Athena
"Shit! He's here!" Celine was the first one to spare a response among the three of them.
"Good thing, we won't need to wait another few days to kill that bastard," Vincent spoke up, his rage scaling up to ten times more than prior just from hearing the voice of Sebastian; As foreseen he made a move to stride out of the room but Julia grabbed his hand and prevented him from doing so; Reasons remained unknown.
"No, you will not be going out."
"What?" Bewilderment filled in Vincent's face.
"Yes, it's not the time to get sentimental. Think from your brain, not anger."
"Listen to me, guys. We should take Athena with us and leave from here as soon as possible," Celine decided to interrupt, her voice shaky giving a hint of the underlying fear she failed to repress, "I have lived with Sebastian for long enough to know him well, it's not going to end up in our favour if we get into a fight this way. We need more people, rogues or anything who could help us. Do you understand what I am saying?"
None could mistake the shrill panic that was meshed in her voice-- She looked afraid. Very afraid.
"What the fuck are you even talking about, Celine? I almost killed that piece of shit that day, if my bullets had not run out, he'd have been dead meat." Vincent retorted, harshly, "No need to be scared of that bastard."
"Almost, Vincent. Almost. You did not succeed and you are only standing here today because of the accident of the gas cylinder and that too was a favour done on you by that bloody traitor, so you better not start with this because what I am saying here is the fact. Didn't you just hear his damn voice? Surely leaving the curse has not affected him even the bare minimum, and we are not sure whether he has let go of his damn curse or not!"
"He has let go of his curse, I can not be wrong in this case," Julia spoke up.
"Okay, I am believing you mom but clearly leaving the curse has not caused him any harm like it was supposed to– He's still the same beast and will rip us apart in a matter of a second."
"Why the fuck are you scared?! Don't act like a bloody coward after everything we have done to get here." Vincent snapped.
"Athena, don't worry. I am coming, and that bastard won't be able to even lay a finger on you!" Once again, Sebastian's shout sounded. It left the place trembling once again and Celine flinched and her fear became more apparent in her features— She was genuinely afraid.
Unsure of what I was truly supposed to do except for sitting here for no reason, I began trying to get rid of the restraints holding me in place but the ropes were too tight and strong. Moreover, the effects of the injection were yet to be completely wiped off.
"I don't care if I am acting like a coward Vincent, you have got no reason to live except for your revenge but I do! My mate's fucking alive and waiting for me. I promised him that after everything is over, I'll go back to him and to keep that promise, I need to stay alive!" Celine completely freaked out, she did nothing to hide her anxiety.
But her words indeed left me flabbergasted. I was not expecting this type of reaction from her, A woman whose every move spoke confidence and every ploy was flawlessly arranged to defeat the opposition— She had always seemed like a clever, sensible and fearless woman.
But the Celine I could see today was not the one I had known. She was different, completely and utterly different, suppressed by immense fear and turmoil, worrying about the possibilities of her survival, questioning her whole life at once.
Everything was happening just so fast that I could barely register anything. Their hurried conversations, the seconds flying away and the change in the atmosphere of this room that was heavy with tension upon Sebastian's voice.
I could hear the constant sounds of things falling and breaking apart outside. I was familiar with his rage and I knew what he could do or not but today the way he was causing destruction was indescribable. Even without seeing it with my own eyes, I knew what was going on. I knew he was smashing everything on his way just to get here.
Julia walked over to Celine, "Listen, honey, nothing's going to happen to you. You trust me right?" She caressed her cheek, trying to calm her down.
It was not out of the love of a mother. I could see that right through her acting— It was sheer manipulation that disgusted me and Celine just fell for it right away, and I saw her nodding.
"So, calm down. I have got a plan, nothing will happen to you. Okay?"
"But mom—" She was very close to tearing up, even though I did feel sympathy for her but this situation served her right, after everything she had done, this was what she deserved.
"Shh, I promise everything's going to be fine. Just trust me and your brother," She cooed and a few seconds later Celine eventually gave up and nodded.
"Vincent lock the doors tight and hide behind, Celine, you go too," Julia told them and walked over to me.
"What the fuck are you saying? I need to hide because of that bastard?!"
"Do what I say, Vincent."
I'd already figured out that there was something utterly twisted game going on inside of her mind.
Sebastian should not just come here. They are planning something terrible.
Just the moment I opened my mouth to shout in order to warn him, Julia shoved a gag in my mouth, silencing my words before they even had the chance to make it out.
"Too late to make a move, Sweetheart," Julia smiled and tied it, fast and secure, nearly suffocating me.
"Since you already know how good my acting skills are, I am sure, you have already understood what's gonna happen, I am sure you are not that stupid," Satisfied with her work, she crossed her hands over her chest and looked at me in shrill amusement, "But if by any chance you turn out to be stupid, it'll not be a bad thing too— You can get a taste of the suspense."
"Now just wait and watch what happens." With that smirk being flashed at me, she also disappeared somewhere in this huge dark room, away from the area of the light that could have made them visible to anyone's eyesight.
No! No! No!
He shouldn't come here.
I put every drop of strength I had left just so I could free my hands. My eyes began tearing up at the thought of the possibility of Sebastian coming here and these three individuals succeeding in hurting him with their deceptive scheme.
The gag didn't allow even a single sound to leave my mouth, these strong ropes that were thicker than my wrists did not let me move even an inch from my place.
Panic and terror ran in every one of my veins and rapid heartbeats of my pulsating heart thrashed against my chest.
I had to do something.
But I did not have any advantage against them. I was weak— Fucking weak. That was the reason all of it started in the first place.
When the situation couldn't get any worse, Sebastian's heavy footsteps began sounding closer and closer. He was calling out my name, constantly assuring me that I was safe and none could harm me.
But how would I have told him that it was him these disgusting people intended to hurt in the first place?
I tried to the point until I felt the skin on my wrists being gashed but it just didn't matter anymore.
Just the moment the ropes began to loosen, the door flew open. Moving away from my task, my eyes followed the direction of the door and they ultimately locked with his blue ones.
Oh no!