisy. The hacker, Jayden. And she'll kill many more if we don’t stop her. After this, after we save Kyla, you can torture me, kill me, whatever you want. I don’t care. I just want her safe.”
Carlos’s eyes darkened. “You’ve been Cordelia’s ears this whole time. What else do you know?”
Taylan hesitated… then exhaled. “They’re going to use her as an experiment. They want to make more women like her.”
A soft crack echoed as Carlos disconnected a thumb.
“Like her?” he asked quietly.
“Her condition. They want humans who obey without force.”
Carlos’s jaw ticked. Dangerous and slow, and the next second, he was freed himself from the cuff. He launched at Taylan, fist slamming into his throat, then his jaw, then his ribs. Groans echoed the space.
Taylan didn’t fight back, only defended the critical hits, but Carlos’s blows were meant to end him.
When Taylan’s consciousness started slipping, Carlos dragged him up by the collar, face carved with fury.
“Any last words?”
Barely breathing, Taylan wheezed, “Tell Kyla… I’m sorry.”
Carlos grinned, slipping his fingers back into the cuff, preparing the final blow. “I’ll gladly deliver that.”
“STOP!” Michael yelled from the door. “Don’t kill him!”
Raymond appeared behind him. “RED, calm down. He’s the only one who can lead us where Cordelia is.”
“We’ll find her our way,” Carlos snapped. “I’m not trusting the asshole who killed John.”
“Yeah, but we’ve got to take the risk,” Michael said. “Cordelia has Kyla. Are you planning to let her stay in the Serpent’s hands for months? It’s risky—hell, it’s stupid—but we need this bastard. Raymond couldn’t have saved you without him.”
“Oh, am I supposed to lick his ass and say thank you?” Carlos growled. “You know he did more than kill Harper.”
“They found the hunter territory.”
Carlos froze. “What?”
Raymond sighed. “Three days ago. One of us spilled the location to save his pregnant wife and son. Cordelia is sneakier than her father ever was. We need every hand we can get.”
Carlos’s fists tightened. He released the cuff and stood, limping out of the room. Raymond followed; Michael stayed behind, crouching beside Taylan, handing him a pack of ice.
“Told you he’s sensitive about John. Watch your tongue next time or you’ll end up in his den,” Michael muttered. “Those teeth you lost aren’t growing back.”
He ordered the guards to lock Taylan up, then went to find Carlos. Sitting in front of the system, glasses on.
“The place Taylan mentioned doesn’t exist,” Raymond said. “The men searched. Nothing.”
“It’s like the hunter territory,” Carlos muttered. “But deeper. More hidden. Only someone who’s been there can lead us.”
“You need to heal first,” Raymond warned. “That wound required a whole day of surgery. Any more tearing could kill you.”
Carlos’s breath grew ragged. He pressed the button on his glasses again and again, but nothing happened.
His fingers dug into his hair. He ripped the glasses off as his head pounded violently. Every time he pictured Kyla being taken while he lay helpless, something inside him broke.
With a roar, he punched the monitor. Glass shattered, cutting his skin. He threw the keyboard across the room and punched the table until his knuckles almost cracked.
Then he paced like a raging animal.
“Easy,” Michael whispered.
“Easy?” Carlos rasped. “They took Wilding. They took my girl. And this is all my fault! What if they’re hurting her? What if they do something that would destroy her?”
"We'll find her. No matter what" Raymond assured.
He stopped mid step and then stormed out of the room.
He reached Taylan’s cell and slammed him against the wall, ignoring his own blood dripping.
“You better make this mission fast,” Carlos growled, voice low and lethal. “Listen carefully. I will tear this world apart if I don’t find my girl. You have no idea how much anger I’m holding in. I don’t care who we destroy. Family, friend, stranger. Everyone who had a hand in taking my woman from me will burn.”
~~~~~~
KYLA
Kyla paced the room, fingers clenched, palms sweating, breath shaky. It had been a week since she woke up locked inside the room she suddenly found herself in.
The last thing she remembered was the violent blast, then everything went blank.
She knew this was not Carlos's doing. He would never lock her up. Which left her with only one conclusion.
She was in the Serpent territory. Cordelia had her. And if she did, was Carlos even alive?
Kyla exhaled slowly. He better be alright or she was going to lose her mind.
Meals and water were slid in through the lower door opening. Kyla always sniffed them first to check for anything strange.
The first rule Vee taught her was to save her strength and stay calm. If she wanted to escape, she needed her energy. Her gentleness would also make the enemies lower their guard.
Finally the door opened. A bald man stood at the entrance and signaled for her to follow. Kyla did so without question. Cordelia must have sent for her.
