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TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire – Episode 51&52

(Her Blade, His Neck )

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All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

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Silence.

Dead silence filled the church, and Teal’s bargain dangled in the air as she kept the knife to her throat. Her blood stained the sharp blade.

The priest took another step away, and in the process, he stepped on the shards of tray glasses on the ground.

General Pedro’s right hand went in his pocket, and his confusion got replaced with satisfaction.

“Not everyone will bend to you and your son, Yulia.” He spoke.

“Oh darling, we’re not mad. We just know what we want, and we go for it even if it hurts people.” Yulia replied straight beside him.

“That’s the actual definition of madness! Listen to yourself, Yulia!” General Pedro snarled.

“Are you flirting with me?” Yulia muttered, and Pedro felt like exploding immediately.

The Uncles kept up their silence, awaiting the next scene of this madness film, and it came shortly.

Four suddenly chuckled, the sound haunting and ghostly. The chuckle graduated into a low grin, so disturbingly grim.

The hand he pointed forward for the knife went down, and Teal swallowed as her blood began lining down her neck in multiple rivulets.

“You think I care about your life enough to use it as a bargain?” His words came, greased with enough sadism to make her gulp again as his chuckle disappeared, leaving nothing but darkness on his face.

“You’re not very smart, are you?” He thinned his eyes, sighing out. “Kill yourself.”

Teal’s hand paused on the knife.

She didn’t lower it, but she reduced the tightness on her skin. Her breaths warmed up, and that sweat from her forehead fell on her cleavage.

“Slit your neck, and I’ll watch your blood flood this church as a red sacrifice, what do you think?” He continued his words of insanity, and Teal went rigid.

“Your son is deranged.” General Pedro muttered in shock as he witnessed the profanity.

“Our son.” Lady Yulia corrected.

Suddenly, Four left the alter and began walking to the uncles with mechanically fast, heavy steps.

“Stop!!” Teal yelled from the alter, taking the knife away from her neck.

He didn’t stop. 

She even doubts if he actually heard her cos his steps turned faster.

“Stop! Eros!!” She yelled, louder.

He didn’t. He continued. Faster.

But it’s obvious his target is Uncle Paul—the one who shot at him at the taverna.

Paul stood there, awaiting his fate, but a step before Four could get to him, Teal threw her knife at his back.

Four’s sharp instincts alerted him, and he moved out of the way before the knife could stab his back. 

The knife rammed into Uncle Paul’s chest instead, and Teal gasped from where she stood, eyes nearly falling off.

“Uncle P!!”

“Four! It’s hightime you put an end to this, or I’ll order a prison arrest! Stop it!!” General Pedro yelled.

“I didn’t throw the knife,” Four faced the man. “She did.”

“And I’m somehow at fault too? Do I have to shoot him in the skull so the fault can balance completely on me?” 

He grabbed Uncle Paul by the hair, bringing his head down to the row table and smashing it heartlessly to the oak wook.

Blood broke, showering Uncle Paul’s face, down to his chest which is still stuck with the knife.

“What do you think you’re doing!!” Uncle Dave quickly stepped in, holding Paul who’s about to pass out.

Teal finally arrived, covering the two uncles from Four.

“I won’t marry you, unless you kill me and marry my dead body.” She said, and his chuckle returned with a smirk to crown it.

“Sounds great, at least you’d be pliant and mute if you’re dead. I told you you look better when mute.”

“W-hat!” Teal’s throat clogged as his crazed words came out so easily.

She knows he’s crazy, but it’s the first time she’s witnessing this level from him, and she’d have been scared if there aren’t people inside this church with her.

She noticed the veins on his neck are popping again, and they’re all faintly black.

“It’s time to stop, Giant spider.” Yulia said.

“You joined the opposition today?” Four faced her.

“I had to, you’re on the brim already, and if you lose it totally, it’s not a good sign.” 

She leaned into his ear to whisper. “Your neck, the black veins.” 

Four sighed softly, and without giving anyone another glance, he began walking out of the church.

Yulia looked at Teal, smiling slightly.

“Take care of your uncles, I’ll send you a car to take you back to the base whenever you’re ready.”

“No. I’ll come by myself.” Teal said.

“Then you have to return tomorrow morning, unfailingly.” Lady Yulia enforced before following her son.

“I’m so sorry, Private Teal.” General Pedro spoke.

“Your son should have remained in his room, sir. His coming out was a mistake.” Teal replied angrily.

Using her knife, she tore away the crawling part of the wedding dress to free her legs, then she flung the heels away from her feet.

She hung Uncle Paul’s arm on her neck, and Uncle Dave supported her from the other side.

They jointly took him out of the church, leaving General Pedro in the church with just the priest who’s still standing on the alter.

The church currently looks like a preluding war rendezvous with faint splashes of blood on the alter pewline. Shredded wedding dress and broken tray shards with ring boxes here and there.

Pedro looked at the priest, took a slight bow to the alter before leaving the church too.

—

[Local Healthcare]

Teal insisted on treating Uncle Paul by herself, so the doctors gave her a kit when they arrived at the ward, and she got to work immediately.

Luckily, she always has her knife antidote everywhere she goes—a small bottle of gunpowder, crushed with black healing candy.

She applied it on the wound and added medical ointments too before starting to wrap it.

“Why didn’t you dodge it?” She asked, “You could have dodged my knife.” 

“I had to take the knife so he’d think i feel guilty about the assassination attempt.” Uncle Paul replied.

“So you don’t?” Teal pulled back a little to view his face.

“The only guilt I feel right now is sending you to that base.” He said.

“You were only following my late parents orders.” She replied, returning to the wrapping.

“Are you really gonna go back to the base tomorrow?” Uncle Dave asked behind her.

She finished wrapping the bandage before looking at him.

“Of course, if I’m gonna investigate Four, then I have to. Also, I wanna be a part of people who’d end Usman.” 

“That’s true—the investigation part. But be careful, he looks insane.” Uncle Paul asserted.

“I’m not scared, you know I rarely feel that.” Teal replied, and someone entered the ward.

A short man in suit with well-styled hair. He took a respectful bow.

“From the president.” He said.

“Oh…” Uncle Paul sounded as the man pointed an invite forward.

“The president invites Miss Teal to the mansion tonight, for dinner.”

“Another dinner?” Teal scoffed, taking the invite.

“Please, honour the invitation.” The man took another bow and left.

“How did he even know we’re in this healthcare?” Uncle Dave said.

“He’s the President, of course he has eyes everywhere.” Uncle Paul replied, laying back on the bed with bandaged head and chest.

“Are you gonna go?” Uncle Dave asked, and Teal opened the invite.

“You said he knows something, so I gotta go.”

“Meaning you’ll return to Athens today, I’ll book you a flight.” Uncle Dave took his phone.

“I better get a dress.” She said.

—

[Therapeia Mental Institute]

Empress is in her office, just getting back after doing her ward rounds.

She took off her coat, hung it and was about to sit down when Axel came in, knocking excluded.

“You’re a persistent one.” Empress said, taking her seat as he walked in fully with a smile larger than yesterday’s.

“You’re cool, i bet that’s why father was drawn to you. Honestly, I wish you gave birth to me instead of Yulia. Yulia is a pain.” He sat in front of her.

“Did Yulia send you here?” Empress reclined, giving him a keen look.

“Yulia and I aren’t friends. She’s my mother, but it ends there, you know what I’m saying? She’s only a mother and a friend to Four.” He explained.

“And you’re here to complain to me?” 

“Nah, I’m here to make a friend. Geez, don’t be a bore.” Axel frowned.

“And what can you do for me In return?” Empress asked.

“F+ck you and impregnate you, make you birth a baby sis for Sierra? You’re not too old to enter the OB-GYN ward, are you?” He reclined too.

“You’re just as vain as your mother.” Empress said with no expression.

“And I’m a good f+ck too, just like her.” He grinned.

“Kill your mother, then I can consider being your friend.” Empress said suddenly, and he leaned his elbows on the desk, frowning again.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“If you kill Yulia, I’ll be a mother and a friend to you, and maybe you can bed me.” Empress replied as blankly as the first time.

“You’re a bî+ch.” Axel fingered his hair.

“Chief doctor?” Someone called from the door.

Empress went there to open up.

It’s one of the assistants, and she’s holding a white invite card.

‘Hera’s Returning Soiree’ was written in gold in front of the card.

“Hera? The Marquis daughter?” Empress said as she took the card.

“Yes, I managed to get you the invite.” The assistant replied, and Empress went back inside, dropping the card on the table in front of Axel.

“Give it to Sierra, she’s free to go. I have no plans to attend public gatherings anytime soon.” She said.

Axel picked the card, and an interested shine covered his eyes as he read it.

“Hera? You mean Four’s childhood girlfriend? She promised she’d come back to Greece only if Four came out of his room, and now she’s returning to the country? Well, things just got a lot more interesting.” He laughed.

Empress’s eyes rolled, obviously not comfortable with this news.

—

[Military Base, Male Barracks]

“MAELSTROM SQUAD MEMBERS! ASSEMBLE AT THE TRAINING GROUND FOR CONTINUAL TRAININGS TOMORROW MORNING AS EARLY AS 6, UNDER MASTER SERGEANT’S SUPERVISION!”

As the announcement blared throughout the barracks, Brent went down on his knees in the middle of his room, arms curled.

“No!! No! Not Snowman! Can’t Sergeant Kash handle all the trainings? Last time with Snowman, he set the building on fire when we were inside just for escapism trainings!!” He yelled, falling to the bare ground and rolling around, not minding the stares from other guys.

Rook laughed from his bunk, dropping the uncapped bottle of water with him.

“You didn’t even enter the building back then you racoon.” He said.

“Of course I didn’t, but you and Teal entered and I was having hypertension when I was waiting outside!!” Brent yelled again.

Rook’s laughter continued. “Please just shut up”

Theo entered the room, and Rook immediately got down from his bunk.

“I’ll be back shortly.” He said.

“But the dinner bell will soon come.” Brent replied from the ground.

“I’ll be back before it comes.” Theo assured, leaving the room.

He left the barracks completely, going to the training ground which is emptily silent.

He faced the range and unlocked one of the training rifles. He unlocked clay pigeons too, and immediately they flew out, he shot, blasting away all five moulds.

He hasn’t lowered his arm when calm arms wrapped on him from behind, and he paused.

His eyes shifted slightly cos he recognized that feel.

He loaded his rifle again, ignoring the arms. He released clay pigeons and shot down another five…

“I’m sorry.” The gentle voice came as the arms around him tightened so fuckin much.

“I’m very sorry, Rook.”

Rook dropped the rifle, unbuckled the arms from his chest before facing him.

Theo’s eyes are teary, but the tears aren’t falling. They just gathered below his eyeballs.

“I’m not used to getting attention, and it’s  is maiming me. I can’t control my push-off appetite after that trauma.” He said hopelessly.

“What trauma?” Rook asked, squeezing his brows.

“Can we not talk about it right now? Please.” Theo shook his head.

“No we should. You can’t keep pushing me away and leave me in the dark about what actually causes it every darn time.” Rook’s voice rose.

Theo threw his arms on him, hugging him tight as his tears finally fell, rolling down his cheeks.

“Please don’t make me talk about it, yet. And next time if I try the pushing away stuff, you can just give me a knock in the head to remind me I’m an idiot.” He said, and Rook couldn’t help his bright smile after those words.

“A knock on the head? No, I’d love to knock your arse instead.” He said, hugging him too tight then darting his lips to his neck to kiss it.

“I care about you, so try not to do the pushing.” He said.

“I won’t” Theo nodded, smiling as his tears dampened Rook’s shirt.

Rook kissed his neck, again.

—

[Field]

“Are we really gonna do this?” April said, arms crossed as she stood in front of Skye who also looks perturbed.

“I can’t risk you getting ratted out to Lady Yulia. That woman is evil and I don’t wanna imagine what she’s gonna do to you.” Skye replied.

“So we’re gonna ruin the upcoming just like that? For self gain? That’s selfish.” April shook her head.

They haven’t been able to sleep since Allegra and Axel threatened them with the video. Their days and nights has turned acidic.

“April.” Skye held her face, and she shook her head.

“Snowman has always treated me well, treated us well. You’d have died in the pavilion if he didn’t save you!” She broke free.

“But our lives are on the line here!” Skye snapped.

“Lady Yulia wouldn’t kill me for abortion, she wouldn’t kill you for abetting it too. Worse she can do is take us to the level 2 prison or level 3.” April said, and Skye became wide-eyed.

“Are you serious? Level 2 prison is hell! We were both guards over there before becoming Specialists. Level 3 prison is death!” He said, holding her arms.

April sat on the bare ground, and Skye sat with her.

“Think about it, April.” He persuaded.

From a distant hallway, Paine watched the two blankly, enjoying their dilemma.

“Cassie’s next, I need to gather more evidence for that though.” He nodded, going down the hall.

On that same hall, Morgan and Stormy walked past each other, ignoring each other’s existence completely.

Stormy looks bitter, and Morgan looks mad, but Morgan stopped at a point and looked back.

Stormy was already gone, so she hissed.

“Is she expecting me to beg first or what?”

She brought a two-way pager out of her pocket, checking for any voice message from Quentin, but there’s none.

“Why isn’t he texting?” She muttered, pressing the record button.

“Hey babe! How’re you doing? Text back as soon as you listen to this.” She said and pressed ‘send’ as she left the hall.

—

[Sergeant Kash’s Suite]

Shannon is in.

She’s eating at the dinning, and Cassie sat in front of her, watching her with a large beam of smile.

“You look different.” Shannon commented.

“Of course.” Cassie smiled wider.

“Are you indulging in something I dunno about?” Shannon dropped her fork curiously.

“Dad is gonna wake up soon, the doctors confirmed it.” Cassie broke the news, and Shannon gasped, standing.

“Wait…what! OMG!” She covered her mouth.

Cassie grinned happily.

“I dunno how else to thank Sergeant Kash, he’s the reason dad stayed alive till now.” Shannon gushed.

‘It’s not him, dummy’ Cassie said inwardly but smiled outside.

Her phone rang on the table. 

Shannon saw ‘Axel’ on the caller ID before Cassie took the phone.

“Sergeant Axel? When did he start calling you?” Shannon frowned.

“It’s not Sergeant Axel, It’s a doctor from the hospital.” Cassie lied, entering the bedroom with her phone.

Shannon resumed eating.

“A doctor named Axel?” She wondered aloud.

—

[Allegra’s Unit]

“Snowman has a childhood girlfriend?” Allegra said surprisingly, blinking as she talked.

She’s sitting in bed, and Sierra is standing in front of her, holding the invite she got from Axel.

“They started dating when they turned 10” Sierra replied, fanning herself with the card.

“Wait… they’re still together?” Allegra came down from the bed.

“They never ended it, they were pretty much into each other and maybe still they are.” Sierra replied.

“Then why is he so pinned with that bî+ch Teal?” Allegra asked.

“His father got two wives, what were you expecting?” Sierra rolled eyes.

“To my best of knowledge, General Pedro didn’t marry your mum, he only impregnated her so we can’t totally call her a ex-wife. The only person he took to the alter and married is Lady Yulia.” Allegra replied.

The look she received from Sierra afterwards was destructive.

“Are you trying to mock me?” Sierra sneered.

Allegra climbed the bed back, folding her pierced lips into her mouth.

“So are you going to the Soiree?” She asked.

“Of course I am, I’d love to see how Hera turned out within the several years she spent outside this country. I’ll ruin her if she’s still into him.” Sierra smirked.

“But she’s the Marquis daughter, be careful.” Allegra repair.

“I’ve never cared about statuses.” Sierra shrugged, and Allegra sighed, picking her phone when it buzzed.

It’s a text, and as she read the text, she smiled.

“Who have you been texting?” Sierra asked curiously.

“Just some guy.” Allegra replied, waving her off.

—

[Base HackLord Matrix]

The HackLord—Fez, is a middle-aged man who was bought for millions by Lady Yulia from a tech auction in the underworld.

