Chapitre 18: Only him

Bg Music recommendation: Play with fire by Sam Tinnesz

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Prudence did not know what fear was until this day. Fate was showing her the reason why her mother used to tell her to never offend the upper class, and if Prudence could turn back time, she would have never stayed at the dining party. But she couldn't do that and she had to face what laid in front of her.

Vincent held a gun, pointing at her mother and even though Prudence was standing a shield for her mother, Drakos was holding a gun against Abiona, which Prudence cannot defend.

Panic had set into Abiona as she stood as still as a giant rock. Her breath did not labour rather, Abiona was finding it hard to breathe under this pressure. Unlike Vincent, who had tantalisingly uncorked his gun where Prudence was left expectant of the shot to be fired, but Vincent had done nothing else; Drakos was fast with his threat. It was more like the threat that Drakos showed looked riskier than what Vincent showed.

What was this all for? Prudence thought in her head.

Remembering all the events that took place here today, she realised he had not come to bring any punishment upon her, but rather to take her away with him.

Because Vincent had taken a liking towards me! Prudence thought in shock.

She did not understand a thing, neither did her memory serve her any reason to why the Mafia King would take a liking towards her. How could she be able to survive that world if she was to be with him? It was the underworld, filled with murders and the kinds that negotiated with guns more than their tongues. Prudence would be living in constant fear if she went with Vincent.

Apart from all that, she did not want to face all politics of the Dominick family that would follow. Vincent was no ordinary man, he was still given the honour of the crown.

"You cannot do this," Prudence finally muttered under her breath. Her heart was already running miles, and she did not know how long will His Grace patiently hold the gun that was now uncorked and could shoot out a bullet.

Vincent raised one of his brows questioningly, as he had not heard her clearly. "Did you lose your voice at the sight of mere guns?" Vincent asked innocuously, as if this was a casual thing for him. Actually, he had heard her distinctly even though Prudence's voice was low, but he wanted her to speak up in her squirming voice under the fear that he was imposing here right now.

Elizabeth, after a long time of shock, reacted by placing a hand on Prudence's shoulder. She did not want her daughter to feel alone at this time.

Prudence felt her mother's reassuring hand on her shoulder, but her heart was nowhere ready to calm down. After all, who else was there to blame here other than Prudence herself. She gulped, feeling the daunting aura of Vincent fill her house. "You cannot do this," Prudence repeated her words in an audible voice this time, her ocean blue eyes met with Vincent's crimson eyes before she placed her hand on her chest to speak confidently, "I have nothing for you in my heart, I don't wish to go with you."

A crazy smile rose on Vincent's lips which twisted as he stared at the daring this girl could show even in the face of adversity. He wasn't wrong in his choice, thought Vincent.

But these kinds of people were exactly what stimulated Vincent. He loved to see people crumble at his feet when their pride was smashed. Prudence had her Pride, and she had her daring, but she wasn't a fool to not understand when to take a step back, especially when death was knocking at their door. But from where she stood, Vincent controlled everything. Just one little push, and Prudence will fall to his side.

Vincent turned to Drakos and waved his hand for him to bring the pistol down. Drakos was not sure why Vincent was backing away this easily, but he did as he was asked.

Prudence felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had not expected it to be this simple. If she had known Vincent was this understanding, she wouldn't have wasted her time being scared of the matter and rather would have told it immediately that she had nothing for him. It was surprising that Vincent asked Abiona to be spared so easily when he had tyrannically questioned Prudence's opinion by pointing his pistol at her mother.

Looking at it now, Prudence realised that Vincent had not lowered his pistol. Her eyes looked at his in concern when he slowly kept the pistol on the table.

A breath of relief escaped Elizabeth's lips first, followed by Prudence. It really had been stressful, and Prudence looked at Abiona, who was still trying to process what had happened. The girl was still scared to her bones with one hand of Drakos still around her neck that Prudence failed to notice.