There was no natural light slipping in, so this was definitely an underground facility.
Kyla followed the bald man through a long stretch of hallway. She tried to appear calm, but her heart was pounding harder with each step.
The man stopped at a door, entered a code, and it hissed open.
Inside was Cordelia.
A French song filled the air while Cordelia smoked lazily.
"My darling daughter," she said, rising to her feet. "How has the treatment been so far?"
"You are terrible at receiving guests."
"Oh dear, I am sorry it took a week before I came. I have been busy. Paperwork, talks, other businesses."
"You mean ruining people's lives. Do you not feel any remorse?"
Cordelia placed the cigarette in the ashtray and signaled the bald man to leave.
"Remorse. For whom?" she asked. Kyla almost scoffed.
"You know, I expected a lot whenever I wondered what kind of woman my mother would be. I imagined someone kind, someone wonderful. Someone I could admire."
Kyla stepped closer, chest tight, tears stinging her eyes. "Standing in front of you now, I am disgusted. I am ashamed. I am buried in a disappointment that will haunt me for the rest of my life."
Cordelia remained calm. "I know how you feel, darling. I was once like you. I used to yell at my father whenever he forced me to watch. I thought he was the most cruel person alive. But now that I see the world the way he did, he is my hero."
"Hero?" Kyla's voice shook in disbelief. "The man who allowed men to molest his own granddaughter. The baby you carried for months is your hero?"
"Yes, darling. He is my hero." Cordelia walked past her and picked up a bottle of wine. "Humans are more complicated than you think. Father taught me the truth. The world is built on power. Power is everything, Kyla."
"He broke you," Kyla said. "He turned you into a monster."
"He built me. One day you will understand the world the way I do."
"I do not want to."
"Oh, you are afraid."
"I am not afraid. I am disappointed in what you are."
Cordelia smiled faintly. "This world is a forest. There are hunters and there are prey. Hunters hunt. Prey gets killed. And monsters... monsters are untouchable. You need to feel it, Kyla. The world I rule. The men I command. With a snap of my fingers, anything happens. I want to give that to you. You are a Viper. You belong here."
Kyla's vision blurred with tears as Cordelia approached.
"It will be alright," Cordelia whispered. "Come with me."
Kyla clenched her fists but followed.
They entered an elevator that took them further down. When the doors opened, Kyla's face went pale at the sight of the facility.
Bright white lights shone harshly. People in white coats moved around with mechanical precision, their faces blank. Their attention was fixed on clipboards or on the trembling humans trapped behind glass panels.
Some captives were strapped to beds, wires attached to their heads and arms. Others sat curled in corners, eyes empty, like their souls had already left.
Kyla's stomach twisted. This was worse than anything she had imagined.
"Beautiful, is it not?" Cordelia asked.
Kyla glared at her. "Beautiful? This is a slaughterhouse disguised as science."
"This is growth," Cordelia corrected. "Evolution. Everything here has purpose."
"You are torturing them."
"They are sacrifices for the betterment of the world. It will take time before you understand and I will guide you."
"I want to leave," Kyla said, each word sharp. "I hate you. You are terrible. You call this evolution. You are not a god, Cordelia Viper. You are a woman who has lost her mind."
Her voice echoed. Several doctors looked up.
"All of you," Kyla shouted at them, "these are human beings. Imagine yourselves in their place. You are all disgusting!"
Cordelia did not flinch. Her lips curled, enjoying the chaos.
"I am my own god," she replied.
Kyla sensed movement behind her. Someone reached for her arm. She reacted instantly, grabbing him and flipping him over her shoulder. She snatched the dagger from his belt and positioned it against Cordelia's neck.
Men closed in, weapons raised.
"Stay back or I will cut her," Kyla warned.
Cordelia chuckled.
"You think I cannot do it?" Kyla pressed the blade closer, though it did not draw blood.
"I think you are too slow," Cordelia said.
In a flash, Cordelia reversed their positions. Kyla gasped as Cordelia jabbed a sedative into her neck.
The effect was instant. Her vision blurred.
No. No.
She tried to fight, but her limbs were already failing. Darkness took over.
When she woke, the steady beep of a machine filled her ears. A man in a white coat hovered over her.
Cordelia sat beside him, and panic surged through Kyla.
She tried to move and realized she was cuffed to the bed. Her gaze snapped to Cordelia.
"What are you doing to me? Let me go!"
Cordelia rose and walked toward her. Kyla's stomach twisted as the woman stroked her hair.
"It will be over soon."
"Are you turning me into a lab rat? And you call yourself my mother."