He was brought to this base and stationed here to work and hide from his enemies at the same time.

He’s mad good, and there’s no existing unhackable location for him, but the only obstacle he has ever met in his hacking journey is this damn Usman. It’s the same thing he’s tackling right now.

Four and Sergeant Kash are behind him in front of over thirty systems, and as his fingers danced on the keys, their eyes roamed the screens.

They’re trying to find Usman’s next target location, but this has to be the hardest task ever, cos it’s not even on the map of Greece, but it’s surely inside Greece.

It’s gotta be one of the jungles or sylvan depths of the country.

“We barely have three days left, are you sure we’re gonna find the town at this rate?” Sergeant Kash said suddenly. He sounds greatly disturbed.

“Keep quiet, Graham.” Four replied, tracing the screens with his  sharp eyes without missing a line.

“You defeated him in the last mission, so you should have known this one would be twisted and mad hard. Usman hates defeat.” The HackLord replied, pressing five keys with his five fingers at a time, but ERROR appeared on the screens, ringing repeatedly around the Matrix.

“Shit.” Four muttered, and his earbud came on in his ears suddenly.

The voice of his biker spoke…

“She went to the healthcare with her uncles, received a dinner invite from the president. She left Symi and flew back to Athens. She’s currently on her way to the president’s mansion for dinner. Should I follow her up?”

Four stayed still.

Shadows fell across his eyes as his lids drooped. 

He then picked his phone and connected to the voice sieve.

“Let her be, it’s over.” he muttered, returning the phone.

The phone’s shrill ring pierced the silence Instantly, and he pulled it out again with a dissatisfied groan. 

It’s Hera calling, he understood what it means.

“Time for the Soiree, will be back at 9.” He told Kash.

“I’ll handle things here.” Kash assured, and with a single nod, Four left the Crypt.

Kash’s phone rang almost immediately too, and he stepped back from the HackLord to pick.

It’s a doctor from the hospital.

“Hello?” 

“Mr. Graham? Your wife’s father might be waking up soon. His heart rate and pulse improved during the past few days.” The doctor reported, and Kash smiled brightly.

“For real?”

“Thanks to the raise in your bills, we sped up the treatments. Keep it up, Mr. Graham.” The doctor hung up.

Kash’s smile dropped, and he kept staring at the phone screen.

“Raise in my bills?” He muttered, getting greatly confused.

—

[International Airport]

Four’s earbuds stayed in his ears even when he’s not listening to music—he’s not a fan of music, but at least the soundless buds helps block out some of the noise.

Airports can be annoying with the buzzers and stuff.

He wore black shades too, and his cashmere cost is tied at the back, his steps are light and at ease as he strolled towards one of the entrances.

He halted when someone came out, and he smiled lightly, his eyes thinning.

It’s a beautiful tall lady, her curly hair is caramel brown, and her lips are temptingly full. She’s curvy, too.

Hera Lazarou, the Marquis daughter.

“Eros!!” She screamed, leaving her bag behind as she broke into a mad run immediately.

She jumped into his arms, squealing as she poured affectionate kisses on his face like a kid.

Four held her thighs so she won’t fall, and her arms went around his neck to wrap.

“Gawd…I can’t believe I saw you outside again, and I didn’t regret falling in love with your tallness. I missed it, and you…” She gushed, throwing her legs.

“You’re still so kiddy.” He replied softly, his eyes showing how delighted he is to see her.

“And you’re still measuring your words, silent devil.” She replied, her heels poking his back.

Four dropped her, but she took his hand immediately.

The maids from her father’s mansion came from the waiting car, getting her bags as she made her way to the exit with Four.

“I miss Greece, geez! Especially the food, the crab soaked in lemon!” she flipped her hair.

“It’s the main food at your Welcoming Soiree. The Marquis made sure of it.” Four replied, and she jumped happily on a feet.

“Seriously? And oh I miss your zither playing skills too.” She held his arm with her second hand.

“Will be playing tonight.” He replied, and she smiled prettily.

The waiting guards opened the car door for them, letting them in.

Minutes later, the car ate into the tar.

—

[President’s Mansion]

Teal didn’t wanna come empty-handed, so she bought pecan pie, and though her dress is a bit too tight on the hips, and she’s feeling greatly uncomfortable, she still managed.

President Spyros took the pecan pie delightfully.

He handed it to the maids immediately Teal was ushered into the mansion by the guards.

He looks like he’s going somewhere cos he’s dressed in a fresh suit, and  it’s already past 6pm.

“After I sent you the dinner invite earlier, another invite came for me from the Marquis, and I can’t turn it down. Her daughter is back, and I must honour her Welcoming Soiree.” He explained.

He’s walking to the lounge with Teal already.

“The Marquis? The oldest retired man in this city? The first army to be employed.” Teal replied.

“Yes he is, and I won’t be a president today if not for his support.” President Spyros nodded.

“So…the dinner is cancelled sir?” Teal blinked.

“Not entirely, you’ll be going with I and Xanthe to the Soiree. Hera likes art, so I was thinking you could draw her.” President Spyros said.

“Me? To the Marquis mansion?” Teal said surprisingly.

“I’ll go tell Xanthe to get fast with his dress up. Please feel at home.” The man smiled, going inside and leaving her at the lounge.

Teal’s need to pee beat her need to sit, and there’s no butler around to ask the way to the nearest restroom, so she helped herself.

She went down the opposite lane and bypassed the staircase.

She went up a fight of stairs at a point, coming out to another staircase which led down.

The need to pee grew higher, and her bladder began screaming, so she rushed down that staircase and opened the first door she saw, hoping it’d be a restroom, but she was so shocked at what she met that her pee diffused.

Inside the room, there are several framed picture of Rue on the wall.

Rue—her late mum.

The four walls of the room are filled with her pictures, and there’s no single space left out.

“Mum?” She muttered, feeling chills at the back of her neck and at the core of her mind and even her feet.

She felt trapped in a cage immediately, and the sudden slamming of her chest worsened things as she stood in the middle of the room and turned around.

The pictures seemed like they’re smiling at her, waving at her, motioning at her, and she could imagine the pictures speaking.

“You grew so well…my baby. Why not come join me up here where I can take care of you more.”

Immediately she imagined that, she screamed out, and the pictures seemed to be reaching for her now.

She walked backwards with rough steps. Her ankle sprained in the process, but before she could hit the wall, she was pulled out of the room, and she gasped.

The door of the room closed, and she gasped again when she saw Xanthe. He’s the one who pulled her out.

“Teal!” He said loudly.

“What was that room? Why is my late mum’s pictures in it from the beginning to the end?” She asked.

“Rue Ambrose was a famous painter with her husband.” President Spyros replied, coming down the stairs.

Teal faced the man whose eyes held nothing but unfathomable intents.

“She was my muse before her death, and I even bought one of her paintings at the phantom museum last month. I adore her, so I made that room to worship her soul after her death.” He explained.

“You were a fan of my mother?” Teal frowned, and the man smiled.

“Of course.”

“But still… That room is…” Teal said suspiciously.

“It’s nothing, young lady. Die-hard fans like me are dedicated.” President Spyros smiled again.

By now, Teal has calmed.

“We should go now.” President Spyros concluded, leading the way upstairs.

Xanthe pulled Teal back.

“You’re going with us to the Soiree? Why are you even here in the first place? You shouldn’t be!” He said.

“Your father is being strange and acting like he knows things…

“Things like Four might be involved in your parents death?” Xanthe cut her off, and she paused.

“You knew?”

“I was secretly listening when dad was discussing with your uncles at the circus. I like you a lot, and when my dad uses dubious means to try and get something, I’m against it especially if it’s you. Dad is gonna tell any lie to get you for me, I don’t understand his obsession with getting us married.” Xanthe explained.

Teal was wordless at the end, just staring at him.

“Young Master, time to depart.” A butler announced on the staircase.

“Let’s go.” Xanthe motioned at the stairs, and with a long breath, Teal led the way up, her palms watering in her white gloves.

—

[Marquis Mansion]

The mansion sat in the middle of rocks like a hideaway, and the landscape is surprisingly smooth.

The old Marquis loves his personal solitude space, reason for this choice of location.

Maple trees surrounds the inner mansion, and birds choose the trees as their habitats, so the only melody is the song of the birds and the light whistles from the wave of the trees.

The mansion is alive, but the noise is minimal despite the guests inside.

The healing sound of a playing zither soaked into the night air, and it’s so good that it was the first thing that caught Teal’s attention when she entered the compound with Xanthe.

President Spyros had to go meet the Marquis first, so it’s just him and her, and she noticed he’s trying so hard to keep a space between them as they walked.

They both picked glasses of wine from a tray, clinked before sipping at the same time.

“Who’s playing that zither? It’s so good.” She said, trying to make out where the sound is coming from, but it sounds distant.

“It’s coming from the middle of the compound, and I have to admit it’s good too.” Xanthe nodded.

“I know, right?” Teal supported, and Xanthe smiled.

“You’re always not shy to appreciate what you like. You were ogling at the orchids too when you came to my birthday.” He said.

“I just love art, don’t judge me.” She replied, and they laughed.

But then Teal blinked when she saw General Pedro and Lady Yulia entering through the west door.

“Don’t be shocked, The old Marquis is respected by everyone so they must be here.” Xanthe said, dropping his cup of wine.

“I’m visiting the washroom, my palms feels sticky.” He said.

“Don’t take long.” She replied.

He nodded as he left through the west door.

Instantly, Teal saw Sierra coming in with a goth-looking woman, and if the rumour she has been hearing is true, then the woman is Empress, Sierra’s mum.

Sierra and her mum are here too?

This old Marquis of a man might even be really mighty  cos she’s also seeing Commissioners, The Earl, The Count and so many royals.

Teal shook her head and turned around to another angle, but a kid ran into her.

She steadied herself very fast, but the kid couldn’t do the same as she received a bigger force from Teal’s body. 

Teal caught her quickly before she could fall, and in the process, she lost her footings.

She held the kid to herself, and they both fell on the ground at the end, the wine in her glass showered the two of them.

Teal’s chest got saturated with the red wine, and her yellow dress got greatly stained plus her face.

But the real problem is her butt. Looks like her tight dress material ripped over there, and if she stands, she’d be standing to disgrace cos her undies would show.

The kid looks guilty as she stared up at Teal with her doe eyes.

They’re both still sitting on the ground, and then Teal noticed the silence surrounding them. Even the zither has stopped playing now.

She looked around and regretted it immediately.

All eyes are on her like she’s a party pooper, and Sierra is chuckling mockingly beside her mother.

“She’s so razz, I wonder who invited her here.” She muttered with hate.

“The betrothed?” Empress asked, sipping slowly from her wine.

“Obviously.” Sierra sighed.

The dominating click of heels on the marble floor made the silence even thicker, and Teal didn’t understand the meaning till the owner of the heels appeared.

A beautiful lady who looks sophisticated, and she’s not even wearing makeup but she’s attractive with her blue eyes and round cheeks.

Hera.

She’s hanging her arms on the arms of none other than Four.

Four???

Sierra dropped her cup. Her mouth hung open as she definitely got awestruck with Hera’s beauty.

Teal couldn’t blink.

Four looks like a husband beside Hera, and their heights even match cos of her heels, their aesthetics, too…

He wore all-black to match with Hera’s black dress, and even from that distance, she could smell his scent.

She looked at their interlocked arms, then back to Four’s face. 

He looks neutral.

“Why is she looking at you? Do you know her?” Hera asked him.

“No.” He flatly replied without missing a beat, and Hera smiled.

“Let’s go, father is waiting.” She said, rubbing his bulging bicep with her thumb before they proceeded inside, walking past Teal on the GROUND.

TBC.

 Next Episode 

Previous Episode 

  

TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire – Episode 47&48

(Her Blade, His Neck )

________________________

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

__________________________

[Daybreak, Healthcare]

The more the day cracked, the more the shock washed off Sergeant Kash’s body, but despite that, he still wasn’t fully recovered by 7am.

“You’re telling me you both planned this with the healthcare workers, medics and old doctors?” He asked, trying to get a better hang of it.

He’s standing in front of the healthcare with Teal who smiled slightly, tying her hair in a messy ponytail and braiding it all the way down as she put her weight on the wall.

“He knew there was only one poorly equipped healthcare in this island, so he called them last night and made arrangements before we came. We had to make things look real to lure the secretary inside” she explained with a a shrug, and Sergeant Kash sat on the available bench, trying to soak it in.

And the fact that he choked Teal…

His eyes suddenly went up to her neck, and when he saw his fingerprints, he stood with a gasp.

“What?” She blinked.

“I choked you, my fingerprints is there. I don’t think Master is gon take it lightly if he finds out” There’s fear in his voice as he spoke.

“It’s nothing, he chokes me too” Teal shrugged.

‘And you like that’ her silly subconscious told her, and she cursed at that sick voice.

“No that’s different, he’s your husband. I’d be angry if I found another man’s fingerprints on my wife” Kash insisted.

“He wouldn’t kill you just because you choked me. Besides, our coupling is by words, you don’t see any ring on me” she replied.

Sergeant Kash sighed, knowing she’s stubborn. He can only start hoping for Four not to get angry—and kill him.

“So what’s gonna happen to the secretary?” He asked.

Teal sat beside him on the bench.

Probably dead” she replied.

‘He’s not who we thought he was. He might be involved in your parents death’ 

Uncle Dave’s words stabbed Teal in the gut, and she swallowed imaginary blood.

She has been trying to forget the words since she returned from her hometown, but she just can’t.

“You ok?” Sergeant Kash asked her when he noticed she zoned out.

“I’m fine” 

“Where is he by the way?” Kash stood, looking impatient.

“By the sea, fishing” she replied, and he frowned as another confusion set in.

“Fishing?”

—

[Seaside]

The air is thorny and frigidly harsh, making the morning a overly cold one, coupled with the cloudy fog.

Four stood at the shore of the freezing sea, holding a fishing hook suspended on a fishing line, tied to a rod.

The cries of the secretary mixed with the angry crashes of the water currents, and Four looked back at him.

He’s laying on the shore with holes in his eye sockets instead of eyes—his eyes are gone, and the two balls are in a flat kidney plate beside Four.

The holes in his eyes are looking so obscure and macabre, belonging in a horror nightmare, and blood is gushing out of the holes like a colourful canvas sample.

“Please spare me!! Please I promise to release everything I’ve made from working with the President! . . . I promise to give every penny to you! Spare me!!!” He begged and begged.

Four squatted beside him, smiling like the architect and finisher of all the chaos in this world.

“I killed people who didn’t deserve death. I killed saints and spilled the blood of saintesses. So who’re you to even beg for breaths? You’ll be greedy till the end, isn’t it?” He said, his chill voice rolling with the sea currents.

The secretary went silent, but his lips are shaking, and his fingers are nearly crusting like ice beside him.

He wants to continue talking, but he knows it’ll spell more doom which he’s not ready for.

“Keep quiet, don’t provoke me to kill you quicker, and crueller” Four muttered, tapping his cheek twice before picking one of his eyeballs from the plate.

He attached the eyeball to the fishing hook and suspended it in the sea.

He counted the minutes with his head, and in exactly two, a fish ate the ball and got caught in the hook.

He lifted the unlucky fish who’s twisting like salted worm, and he released it into the plate before picking the second eyeball.

He caught a fish with it too, just like the first one, they’re both salmon fishes. He wrapped them up, and a delivery bike came riding to the shore. The rider is wearing a black helmet, so his face is unseen.

Four handed him the packaged fishes, and the biker left, his bike tires leaving no trails on the sand.

“How many people have you killed for the President?” Four asked the secretary who’s still laying still.

His jaws loosened, and the hypothermic blue of his skin deepened.

“4 people. First was his major opponent in the election when he was contesting for president. Second and third were Xanthe’s ex girlfriend and her father…I killed them cos the President didn’t like the lady. Fourth was the owner of a research company, and that happened even before he became President” he explained with painful sniffles.

The fact that he’s not seeing anything as he talked is torture on it’s own.