When all the eyes had moved away from Vincent, he hummed and looked at Drakos.

Vincent flashed a gorgeous smile to Abiona before he chimed, speaking to Drakos, "Let the pistol be, Drakos. You can taste her blood." Prudence felt the ground under her feet slide at those words. Vincent was showing her what fear actually was by giving her short lasting freedom from it. Prudence turned with a worried look at Vincent where their eyes met and Vincent smiled at Prudence before continuing without moving his gaze away from Prudence while instructing Drakos, "Suck the girl dry."

The very next moment, Drakos bared his fang, and Abiona started sweating buckets. She had turned white in shock, and her body was almost ready to fall limp in Drakos's hold.

In seconds Drakos had sunk his fangs into the crook of Abiona's neck and she whimpered with the pricking pain that in her fear-filled state felt overbearing.

When Abiona felt her legs give up, Drakos snaked his arm around her waist and held her in place. A trail of blood trickled down Abiona's pale white skin and Prudence could feel the panic set into her. It was only yesterday that she had known about them, and the thought of the creatures of the night still haunted her. Watching one of them in action made her feet feel heavy. It seemed Vincent never had any intentions of hearing her opinion. He wanted her and he was going to take her with him today.

"No, don't!" Prudence screamed as she ran towards Abiona, trying to push Drakos away, but the man was as sturdy as a wall. "Let her go please," Prudence begged Drakos, but he continued to enjoy the blood that kissed his tastebuds right now, full of fear, and it was the perfect taste for any night creature to enjoy.

Just when Prudence thought that there was only one problem here, she heard Vincent pick up the gun back up from the table.

Prudence's head snapped back to see Vincent, who had stretched the gun at Elizabeth again, and it was frustrating. Prudence was not there to protect her mother right now and if any shot was fired, there was no saying whether they could afford to save her mother or will Vincent even let her be taken to the hospital to operate.

At one end was her childhood best friend who was getting sucked dry and stood at the mercy of a night creature and on the other end was her mother at the point of a gun.

Elizabeth stood still at her place as her traumas from her past told her not to move even an inch because there was no escape when it came to some of the high standings. This was Vincent Dominick, the man of the highest standing.

Prudence saw her mother and then her friend and how it was her important people were in danger because of her one wrong opinion.

"Please stop," Prudence said in a defeated voice. Vincent turned passively towards her, waiting for her to finish her line. Prudence could not even raise her eyes as she pleaded, "His Grace, I beg of you, please let them go. I am willing to go with you... Let me pack my stuff"

"No need for packing a load," Vincent was delighted to hear those words. He did not like people having opinions or choices that crossed his personal intentions. "Come here," Vincent extended his hand in the direction of Prudence, but she eyed it doubtfully. When she gingerly stepped ahead and placed her hand in his, Vincent tugged her slightly, letting her know that she was coming with her own choice. "You can let go of Lady Abiona," Vincent ordered Drakos, and Drakos pulled back before licking where he had taken a bite.

Abiona felt her nerves tingle, and Drakos was kind enough to let her have a seat on the chair behind them. She had lost enough blood for her to feel weak for the next two or three days.

Prudence had her eyes fixed on the ground as she felt that Vincent's hand was warm to touch. For someone so cold-blooded like him, he sure had a certain charm and warmth to him. She turned behind one last time, where Elizabeth was now beside Abiona, making sure the girl didn't lose consciousness. "Please take care, mama," Prudence said, and this had Elizabeth stand up from beside Abiona and walk to her daughter cautiously.

When Elizabeth stepped closer, Vincent let go of Prudence's hand, knowing she needed to offer a proper goodbye.