"Your condition is very rare. The only one that has succeeded out of all our attempts."
Kyla flinched as the doctor touched her waist. She shot him a deathly glare.
"This is what we need from every subject. You are the foundation of our new line."
"You are sick," Kyla yelled.
"I am going to treat you. I am going to give you your greatest desire."
Kyla frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Your condition. I can make you normal. You want that, do you not? To feel a man's touch like any woman."
Kyla's chest rose sharply. "I do not trust you. And I am fine the way I am. I am fine with Carlos. I do not want your help."
"That is your body speaking. You want to stay this way because Carlos is the only one who can touch you. He must have told you that no other man should have you. That is why you resist. He is controlling you."
"No. This has nothing to do with that. I love Carlos. I love him!"
"Love does not exist."
"Yes, it does!"
Cordelia did not argue. She simply nodded at the doctor.
He rolled a cart closer. Kyla's eyes widened at the electrical equipment.
"We are going to change your body's memory. You will no longer flinch to any man's touch... Well... except one. His would be forbidden."
Kyla's voice broke. "What do you mean except one?"
Cordelia's smirk was all the answer she needed.
"No," Kyla whispered. "You cannot do this."
"See you later, darling," Cordelia said, leaving the room.
“No!” Kyla screamed as the doctor moved closer. “Don't do this!”
“Let me go!”
“Let me go!”
“Noooo!!!!!”
~~~~~
~Paris~
Chelsea shut her novel with a deep sigh.
“Mom, we should go back.” She shot a look at Helen, who was cooking.
“She will answer. Relax, Chels.”
“Relax?” Chelsea snapped. “It’s been over a week and Kyla hasn’t responded to my texts, which is so unusual. Three days is the maximum we ever go without talking, and now not only do I feel something is wrong, she has never been like this.”
“It’s probably the clinic she’s trying to set up,” Helen said calmly. “I have a friend who went through the same process and barely had time for anyone for a month.”
“Mom,” Chelsea said sharply as she stood. “We’re her only family. Aren’t you at least a little concerned?”
“I am concerned. I just don’t think going back is the next option. Call Mike.”
Chelsea groaned softly. “Look, I understand you’re not completely over what happened in New York, but how about we leave the past in the past and focus on finding a way to communicate with Kyla, because I’m freaking out.”
Chelsea dialed Michael’s number for the umpteenth time. It rang out. She tried again. And again. Then unexpectedly, the call connected.
The last time she tried this, his line disconnected. But this time, his voice came through.
“Babe… I mean, Chels. This is not a good time right now. I’m kind of in the middle of something, and I’ll get back to you once I’m done.”
“Wait!” Chelsea shouted before he could hang up. “Why are you in such a rush after ignoring my calls and texts for days?”
“I’m sorry. Just… busy.”
“Okay, just tell me one thing. Is Kyla okay? I’ve been calling her guardian’s number forever, and he isn’t picking up either. Please tell me what’s going on.”
“Uh… nothing. Nothing, I promise.”
Chelsea’s brows furrowed. The line went dead before she could say anything else.
“What did he say?” Helen asked as she joined her in the living room.
“He lied.” Chelsea narrowed her eyes and looked up at her mother. “Michael hums when he lies. That means something is happening. We have to go back.”
Helen pressed her lips together.
“If you don’t want to go back to New York, fine. I’ll go alone,” Chelsea added.
“No,” Helen said firmly, grabbing her phone. “There’s no way I’m letting you go back there alone. I’m coming with you. I’ll book a flight.”
The doorbell rang.
As Helen went to answer it, Chelsea’s phone buzzed again. Michael was calling.
“You need to get out of there,” Michael said urgently, mentioning a location. “Go there with your mom. You’ll meet someone. He’ll keep you safe.”
“What do you mean, keep us safe? Is this one of those dangerous stunts you pull?”
“Chels, I don’t have time to explain right now. I promise I’ll explain later.”
Chelsea’s gaze shifted to Helen as she let a strange man into the house.
“And listen carefully,” Michael added. “Anyone with a dragon tattoo is dangerous. Do you understand?”
Chelsea blinked, still staring at the man now speaking politely with her mother. She noticed the way his eyes swept the room.
“Chels?”
“Yeah… yeah. I understand.”
“Good. Stay safe.”
Chelsea closed her eyes for a moment, trying to convince herself this wasn’t a dream. Then she exhaled and approached the man.
“Chels,” Helen said cheerfully. “Mr. Brooklyn sent a chauffeur to bring us over for the dinner he invited us to.”
“Oh, he really shouldn’t have,” Chelsea replied. The man smiled. He was tall, with a faint French accent.