“I’d have been the fifth if you got me. Too bad, its not my time yet.” Four changed position, shifting back from him

“Do you know where bullets hurt most?” He sighed wolfishly, pulling his gun from where the had kept it beside his hoops.

The secretary began shaking again. The blood in his eye holes have stopped pouring now, and cold air is penetrating into his system through the holes. He looks miserable.

“First place, the hip bone” Four said, firing bullets at his hip bones on both sides.

“No!!!! Aurhhh!!! I begged you!!! Damnit!!!!” He howled like a baned wolf, his blood exploding from his shot hips to the sand, into the sea.

“Second place, the knees” Four sighed boringly again, shooting his two knees.

“Urggg!!! Please stop!!! Please stop!!!” Another cry bursted from his throat as his kneecaps ripped apart, cracking at the bullet impact and letting out cold blood too.

“Ah… You enjoying the lessons?” Four angled his head sideways, pushing his rough hair away from his eyes.

“I beg you … I beg you with your hidden soul! I beg you please spare me…spare me” the secretary sniffled, his body already going limp.

“Tell that to someone who has a stupid soul, and the third place is the cranium, deep inside your brain” Four replied, firing three bullets into his head.

His body went completely limp as his neck and mouth lost all strength.

Life slipped out of him, and Four returned his gun to the hoop straps.

With a simple boot push, the secretary’s lifeless body fell into the sea, getting carried away by the crashing currents.

Four returned to the healthcare, and both Kash and Teal stood from where they sat.

The first thing his eyes caught was the fingerprints on Teal’s neck, then the look of guilt on Kash’s face.

He got it immediately.

“What did you do to him?” Teal asked, but instead of answering, he took a wide step towards Kash.

“He did it cos he was protective of you! Stop it!” Teal blocked him.

“No one else touches your neck. Do I have to write it on your forehead with your blood?” Four glared.

“I just said he did it cos he was overprotective of you!” Teal held his clenched arms.

“Am I supposed to start caring? He should know to not touch or leave fingerprints on what I own” Four’s voice turned heavy.

“It won’t happen again, Master. I’m sorry. I wasn’t carried along, so I got really paranoid and scared when I saw you laying on that bed. I’ll be more careful from now on” Kash spoke softly.

Four’s chest still stayed inflated, but his eyes peeled away from Kash.

“Return to the base” he said.

“Now? What about you and Private Teal?” Kash replied surprisingly.

“We came here for a night out, nothing is stopping that. We’ll return to Athens tomorrow” Four said.

“I understand” Kash did a chest push.

“Carry on with the additional trainings of the squad, next mission is in a week” Four got his phone.

“You received usman’s texts?” Kash almost gasped.

“Wait…he texts you?” Teal blinked rapidly.

“Obviously” Four replied, showing Kash the text on his screen.

“A stone town? We’re to locate the town ourselves this time? He’s insane, and I’m tired of having to admit that all the time” Kash muttered.

“And don’t try to find out who shot me, he’s Teal’s Uncle” Four broke the news, and Teal gasped as her eyes met with Kash’s.

“Why?” He asked slowly.

“Following the President’s orders, just like the secretary” Four explained.

“Damn… Not the President again”Kash muttered, the need to behead the President shadowed him.

Two minutes later, he drove out of the healthcare with the Sergeants, then another car came for Teal and Four.

Teal flung the door open and jumped inside. She was about to loop the seatbelt on herself when Four hopped in with her, taking it from her and looping it for her.

“I’m no damsel in distress, stop playing hero” she muttered.

“You’re whatever the f+ck I say you are, drop the attitude” he replied, and she rolled eyes.

“You didn’t tell me Usman contacts you” she said.

“So what if I told you? Your knowledge would have caught up with him somehow?” He gave her a stare, his eyes trailing her cleavage.

“I’m a part of your squad, you should at least consider that” she flared.

“Only Sergeant Kash and Blackie are aware. The squad members are in the dark about it. Are you asking for special treatment cos you’re my wife?” She saw him smirk.

He’s enjoying this.

“Is that bad?” She smirked back.

“That’s two” he replied.

“You…”

“Me what?” He egged her on with an evil squint, and she stretched her hand to his chest to lodge a punch, but he caught the punch and dragged her to his laps with that hand.

His hand went to her chest, pulling up her dress to cover her cleavage, then he deeply kissed the skin despite the blood gums.

At this rate, she’d have to try and get used to his touchy-touchy and body gumming everytime.

She could smell gin from him, meaning he drank when he was at the sea.

How much he loves that drink.

“Will you kill my uncles?” She asked suddenly, and he raised his head from her cleavage.

“Depends on my mood” he muttered.

“Uncle Paul didn’t succeed in killing you, so I think he’s worth to spare” she quickly said.

Four brought an hand to the back of her neck stroking.

“The secretary didn’t succeed in killing me too, but I gouged his eyes and planted seven bullets in his body before rolling him into the sea. I’ll decide the fate of your Uncle when I’m less busy” 

“F+ck you” Teal muttered.

“Of course I’ll f+ck your every hole and claim you properly like my wife, very soon. And that’s 3” he curtly replied.

Teal went shut.

—

[Presidential Office]

President Spyros was getting highly impatient as the minutes whiled past, running too much.

He’s currently in a Security council meeting with the heads of Security sectors, and he can’t concentrate as the meeting unfolded in the air-conditioned room.

His mind is far away, hoping that his errand secretary is safe.

His official secretary—Mrs. Katerina is right beside him in the room.

“The face of the army who disposed the human bombs is Four DeVille, the General’s first son. I’m proposing a promotion. Maybe it’s finally time for General Pedro to step down for his son” the head of security (HOS) said, and that snapped President Spyros out of his daze so fast.

“Make him the General cos he disposed bombs once? If that’s how leaders are chosen, then you won’t be here today.” He told the HOS.

“There were 4 human bombs in that car, Mr. President sir, and he offloaded them smartly. If the explosion happened in the streets without the rocks to take the fall, then thousands would have died. If his promotion is undeserving for that brilliant performance, then it’s unfair” The HOS insisted.

“I support the President.” Mrs. Katerina spoke, and all attention spammed to her.

“Four DeVille is still new. He has only spent two months in the base according to the data we saw. We should give him more chances to prove himself worthy of the promotion” she continued.

The room went silent, and that was when the President’s phone rang.

It’s the headmaid at the mansion, so Mrs. Katerina cut the call, but the phone began ringing again.

It’s Xanthe this time.

President Spyros picked the call, and what he heard made him end the meeting right there.

Together with Mrs. Katerina, he left the office, and the drive home was incredibly fast.

He rushed into the mansion with Mrs. Katerina, and they met the maids and butlers panicking in the kitchen.

“Dad!” Xanthe breathed in relief when he entered. His arm is still bandaged.

There are two fishes on the cutting board, and inside the sliced stomach of the fishes, there are human eyes.

Mrs. Katerina nearly vomited at the sight, she had to cover her mouth, and President Spyros held the cabinets as he stared at the eyes.

The eyes of the errand secretary.

“I needed my fish stew fresh, so I told the headmaid to visit the official store for fishes this morning. She came back with these. Human eyes inside the fishes” Xanthe spoke, looking traumatized.

President Spyros didn’t reply—he couldn’t. 

He knows where this came from.

That insane bastard son of Pedro. He caught the errand secretary?

How come? 

Wasn’t he in a vegetative state?

Shit.

He left the kitchen silently, and Mrs. Katerina followed him.

“Mr. President sir!”

—

[Military Base, Noon]

The training methods changed today.

Kash chose not to use the training ground. He led the squad members to the forest surrounding the base property, and for the first time in months, the base dogs were released.

Morgan and Stormy were released from the prison too since they’re a part of the squad anyways.

The poison is still in their systems, and they’re to train like that, enter the forest with the crazy pains.

They both kept their distance, especially Stormy.

She has tears in her eyes as the pain on her chest is unbearable. She badly wants to faint right now.

They’re all laying on their bellies on the forest ground, watching and waiting for the right time to attack.

Kash deployed robotic scarecrows, and they’re to shoot on sight cos the crows are holding rifles too.

Rook’s finger steadied under the trigger of his own riffle, and he peered at Theo who’s not very far from him under the bushes.

He looked at his finger, and when he noticed it’s not shaking, he smiled and concentrated back on his target.

His own scarecrow appeared some meters apart, so he rolled down that perimeter, releasing bullets into the space while chasing after the chunk of grass.

Brent and Shannon followed behind him. They’re both with two dogs whose barking shook the trees and swayed their leaves as their foot pounded the snow.

Paine emerged from another angle, and he’s with a dog too, backing a tree before swirling out, pouring bullets into his own crow.

His dog followed the trail of the bullets and tore the crow to pieces, shredding grasses and shrubs.

Paine wiped sweat from his head, then he sighed.

“He’s good” Brent muttered beside Shannon.

“Focus!” Shannon shouted as his crow aimed for him.

Brent got grazed slightly on the arm, but he hid behind a tree before bursting out suddenly, shooting down his crow.

Shannon gave him a thumbs up before resuming her chase.

Rook stood from the shrubs suddenly, landing his boot on a tree bark before twisting back in a backflip, escaping a bullet. He went on his knees and shot, taking down his crow.

Morgan and Stormy couldn’t even make it past the first perimeter, they fainted on the ground, and blood soaked their uniforms again from their poison-stabbed chest.

As for Theo, he hasn’t moved from where he is.

His hand is under the trigger, but he can’t shoot even as he stared at his own crow.

He couldn’t stop the images of that night from sinking into his head.

The way the terrorists forced his father to f+ck goa sis. The way his father was slamming into his sister with bloody tears in his eyes.

The scene should be empowering him, but it’s doing the opposite. His fingers began shaking again, and the tremors made him colder than ice.

He pulled the trigger stubbornly, but instead of hitting his own crow, he shot one of the dogs.

“Theodore!!” Rook shouted, running to him already.

“Theo!!” Shannon and Brent chorused, and when he saw what he has done, his eyes widened.

“Stop on your meters, everyone!” Sergeant Kash communicated with everyone in the forest through the VAS, and everyone halted.

“Theodore!” Rook held Theo when he arrived at his side, but Theo shook him off harshly.

His body is still shaking.

“Theodore” Rook repeated the call, but he remained frozen till Kash got to them.

He picked up the wounded dog and covered the wound with a piece of clothe, then he carried it and faced Theo.

“Report to the General’s office” he said, then he ran out of the forest with the dog to save it.

“Theodore” Rook did the third call, holding him, bit Theodore shook him off again.

“Don’t touch me” he muttered, walking away.

Rook’s palms folded, and his rifle rope pulled on his neck.

“What’s up with him?” Shannon muttered.

“Hand tremor” Brent muttered.

“What!” Shannon blinked.

“Shh” Brent shushed.

—

[Main Base]

Skye and April came out of the communal dinning after having their fill of the breakfast, only for them to meet Axel and Allegra in front of the dinner, both looking like conquests.

Allegra is backing the wall with crossed arms, and Axel is standing opposite her.

“Follow up” he said, then he led the way with Allegra.

Skye and April exchanged glances, but they followed them anyways…to the front of Axel’s Unit.

“Sergeant Kash is busy training the squad in the forest, and that only means the next mission is close” Allegra said.

“Meaning?” Skye grimaced.

“You’ll ruin the next mission, and this time…make sure the casualties are more than the ones who’d survive” Axel replied.

“Aren’t you ashamed at all?” April went closer.

“What the hell is wrong with your head! I know you’re the one to sent Abbey to sabotage the last mission, and Snowman barely escaped the bomb blast! Abbey was electrocuted, all because of you, but now you’re plotting another? What’s your use in this base? You’re only familiar with how to envy your brother!” She yelled.

Axel grabbed April hurtfully by the hair, but Skye stepped in, punching him away from her.

He pulled April behind himself and faced him.

“You will not touch my girlfriend that way, ever again!” He yelled loudly.

Axel smiled, then Allegra played the video behind, coming forward and showing them the phone screen so they’d see and hear clearly.

Both April and Skye froze with stretched eyes, beyond their lids.

Skye tried to snatch the phone from Allegra, but she pulled back, laughing.

At the same time, Axel received a text from Cassie, and he discreetly checked.

Fool: Kash is busy in the forest, can I come over to your Unit?

Axel scoffed, not bothering to reply before pushing the phone back into his pocket, then he faced the scene ahead of him.

Skye and April are still shivering.

“No” April shook her head fearfully.

“You know what happens if the General or the great Lady Yulia, gets her hands on this video.” Allegra said.

“So…what do you say, lovebirds?” Axel grinned.

—

[A Superstore In The City]

Yulia intentionally came to the store in her uniform, as if passing a message across which she’s really doing.

The attendants flooded her with bows and at tension stands by the door, showering her with respect like they do anytime she visits this place.

Yulia rarely visits the store since she’s not a fashion diva. She just wears anything she plucks from her wardrobe whenever ages not wearing her uniform, and she’s good with whatever it is.

But these days, the constant need to shop for Teal kept gnawing at her, and she can’t help it.

She’s the one who arranged the small bag Teal took on to Symi island, so she wants to prepare new fits pending when she’d return.

She can’t always be wearing the boyish muftis or uniform everytime.

Two attendants followed her behind, and as she checked out the dresses—casual and sexy, they picked them up.

Everything was going well till another woman slipped out of a corner in the store, having the looks and features of a witch.

It’s Empress, and she’s with Sierra.

“Bad luck” Sierra rolled eyes.

“Oh look, it’s the shameless sl+t who stole my leftovers” Empress sneered, the bun in her auburn hair causing her forehead to protrude.

Her eyes are overweight with hate. Deep-seated hate for Yulia.

“You’re the leftover here, darling. He left you for me, so do the maths. And I bet you aren’t with a man cos you’re way too ugly to look at, or cos you’re still obsessed with Ed, just the way your shameless daughter is obsessed with my son” Yulia said at a go.

“Yes I love him! Die off if you’re not comfortable with it. We’re outside the base so watch how you speak to my mother or I’ll shred you!” Sierra cut in hotly, but Empress pulled her back.

The woman was laughing loud, the sound echoing through the store walls as she walked to Yulia slowly, intentionally.

She kept up the annoying laughter till she arrived, then she removed her glasses and laughed at Yulia’s face for one more second.

“I’m powerful without Pedro, I stand on my own! I’m not like you who’d crumble without him, and that’s why you’re clinging tight to him like your life! I’ll tell you this…” She leaned into Yulia’s ear.

“If my daughter wants something, she gets. If she says she wants your son, I don’t care about the half-siblings bond between them. She’d get him. I’ll also turn your second son against you too, and I’ll take Pedro away. It’s a promise” she whispered..

“You’re barking too loud like the dogs in your annex” Yulia said.

Empress began laughing again, loud like hard metal on a rock as she pulled Sierra.

They left the store, her laughter echoing behind her.

Yulia smirked loudly.

—

[Symi Island]

Thankfully, Four booked a cozy suite, so when Teal got back with him, she entered the bathroom immediately, drowning herself inside the bathtub soaked in sweet-smelling eucalyptus lather just like the one in his Unit at the base.

The water calmed her nerves, putting out the fire and icing up the burns.

Is he really gonna kill her uncles? They might have sinned by listening to the president, but they’re still her uncles—her family.

He won’t be as cruel as that to her, right?

What’s she even thinking about, of course he’s the ruthless number Four.

He only sees her as a possession—a property, through and through.

And his speciality is barging into her space, just like right now…

Four entered the bathroom, and she quickly palmed some lather to her chest, covering her naked breasts with it.

His presence flipped the bathroom like a cyclone, and his steps were darkly silent till he settled on the bathtub.

The permanent smirk is on his face as he picked a brush, then he took her fingers into his warm ones, and began washing off the blood from her under-nails.

He noticed them?

She stayed still, watching as the brush peeled of the dried blood, whitening her nails again.

There was deafening silence in the bathroom, except for the sound of the brush on her nails and the sound of her breathings.