Prudence hugged her mother tightly, burying her face into her shoulder, "don't worry about me and don't forget your meals. I will try my best to come back as soon as possible." Vincent wasn't happy to hear the last words. There was no need for Prudence to come back. He wanted her by his side. Elizabeth rubbed her daughter's back with care, as if this would be the last time she did that. Prudence pulled back and smiled at Abiona, "Abi, please look well after my mother"

Abiona could not return the smile. She felt like she had failed to stand by her friend's side and protect her. It wasn't that she hadn't tried her best, but she was not the best in the room and that is why her words had meant nothing to His Grace.

"Of course, Prudence," Abiona spoke dryly, "Aunt Elizabeth is like my mother as well." She stared at Prudence for a long moment before saying, "I will be waiting for you."

Vincent, who was trying to hold back now, really could not take the thought that there were people out there who wanted Prudence more than he did. Elizabeth was Prudence's mother, while Abiona was a good friend of hers and Vincent was only giving them this moment because it was important to Prudence. He could surely give them some alone time, but who knew when they would let Prudence escape from the back door. Not that it would make any difference.

"Come, Prudence," Vincent commanded. His temper was ticked off by watching all three of the ladies in the room wished for Prudence to make it out of Vincent's care.

Prudence did not think a lot this time. It was true her strength came from what she wanted to protect, and so she was strong right now. If her going away with Vincent warranted for her loved one's life, then she would go ahead even to the hell's door to make sure they kept safe. Prudence place her hand in Vincent's once again as he led her out of her own house. Prudence took a last look at her mother and said to Vincent in an apprehensive tone, "she will be left all alone. I don't want her to work."

Vincent was pleased to hear those words from Prudence. She had indirectly asked for a favour from him, while in reality, Prudence wished he would have some heart to let her stay back.

But things yet again didn't go as she had planned. Vincent called out to Drakos and ordered, "Drakos, arrange for two maids to work for Prudence's mother here. Make sure to find kind humans that she would find easy to dwell with." Prudence's eyes snapped at Vincent in disbelief. This was not what she wanted. Something like this, even Abiona's family, would have arranged. "Is there any other problem?" Vincent asked on watching the look that Prudence was giving him.

"No, His Grace," Prudence lowered her eyes, not wanting to test the water anymore. Prudence wanted to thank him, but then she held back, thinking it was his fault and decision to begin with. She had nothing to thank when Vincent was simply taking responsibility.

"Very well," Vincent worded and passed a look at Drakos, "Get the work done by tomorrow morning."

"Yes, His Grace," Drakos bowed, accepting the order, and there was no doubt that he would not do it right. If there was one man that Vincent trust the most in the underworld, then that would be Drakos Vito.

"Shall we?" Vincent asked, and Prudence wanted to roll her eyes at this man. He was the one who had pulled a gun at her mother and almost drained Abiona's blood, and now he was asking her as if she even had a choice. She had a choice, Prudence thought in her head, and that choice was the answer which was in Vincent Dominick's favour. Rest was nothing but garbage for him.

As they walked to where the carriage was parked at the far entrance of ink road, she looked around and saw that people had gathered there. The neighbours talked about them and whispered some words that were incoherent to Prudence.

But she knew exactly what news was going to fly around the mouths of the chattering ladies of ink road tomorrow. 'Some nobleman took prudence Warrier, the daughter of a sprinter, away and now will live a life of luxury. She will probably end up as a mistress...' She had heard them flying around before when she had been with Abiona as a friend. Others had talked about how the Warrier daughter was currying favour from the political family.

But that was not all that Prudence worried about. Years ago, when they had come to settle here, her mother was labelled to have been a mistress who was thrown out, and that Prudence was rather a bastard child. It wasn't true but her mother had been enough target here.

It was going to be a tough time for her mother again. Prudence hoped everything goes fine here.

Vincent, who was already hearing the rumours that were arising because of his hearing abilities, smirked at Prudence, "You really are the talk of the town, Prudence Warrier." Prudence could not help but glare at him for a brief moment. Vincent heard how the ladies were already badmouthing Prudence out of their own envy, but he did not care. He just wanted to look at Prudence and let Prudence look at only him.