“What’s your name?” Chelsea asked, extending her hand.
“Paul,” he said simply, shaking her hand.
“Okay, Paul. We’re not ready yet. I hope you don’t mind if we change first.”
“Not at all.”
“Have a seat,” Helen said brightly. “Chelsea, bring some water for our guest.”
Paul nodded and sat on the couch.
“I have a question, Paul,” Helen said. “This dinner was supposed to be tomorrow. I already made dinner for tonight.”
“Mr. Brooklyn decided to move it to tonight. You can call him to confirm.”
Helen looked surprised.
Chelsea smashed the bottle over his head.
“Oh shit!” Helen screamed. “Mother of Christ! Chelsea! What in the world—”
Chelsea grabbed the man’s wrist and murmured, “Dragon tattoo.”
“Okay,” Helen said, panicked. “What is going on?”
“They’re bad guys,” Chelsea said quickly. “Michael warned me. We need to go, Mom, before more of them show up.”
“Bad guys? What are you talking about?”
Chelsea didn’t answer. She dragged her mother out of the house.
When they reached the location Michael mentioned, a man was already waiting, exactly as he’d described.
Chelsea swallowed hard.
Whatever was happening, she desperately hoped Kyla was safe.
~~~~~
~New York~
Kyla gasped awake from a nightmare.
For a moment, she thought she was blind. The light grated against her skull, forcing her to wince. Slowly, her vision adjusted.
She was in a room, bright and empty.
She wore a simple gown with blue dots, the kind patients wore in hospitals and it was soaked in her sweat.
As memories of the nightmare resurfaced, her hands flew to her hair and tears spilled down her cheeks.
She had begged them to leave her alone. Her screams. Her pleas. They meant nothing. They broke her until darkness swallowed her whole.
Shivering, she curled into a corner, her gaze scanning the room.
A camera blinked red in the corner. Someone was watching her.
Kyla tried to piece together what had happened, but her memories were jumbled. All that remained was fear.
She didn’t know how long she stayed curled up, crying and breathing through panic, but she prayed she wouldn’t see those men again.
Finally, the door creaked open. A woman wearing a hat stepped inside with a man in a white robe.
Was she sick?
“Who are you?” Kyla asked hoarsely.
The woman crouched in front of her, smiling gently, pity in her eyes.
“I’m your mother,” she said softly. “Cordelia Viper.”
Kyla stared at her. The resemblance was unmistakable.
“Mom…”
“Your memories are probably a mess right now,” Cordelia said. “But I want you to know I’m not your enemy. I want to help you heal. Heal from him.”
Kyla frowned. “Heal from whom?”
Cordelia pulled out a photograph.
The moment Kyla saw it, fear carved itself across her face. Her heart pounded violently.
It was him. The man from her nightmare.
“His name is Carlos Redd.”
“He… he hurt me,” Kyla whispered, her voice breaking. “He hurt me with other men. He hurt me so badly, Mom.”
“He won’t anymore,” Cordelia murmured, stroking her hair and wiping her tears. “He will never touch you again. Momma is here to protect you. To keep you safe from monsters like him.”
Cordelia smiled inwardly.
With Kyla’s recent memories wiped and the old one that broke her changed, Carlos won't take her away any longer.
Even if he break in and save Kyla, in which was entirely impossible, Kyla won't recognize him as a man who made her feel safe.
She would always see him as a monster. The one who hurt her until she broke.
Cordelia’s eyes filled with tears.
John had stolen her daughter for twenty-two years.
Now it was her turn.
Her turn to have Kyla all to herself.
༆𝑻𝑩𝑪༆
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{. . . Loyalty and Lust . . . }
By 🌺Mayor🌺
Chapter 71💕72
By 🌺Mayor🌺
_______
NOTE: THIS STORY IS SIGNED, SO STAY THE F^CK AWAY IF YOU'RE HERE TO COPY 🧐
GHOSTING IS NOT ALLOWED. DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU DON'T FIND THIS PAGE TOMORROW.
ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ
*RAGE✷
____________
The silence in the room was defeaning, shrouded with tension.
“I’m not your enemy, Carlos,” Taylan finally said cautiously.
“You killed John Harper. You exposed Kyla’s identity on the dark web. And here you are claiming you’re not my enemy? You want to know what I think about that? Let these cuffs loose.” Carlos raised a brow.
“Carlos, I… I know I’m shit.”
“You work for the Serpent.”
“No.” Taylan shook his head. “It was my twin brother who was involved. When he was killed along with my parent, a French woman showed up with ‘evidence’ that John Harper did it. I was depressed, messed up, blinded by anger. All I wanted was revenge. And she gave it to me. If I helped her.”