She felt the need to look at his face and see how he looks while washing her. Surprisingly, she met his eyes on her chest, and her eyes quickly snapped there to see that the lather she covered her bre+sts with have all disappeared.

F+ck.

She made to gather another lather, but he flipped her hands away fast.

“Who said you could hide my bre+sts away from my eyes?” His taw voice followed, breaking the deafening silence.

“They’re not yours” she replied, and he flipped her arms apart again when she tried covering.

“That’s a lie, and that makes 4” 

His long masculine fingers wrap around her taut nipple and twisted it. Gently at first then harshly with the intent to hurt.

Teal’s fingers crumbled, and her walls collapsed. The bricks she has been shielding herself with. They fell.

She inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth to keep herself from feeling it, but it was pointless.

Her n+pples sent a zap of pleasure to her core, so strong that her entire body felt it.

Her n+pples are very sensitive—prone to easy stimulation.

His fingers stimulated them in a maddening way, as if he has been touching them all his life.

“These br+àsts, are they mine, Asteri?” He pinched both nipples, and she arched in the water, m0aning.

“Mmm. . . .”

“That’s not an answer”

She shook her head.

“Use your words” his voice is low and controlled with no room for disobedience.

She didn’t speak, so he twisted that n+pple again, with more force as if he’s planning to break the skin.

She released an anguished cry mixed with a moan. “I said not to lie to me”

“Yes, yes. . .ahh. . .” She whimpered when she massaged the aching points of her n+pples with his finger pads, giving them little soothing before going back to torturing them.

She’s so stimulated that she thought she’d 0rgasm with just n+pple play, and for some reason, she believes he’d be able to do it. Her core throbs with bursts of ar+usal that matches the rhythm of his fingers.

Sometimes hard and fast, other times slow and agonizing, and she likes it—the pain.

He suddenly released her left n+pple, and it ached, tingling with the loss of his fingers.

Her thighs rubbed against each other underwater due to the unfathomable effect he’s having on her. Mortification ate deep into her insides.

He traced his hands downward, into the water between her legs, and he cupped her most intimate part tightly.

“Hmm. . . You’re soaked, Asteri” 

“I’m not. . .ahhh. . .” Her voice ended in a whisper-moan when he shoved two fingers into her.

“Don’t finish that lie” he whispered.

“Mmm. . .” Her back arched down the tub wall at the sensations of him filling her up.

He’s not just touching her intimately—he’s owning her, totally. Just like when he kissed her in the prison.

“You’re so fuckin tight, Teal. Feel your c+nt tightening around my fingers?” 

She wants to look away from the controlled lust shinning in his eyes, but she can’t, and it’s not only because of his command.

Something in her unlocked when his fingers went inside her, it’s feral and harsh. Unforgiving and out of control.

She’s falling into that web, sinking deep with each of his merciless pounds.

The rhythm is overwhelming, but not messy. It’s measured, just like everything about Four.

He twisted her n+pples over and over again as he powered into her puxxy, the heels of his palm slapping her cl+ît.

“Do you hear your arousal, Asteri? Do you hear how much you crave this? How your body is coming undone?” 

He rammed his fingers inside a few more times as if driving the point home.

Her back pushed off the tub wall, meeting his fingers on her n+pples and inside her.

He rubbed the heel os his fingers against her cl+ît while twisting his n+pples and curling his fingers inside her walls.

The triple assault undid her.

She cried out as she embraced the fall, letting her voice express the ecstasy hitting her from all possible angles.

“Ahh. . .I’m. . . I’m. . .ahh!” Her mouth remained open as a halo submerged her and transported her in a surreal experience.

It’s like she’s flying through the roof and watching herself tremble in Four’s hold.

His fingers are inside her—all-over her, and she raised her hips so she can ride the waves…ride him.

“Say you’re mine” his grunt suddenly came, crashing over her pleasure and interrupting her high.

Her eyes cleared, clashing with the unfeeling gray in his eyes as his fingers went still.

Her br+àsts did a light bounce, rippling through the water.

“Say you’re mine, Teal.” He ordered, the authority and power wrapping around the words so lethal, so dangerous.

His eyes twisted with dark sadism.

But she wasn’t gonna give him a reason to mock her later. 

She’s not gonna give him anything to hold on to.

Despite the pleasure he’s able to give her body, she’d never tell him that.

It’d give him the upper hand, and he’d will use that to her disadvantage.

She’s not ready to be inside his dark sick cage.

She wasn’t bluffing when she told him she was gonna end the bethrothal shit after Usman gets caught.

Even if it means escaping far away from him. She’s only his wife on words. No ring nor wedding nor vows.

Not like she wants them from him, but that’s just stating the obvious.

She’s still Teal Ambrose, not DeVille.

‘He’s not who we thought he was, he might be involved in your parents death’ her Uncles words came knocking again, and she felt her throat closing.

“Say it, Teal” his raspy voice broke into her thoughts.

“No” she replied in one straight response, and she witnessed something destructive cross his eyes immediately. So dark that she felt in in her soul ruins.

His fingers slipped out of her c+nt, and he left the bathroom.

Teal cleaned up quickly, wrapped the towel over herself and left the bathroom.

She could still feel his fingers down there—as if he’s still fingering her.

And her n+pples are still insanely puckered.

She’s still madly turned on, but it’ll be over if she sleeps, won’t it?

But that changed when she can’t find him in the bedroom or lounge or kitchen.

He’s nowhere.

Did he get angry about her refusal and decided to go take it out on her uncles?

He’d do it.

It’s not something he can’t do. He’s wired differently like that.

She needs to make a call, she needs to get out of this suite and get a phone to make a call to her uncles.

She didn’t even bother to cream or dry her wet hair, she peeled of her towel and opened her small bag for a new clothe, but lo and behold, there’s no new clothe.

It was Yulia who packed her bag, and there are only p+nts, br@s, s+xy thongs and lingeries. No single cloth. 

Her mouth fell apart.

“Lady Yulia!!”

—

[Island Park]

Four slammed the car door shut after he got in, and his phone is on to his ear as he spoke to the biker.

“The president is amazed by the package, human eyes inside fishes is once in a lifetime experience” the biker said, a little grin latching his voice.

“Get another car ready, I’m visiting the President tonight” Four replied, picking a cigar from his front drawer.

He inserted it into a stainless, put fire on it and balanced it on his lips.

“Sure, I’ll do that sir” the biker replied.

“And…” Four puffed smokes sinfully before giving the second order as the lights from the island hit his devilishly handsome face.

“Find a private jeweler who can make a bonded diamond ring. I’m talking about one she won’t be able to take off for life. Also, find a mad good designer to make a wedding dress”

TBC.

Next Episode 

Previous Episode 

TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire – Episode 37&38

(Her Blade, His Neck )

________________________

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

__________________________

[Base Prison]

The room smelled like bleach and rotten soil. Walls are decorated with thick cobwebs which extended to the roof. There are spiders spreading freely in the middle of every web.

The ground is neither cemented nor concreted, so the loamy soil is in small scanty heaps, and a rusty dagger lay somewhere in the middle of shredded muslin clothes which has dried blood patches on them.

In the shallow corner, there’s a small square bed with a beige spread, and on top of the bed, Teal sat.

Her legs on the ground, and her palms on the bed surface as she stared into an empty space.

Her cheek is still red with the fingerprints of the D-Sergeant who slapped her, but she doesn’t feel the sting.

She shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t deserve to be here.

Morgan is a bî+ch she hates the sight of, but still … She’d never go as far as editing a video of her and Quentin.

Where is the time?

That night when the video was posted, she was with Four. That was the night she went to s+duce him, so he’s probably the only one who can help now.

No. He’s definitely the only one, but what was that indifference she felt from him earlier when he walked past her at the hallway?

He’s always indifferent, but the ice surrounding him earlier was glacial.

He doesn’t know about her date with Xanthe, does he?

Right, Xanthe.

She brought her pager out of her pocket and immediately gave up. It’s a one-way pager, meaning Xanthe is the only one who can send messages.

She can’t.

She flung the pager at the pile of bloody clothes and gripped the bedspread tight, imagining it as Morgan and the D-Sergeants.

She felt her breaths boiling in her lungs, and she almost exploded with the the rise in her temperament.

The promotion ceremony must still be ongoing right now, and the fact that she’s not there?

It’s making her sick.

—

The promotion ceremony ended faster than everyone expected.

After the announcement of Four’s transfer to Indonesia, Four and Yulia left the hall at the same time, and their silence was deafening.

Even till now. 

General Pedro stood in the middle of the suite living room, and his uniform is half-gone cos he’s not wearing the shirt anymore, just the pants and a black shirt.

He was restlessly pacing, wearing a confused look till Yulia came out of the bedroom.

She’s holding a pack of cigarettes and a zippo, then a smile hung on her thin lips.

“Yulia” Pedro took few steps to her, and she widened that smile.

“Congratulations on chosing the first Maj Sergeant in your domain” she said, adjusting the sleeve of his shirt.

“You’re not angry? Yulia. I know you better than anyone” Pedro replied, his eyes roaming hers as if he wants to pull what she’s thinking out of her skull which is impossible.

In the masking aspect, Yulia has almost same abilities as Four.

“Angry?” She blinked, putting fire on her cigar. “Why? Oh…cos you transferred Four to Indonesia?” She brought the stick to her lips, puffin before throwing her weight on a chair across him.

“You said it was bilateral agreement, so I know it’s an order from him—The President” She leaned forward, pouring smokes out of her lips.

“Why then should I be mad? You have no choice but listen to him. The President presides over the army anyways” she continued.

Pedro stood there, watching her with sudden dumbness.

Yulia slid a music disc into the CD player on the table.

As the disc rolled, a dark piano tune began humming, filling the house with it’s unsettling harmony.

She relaxed and snapped her eyes shut, enjoying the tunes with her smokes as company.

Still in confusion, Pedro left the suite and went to his office, but as expected, Axel was waiting in front of the door.

He ignored him and went in, dressing  in his uniform and taking his seat.

Axel came in, his eyes and steps hurtful till he stopped at the back of the desk.

“Why am I always the abandoned one? Why?” He asked.

“Go back to your whoring business, Axel. I have nothing to tell you” Pedro flatly replied, and Axel laughed loud, the sound brooding and broken.

“Am I only allowed to live under the shadows of Four and Sierra forever? I was thinking Four is the only one I need to be wary of, but I was wrong cos you even worship Sierra more than Four!” He snapped, tears pooling in his eyes for real.

“Leave this office, Axel. The third warning won’t come. I’ll have to get you thrown out” Pedro replied, looking up to meet his teary eyes.

“Tell me honestly…what does she have on you?” Axel muttered, his tears falling on the table.

“I’m talking about Sierra’s mom! The self-acclaimed Empress! What does she have on you? Why do you always do her biddings cos? I know she’s behind this promotion. Are you her dog!!?” He yelled, and that was replied with a hit…

From Pedro.

Axel felt his teeth twist in his gum immediately Pedro’s palm met with his cheek, and his eyes widened.

“You slapped me? Dad?”

Pedro dialled his Sergeants on the telephone, and in just two seconds, they rushed in.

“Take him” he ordered, and Axel was seized.

“I was 10 when I started working for you in this base!! When is my work ever gonna be appraised! When am I even gonna matter!!” He yelled, not even struggling with the Sergeant’s as they dragged him.

“You were 10 when you joined this base, but Sierra was 10 too, and she’s 4 years older than you, meaning she spent 4 years here before you arrived! She took trainings serious and was the best of her set! I offered her promotions and she has been declining for reasons I don’t know, and now that I suddenly decided to elevate her, I believe that shouldn’t be a problem but your brain will never tell you that! All you do is philander around with Allegra!” Pedro yelled.

Suddenly, Axel broke free from the Sergeants and wiped his tears off with his sleeve.

“Yeah, I have talent in philandering with women, and that’s why you should be careful, dad. I’ll meet Empress—your so-called first love. I’ll seduce, f+ck her like a whore that she is and send you the fuckin video” he promised, then he stormed out of the office.

“Axel!!!” Pedro yelled after him, but the headache wasn’t over cos Sierra came in almost immediately.

She’s already in her new uniform, her hair bound with a net under her cap.

“Not you too. You should be celebrating your promotion. What are you doing here Sierra?” Pedro held his head.

“Why would you transfer Four to Indonesia? Not even somewhere in this Greece, but another country entirely? What stupid bilateral agreement did the President make overnight! He’s the best army in this base so why the f+ck would he be transferred?” She questioned.

“Watch your mouth, Sierra. You’re the Major Sergeant now, and you should act like it” Pedro replied.

“My promotion means nothing without Four beside me! You can’t take him away from me! You can’t!” Sierra shouted dementedly.

“What are you even talking about!” Pedro snarled.

“This can only work with him beside me. Usman can only go down with the collaboration of Four and i. Four has always belonged by my side and you have no right to take him. He’s my strength, and I think you just made a mistake. Fluid it and rewrite it, or else I’ll rebel, and mum will support me as always” she threatened, then she stormed out just like Axel.

Allegra was waiting outside for her, but she bypassed her as her fury is still eating her up.

Allegra had to run after her.

“Hey Major! You can’t stay mad like this all day, we should drink to it. Four is transferred? Even better, then Teal is dead meat in your hands” she said, and Sierra faced her sharply like a mutilation knife.

“Don’t repeat that statement again, ever in your life. Four is like my other half, and I can’t function well without him, so just shut up. And Teal? I think it’s hightime I visit that wench” She said.

Allegra blinked, once.

—

[Master Sergeant’s Office]

“You can reject the transfer, Master—No—you should definitely reject it. You can’t leave this country, Usman is going to kill everyone without you” Kash said pleadingly, sitting in front of Four whose poker face is angled on his phone screen.

“Why should I refuse transfer cos of the citizens? Usman couldn’t kill everyone in this city when I haven’t gotten here, so nothing is gon change with my absence” he said with that bored dryness.

“When you weren’t here, it was better, but now that you’re here it’s a different story. Usman communicates with you better than anyone and he even gives you puzzles to solve!” Kash continued cajoling, but Four chose silence this time.

Kash sighed, getting fed up.

“Think about Private Teal at least. She’s currently locked up, and if you leave, then there are wolves waiting to eat her.” He tried again.

“Smart of you to use her as a reason like she’s my kryptonite or something.” Four spoke, dropping his phone and looking up.

He was actually playing puzzles.

“She’s got the president, and she’s got her uncles. She’s not a weakling herself. Quit Mentioning her, makes me wanna leave faster. Schedule my flight for tomorrow morning. 7am” he continued.

“But—”

“Kash Graham, one more word from you and I’m punching you in the same place as yesterday, and this time, you’ll die” Four madly cut him off, and he stood.

“I’ll prepare your flight documents” he said, leaving the office.

Four resumed his puzzle play on his phone like he’s not currently in the middle of the ongoing chaos.

As he dragged the puzzle pieces across his screen, he received a text from a line saved as ‘Black Widow’

He clicked the text open, and his lids flickered. His eyes took that ruthless shade.

The usual.

—

[President’s Mansion]

The butlers and maids are all folded with their heads bowed over the glittering staircase as Xanthe came downstairs, right hand sleazily inserted in his cargo pocket and the left one beside him.

He looks happy, and he’s licking his lips as if it got baptized with honeydew, taking his time.

President Spyros is at the first dinning room, getting ready for breakfast at the head of the long ebony table.

He’s holding a warm cup of frappé to his lips which he’s sipping.

The room is plush like every other room in the mansion. There’s a fancy fireplace burning purple flames, and Xanthe easily sat on one of the upholstered chairs not far from his father, picking up his fork and digging into the stir-fried veggies.

“Mm, now I know why she loves them. It’s delicious” he said, eating more.

“You didn’t eat veggies when you were in Miami?” President Spyros asked, his voice balanced despite the  bougatsa in his mouth.

He has started eating.

“I hated veggies cos it’s basically leaves, dad” Xanthe offered.

“And now you’re letting go of the hate cos what? You like her that much?”

