ONE: FEROCE

DANICA

The door opened. My heart skipped as soon as it did. I hated that. I hated how it always did. But there was nothing I hated more than the confidence of my tormentor.

Her heels clicked as they came into view.

I didn't move. I remained seated on the floor, legs crossed, thoughts racing.

I tried to figure out what it would be this time. But I gave up. There was no guessing what Yvonne had in mind. But one thing was for sure. It would involve pain. I couldn't remember the last time I wasn't in pain. And not just the physical.

"Bonjour, my psychotic bitch," she chirped, allowing me to imagine the grin on her face even without looking up at her.

She paced the room and I could tell she was thinking. Thinking about what to do to me that would satisfy her sadistic needs.

I tried to concentrate on anything but her.

Anything at all.

"You should at least have the decency to look at me while we exchange pleasantries," she stated, her thick accent suffocating me. Then she laughed.

"Come on. Look at me."

No.

Come on, you're being stupid. Just look at her.

No.

While battling with my thoughts, a minute had passed by and she was getting irritated by my stubbornness. I heard her let out a small laugh.

"Are you hungry?"

That's when I looked up.

As soon as my eyes met hers she smiled in victory.

"I see," is all she said.

I hadn't eaten eaten in two days. She knew that because she gave the orders around here and no one had brought me any food.

Why?

I wish I knew.

I looked back down in defeat. I would've cried but I had stopped doing that years ago after she drained me of all my tears.

Then I felt her disgusting fingers on my chin, forcing me to look up.

I did, with a scowl.

Her eyes held so much hatred. It broke me every time. I knew I didn't have to care about that but I did.

I spent all those years wondering what I ever did to her to deserve this kind of treatment.

She was a stranger to me from the first day.

With time, I got to understand her madness and her spite driven mindset. But another thing I couldn't understand was... why me?

After a while of intense staring and silence, I wanted to hurt her. I wanted to give her back a fraction of what she made me feel every single day. So I opened my mouth and bit her thumb.

Hard.

She snatched it away with nothing but a frown. I felt warmth spread on the inside as blood dripped from her perfectly done nails. I could feel it on my bottom lip. I could taste it.

Take that.

I smiled feeling rather victorious. But my smile faded when she didn't retaliate on the spot.

Shit.

I knew what it meant when she felt she needed to take her time in causing just as much pain and even more.

She walked out silently, swaying her hips with as much confidence as she had come in with.

The silence I had enjoyed enveloped me once more.

Only this time, my heart was racing as I thought of all the possibilities.

The door opened after a long while, sending a small shiver down my spine.

She brought me food?

I stared at the plate as my brain rapidly calculated her next step.

"Eat. You'll need as much strength as you can get," she said, walking out.

Poison?

Nah...

She would never kill me so easily.

Besides, Yvonne would never grant me the relief that comes with death.

There is no escaping now.

...

NOIR

"Look, I just don't want you to do anything you'll regret later. I expect you to be here running things instead of going on unnecessary trips."

Alex.

I sighed.

"Alex, its just one week. You're being paranoid. Besides, I'm killing two birds with one stone," I replied with a shrug.

"Whatever man. Just try not to do anything stupid," he muttered looking out the glass walls of my office.

"Stupid? I don't do stupid." I scoffed.

"Buying off the hotel because of poor room service was a smart choice?"

"I don't do stuff like that because I'm stupid," I scoffed, holding up a finger.

"Its because I can."

He laughed.

"Remind me how you became CEO again."

I shook my head.

My brothers are just way dumber than me.

"Just call the airport, please. I want the jet ready by Friday."

He stared at me.

"Yes sir," Alex replied mockingly.

"Don't do that," I replied rolling my eyes.

"As you wish, your majesty." I secretly enjoyed the playful side of him. We'd been friends since high school.

My secretary walked in scrolling through her tablet. "Sir—"

She was cut off by my annoying best friend.

"You stand before Asher Noir, first of him name."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Catherine frowned. She was new to this.

"Protector of the realms, king of the Noir Empire."

"Could you just shut up and leave my office, please?" I said to him with a scowl.

Catherine laughed. "I guess I'll come back later."

...

By Tuesday, I had cancelled meetings and rebooked appointments.

I slept through my flight because I was already tired. I needed a break and this was my only chance. My father would always be there, breathing down my neck and dictating my every move.

As soon as I landed, the car was waiting.

I sat in anticipation and a bit of anxiety.