Carlos gave a humorless chuckle. “Bullshit.”
“She gave me the title my twin carried. The Whisperer. Since I wasn't as skilled a hacker, she assigned me small tasks. I found John and his daughter… and I started my revenge. After exposing Kyla, I sabotaged John’s car. Cordelia covered every track of mine.”
Taylan swallowed. “But when I later found out John wasn’t the one who destroyed my family… I felt worse. And Kyla. Meeting her, getting close. It ruined me more. I fell in love with her. And then I realized she looked at you the way she never looked at me.”
Carlos laughed. Soft at first, then louder until his throat ached.
“Bastard. You little sad story doesn't wipe the stain off.”
“I saved your life. Cordelia doesn’t know I turned my back on her, so you need me to find her. I don't know why she used me to kill John but I'm deeply sorry for that. Cordelia is far more dangerous than Fred Viper. More than you think.”
“And how do you know all this?” Carlos asked, voice flat.
“From my brother’s files,” Taylan said quietly. “Cordelia killed Daisy. The hacker, Jayden. And she'll kill many more if we don’t stop her. After this, after we save Kyla, you can torture me, kill me, whatever you want. I don’t care. I just want her safe.”
Carlos’s eyes darkened. “You’ve been Cordelia’s ears this whole time. What else do you know?”
Taylan hesitated… then exhaled. “They’re going to use her as an experiment. They want to make more women like her.”
A soft crack echoed as Carlos disconnected a thumb.
“Like her?” he asked quietly.
“Her condition. They want humans who obey without force.”
Carlos’s jaw ticked. Dangerous and slow, and the next second, he was freed himself from the cuff. He launched at Taylan, fist slamming into his throat, then his jaw, then his ribs. Groans echoed the space.
Taylan didn’t fight back, only defended the critical hits, but Carlos’s blows were meant to end him.
When Taylan’s consciousness started slipping, Carlos dragged him up by the collar, face carved with fury.
“Any last words?”
Barely breathing, Taylan wheezed, “Tell Kyla… I’m sorry.”
Carlos grinned, slipping his fingers back into the cuff, preparing the final blow. “I’ll gladly deliver that.”
“STOP!” Michael yelled from the door. “Don’t kill him!”
Raymond appeared behind him. “RED, calm down. He’s the only one who can lead us where Cordelia is.”
“We’ll find her our way,” Carlos snapped. “I’m not trusting the asshole who killed John.”
“Yeah, but we’ve got to take the risk,” Michael said. “Cordelia has Kyla. Are you planning to let her stay in the Serpent’s hands for months? It’s risky—hell, it’s stupid—but we need this bastard. Raymond couldn’t have saved you without him.”
“Oh, am I supposed to lick his ass and say thank you?” Carlos growled. “You know he did more than kill Harper.”
“They found the hunter territory.”
Carlos froze. “What?”
Raymond sighed. “Three days ago. One of us spilled the location to save his pregnant wife and son. Cordelia is sneakier than her father ever was. We need every hand we can get.”
Carlos’s fists tightened. He released the cuff and stood, limping out of the room. Raymond followed; Michael stayed behind, crouching beside Taylan, handing him a pack of ice.
“Told you he’s sensitive about John. Watch your tongue next time or you’ll end up in his den,” Michael muttered. “Those teeth you lost aren’t growing back.”
He ordered the guards to lock Taylan up, then went to find Carlos. Sitting in front of the system, glasses on.
“The place Taylan mentioned doesn’t exist,” Raymond said. “The men searched. Nothing.”
“It’s like the hunter territory,” Carlos muttered. “But deeper. More hidden. Only someone who’s been there can lead us.”
“You need to heal first,” Raymond warned. “That wound required a whole day of surgery. Any more tearing could kill you.”
Carlos’s breath grew ragged. He pressed the button on his glasses again and again, but nothing happened.
His fingers dug into his hair. He ripped the glasses off as his head pounded violently. Every time he pictured Kyla being taken while he lay helpless, something inside him broke.
With a roar, he punched the monitor. Glass shattered, cutting his skin. He threw the keyboard across the room and punched the table until his knuckles almost cracked.
Then he paced like a raging animal.
“Easy,” Michael whispered.
“Easy?” Carlos rasped. “They took Wilding. They took my girl. And this is all my fault! What if they’re hurting her? What if they do something that would destroy her?”
"We'll find her. No matter what" Raymond assured.
He stopped mid step and then stormed out of the room.
He reached Taylan’s cell and slammed him against the wall, ignoring his own blood dripping.