“It was love at first sight, don’t blame me. But that Sergeant…Four. He said something about how she’s married, and I’ve been thinking” Xanthe said with a slight frown.

“She was betrothed to him by her parents doesn’t mean she belongs to him. Her parents are dead anyways, and all she has is her uncles. I’ll have to speak to the uncles. I already sent them an invite” President Spyros replied.

“But what about Four himself? Someone who drove a car containing 4 human bombs and escaped the rocky earthquake? He doesn’t seem simple” Xanthe dropped his fork.

“He got transferred to Indonesia” President Spyros broke the news.

“What! For real?” Xanthe spranged up.

“You don’t believe?” President Spyros wiped his mouth carefully with a napkin.

“No. I know you have a long-term alliance with the president of Indonesia, but I wasn’t expecting you to fill the bilateral agreement with Four. That’s sudden” Xanthe said.

He sat back slowly. “But I like it. I like that fact that he’s gone without getting hurt. He looks like a good person” he said.

“You should visit the base tomorrow, take Teal on a shopping spree and engrave yourself in her memories. I wasn’t joking when I told you I want my grandchildren to come from her” President Spyros continued.

“I know, won’t be long now” Xanthe smiled brightly.

—

[Cantonment, Bazaar Supermarket]

“Cheers!!!” 

And that was followed by the clinking of beer glasses from Morgan and Stormy and their group of little minion ladies.

They came here to drink after they left the assembly hall.

Armies are free to go out and drink today. It’s a free day cos of the ceremony, and they’re using it to their satisfaction.

“I can’t even express my joy, to think that I’d be the one in that Base Prison instead of her if we hadn’t planned? Gawd…I love you Stormy!” Morgan gushed out happily, hanging her arm on Stormy’s shoulder.

“Let’s be friends forever, nothing can ever come between us” she said.

“Nothing” Stormy winked, and they kissed each other’s cheeks before drinking again under the envious eyes of their minions.

“Now that Snowman is going to Indonesia tomorrow, who’s gonna be the new leader of Maelstrom squad?” A minion asked.

“Who else? Sierra of course” Stormy snickered.

“Then it’s our luck. Sierra is like our base-mother. We’re safe” Morgan shrugged.

“You can say that again, and Teal is definitely cooked.” Stormy smiled, and the smile turned to a grin till the others joined.

“But then…why is Quentin still not picking your calls?” Stormy asked Morgan.

“No idea” Morgan replied.

“Hey!” That voice broke into their circle, and Morgan gasped in recognition, spranging up to see Quentin standing behind their table in the scanty supermarket.

“Quentin!” She gushed shockingly.

“Why haven’t you been picking your calls! You left Morgan worried!” Stormy shouted.

“I got into and accident that morning after I left Mirza hotel, and I lost my phone. I’ve been healing at the hospital” Quentin explained, showing his peeled forearms.

“OMG! Babe! I’m so sorry!” Morgan started crying childishly as she checked them out.

“They’re healed now, you don’t have to cry” Quentin smiled.

“But then who exactly are you? How can you enter this cantonment when you’re not one of the civilians signed by the government?” Stormy asked.

“His father is a bigwig in the political network, so enough with the questions, Stormy.” Morgan defended, throwing her arms on Quentin’s shoulders.

“I missed you, especially your sweet cock” she shamelessly confessed, dragging him into a corner in the supermarket while unbuttoning her uniform already.

“They’ve started again. Lesson never leaned” Stormy muttered, downing her beer.

—

[Base, Training Ground]

“Teal left the communal dinning and went to Snowman’s Unit that night when the video was posted, so he’s the only one who can help” April said, her voice desperate.

The news of Teal’s arrest has circulated round the base before the promotion ceremony even ended.

Problem now is how to rescue her.

“Snowman is flying out and has refused to help according to Sergeant Kash, what to do?” Shannon asked.

“I’ll have to meet Snowman. Even if it means prostrating in front of him” Rook said.

“You can’t do that” Theo replied from the side.

“Oh I can. It’s my best friend we’re talking about here and who knows how fucked up the Base Prison is!?” Rook yelled at him.

Theo went silent.

“Theo is right. According to Sergeant Kash, Snowman seemed to be very mad at Teal and when he brought her up, Snowman threatened to punch him to death” Shannon said.

“What! Why would he be that pissed?” April replied.

At this point, Brent stood from the fallen punching bag he has been sitting on.

“It’s my fault” he said, and Rook was the first to face him before the others.

“What do you mean it’s your fault?” He asked.

Brent shoved his hand into his shaven head.

“It’s my fault” he muttered, confusing them more.

Paine is sitting on a wet brick not far from the bunch, and as he stared at them, he felt Abbey’s phone in his pocket.

One video from this phone will liberate Teal, but why should he release it when he hates her?

Also, Teal is not his target audience for the secrets on that phone. There are many others.

He sighed, lulling his head to the side.

Right beside him, Skye sat, watching him with hawk-view.

His abilities are peak, and his intuitions never lie.

Right now, he feels like Paine is hiding something, behind the pain of Abbey’s death in his eyes, and maybe he’s gonna find out what it is.

Paine’s eyes met with his own, and when Paine saw him staring, he smirked.

“Stop staring, Specialist Skye. Or I’ll dig out your organ of vision.” He said, jumping down the brick and leaving the place.

“Hardtack, but will be worth it” Skye mumbled.

—

[Base Prison]

The straight creaking of the iron door made Teal turn around on her spot, her hands stiffening.

She has been standing in the middle of the godawful room since she got tired of sitting, and as she expected whoever it is to come in, she swallowed nothing.

Her expectations were madly high, but they fell low, and disappointment set in when Sierra came in instead.

Why was she low-key expecting him?

She didn’t revel in that disappointment for long though, cos Sierra is wearing a different uniform with five chevrons and rockers, then two stars.

Obviously, it’s a higher rank than Four’s. Does that mean??…

Wait…Major Sergeant?

Her eyes widened at her own realization, and Sierra smiled as Allegra came in after her.

“Yeah, you guessed right in your mind. I’m the Major Sergeant of this base as from today, and I’m like the General’s second in command. You should accord some respect and give me my salutations now” she said.

Teal didn’t move, her palms just balled up like kitten paws.

“Oh you think Four is still around? Poor you, you know nothing…do you? He got transferred to Indonesia by the president’s orders, and now you’re at my mercy.” Sierra laughed, and Allegra joined in the laughter as it turned shriller.

Teal’s throat tightened around nothing, and her balled fists came off on their own.

“What!” She found herself sounding shocked, and as much as she hates it, she doesn’t care.

“Why?” She walked fast to Sierra. “Why would the president transfer him out of the country when Usman is still alive?”

“You must really think you still have the right to question me” Sierra raised her fist at her, fast like a thunderbolt.

Teal caught the hit with her palm, twisting that roll, but Sierra was able to untwist it, then she slammed a wicked blow to Teal’s jaw.

Teal didn’t snooze, she returned that blow to Sierra’s jaw,. Hot as blowtorch. Raw like a witch’s cry.

Sierra punctuated her with an elbow on the jugular, then she proceeded to jabbing her brutally on the belly.

Teal swung around, returning the lethal hits to her jugular and belly— and a bonus on the chest.

They both staggered away from each other. Steps rushed, and breaths overflowing from their molten lungs.

Allegra glowered, wondering what’s going on.

“Wench!!” Sierra took off her cap and lunged at Teal again.

Teal strengthened the stand of her second leg on the ground, then she raised the first one in a tsunami-level kick—one of the rare techniques she learnt from her uncles.

Shockingly, Sierra raised that same leg at her, and their kicks met at the same time, throwing the two of them back to the heaping ground.

Teal got wounded on her shoulder, and Sierra got a cut on her leg.

They stood at the same time, again.

Sweats riding their skins like waves, hate fusing in their eyeballs like bees.

Allegra’s mouth is wide by the door.

What’s really really going on? 

Why can’t one defeat the other? Why does Sierra and Teal have the same techniques and strength?

Why is…

Her thoughts got broken when the two ladies lunged at themselves again, both rolling punches like gifts and throwing it at each other with the same frequency. Same energy.

Teal’s punch met Sierra’s chin with a loud shatter, and Sierra immediately returned it to Teal’s head, nearly bursting the skull.

Another punch entered Sierra’s mouth from Teal, and her mouth bled colour, but Sierra returned that punch to Teal’s belly, and Teal bled from the mouth too.

Punch. Bleed. Punch.

Punch. Bleed. Punch.

That’s the continuous procedure till they both drew long breaths and stepped away from each other.

“We need to leave” Allegra pulled Sierra, and Sierra didn’t stop looking back at Teal, wondering what’s going on till they got out of the prison.

They went to Allegra’s Unit, and Allegra let go of her.

“What was that? Why does she match up? Why is your stamina on the same level as hers?” Allegra asked.

“You expect me to know?” Sierra glared, grabbing her phone and dialling her mum.

The line rang for one straight minute before it picked.

“You promised to be here for me mum!!! You promised to come for me today! It’s my day of joy where the fûck are you!! Dad is taking Four away from me and I need you to talk some senses into him! Also, there’s someone who matches my energy here and it has never happened before! What’s really going on!!!” She yelled, hitting herself on the wall.

“I warned you against shouting, didn’t I? Are you begging to be chastised?” Empress’s cold voice filtered in.

Sierra drew in a loud breath.

“Now, explain again calmly. What’s going on?” Empress said.

—

[Sergeant Kash’s Suite]

“He really won’t reject the transfer, and it’s bothersome. I can’t imagine working under Sierra. She works with strength, not brains” Kash said, sitting restlessly on the couch.

“Even if he rejects it, it’s impossible. It’s the President we’re talking about” Cassie replied, coming out of the kitchen with a tray containing dinner which she set on the dinning.

“He has a betrothed wife, he should at least stay because of Teal” Kash replied.

“Betrothed doesn’t mean he likes her” Cassie shrugged.

“But he doesn’t hate her either” Kash replied.

“So it’s between the margin?” Cassie asked.

“I can’t even say. It’s hard to understand that man Cassie. His head works differently” Kash replied.

“Just eat dinner first, then Snowman can come next” Cassie replied, entering the kitchen to text Axel.

Cassie: Are you fine? I’m worried.

—

[Base Prison]

Thanks to Teal’s wristwatch, it’s easy to count time, though the watch is a little broken from the D-Sergeants drags.

She has spent 13 hours here, and the time is currently 10pm.

The dull green bulb on the ceiling is manageably bright, so it’s not very bad except for the silence.

The silence got more annoying, and she could see the moon peering in through the few cracks of the walls.

It’s even colder here than the enclosed pavilion, but that’s not an issue to think about right now.

She’s squatting beside the bed, and her arms are wrapped around her folded legs.

The blood on her lips from the fight with Sierra is still there, she doesn’t care about wiping.

But Four is leaving this country?

How did the President even come to such ludicrous and evil conclusion?

Is that even making any sense?

Obviously, Four is Usman’s only match, so when Usman announces his next attack, who’d face him?

Sierra? The same person whose strength is on the same level as hers?

And talking about Sierra, how is that even possible?

Her uncles techniques were created for her alone.

Refined for her alone.

Cemented into her alone.

So why? Why does Sierra know them as much as she does?

Her uncles owe her explanations, but she’s not getting any if she continues staying in this godforsaken place.

A crackle came from the door, and she spranged to her feet, hoping she won’t get disappointed this time.

Her heartbeats picked up—not in fear, but in heavy anticipation and broadened hope.

It was his scent first, and she felt her jaws loosen as he stepped in, slowly but intentional like he came here to kill her.

The plasters on his temples are gone, but the wounds are still there, though not fresh anymore, and now she wished she had offered to treat them.

His presence seized the air like a grim reaper’s, and the shadow behind his huge body is bigger than life.

With each step he took towards her, she felt his dark intents, and the danger lurking in his eyeballs like an ouija board.

Something told her to move, and she did. She moved.

Stepping back with each step he took closer to her.

It’s like a cat and mouse game, and the respective roles of each of them is obvious.

She took the fifth step, and her back hit the dusty wall behind her, causing her to jerk a little.

She looked behind for a beat before throwing her glance back to him.

He’s still walking, still coming closer like a flood, his gaze still pointed.

“You shouldn’t leave for Indonesia, the citizens need you” she said before she knew it.

“And you don’t?” He replied, his voice eerie and tainted with something carnal—something abyssal.

“Why would I need you?” She replied with another gulp, and she saw his lips compress into a thin line. His chin jutted out.

“You came back to this base, marked yourself as my wife even before I did, and you think you can go on dates with a twat, smile with a twat, get touched by a twat and kiss a twat?” His harsh voice burned through the space, and her brows furrowed with both shock and question.

He knows? 

He knows.

“It’s a goodbye night, so enjoy the woes I brought with it” he  whispered, the venom seeping deep.

By now, he’s already with her, and she could feel his incisive words and breaths on her pores with in-depth penetrations—just like his eyes.

“I didn’t ki—”

She was cut off roughly when Four’s big palm wrapped like a belt on her throat, and she gasped as the familiar sensations crawled on her throat under his chokehold.

“Too late, bury the explanation” Four whispered with beastly need, and then his pale lips came crowning her bloody lips, kissing off her words and stealing the remaining letters into his demanding mouth.

Her eyes widened, and her fingers clutched at his uniform, digging dents into the material as her back pierced into the jagged wall.

Her knees moved to stab him, but he caught it with his hand, pressing her kneecap so hard that she grumbled into his mouth.

He ate up that grumble, unravelled her mouth and tossed his tongue around the warmness and slickness of her mouth.

Her lips curved against his, fingers tearing his shirt, knees jerking on his palm as he devoured her with reckless abandon, eating into the blood.

He kissed her like his lips were the question, and hers are the answers.

He kissed her angrily, like her lips owned her an apology.

He kissed her like her tongue is a meal he’s willing to pay a lifetime for.

He kissed her with ferocity—insanity and yearning fused into one.

He let go with a flick, and immediately their lips pulled away, she raised an hand to his face, but he caught it and brought it down, his eyes taking the red again.

“I hate you…so very much” she hatefully muttered, her swollen lips shaking with his assault.

“As you should. Get on that bed on your fours, Teal. You’re receiving the ten punishments before I leave” he replied, his words heated like a sculpting knife.

“Ten…what?” Her eyes widened.

“It was 6 before, but for the date and the kiss with the twat, it’s plus 4” he replied sadistically.

“I didn’t kiss him! And who are you to even do this!” She shouted, the green light seeming to be mocking her by brightening more.

“Eleven” he replied flatly.

“I’m not getting on that bed” she sneered, feeling the lingering fire on her lips from his kiss.

“Twelve” he replied.

“You’re sick” she muttered.

“Deeply so, thirteen” he replied.

“I hate you…” She whispered.

“Feels like you do, fourteen” he said, and her teeth clenched.

Knowing how twisted he is, he’s only gonna keep counting, and her punishments will only keep heightening, so she got on the bed.

She fell on all fours—knees and palms flattening on the square mattress which squeaked.

“You’re spanking, isn’t it? Get it over with.” She muffled.

“Spanks?” Four smirked, dirtier than mud water as his eyes gleamed.

“Palm spanks are for stupid gentlemen, and I’m not one.” He said, and then he’s flipping his belt apart.

He pulled the belt out of the hoops and wrapped the metal buckle around his palm, then his hand latched to her trousers.

He ripped it apart like it’s nothing, exposing her ass cheeks to the green light and his dark eyes.

Her palms sweated, gumming defiantly with the sheets.

“Count” he growled, raising the belt to the air.

TBC.

Next Episode 

Previous Episode 

TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire – Episode 37&38

(Her Blade, His Neck )

________________________

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

__________________________

[Base Prison]

The room smelled like bleach and rotten soil. Walls are decorated with thick cobwebs which extended to the roof. There are spiders spreading freely in the middle of every web.

The ground is neither cemented nor concreted, so the loamy soil is in small scanty heaps, and a rusty dagger lay somewhere in the middle of shredded muslin clothes which has dried blood patches on them.