Just then I received a call from my father. I sighed.

"Yes father. I just landed."

That conversation wasn't unusual.

We didn't talk much and I didn't care.

I'd always felt that his only job was to train and watch as I become a man. He made me believe that.

So looking out of my matte black BMW I admired the beautiful lights that illuminated the streets of Paris.

I missed home, even though I spent most of my life elsewhere.

I missed my family. I smiled remembering the awkward dinners and family meetings with my two brothers. And I couldn't wait to surprise them. Only my father knew about my arrival and I was sure he wouldn't tell them.

But the one thing I would not do was stay at home with them. I didn't like the idea of being under the same roof as my father for more than twenty four hours. So I settled for a hotel.

The car pulled up at Starlight Hotel.

They took my luggage and I walked in. And as I did, the lobby went silent.

I stared back at the people that stared at me, surprise evident in their eyes.

Then after a moment of tension, they all went back to their casual activities. I shrugged.

Walking up to the receptionist, I saw her eyes widen. She ran her fingers through her dirty blonde hair trying to look more presentable. She even straightened up a bit. It didn't work.

"Monsieur Noir," she acknowledged looking down at her laptop and slamming the keyboard as fast as she could with shaky fingers.

"You know me," I stated.

"Everyone knows you sir," she said, giving me her best smile.

I scoffed as she placed my card on the counter.

"Your room key. Elena will escort you to your suite."

"You might not know this but I've been here several times. I don't need an escort," I said trying to avoid the whole elevator scenario.

"Unless things have changed?" I asked raising a brow. I doubted that anyone would stay in that suite at that price.

"Not at all. We're just trying to offer you the best treatment. You are, after all, our most important guest."

I flashed a small, forced smile. "Merci"

Elena stood up swiftly, smoothening her tight skirt with her palm.

"Suis moi."

She made sure she walked in front if me, swaying her hips a little too much to draw my attention. I followed impatiently, rolling my eyes.

The elevator doors opened and as predicted, we were the only ones in it.

Here we go again...

Please don't speak. You can't seduce me no matter how hard you try.

"So you're back. We missed you. I missed you." she said. I remembered her from the last time I was here but only because she creeped me out.

"That's not very professional now, is it?" I asked raising a brow.

"I'm sorry. I can't help it. I feel drawn to you." she said, taking a few steps closer and I tried not to push her away.

"Does that make you uncomfortable?" She asked in a voice I'm sure she thought was seductive.

I scoffed. "Yes, it does."

She licked her lips and placed her palm on my chest, making me regret booking a suite on the top floor.

I've had enough of this.

I ripped her hand away. "Touch me again and I'll make you regret knowing me."

Just then, the doors opened and I walked out, leaving her shocked and embarassed.

I unlocked the door to my suite and walked it.

I sighed as I finally took off my jacket and let my body fall onto the couch.

But then I glanced at my watch and it was already a few minutes to 7.

Shit.

I grabbed my jacket and made my way out of the hotel. It was time to go home.

DANICA

For a moment, I was locked away in my own mysterious mind. All I could think about was how worthless I'd always been. I let out a small laugh as I remembered what life was before... This.

My parents. My cowardly but wealthy parents. They're gone now.

My already troubled mind found them covered in blood, tears and glass. I wished I only had a vague image in my head. But it was a picture carefully painted on the walls of my entire consciousness and never to be forgotten.

The sharp pain that shot through my back snapped me back into reality.

After a devastating meal I was dragged out and taken to my usual place of torture. Yvonne had special methods for fixing me.

She also had a twisted mind. But that wasn't her problem. It was mine.

I had to deal with it.

I couldn't remember anything that happened after I was chained and knocked unconscious. But when I woke up, I was hanging from the ceiling, dripping in blood.

A man walked in and freed me, one wrist after the other, making me fall pathetically to the floor.

And that's when I saw it.

It wasn't a tattoo because there was nothing artistic about it.

It was a sick joke. I laughed at it. Not out of humor but pure bitterness.

Right there on my left arm, was the word psycho engraved lightly but painfully.

And for the first time in... I don't know. Weeks? Months? (I couldn't even keep track of time),

I cried.

It felt like hours later when my tears were exhausted. Crying helps to relieve some of the pain right?

Not every time.

I had a nasty headache. The rest of my body felt weak and numb. And I was surprised that they didn't let my arm get infected. At that moment, I realized that the word engraved on my arm would define me for the rest of my life and one day, I would learn to accept it.