“You better make this mission fast,” Carlos growled, voice low and lethal. “Listen carefully. I will tear this world apart if I don’t find my girl. You have no idea how much anger I’m holding in. I don’t care who we destroy. Family, friend, stranger. Everyone who had a hand in taking my woman from me will burn.”
~~~~~~
KYLA
Kyla paced the room, fingers clenched, palms sweating, breath shaky. It had been a week since she woke up locked inside the room she suddenly found herself in.
The last thing she remembered was the violent blast, then everything went blank.
She knew this was not Carlos's doing. He would never lock her up. Which left her with only one conclusion.
She was in the Serpent territory. Cordelia had her. And if she did, was Carlos even alive?
Kyla exhaled slowly. He better be alright or she was going to lose her mind.
Meals and water were slid in through the lower door opening. Kyla always sniffed them first to check for anything strange.
The first rule Vee taught her was to save her strength and stay calm. If she wanted to escape, she needed her energy. Her gentleness would also make the enemies lower their guard.
Finally the door opened. A bald man stood at the entrance and signaled for her to follow. Kyla did so without question. Cordelia must have sent for her.
There was no natural light slipping in, so this was definitely an underground facility.
Kyla followed the bald man through a long stretch of hallway. She tried to appear calm, but her heart was pounding harder with each step.
The man stopped at a door, entered a code, and it hissed open.
Inside was Cordelia.
A French song filled the air while Cordelia smoked lazily.
"My darling daughter," she said, rising to her feet. "How has the treatment been so far?"
"You are terrible at receiving guests."
"Oh dear, I am sorry it took a week before I came. I have been busy. Paperwork, talks, other businesses."
"You mean ruining people's lives. Do you not feel any remorse?"
Cordelia placed the cigarette in the ashtray and signaled the bald man to leave.
"Remorse. For whom?" she asked. Kyla almost scoffed.
"You know, I expected a lot whenever I wondered what kind of woman my mother would be. I imagined someone kind, someone wonderful. Someone I could admire."
Kyla stepped closer, chest tight, tears stinging her eyes. "Standing in front of you now, I am disgusted. I am ashamed. I am buried in a disappointment that will haunt me for the rest of my life."
Cordelia remained calm. "I know how you feel, darling. I was once like you. I used to yell at my father whenever he forced me to watch. I thought he was the most cruel person alive. But now that I see the world the way he did, he is my hero."
"Hero?" Kyla's voice shook in disbelief. "The man who allowed men to molest his own granddaughter. The baby you carried for months is your hero?"
"Yes, darling. He is my hero." Cordelia walked past her and picked up a bottle of wine. "Humans are more complicated than you think. Father taught me the truth. The world is built on power. Power is everything, Kyla."
"He broke you," Kyla said. "He turned you into a monster."
"He built me. One day you will understand the world the way I do."
"I do not want to."
"Oh, you are afraid."
"I am not afraid. I am disappointed in what you are."
Cordelia smiled faintly. "This world is a forest. There are hunters and there are prey. Hunters hunt. Prey gets killed. And monsters... monsters are untouchable. You need to feel it, Kyla. The world I rule. The men I command. With a snap of my fingers, anything happens. I want to give that to you. You are a Viper. You belong here."
Kyla's vision blurred with tears as Cordelia approached.
"It will be alright," Cordelia whispered. "Come with me."
Kyla clenched her fists but followed.
They entered an elevator that took them further down. When the doors opened, Kyla's face went pale at the sight of the facility.
Bright white lights shone harshly. People in white coats moved around with mechanical precision, their faces blank. Their attention was fixed on clipboards or on the trembling humans trapped behind glass panels.
Some captives were strapped to beds, wires attached to their heads and arms. Others sat curled in corners, eyes empty, like their souls had already left.
Kyla's stomach twisted. This was worse than anything she had imagined.
"Beautiful, is it not?" Cordelia asked.
Kyla glared at her. "Beautiful? This is a slaughterhouse disguised as science."
"This is growth," Cordelia corrected. "Evolution. Everything here has purpose."
"You are torturing them."
"They are sacrifices for the betterment of the world. It will take time before you understand and I will guide you."
"I want to leave," Kyla said, each word sharp. "I hate you. You are terrible. You call this evolution. You are not a god, Cordelia Viper. You are a woman who has lost her mind."
Her voice echoed. Several doctors looked up.
"All of you," Kyla shouted at them, "these are human beings. Imagine yourselves in their place. You are all disgusting!"
Cordelia did not flinch. Her lips curled, enjoying the chaos.
"I am my own god," she replied.
Kyla sensed movement behind her. Someone reached for her arm. She reacted instantly, grabbing him and flipping him over her shoulder. She snatched the dagger from his belt and positioned it against Cordelia's neck.