In the shallow corner, there’s a small square bed with a beige spread, and on top of the bed, Teal sat.

Her legs on the ground, and her palms on the bed surface as she stared into an empty space.

Her cheek is still red with the fingerprints of the D-Sergeant who slapped her, but she doesn’t feel the sting.

She shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t deserve to be here.

Morgan is a bî+ch she hates the sight of, but still … She’d never go as far as editing a video of her and Quentin.

Where is the time?

That night when the video was posted, she was with Four. That was the night she went to s+duce him, so he’s probably the only one who can help now.

No. He’s definitely the only one, but what was that indifference she felt from him earlier when he walked past her at the hallway?

He’s always indifferent, but the ice surrounding him earlier was glacial.

He doesn’t know about her date with Xanthe, does he?

Right, Xanthe.

She brought her pager out of her pocket and immediately gave up. It’s a one-way pager, meaning Xanthe is the only one who can send messages.

She can’t.

She flung the pager at the pile of bloody clothes and gripped the bedspread tight, imagining it as Morgan and the D-Sergeants.

She felt her breaths boiling in her lungs, and she almost exploded with the the rise in her temperament.

The promotion ceremony must still be ongoing right now, and the fact that she’s not there?

It’s making her sick.

—

The promotion ceremony ended faster than everyone expected.

After the announcement of Four’s transfer to Indonesia, Four and Yulia left the hall at the same time, and their silence was deafening.

Even till now. 

General Pedro stood in the middle of the suite living room, and his uniform is half-gone cos he’s not wearing the shirt anymore, just the pants and a black shirt.

He was restlessly pacing, wearing a confused look till Yulia came out of the bedroom.

She’s holding a pack of cigarettes and a zippo, then a smile hung on her thin lips.

“Yulia” Pedro took few steps to her, and she widened that smile.

“Congratulations on chosing the first Maj Sergeant in your domain” she said, adjusting the sleeve of his shirt.

“You’re not angry? Yulia. I know you better than anyone” Pedro replied, his eyes roaming hers as if he wants to pull what she’s thinking out of her skull which is impossible.

In the masking aspect, Yulia has almost same abilities as Four.

“Angry?” She blinked, putting fire on her cigar. “Why? Oh…cos you transferred Four to Indonesia?” She brought the stick to her lips, puffin before throwing her weight on a chair across him.

“You said it was bilateral agreement, so I know it’s an order from him—The President” She leaned forward, pouring smokes out of her lips.

“Why then should I be mad? You have no choice but listen to him. The President presides over the army anyways” she continued.

Pedro stood there, watching her with sudden dumbness.

Yulia slid a music disc into the CD player on the table.

As the disc rolled, a dark piano tune began humming, filling the house with it’s unsettling harmony.

She relaxed and snapped her eyes shut, enjoying the tunes with her smokes as company.

Still in confusion, Pedro left the suite and went to his office, but as expected, Axel was waiting in front of the door.

He ignored him and went in, dressing  in his uniform and taking his seat.

Axel came in, his eyes and steps hurtful till he stopped at the back of the desk.

“Why am I always the abandoned one? Why?” He asked.

“Go back to your whoring business, Axel. I have nothing to tell you” Pedro flatly replied, and Axel laughed loud, the sound brooding and broken.

“Am I only allowed to live under the shadows of Four and Sierra forever? I was thinking Four is the only one I need to be wary of, but I was wrong cos you even worship Sierra more than Four!” He snapped, tears pooling in his eyes for real.

“Leave this office, Axel. The third warning won’t come. I’ll have to get you thrown out” Pedro replied, looking up to meet his teary eyes.

“Tell me honestly…what does she have on you?” Axel muttered, his tears falling on the table.

“I’m talking about Sierra’s mom! The self-acclaimed Empress! What does she have on you? Why do you always do her biddings cos? I know she’s behind this promotion. Are you her dog!!?” He yelled, and that was replied with a hit…

From Pedro.

Axel felt his teeth twist in his gum immediately Pedro’s palm met with his cheek, and his eyes widened.

“You slapped me? Dad?”

Pedro dialled his Sergeants on the telephone, and in just two seconds, they rushed in.

“Take him” he ordered, and Axel was seized.

“I was 10 when I started working for you in this base!! When is my work ever gonna be appraised! When am I even gonna matter!!” He yelled, not even struggling with the Sergeant’s as they dragged him.

“You were 10 when you joined this base, but Sierra was 10 too, and she’s 4 years older than you, meaning she spent 4 years here before you arrived! She took trainings serious and was the best of her set! I offered her promotions and she has been declining for reasons I don’t know, and now that I suddenly decided to elevate her, I believe that shouldn’t be a problem but your brain will never tell you that! All you do is philander around with Allegra!” Pedro yelled.

Suddenly, Axel broke free from the Sergeants and wiped his tears off with his sleeve.

“Yeah, I have talent in philandering with women, and that’s why you should be careful, dad. I’ll meet Empress—your so-called first love. I’ll seduce, f+ck her like a whore that she is and send you the fuckin video” he promised, then he stormed out of the office.

“Axel!!!” Pedro yelled after him, but the headache wasn’t over cos Sierra came in almost immediately.

She’s already in her new uniform, her hair bound with a net under her cap.

“Not you too. You should be celebrating your promotion. What are you doing here Sierra?” Pedro held his head.

“Why would you transfer Four to Indonesia? Not even somewhere in this Greece, but another country entirely? What stupid bilateral agreement did the President make overnight! He’s the best army in this base so why the f+ck would he be transferred?” She questioned.

“Watch your mouth, Sierra. You’re the Major Sergeant now, and you should act like it” Pedro replied.

“My promotion means nothing without Four beside me! You can’t take him away from me! You can’t!” Sierra shouted dementedly.

“What are you even talking about!” Pedro snarled.

“This can only work with him beside me. Usman can only go down with the collaboration of Four and i. Four has always belonged by my side and you have no right to take him. He’s my strength, and I think you just made a mistake. Fluid it and rewrite it, or else I’ll rebel, and mum will support me as always” she threatened, then she stormed out just like Axel.

Allegra was waiting outside for her, but she bypassed her as her fury is still eating her up.

Allegra had to run after her.

“Hey Major! You can’t stay mad like this all day, we should drink to it. Four is transferred? Even better, then Teal is dead meat in your hands” she said, and Sierra faced her sharply like a mutilation knife.

“Don’t repeat that statement again, ever in your life. Four is like my other half, and I can’t function well without him, so just shut up. And Teal? I think it’s hightime I visit that wench” She said.

Allegra blinked, once.

—

[Master Sergeant’s Office]

“You can reject the transfer, Master—No—you should definitely reject it. You can’t leave this country, Usman is going to kill everyone without you” Kash said pleadingly, sitting in front of Four whose poker face is angled on his phone screen.

“Why should I refuse transfer cos of the citizens? Usman couldn’t kill everyone in this city when I haven’t gotten here, so nothing is gon change with my absence” he said with that bored dryness.

“When you weren’t here, it was better, but now that you’re here it’s a different story. Usman communicates with you better than anyone and he even gives you puzzles to solve!” Kash continued cajoling, but Four chose silence this time.

Kash sighed, getting fed up.

“Think about Private Teal at least. She’s currently locked up, and if you leave, then there are wolves waiting to eat her.” He tried again.

“Smart of you to use her as a reason like she’s my kryptonite or something.” Four spoke, dropping his phone and looking up.

He was actually playing puzzles.

“She’s got the president, and she’s got her uncles. She’s not a weakling herself. Quit Mentioning her, makes me wanna leave faster. Schedule my flight for tomorrow morning. 7am” he continued.

“But—”

“Kash Graham, one more word from you and I’m punching you in the same place as yesterday, and this time, you’ll die” Four madly cut him off, and he stood.

“I’ll prepare your flight documents” he said, leaving the office.

Four resumed his puzzle play on his phone like he’s not currently in the middle of the ongoing chaos.

As he dragged the puzzle pieces across his screen, he received a text from a line saved as ‘Black Widow’

He clicked the text open, and his lids flickered. His eyes took that ruthless shade.

The usual.

—

[President’s Mansion]

The butlers and maids are all folded with their heads bowed over the glittering staircase as Xanthe came downstairs, right hand sleazily inserted in his cargo pocket and the left one beside him.

He looks happy, and he’s licking his lips as if it got baptized with honeydew, taking his time.

President Spyros is at the first dinning room, getting ready for breakfast at the head of the long ebony table.

He’s holding a warm cup of frappé to his lips which he’s sipping.

The room is plush like every other room in the mansion. There’s a fancy fireplace burning purple flames, and Xanthe easily sat on one of the upholstered chairs not far from his father, picking up his fork and digging into the stir-fried veggies.

“Mm, now I know why she loves them. It’s delicious” he said, eating more.

“You didn’t eat veggies when you were in Miami?” President Spyros asked, his voice balanced despite the  bougatsa in his mouth.

He has started eating.

“I hated veggies cos it’s basically leaves, dad” Xanthe offered.

“And now you’re letting go of the hate cos what? You like her that much?”

“It was love at first sight, don’t blame me. But that Sergeant…Four. He said something about how she’s married, and I’ve been thinking” Xanthe said with a slight frown.

“She was betrothed to him by her parents doesn’t mean she belongs to him. Her parents are dead anyways, and all she has is her uncles. I’ll have to speak to the uncles. I already sent them an invite” President Spyros replied.

“But what about Four himself? Someone who drove a car containing 4 human bombs and escaped the rocky earthquake? He doesn’t seem simple” Xanthe dropped his fork.

“He got transferred to Indonesia” President Spyros broke the news.

“What! For real?” Xanthe spranged up.

“You don’t believe?” President Spyros wiped his mouth carefully with a napkin.

“No. I know you have a long-term alliance with the president of Indonesia, but I wasn’t expecting you to fill the bilateral agreement with Four. That’s sudden” Xanthe said.

He sat back slowly. “But I like it. I like that fact that he’s gone without getting hurt. He looks like a good person” he said.

“You should visit the base tomorrow, take Teal on a shopping spree and engrave yourself in her memories. I wasn’t joking when I told you I want my grandchildren to come from her” President Spyros continued.

“I know, won’t be long now” Xanthe smiled brightly.

—

[Cantonment, Bazaar Supermarket]

“Cheers!!!” 

And that was followed by the clinking of beer glasses from Morgan and Stormy and their group of little minion ladies.

They came here to drink after they left the assembly hall.

Armies are free to go out and drink today. It’s a free day cos of the ceremony, and they’re using it to their satisfaction.

“I can’t even express my joy, to think that I’d be the one in that Base Prison instead of her if we hadn’t planned? Gawd…I love you Stormy!” Morgan gushed out happily, hanging her arm on Stormy’s shoulder.

“Let’s be friends forever, nothing can ever come between us” she said.

“Nothing” Stormy winked, and they kissed each other’s cheeks before drinking again under the envious eyes of their minions.

“Now that Snowman is going to Indonesia tomorrow, who’s gonna be the new leader of Maelstrom squad?” A minion asked.

“Who else? Sierra of course” Stormy snickered.

“Then it’s our luck. Sierra is like our base-mother. We’re safe” Morgan shrugged.

“You can say that again, and Teal is definitely cooked.” Stormy smiled, and the smile turned to a grin till the others joined.

“But then…why is Quentin still not picking your calls?” Stormy asked Morgan.

“No idea” Morgan replied.

“Hey!” That voice broke into their circle, and Morgan gasped in recognition, spranging up to see Quentin standing behind their table in the scanty supermarket.

“Quentin!” She gushed shockingly.

“Why haven’t you been picking your calls! You left Morgan worried!” Stormy shouted.

“I got into and accident that morning after I left Mirza hotel, and I lost my phone. I’ve been healing at the hospital” Quentin explained, showing his peeled forearms.

“OMG! Babe! I’m so sorry!” Morgan started crying childishly as she checked them out.

“They’re healed now, you don’t have to cry” Quentin smiled.

“But then who exactly are you? How can you enter this cantonment when you’re not one of the civilians signed by the government?” Stormy asked.

“His father is a bigwig in the political network, so enough with the questions, Stormy.” Morgan defended, throwing her arms on Quentin’s shoulders.

“I missed you, especially your sweet cock” she shamelessly confessed, dragging him into a corner in the supermarket while unbuttoning her uniform already.

“They’ve started again. Lesson never leaned” Stormy muttered, downing her beer.

—

[Base, Training Ground]

“Teal left the communal dinning and went to Snowman’s Unit that night when the video was posted, so he’s the only one who can help” April said, her voice desperate.

The news of Teal’s arrest has circulated round the base before the promotion ceremony even ended.

Problem now is how to rescue her.

“Snowman is flying out and has refused to help according to Sergeant Kash, what to do?” Shannon asked.

“I’ll have to meet Snowman. Even if it means prostrating in front of him” Rook said.

“You can’t do that” Theo replied from the side.

“Oh I can. It’s my best friend we’re talking about here and who knows how fucked up the Base Prison is!?” Rook yelled at him.

Theo went silent.

“Theo is right. According to Sergeant Kash, Snowman seemed to be very mad at Teal and when he brought her up, Snowman threatened to punch him to death” Shannon said.

“What! Why would he be that pissed?” April replied.

At this point, Brent stood from the fallen punching bag he has been sitting on.

“It’s my fault” he said, and Rook was the first to face him before the others.

“What do you mean it’s your fault?” He asked.

Brent shoved his hand into his shaven head.

“It’s my fault” he muttered, confusing them more.

Paine is sitting on a wet brick not far from the bunch, and as he stared at them, he felt Abbey’s phone in his pocket.

One video from this phone will liberate Teal, but why should he release it when he hates her?

Also, Teal is not his target audience for the secrets on that phone. There are many others.

He sighed, lulling his head to the side.

Right beside him, Skye sat, watching him with hawk-view.

His abilities are peak, and his intuitions never lie.

Right now, he feels like Paine is hiding something, behind the pain of Abbey’s death in his eyes, and maybe he’s gonna find out what it is.

Paine’s eyes met with his own, and when Paine saw him staring, he smirked.

“Stop staring, Specialist Skye. Or I’ll dig out your organ of vision.” He said, jumping down the brick and leaving the place.

“Hardtack, but will be worth it” Skye mumbled.

—

[Base Prison]

The straight creaking of the iron door made Teal turn around on her spot, her hands stiffening.

She has been standing in the middle of the godawful room since she got tired of sitting, and as she expected whoever it is to come in, she swallowed nothing.

Her expectations were madly high, but they fell low, and disappointment set in when Sierra came in instead.

Why was she low-key expecting him?

She didn’t revel in that disappointment for long though, cos Sierra is wearing a different uniform with five chevrons and rockers, then two stars.

Obviously, it’s a higher rank than Four’s. Does that mean??…

Wait…Major Sergeant?

Her eyes widened at her own realization, and Sierra smiled as Allegra came in after her.

“Yeah, you guessed right in your mind. I’m the Major Sergeant of this base as from today, and I’m like the General’s second in command. You should accord some respect and give me my salutations now” she said.

Teal didn’t move, her palms just balled up like kitten paws.

“Oh you think Four is still around? Poor you, you know nothing…do you? He got transferred to Indonesia by the president’s orders, and now you’re at my mercy.” Sierra laughed, and Allegra joined in the laughter as it turned shriller.

Teal’s throat tightened around nothing, and her balled fists came off on their own.

“What!” She found herself sounding shocked, and as much as she hates it, she doesn’t care.

“Why?” She walked fast to Sierra. “Why would the president transfer him out of the country when Usman is still alive?”

“You must really think you still have the right to question me” Sierra raised her fist at her, fast like a thunderbolt.

Teal caught the hit with her palm, twisting that roll, but Sierra was able to untwist it, then she slammed a wicked blow to Teal’s jaw.

Teal didn’t snooze, she returned that blow to Sierra’s jaw,. Hot as blowtorch. Raw like a witch’s cry.

Sierra punctuated her with an elbow on the jugular, then she proceeded to jabbing her brutally on the belly.

