As if half of the people living in the house weren't kneeling down there, Ilay took the box from my hands and sat down facing the crowd. He said nothing, just ripped the box open and then turned it upside down for all of us to see what was inside...a small red envelope with a black wax seal that looked like a skull.

My stomach froze. The seal looked authentic. Which made me wonder if it was indeed from Ghost Skull.

Ilay picked it up from his feet and broke the seal opening it.
His fingers drew out a handwritten letter but I could not see its contents. The only relief I got was from his unchanged expression as he read whatever was written.

When he was done, he ripped it into tiny pieces in front of everyone and then tossed the pieces down the stairs, scattering them.

Argh! I really wished I had read it. Why had he done that?
"Who contacted them?" He asked looking at the people kneeling with most of their heads bowed.
A dreadful silence was the response he got.

He exhaled, running his left hand through the mass of his blonde hair. The blood was dry enough not to smear any further but still shiny. "Two fingers... Who, contacted those bastards?" His voice boomed, possessing a sharp and irritated weight.

A hand was raised and its index finger was pointing at...me.
One of the maids present was accusing me, yet she had no courage to meet my eyes. "I...I overheard h-her on the phone."

"Bring her forward," instructed Ilay, and one of the guards obeyed.

She was made to kneel in front of the others. Her fear visible through her trembling body.
"Are you sure?" Ilay questioned firmly.

"Y-yes."

"Which ear heard the conversation?"

She jerked her head up, terror turning her skin pale as the moon. There were tears in her eyes and more running down her face.
"I..."

"The right ear will do." Ilay made the decision, and two of his men hurried to grab the maid's hands and hold her head down as another stepped in, a dagger in his hand.
Gasps of terror filled the air from the others who were spectating. Even my dear sister was staring, terrified, as the maid's right ear was cleanly sliced off.

Her screams of pain cracked the tense atmosphere as blood flowed from the wound, painting her face red as well as the floor on which her head was still pinned.
"I'm sorry! They made me do it! They took my baby hostage. I had no choice." She continued screaming as pure agony overflowed her voice.
She was a victim.
But, her lies would have cost me my life if Ilay hadn't seen through the game being played.

"Oh? And who might 'They' be?" Something about his tone felt like he was having fun drawing out the players behind the chess game.

"The new maid!" She screamed. "And Miss Irina!"

My eyes immediately travelled to the two suspects and the fear widening their eyes betrayed their act.
"Drag them forward," Ilay ordered getting up.

Thinking that he'd descend and go unleash his wrath upon them, he instead, turned to me and opened his hand. "Come, let's go take care of these unruly whores."

Looking into his blue eyes and hearing those words made my entire body collapse inside. They sounded much better than any love confession, any marriage proposal, and any financial deal.
It was at that moment that the conflicting feelings in my heart settled, and I realized, I might just end up falling for him in the long run.

I smiled sliding my hand in his. And step by step, side by side, we got to the three women. Two of them were staring at us wide-eyed, and one was losing consciousness.
"How do you wish to punish them? Any method you choose, we'll carry it out," Ilay said softly, kissing my knuckles.

"Thanks." My smile and warmth towards him deepened just before letting my gaze fall on the bleeding maid.
"Send her to the hospital and have her child rescued."

The guards obeyed without needing Ilay's permission.
Damn! This felt so good. The power. The control. It made me want more.

"Aya." I grinned, releasing Ilay's hand to squat before my sister, whose mouth had been blocked by the guard's hand to shut her up just like Irina. "You've only been here for a few days. Why did you rush and make trouble again? Are you that desperate to gain Ilay's attention?" I whispered caressing her face.

She muffled wriggling but the man keeping her in place was far stronger.
"Now, where should we start?" I touched her pinky finger. "Here?" I moved to the ring finger, "Here?" Finally, I settled for her wrist, "Or here?"

She answered in muffles, tears flowing from her glaring eyes.
Had she thought that I'd say, 'Forgive her. She's my only sister'? It was clear that the punishment I was choosing wasn't what she expected.
I stood straight and faced Ilay smiling crazily. "Her hand will do."

"And this other one?" He asked shooting Irina a glance.

"Ilay, she can't be punished by our family." Milan reminded hurrying down the stairs. "This might bring a misunderstanding between-"

Ilay lifted my chin to look deep into my eyes. "How do 'you' want to punish her?"

Oh my! This psychopath of mine lived in an entirely different dimension than the rest of us. He didn't care about causing a rift between the two families. So who was I to care about the decades-old relationship?

"Three fingers," I answered. "Not just chopping them off. I want them crushed, bone and flesh until she passes out from pain."

Ilay's brows lifted as if my answer was evilly cruel. But his surprise dissolved into pride. And without any warning, he brought his lips down to mine, kissing me in front of the petrified staff still on their knees and the guards.

"Get moving!" He yelled at his men who jumped into action, taking away the two women who were now screaming louder than pigs.

Aya was begging for mercy, while Irina was threatening me.
"I swear I'll kill you Kally! I'll make your-" she was silenced by a loud slap that echoed in the hallway.

"Kally listen to me. I was forced to do it. Please don't do this! Please, Kally!"

Her screams faded in the distance before they disappeared entirely, leaving the chilly atmosphere gravely silent.
A sniff of two could now be heard, which drew my attention to the staff.

The girl who had been spying for me was among them. She had done her job diligently and had shown some loyalty.
I tore myself from Ilay and walked up to her, scaring off the others to make way without saying a word to them.

"Stand up." I pulled her, supporting her by her arms for her legs were too numb to stand on their own.

"And who is this?" Asked Ilay.

"She played an important role in all of this. She deserves an award if you don't mind."

He crossed his arms on his bloody chest while leaning on the wall bordering the stairs. "What's your name?"

"L-L-Leah."

"Why did you help Kally?"

The girl gave me a shaken look before moving it back on Ilay. "She-she... I was s-sca...red."

Her loyalty had been born out of fear for Ilay. Such an honest answer instead of stupid flattery.

"How do you wish to reward her?" His eyes were on me.

I contemplated the options in my mind, and just as I was about to speak, Leah blurted, "I don't need a reward!" She then crumbled at my feet and clung to my leg. "Please don't kill me."