Men closed in, weapons raised.
"Stay back or I will cut her," Kyla warned.
Cordelia chuckled.
"You think I cannot do it?" Kyla pressed the blade closer, though it did not draw blood.
"I think you are too slow," Cordelia said.
In a flash, Cordelia reversed their positions. Kyla gasped as Cordelia jabbed a sedative into her neck.
The effect was instant. Her vision blurred.
No. No.
She tried to fight, but her limbs were already failing. Darkness took over.
When she woke, the steady beep of a machine filled her ears. A man in a white coat hovered over her.
Cordelia sat beside him, and panic surged through Kyla.
She tried to move and realized she was cuffed to the bed. Her gaze snapped to Cordelia.
"What are you doing to me? Let me go!"
Cordelia rose and walked toward her. Kyla's stomach twisted as the woman stroked her hair.
"It will be over soon."
"Are you turning me into a lab rat? And you call yourself my mother."
"Your condition is very rare. The only one that has succeeded out of all our attempts."
Kyla flinched as the doctor touched her waist. She shot him a deathly glare.
"This is what we need from every subject. You are the foundation of our new line."
"You are sick," Kyla yelled.
"I am going to treat you. I am going to give you your greatest desire."
Kyla frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Your condition. I can make you normal. You want that, do you not? To feel a man's touch like any woman."
Kyla's chest rose sharply. "I do not trust you. And I am fine the way I am. I am fine with Carlos. I do not want your help."
"That is your body speaking. You want to stay this way because Carlos is the only one who can touch you. He must have told you that no other man should have you. That is why you resist. He is controlling you."
"No. This has nothing to do with that. I love Carlos. I love him!"
"Love does not exist."
"Yes, it does!"
Cordelia did not argue. She simply nodded at the doctor.
He rolled a cart closer. Kyla's eyes widened at the electrical equipment.
"We are going to change your body's memory. You will no longer flinch to any man's touch... Well... except one. His would be forbidden."
Kyla's voice broke. "What do you mean except one?"
Cordelia's smirk was all the answer she needed.
"No," Kyla whispered. "You cannot do this."
"See you later, darling," Cordelia said, leaving the room.
“No!” Kyla screamed as the doctor moved closer. “Don't do this!”
“Let me go!”
“Let me go!”
“Noooo!!!!!”
~~~~~
~Paris~
Chelsea shut her novel with a deep sigh.
“Mom, we should go back.” She shot a look at Helen, who was cooking.
“She will answer. Relax, Chels.”
“Relax?” Chelsea snapped. “It’s been over a week and Kyla hasn’t responded to my texts, which is so unusual. Three days is the maximum we ever go without talking, and now not only do I feel something is wrong, she has never been like this.”
“It’s probably the clinic she’s trying to set up,” Helen said calmly. “I have a friend who went through the same process and barely had time for anyone for a month.”
“Mom,” Chelsea said sharply as she stood. “We’re her only family. Aren’t you at least a little concerned?”
“I am concerned. I just don’t think going back is the next option. Call Mike.”
Chelsea groaned softly. “Look, I understand you’re not completely over what happened in New York, but how about we leave the past in the past and focus on finding a way to communicate with Kyla, because I’m freaking out.”
Chelsea dialed Michael’s number for the umpteenth time. It rang out. She tried again. And again. Then unexpectedly, the call connected.
The last time she tried this, his line disconnected. But this time, his voice came through.
“Babe… I mean, Chels. This is not a good time right now. I’m kind of in the middle of something, and I’ll get back to you once I’m done.”
“Wait!” Chelsea shouted before he could hang up. “Why are you in such a rush after ignoring my calls and texts for days?”
“I’m sorry. Just… busy.”
“Okay, just tell me one thing. Is Kyla okay? I’ve been calling her guardian’s number forever, and he isn’t picking up either. Please tell me what’s going on.”
“Uh… nothing. Nothing, I promise.”
Chelsea’s brows furrowed. The line went dead before she could say anything else.
“What did he say?” Helen asked as she joined her in the living room.
“He lied.” Chelsea narrowed her eyes and looked up at her mother. “Michael hums when he lies. That means something is happening. We have to go back.”
Helen pressed her lips together.
“If you don’t want to go back to New York, fine. I’ll go alone,” Chelsea added.
“No,” Helen said firmly, grabbing her phone. “There’s no way I’m letting you go back there alone. I’m coming with you. I’ll book a flight.”
The doorbell rang.
As Helen went to answer it, Chelsea’s phone buzzed again. Michael was calling.