Teal swung around, returning the lethal hits to her jugular and belly— and a bonus on the chest.

They both staggered away from each other. Steps rushed, and breaths overflowing from their molten lungs.

Allegra glowered, wondering what’s going on.

“Wench!!” Sierra took off her cap and lunged at Teal again.

Teal strengthened the stand of her second leg on the ground, then she raised the first one in a tsunami-level kick—one of the rare techniques she learnt from her uncles.

Shockingly, Sierra raised that same leg at her, and their kicks met at the same time, throwing the two of them back to the heaping ground.

Teal got wounded on her shoulder, and Sierra got a cut on her leg.

They stood at the same time, again.

Sweats riding their skins like waves, hate fusing in their eyeballs like bees.

Allegra’s mouth is wide by the door.

What’s really really going on? 

Why can’t one defeat the other? Why does Sierra and Teal have the same techniques and strength?

Why is…

Her thoughts got broken when the two ladies lunged at themselves again, both rolling punches like gifts and throwing it at each other with the same frequency. Same energy.

Teal’s punch met Sierra’s chin with a loud shatter, and Sierra immediately returned it to Teal’s head, nearly bursting the skull.

Another punch entered Sierra’s mouth from Teal, and her mouth bled colour, but Sierra returned that punch to Teal’s belly, and Teal bled from the mouth too.

Punch. Bleed. Punch.

Punch. Bleed. Punch.

That’s the continuous procedure till they both drew long breaths and stepped away from each other.

“We need to leave” Allegra pulled Sierra, and Sierra didn’t stop looking back at Teal, wondering what’s going on till they got out of the prison.

They went to Allegra’s Unit, and Allegra let go of her.

“What was that? Why does she match up? Why is your stamina on the same level as hers?” Allegra asked.

“You expect me to know?” Sierra glared, grabbing her phone and dialling her mum.

The line rang for one straight minute before it picked.

“You promised to be here for me mum!!! You promised to come for me today! It’s my day of joy where the fûck are you!! Dad is taking Four away from me and I need you to talk some senses into him! Also, there’s someone who matches my energy here and it has never happened before! What’s really going on!!!” She yelled, hitting herself on the wall.

“I warned you against shouting, didn’t I? Are you begging to be chastised?” Empress’s cold voice filtered in.

Sierra drew in a loud breath.

“Now, explain again calmly. What’s going on?” Empress said.

—

[Sergeant Kash’s Suite]

“He really won’t reject the transfer, and it’s bothersome. I can’t imagine working under Sierra. She works with strength, not brains” Kash said, sitting restlessly on the couch.

“Even if he rejects it, it’s impossible. It’s the President we’re talking about” Cassie replied, coming out of the kitchen with a tray containing dinner which she set on the dinning.

“He has a betrothed wife, he should at least stay because of Teal” Kash replied.

“Betrothed doesn’t mean he likes her” Cassie shrugged.

“But he doesn’t hate her either” Kash replied.

“So it’s between the margin?” Cassie asked.

“I can’t even say. It’s hard to understand that man Cassie. His head works differently” Kash replied.

“Just eat dinner first, then Snowman can come next” Cassie replied, entering the kitchen to text Axel.

Cassie: Are you fine? I’m worried.

—

[Base Prison]

Thanks to Teal’s wristwatch, it’s easy to count time, though the watch is a little broken from the D-Sergeants drags.

She has spent 13 hours here, and the time is currently 10pm.

The dull green bulb on the ceiling is manageably bright, so it’s not very bad except for the silence.

The silence got more annoying, and she could see the moon peering in through the few cracks of the walls.

It’s even colder here than the enclosed pavilion, but that’s not an issue to think about right now.

She’s squatting beside the bed, and her arms are wrapped around her folded legs.

The blood on her lips from the fight with Sierra is still there, she doesn’t care about wiping.

But Four is leaving this country?

How did the President even come to such ludicrous and evil conclusion?

Is that even making any sense?

Obviously, Four is Usman’s only match, so when Usman announces his next attack, who’d face him?

Sierra? The same person whose strength is on the same level as hers?

And talking about Sierra, how is that even possible?

Her uncles techniques were created for her alone.

Refined for her alone.

Cemented into her alone.

So why? Why does Sierra know them as much as she does?

Her uncles owe her explanations, but she’s not getting any if she continues staying in this godforsaken place.

A crackle came from the door, and she spranged to her feet, hoping she won’t get disappointed this time.

Her heartbeats picked up—not in fear, but in heavy anticipation and broadened hope.

It was his scent first, and she felt her jaws loosen as he stepped in, slowly but intentional like he came here to kill her.

The plasters on his temples are gone, but the wounds are still there, though not fresh anymore, and now she wished she had offered to treat them.

His presence seized the air like a grim reaper’s, and the shadow behind his huge body is bigger than life.

With each step he took towards her, she felt his dark intents, and the danger lurking in his eyeballs like an ouija board.

Something told her to move, and she did. She moved.

Stepping back with each step he took closer to her.

It’s like a cat and mouse game, and the respective roles of each of them is obvious.

She took the fifth step, and her back hit the dusty wall behind her, causing her to jerk a little.

She looked behind for a beat before throwing her glance back to him.

He’s still walking, still coming closer like a flood, his gaze still pointed.

“You shouldn’t leave for Indonesia, the citizens need you” she said before she knew it.

“And you don’t?” He replied, his voice eerie and tainted with something carnal—something abyssal.

“Why would I need you?” She replied with another gulp, and she saw his lips compress into a thin line. His chin jutted out.

“You came back to this base, marked yourself as my wife even before I did, and you think you can go on dates with a twat, smile with a twat, get touched by a twat and kiss a twat?” His harsh voice burned through the space, and her brows furrowed with both shock and question.

He knows? 

He knows.

“It’s a goodbye night, so enjoy the woes I brought with it” he  whispered, the venom seeping deep.

By now, he’s already with her, and she could feel his incisive words and breaths on her pores with in-depth penetrations—just like his eyes.

“I didn’t ki—”

She was cut off roughly when Four’s big palm wrapped like a belt on her throat, and she gasped as the familiar sensations crawled on her throat under his chokehold.

“Too late, bury the explanation” Four whispered with beastly need, and then his pale lips came crowning her bloody lips, kissing off her words and stealing the remaining letters into his demanding mouth.

Her eyes widened, and her fingers clutched at his uniform, digging dents into the material as her back pierced into the jagged wall.

Her knees moved to stab him, but he caught it with his hand, pressing her kneecap so hard that she grumbled into his mouth.

He ate up that grumble, unravelled her mouth and tossed his tongue around the warmness and slickness of her mouth.

Her lips curved against his, fingers tearing his shirt, knees jerking on his palm as he devoured her with reckless abandon, eating into the blood.

He kissed her like his lips were the question, and hers are the answers.

He kissed her angrily, like her lips owned her an apology.

He kissed her like her tongue is a meal he’s willing to pay a lifetime for.

He kissed her with ferocity—insanity and yearning fused into one.

He let go with a flick, and immediately their lips pulled away, she raised an hand to his face, but he caught it and brought it down, his eyes taking the red again.

“I hate you…so very much” she hatefully muttered, her swollen lips shaking with his assault.

“As you should. Get on that bed on your fours, Teal. You’re receiving the ten punishments before I leave” he replied, his words heated like a sculpting knife.

“Ten…what?” Her eyes widened.

“It was 6 before, but for the date and the kiss with the twat, it’s plus 4” he replied sadistically.

“I didn’t kiss him! And who are you to even do this!” She shouted, the green light seeming to be mocking her by brightening more.

“Eleven” he replied flatly.

“I’m not getting on that bed” she sneered, feeling the lingering fire on her lips from his kiss.

“Twelve” he replied.

“You’re sick” she muttered.

“Deeply so, thirteen” he replied.

“I hate you…” She whispered.

“Feels like you do, fourteen” he said, and her teeth clenched.

Knowing how twisted he is, he’s only gonna keep counting, and her punishments will only keep heightening, so she got on the bed.

She fell on all fours—knees and palms flattening on the square mattress which squeaked.

“You’re spanking, isn’t it? Get it over with.” She muffled.

“Spanks?” Four smirked, dirtier than mud water as his eyes gleamed.

“Palm spanks are for stupid gentlemen, and I’m not one.” He said, and then he’s flipping his belt apart.

He pulled the belt out of the hoops and wrapped the metal buckle around his palm, then his hand latched to her trousers.

He ripped it apart like it’s nothing, exposing her ass cheeks to the green light and his dark eyes.

Her palms sweated, gumming defiantly with the sheets.

“Count” he growled, raising the belt to the air.

TBC.

Next Episode 

Previous Episode 

 

TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire – Episode 29&30

(Her Blade, His Neck )

________________________

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

__________________________

A clusterf+ckèd look balanced on Xanthe’s eyes, but Teal’s was worse.

Her shock-filled eyes are still on the man who just pronounced her as ‘married’ in front of a stranger.

And the craziest part? He looks normal—blank in the face like he’s not the one who just blurted the shenanigans.

Four is not easy to read—no—he’s not even readable but his dark irises are overly ominous right now.

Xanthe cleared his throat, his smile still latching to his expression as he shoved his right hand into his pocket.

“Did I annoy you, Mr. DeVille? Sorry, she was too beautiful to ignore at my party. Next time, hold your bride” he said, his voice bringing Teal back to the present.

“I’m not married, especially not to him” She quickly denied.

“Last night, by my damn door…” Four started, his voice damned, drawing a crawling sensation on her skin.

Her eyes widened again, and she quickly held him by her second hand, sinking her nails into the visible flesh of his wrist.

It didn’t cause him pain—or if it did, he didn’t show it.

She’s not gonna have him narrate how he assaulted her last night to a stranger, which she’s very sure he’s capable of doing.

This man has no limitations whatsoever.

She was saved when a butler came to get Xanthe, and the president’s son followed the butler into the garden.

Teal faced Four almost immediately…

“I’m not married to you. I dunno what dubious deal your parents made with my late parents, but I’m sure it was something corny and they had no choice but bend for your parents. I know my parents well, and they’d never betroth their fairy to a crazy man like you who assaults females by dipping their hands around their bodies” she said, unable to stop the incessant flow of breaths from her nose.

Now that she’s standing in front of him, she’s able to see him all and pay attention to certain details.

His hair is styled back, and he’s wearing a tuxedo too, but his is tailormade, and it made his height sharper—like a businessman you’d see on the cover of Forbes.

His muted eyes are trained on her, and that alone should make her scared, but she has learnt not to show her fear in front of him even if she develops any.

He’d feed on it and taunt her with it later.

The calm timbre of his voice broke into the scene softly…

“You walked to my unit with your own legs, Ambrose. You started the game, and I simply played along. Are you still smart-mouthed like this because I didn’t ram my fingers into your pusxy and finger your brains out?” He talked without minding the partygoers who’re passing by.

The darkness in his eyes thickened, and Teal instantly felt bile rise in her throat at his rawness.

Will she ever win against him?

“You’re shameless” she spat, and he gripped her forearm, pulling her closer with it so their faces are almost colliding.

She felt cold air licking her nape, and her deviant eyes spit fire at his face which he just put out with his icy demeanor.

“Since you know that, try not to provoke me. I don’t like it, and I’ll also make sure you don’t like the outcome. That’d be 5 by the way” he gravelly said, releasing her.

The part of her arm that he held still burned even after he let go, and she had to rub it to kill the fire.

“5 what?” She found herself asking as she stared at his behind.

“Future punishments, we’re still on the count… Ambrose” he replied, entering the garden and leaving her standing there like a homeless pup.

“Motherf+cker” she muttered, balling her fists as she looked around, still searching for hidden anomalies.

When she found none, she stepped into the garden too, and she was greeted by the colourful bursts of the bright lights and the memorable smell of the flowers…

Yellow begonia and orchid.

Their scents sprayed across every table, and Teal couldn’t stop the smile that pulled her lips as she stared at the unreal beauty.

She loves orchids, but it’s not supposed to be obvious, so she deleted that smile.

The party is in full swing. 

Men and women are dressed for the occasion and are chatting animatedly among each other.

Classical music played in the background, and somehow, the sound gave her a sense of serenity—a promise that everything is gonna turn out well even when it’s obvious things would soon go south.

*No eating or drinking*.

That’s the first rule, so despite the several servers lowering trays at her, she never touched the glasses.

She stood in the middle of the hall, watching everything closely.

Where the hell is Four?

She touched the bud in her ear at a point, connecting to the others.

“Any anomalies yet?” She asked.

“None seen” Rook replied from the compound.

“Not yet” Shannon replied from the top buildings.

That only upped Teal’s restlessness, and when the president made his entry, she had to move out of the way, giving him a bow as the rich guests welcomed him with applauses. Her eyes shone with realization.

Did she just see the president of this country face-to-face? 

She’d have snapped some pictures to brag to her uncles later, but she’s on duty, so she can only view.

President Spyros saw her even before she moved away, and the old man smiled benevolently.

“From the base?” He asked, taking a step closer.

“Yes, Mr. President” Teal said blankly, and he gave her a long stare which made her feel uncomfortable, then his eyes found his son who’s in the middle of the crowd.

Xanthe came closer.

By now…the guests attention is on them.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” President Spyros said openly.

“I told her that already” Xanthe smiled.

“You both met already?” President Spyros said surprisingly.

“Yes dad” he continued his excessive smile which is now very unneeded.

“Hope you make fast moves, she looks like the type who’d keep a home together” President Spyros said, and the applause from the guests resumed as most of them laughed at his straightforwardness.

Finally…Teal felt him.

Four.

She felt him behind her head somewhere around the crowd, and she knows he’s probably glaring daggers at her right now, but who cares?

In fact, anything to provoke him.

“I’d love to know you more too, Xanthe” she knowingly said, and Xanthe gave her a nod.

“You owe me your number before you leave this party” 

“Sure” she said without a smile, and Xanthe finally left with the president to the cake table.

Teal turned around, and her eyes clicked on Four’s from across the garden.

He’s standing in front of a pole, and he’s even in a height competition with the pole as his eyes unraveled her like a criminal.

“6” he mouthed with a slanted smirk, and she was about to smirk back when she felt something else…

Someone suddenly walked past her, and their bodies brushed slightly.

The body felt different.

It’s a joyous gathering tonight, so everyone is happy, and there should be no reason for anyone to be shaking.

But the body that just walked past has chills, and she could feel it within that millisecond, so she turned around, but the person already mixed with the crowd.

She saw no one around herself.

Four noticed her restlessness and within one sec, he was with her.

“A shaky body touched mine just now” she said.

Four tapped his bud, twice.

“First anomaly detected.High alert ” he said.

“Copy that” Rook and Kash’s voice came from the other end.

Four led the way into the crowd, and Teal followed as discreetly as possible.

—

[Compound]

Immediately the anomaly report came from the garden, Rook and Theo strengthened their defences in the compound.

Though…the tension rolling off the two of them is palpable, but that’s definitely not a topic for now as their duty comes first.

Theo was the first to notice the second anomaly—the compound lights.

They’re flickering, but it’s not the normal type of flicker.

It’s a faint one which would only be noticed by those paying attention, and at each dull flicker, the brightness decrease.

“Second anomaly noted” Theo said, tapping his bud.

“Copied” Kash replied very fast from the other side.

There are two powerhouses in this mansion, so Theo and Rook split, each going to the different powerhouses.

—

[Rooftop]

Everyone is holding their sniper rifles in place on top of the white bricks, and their index fingers are ready behind the triggers, their eyes ready behind their microscopes.

Kash is in the middle.

Shannon and April are by his right while Brent and Abbey are by his left, and they’re all on a knee, waiting for any slight sign to come so they’d spring into action.

Everyone is calm except Abbey who’s busy thinking about Axel’s proposal.

He has to ruin this mission. It’s already going too well.

Something has to happen to muddle everything. He has to make a move.

“Do not blink. Do not fuckin blink. Eyes on the main mansion” Kash sternly ordered, and everyone’s vigilance got heightened.