“You need to get out of there,” Michael said urgently, mentioning a location. “Go there with your mom. You’ll meet someone. He’ll keep you safe.”
“What do you mean, keep us safe? Is this one of those dangerous stunts you pull?”
“Chels, I don’t have time to explain right now. I promise I’ll explain later.”
Chelsea’s gaze shifted to Helen as she let a strange man into the house.
“And listen carefully,” Michael added. “Anyone with a dragon tattoo is dangerous. Do you understand?”
Chelsea blinked, still staring at the man now speaking politely with her mother. She noticed the way his eyes swept the room.
“Chels?”
“Yeah… yeah. I understand.”
“Good. Stay safe.”
Chelsea closed her eyes for a moment, trying to convince herself this wasn’t a dream. Then she exhaled and approached the man.
“Chels,” Helen said cheerfully. “Mr. Brooklyn sent a chauffeur to bring us over for the dinner he invited us to.”
“Oh, he really shouldn’t have,” Chelsea replied. The man smiled. He was tall, with a faint French accent.
“What’s your name?” Chelsea asked, extending her hand.
“Paul,” he said simply, shaking her hand.
“Okay, Paul. We’re not ready yet. I hope you don’t mind if we change first.”
“Not at all.”
“Have a seat,” Helen said brightly. “Chelsea, bring some water for our guest.”
Paul nodded and sat on the couch.
“I have a question, Paul,” Helen said. “This dinner was supposed to be tomorrow. I already made dinner for tonight.”
“Mr. Brooklyn decided to move it to tonight. You can call him to confirm.”
Helen looked surprised.
Chelsea smashed the bottle over his head.
“Oh shit!” Helen screamed. “Mother of Christ! Chelsea! What in the world—”
Chelsea grabbed the man’s wrist and murmured, “Dragon tattoo.”
“Okay,” Helen said, panicked. “What is going on?”
“They’re bad guys,” Chelsea said quickly. “Michael warned me. We need to go, Mom, before more of them show up.”
“Bad guys? What are you talking about?”
Chelsea didn’t answer. She dragged her mother out of the house.
When they reached the location Michael mentioned, a man was already waiting, exactly as he’d described.
Chelsea swallowed hard.
Whatever was happening, she desperately hoped Kyla was safe.
~~~~~
~New York~
Kyla gasped awake from a nightmare.
For a moment, she thought she was blind. The light grated against her skull, forcing her to wince. Slowly, her vision adjusted.
She was in a room, bright and empty.
She wore a simple gown with blue dots, the kind patients wore in hospitals and it was soaked in her sweat.
As memories of the nightmare resurfaced, her hands flew to her hair and tears spilled down her cheeks.
She had begged them to leave her alone. Her screams. Her pleas. They meant nothing. They broke her until darkness swallowed her whole.
Shivering, she curled into a corner, her gaze scanning the room.
A camera blinked red in the corner. Someone was watching her.
Kyla tried to piece together what had happened, but her memories were jumbled. All that remained was fear.
She didn’t know how long she stayed curled up, crying and breathing through panic, but she prayed she wouldn’t see those men again.
Finally, the door creaked open. A woman wearing a hat stepped inside with a man in a white robe.
Was she sick?
“Who are you?” Kyla asked hoarsely.
The woman crouched in front of her, smiling gently, pity in her eyes.
“I’m your mother,” she said softly. “Cordelia Viper.”
Kyla stared at her. The resemblance was unmistakable.
“Mom…”
“Your memories are probably a mess right now,” Cordelia said. “But I want you to know I’m not your enemy. I want to help you heal. Heal from him.”
Kyla frowned. “Heal from whom?”
Cordelia pulled out a photograph.
The moment Kyla saw it, fear carved itself across her face. Her heart pounded violently.
It was him. The man from her nightmare.
“His name is Carlos Redd.”
“He… he hurt me,” Kyla whispered, her voice breaking. “He hurt me with other men. He hurt me so badly, Mom.”
“He won’t anymore,” Cordelia murmured, stroking her hair and wiping her tears. “He will never touch you again. Momma is here to protect you. To keep you safe from monsters like him.”
Cordelia smiled inwardly.
With Kyla’s recent memories wiped and the old one that broke her changed, Carlos won't take her away any longer.
Even if he break in and save Kyla, in which was entirely impossible, Kyla won't recognize him as a man who made her feel safe.
She would always see him as a monster. The one who hurt her until she broke.
Cordelia’s eyes filled with tears.
John had stolen her daughter for twenty-two years.
Now it was her turn.
Her turn to have Kyla all to herself.
༆𝑻𝑩𝑪༆
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