And then it came, their own sign.

On the rooftop of the main mansion, a shadow wrapped in black jumped down the white brick.

He’s covered by the shade of the double roofing, but thanks to their microscopic view, he’s seen.

“Brent” Kash ordered, and just when Brent was about to pull the trigger of his rifle at the shadow, Abbey staggered, acting dizzy.

He fell on him.

Instead of the shadow, Brent’s bullet flew to one of the LED bulbs on top of the mansion, shattering it to pieces.

Kash was smart enough to cover up though.

He pulled his own trigger, shooting the shadow who fell on the roof and rolled down, landing in the mansion pool at the backyard.

“Brent, are you high?” Kash faced him.

“Abbey fell on me!” Brent defended.

“I didn’t, are you drunk?” Abbey scoffed.

“You f+ckin fell on me when I was about to pull the trigger, f+cker! You intentionally did it!” Brent angrily slammed his rifle head on Abbey’s forehead.

“Brent!” Shannon and April shouted from the other side.

“I swear he fell on me!” Brent shouted back as Abbey’s forehead bled into his mouth.

“Drop your rifle and sleep on the ground, Abbey. Face the sky” Kash ordered.

“What!” Abbey gasped.

“Now!” Kash snarled, and Abbey left his rifle, laying flat on his back and facing the dark sky.

“Go check the body, April.” Kash ordered.

“Yes sir” April replied, running down the roof.

Shannon and Brent stayed on either side of Kash, and they resumed their takeoff positions.

Abbey snickered on the ground, wishing he could push them all off the roof.

—

[Military Base, Axel’s Unit]

The soft knock on the door made Axel come out of his room.

He hasn’t stopped smoking since the squad went for the mission, and his only expectation right now is for them to come back with failure.

Even though he sent Abbey to ruin it, he’s still restless, and the smokes did nothing to douse his restlessness.

His upper body is bare, and black boxers is the only thing hanging on his waist as he pulled the door open, revealing Cassie.

Her outfit is the first thing that caught his attention. A crocheted skirt and the matching tie-up top which hugged her breàsts and left out her hiplines.

And that innocent look is in her eyes again. Damn that innocent look.

She walked in, and Axel closed the door on them.

“Finally gave it some thought?” He said, keeping his smile intact like a treasure.

“Listen, Axel. This will end whenever one of us gets tired, and you must give me whatever I want anytime I want it—money or material things. Also… protect Shannon my sister” she said, her voice highly decisive like she has really pondered over this for long before coming.

“Fair enough” Axel replied, and she immediately slid her skirt away from her waist, letting it fall at her ankles before she stepped out of it.

She made to take off her top too, but Axel stopped her.

“No, not yet. I’d love to take this step by step. I get the low view today, then tomorrow the top one” he said, coming closer to latch his hands to her lace underwear.

He tore it away, and Cassie wasn’t allowed to gasp before he shoved the shredded underwear into her mouth, blocking her breaths.

Axel pushed her to the wall and flung his belt apart, aggressively zipping down before freeing his length.

He didn’t stroke, he didn’t wait.

He just pushed the whole thing into her, and her teeth grinded against the p@nty in her mouth as he began moving.

He didn’t go slow or nice.

Right from the first move, he slashed her, ruined her with every brutal thrust, moulding her against the hard wall.

Cassie’s saliva wet the underwear, and her cries are heavily muffled as he s+xed her in the hardest way she has ever experienced, tearing her p+§§y apart.

The sound of their slapping skins is like an opera crescendo, and when the underwear fell from her mouth, her teeth scrapped against the wall as her cries rolled out with her tears.

“Go slow, Axel. Go slow! Go slow urggg!! A-xel…Aaa…go— ahhh gawd!!!!”

—

[Allegra’s Suite]

The hourglass on the table seemed to be running faster than actual time.

The ballotini is pouring so fast that the watchers had a hard time watching it.

Sierra and Allegra.

The two are in different corners in the lounge, and as they watched the hourglass, their anxiety levels rose.

“Are you sure you’ll get what you want this time?” Allegra asked.

“So far I remain Sierra” Sierra replied, and Allegra tried to calm.

Seconds turned into minute, and minute to minutes.

The hourglass was nearly at the finishing point when Sierra’s phone rang, and she rushed to pick it up.

It’s her mum.

“Yes mum?” 

“Done” the woman’s voice came from the other side.

“Done?” Sierra said in disbelief.

“I’m Pedro’s first love, sweetie. What Yulia can’t take from him, I’ll take. You’re in, and you’ll remain my sweet, sweet daughter for life. Update me about everything later” the woman replied, and the line went flat.

Sierra turned around to look at Allegra, and they both screamed out at once.

“Yes!!!” They hugged like besties from abyss, but the buzzing of their phones made them break it.

There’s a new update on the base group, posted by the General himself.

General’s Office: The 30th Promotion Ceremony of this base  is fixed for two days time.

“Yes!!!!” Allegra and Sierra hugged again.

“Gawd!!! I can’t wait to see you wear that uniform!!!” Allegra shrieked.

—

[General’s Office]

Pedro hasn’t left his office since the squad left for the mission.

He’s standing in the middle of the office, staring hollow at nothing in particular.

The only thing that can ease his tension right now is him hearing that the mission is successful.

Nothing else.

There’s an Ambrose couple painting on the office wall, plastered carefully between the national anthem and the pledge. 

His eyes met with it, and he went closer, and he nodded at the tiger in the painting.

“Rue and Vaughn Ambrose. You both didn’t deserve to die that way…I’m sorry” he muttered.

He stared behind when the door opened.

Yulia came in, and he gave her a smile which she returned.

“You didn’t eat dinner, so I’m here to kidnap you. Go back with me and eat” she held his arm, taking off his cap also.

“I’m on the edge. If the mission fails, then the president mansion will blow up in flames, and the military will probably be diffused” Pedro replied.

Yulia stroked his cheek.

“I’m on the edge too, but not eating will only worsen the level. You should eat and make strength to take any news” she pulled him towards the door, and he followed.

“By the way, you didn’t tell me the promotion ceremony would come that fast. Who’s getting promoted this time?” Yulia asked curiously.

“It’s a secret” Pedro replied, though his mind is webbed with contemplations.

Things will definitely get messy, but he’d wait till that day comes, and he’d handle it.

There’s always a solution.

—

[President’s Mansion]

Teal and Four traced the whole garden…, searching for the suspicious figure with their alerts blinking red.

Teal’s mind’s eye is excessively bright, and Four’s own is probably an halogen.

Teal nearly collided into a server as she slid out from below a table, but Four pulled her out of the way, and he didn’t let her go till the server disappeared into the middle of chatty guests.

Together, they cornered another angle, and then they saw a man sitting calmly in the middle of the guests with no friends.

No presence. Nothing.

He looks suspiciously calm that they began going to him.

He stood immediately, sliding out through the backdoor of the garden.

Teal and Four ran after him, bypassing guests and jumping over the garden door.

They met him behind the garden like he has been waiting for them, and they both pulled out their guns, aiming him from the same spot.

“Fine…fine.” he turned around to face them with his arms raised.

“You know how human bombs work, right? You shoot me, you detonate the bomb. It’s a ten minutes duration timer, so be careful” he said, his tone hopeless.

“How much did Usman pay you to make you into a human bomb? You planted a bomb inside yourself with surgery, and you’ll kill yourself just to kill the masses? Are you insane!!?” Teal shouted.

“Usman doesn’t need to pay. We’re his followers, and dying for him is a sacred vow! Our life belongs to him!” The thin terrorist shouted back, grinning satanically.

“You’re scared to die, aren’t you?” Teal replied, and his grin paused.

“Your body touched mine earlier, and it was shaking. You’re scared of death!” Teal continued, and then his grin returned.

“Bull, we’re five inside this mansion, and I think one is already down at the rooftop 3 minutes ago, meaning in about 7 minutes, the first bomb will blow” he said.

Teal tried to use her earbud to alert Kash immediately, but seems all network has been flushed out of this mansion, so it’s irresponsive.

She started trying to get the router out of her sleeves…

“Go over” Four ordered aptly.

“Yes, Master” Teal fastly replied, rushing off.

With unyielding force, Four and the terrorist lunged towards each other, and a step before Four would get to him, he went down, so the terrorist’s fist flew past his head.

Opportunistically, Four threw his knuckles into his belly, punching him with an inhumane energy.

He flew some meters away, landing on a pile of fallen flowers and spurting blood from the mouth.

He looked at Four shockingly, definitely not expecting that insane strength from someone who lived in his room for years.

Four stood straight, straightening his stance with ease.

“I can’t kill you, yet. But you can take some lessons. I’ve been keeping this shit in for a long time” he said, his voice lacking warmth or coldness. It’s just there like a duplicate.

The terrorist suddenly pulled out a gun from nowhere, his movements sharp and carefully cut as he fired at Four’s legs.

Four flung himself to the side, hitting his own back on the flowery garden wall. Yellow orchids plucked off, falling like rainfall.

His earbud fell unnoticed.

He snuck into the shadows of the flowers, kicking the gun away from the terrorist before backhanding him on the throat with thick lethality.

His mouth opened as more blood flooded out, and Four gripped his tongue, forcefully pulling it out of his free throat. 

His gurgles splashed Four’s ironed face with crimson, and together, they slammed into the garden, bursting into the party and startling the guests who stood to their feet with horror beaten to their faces.

“Protect the president and the guests!” The mansion guards shouted through a loud voice aid.

A bunch of them formed a circle, and President Spyros was immediately covered together the the guests who’re now in one side of the scattered hall.

Without giving them audience, Four picked a fork from a table and stabbed the terrorist’s tongue, tearing it out with intended cruelty.

The terrorist’s shaky body fell on a table, then it rolled off, landing on the ground.

Blood pooled around it.

Four wiped his bloody lip and eye corner with his thumb, then he slowly looked up, his eyes clashing with Xanthe’s.

—

Teal hasn’t even gotten close to the rooftop when she was blocked by another one of the men.

Fearlessly, she drew out her knife and went flat, swinging the blade around in a practiced swirl which made her hair sweep the ground.

Her heels are out of her feet, and as her knife sliced through the leg of the terrorist, he stumbled but maintained his stand, wanting to crush her head with a fire extinguisher which he plucking from the wall.

Teal’s moves were madly calculated as she swirled on the ground again, moving with the air before flinging him back with her legs.

Shocking him, she pulled out the wifi router from her shoulder pad and quickly connected to the rooftop…

“Human bombs! Do not kill!!” She shouted before throwing the wifi away.

She stood and received a stinging face kick, but she turned back with the third swirl.

It was nasty and wild as she shoved the man to the garden wall before stabbing him in the neck—in a non-dangeous spot, just to render him immobile.

His hands fell inert at his sides, and then…

Gore.

Blood. 

It soaked Teal’s gloves.

—

[Rooftop]

“Human bombs? Then the one we killed at the double roof!” April said, wide-eyed after they received the Intel from Teal.

Kash made to go down immediately, but Brent got in his way.

“I’ll go, let me. Trust me” he said, and Kash gave him a nod.

Brent rushed downstairs.

“But Brent is weak!” Shannon said urgently.

“He’ll be fine ” Kash stressed confidently. “We’re going downstairs”

He took Abbey’s rifle together with his own.

April and Shannon hung their rifles on their shoulders, going downstairs with him.

Abbey stood from where he has been lying, and he kicked the brick in annoyance as he took off his suit and threw it at the mounted chairs.

He ran downstairs too, and he was met with numerous party guests who’re already getting escorted out by the mansion guards.

He went to the park and looked around carefully to make sure no camera is in sight.

He messed with the first front tyre of Four’s car.

—

When Brent got to the back pool, he jumped in and pulled the terrorist body out.

The bomb on his body is already reading -5.

Meaning he has to get him out of this mansion in five minutes before he blows and kills people.

He carried the bastard on his back, dragging the bloody dead body down the poolside with difficulty.

On getting down, he continued dragging him to the park, delving through the crowd of running guests till he got to the car.

He tucked the human bomb into one of the base cars and got in with him.

By now, the bomb is reading 2 minutes.

Roughly and bravely, he screeched out of the mansion.

—

[Second Powerhouse]

As expected, Theo met one of the bloody terrorists in the powerhouse, messing with the wiring and trying to soak the mansion in darkness.

The terrorist gave him an impossible smile, and he smirked, hatred inhabiting his eyes as he remembered how these same terrorists visited his happy home last year December.

How they made his father sleep with his junior sister and how they did disgusting things to him.

“F+ck y’all!! F+ck You All!!!” He shouted with all his strength, aiming his rifle at the terrorist to shoot, but his finger began shaking on the trigger, rendering him useless.

He continued shaking,and his index refused to curl under the trigger as he stood there, his face reddening with the anger he’s supposed to fire out.

“You’re an idiot! Think you can escape Usman?” the terrorist laughed, pulling out a gun to blow him off, but Rook appeared, shooting him in his two legs.

The bastard fell to the ground with a bloodbath to his legs, and Theo’s riffle fell from him as he backed the wall, sweating like crazy and clutching his shaky hands.

Rook gave him a short look before pulling the shit terrorist out of the room.

He met a terrorist in the first powerhouse too—a minute ago—and he had shot him in the legs too just like this one.

With bloodstained hands, he dragged the two outside, meeting the rest by the park.

Four already tucked the body of the tongueless one into the second car and Teal threw the body of the one she stabbed into that same car.

Rook tossed the bodies of the remaining two, making four human bombs inside the same car.

“They’re not dead yet, bombs aren’t active, but Usman might activate it anytime at all, so they need to be out of this compound now” Kash said.

“Stay here, everyone” Four said, fishing out the car keys.

“I’ll go” Kash offered.

“It’s an order, stay here with the rest” Four replied, giving Teal a short stare before getting in the loaded car which drove out of the compound roughly.

Abbey smiled secretly at the back.

“You think he’ll be able to get the car out of the streets before it blows up? I don’t wanna imagine losing Master Sergeant, but gawd knows I can’t stop imagining” Shannon said.

“He’ll be fine, and Brent too” April replied.

“Wait… Brent?” Teal faced them.

“He drove the first human bomb away” Shannon replied.

“What!” Rook and Teal chorused.

“Brent is weak!” Rook said alarmingly.

“I don’t think that’s the main issue right now” a passing guest said, facing Abbey.

“I saw you, you messed with the front tire of the Hyundai.” She said, and Abbey frowned, masking his shock.

“What are you saying!”

“I saw you! I saw you messing with the tire when the mansion guards were ushering us, and that’s why I wasn’t able to stop you!” The guest pointed out.

Abbey pushed the woman away.

“I don’t know you! The f+ck are you talking about!”

“Wait…you mean to tell me that…apart from the human bombs in the car with Snowman, his front car tire is also faulty?” Rook said.

“Yes! He deflated it!” The guest shouted, and Abbey locked the guest by the chest this time.

“Stop lying on me! I didn’t deflate tire!” He shouted.

“She didn’t say you deflated it, she only said you messed with it” Teal smartly said, and Abbey gulped, swear bathing his temples.

“You deflated his front tire?” Rook’s eyes widened with the rest.

By now, Kash is already trying to contact Four’s earbud, but he’s not responding. He’s not even picking his calls too.

“Kneel” Teal suddenly said, snatching a rifle from April which she pointed at Abbey, her demeanor mean.

“Kneel!!!” She repeated, shoving the gun barell into Abbey’s mouth.

Abbey fell on his knees, and the others just looked on.

Kash is still trying to contact Four, so he’s not even concerned with this conversation.

The gun is still in Abbey’s throat, and his hands are up as he smelled death in his nostrils.

“Teal…” April and Shannon chorused.

“Battery… don’t shoot” Rook said, but Teal’s focus remained on Abbey who’s already freezing with the gun in his mouth.

“Now shut your f+ckin eyes and start praying for his safety, cos if he dies in that car… you’ll be the first person I’ll ever kill” Teal said.

TBC.

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