The Mafia's Possession: Every Breath She Takes

VESPER GREY LYSAN POV

The first time I set my eyes on Zevran Ilvane, I knew he was going to be the death of me.

It was the way he stood at the side of his father, his lifeless black eyes digging into my very soul.

He was just a child, but even from a distance, I could feel his darkness reaching toward me, wrapping around my throat and making it difficult to breathe.

Why was he looking at me, and what was with that small creepy smile on his face?

Fear slithered down my spine the longer I watched him, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on edge as goosebumps traced my skin. He wasn't blinking at all.

Someone suddenly shoved me, their hands bearing down on me and forcing me to my knees.

I resisted, but they were too strong, and soon my knees were planted roughly on the graveled floor.

I winced at the pain, my hands clenching into fists.

Ilvane got up from his seat, the smirk on his face stretching as he walked toward me.

I braced myself, the sound of my heart drumming loudly in my ears the closer he got. Was this another punishment? My back still hurt from the lashing I'd gotten a week before, and I wasn't sure I could survive another.

He stopped in front of me, leaned toward me, and then grabbed my chin roughly, his finger digging into my cheek as he jerked my head up.

Our gaze met and held.

"For a teenager, you sure have guts," he murmured, then let go of my face as if I disgusted him. "I heard you tried to escape again. Does this make it your tenth attempt?"

I watched him, my teeth clamping down hard on my lower lip to stop the horrible words I wanted to yell at him from coming out. It never ended well and after months of being hit and tortured, I was physically and mentally exhausted.

Just when was Mother going to come and rescue me? I'd held out for as long as I could, and I was starting to lose hope that she would ever show up.

Was she really going to give up on me? She'd always said if I wasn't careful enough and allowed myself to get caught she was going to leave me to die. Had she meant it? No. There was no way. I was her only child, the only heir to the Lysan fortune, even though she hated me, she couldn't leave me to die. She wouldn't.

"Since you're so set on running away, I've come to a decision. I am giving your mom ten more days Vesper. After months of going back and forth with your bitch of a mother, I've finally decided to kill you if she doesn't give up those properties. It's going to be her birthday in ten days. Your pretty little head as her birthday present should make her happy right?"

I scoffed, unable to stop myself, but it wasn't aimed at him. It was the whole situation and the fact that I knew the woman who birthed me. If his demands were for her properties, then I was sure I was really going to die.

I met his gaze, tears burning my eyes. "You shouldn't hold your breath Ilvane. Why don't you just cut off my head now-hah!" I gasped as his palm crashed against my face.

The ringing in my ear was loud and for a few seconds, all I saw was darkness.

Fingers dug into my chin, and I was pulled forward by my face.

My knees scraped against the gravel, my palm smacking against the rough stones as I attempted to hold myself up. I let out a sharp cry, my eyes wincing shut as pain wracked my frame.

I wasn't given a chance to recover as Ilvane tipped my head up, forcing me to look at him. "Don't ever call me by my name if you want to keep all the teeth in your mouth" he yelled in my face, an angry veins bulging at the center of his head. "You'd better behave, child, or I might really just cut off your head and be rid of trash like you," he threatened, his eyes boring into mine.

I swallowed down the coppery taste in my mouth, my face twitching. "I am not afraid of you, Ilvane, and you'd better pray and hope that you kill me first because I won't be living here without your blood splattered all over the walls for everything you've done to me."

He stared at me for a few seconds, let go of my face, and then burst out laughing. It was loud and taunting. My heart squeezed as his laughter bounced around me. It was sickening.

"God damn it, look at that fire. Selene really raised a wild one this time," he addressed the men standing around me, and they chuckled, their eyes all moving in my direction. "She'll be such a good match for Zevran if her blood wasn't corrupted wouldn't she?" He asked, his eyes moving from my face down my body.

"That's if Zevran doesn't get disgusted and gut her for sport," one of the men said, and Ilvane burst out laughing again, but this time it was worse. He laughed so hard that tears slipped down his left eye.

When he finally got himself under control, he called the maid over. "Take her to her room and treat her wounds. Dress her up nice and get her ready for me" he ordered.

My eyes widened at his words and what they could mean, but I was given no time to react as the maid grabbed my arms and pulled me to my feet.

She started to drag me out even as I struggled.

"Let go of me. Let go!" I yelled, fighting and trying to drag her down, but she was strong, and I was malnourished, so nothing I did slowed her down a bit.

I wasn't one to give up though, so I started to fight her harder.

"Stop," Ilvane ordered, then walked toward me.

My chest heaved from exertion, my hands clenching as he came to stand in front of me.

He smirked, then backhanded me. Hard.

I stumbled back, my face going numb.

He grabbed my arm, pulling me close. "Be a good girl for me and go quietly, Vesper," Ilvane got out, his mouth curving in a grin. "Or I'm really going to start hurting you for real."

He was going to start hurting me for real? Was he saying everything he's been doing so far was nothing?

He let go of me and motioned to the maid.

She grabbed my hand and despite my head screaming at me to protest, I let the maid drag me out of the room.

We stepped out of the room, but the prickling sensation on the back of my neck had me feeling uneasy. I turned my head, glancing behind me. I shouldn't have.

Zevran was right behind me, and the smile on his face as his black, lifeless eyes held mine had my blood freezing in my veins.

He closed the distance between us. His smile stretched wider, but it never quite reached his eyes.

He thrust his hand toward me, his slender pale fingers glistening with a red sheen.

I could tell what it was. Blood.

"Can I be your friend? Forever," he uttered, his eyes pinned on mine as his smile stretched even wilder.

I stared at him, the hate in my lungs suffocating. If I had a knife, his eyes would be rolling on the floor.

He waited, his eyes red and glistening. "Just say the word, Ves, and I'll be yours forever. I promise."

I stared him down, hoping he saw just how much I despised him.

"I'll never be friends with a monster like you."

VESPER GREY LYSAN POV

I couldn't stop thinking about Zevran even as the maid bathed me.

Had I been too harsh with my words earlier? Despite his creepy smiles and his dark piercing eyes, he was just a boy born into a family he had no choice in... Just like me.

I dragged my fingers through my hair, then threw my head back to lessen the tension in my neck. God, I was sick of everything.

"What do you think Ilvane is going to do?" I asked, and the girl's hand froze for a moment.

"You shouldn't call him by his name after that warning he gave you at the court, Vesper. If you make Master more angry than he already is, he's really going to break you to the point of no return. You might think he can only kill you, but he can do so much worse, Vesper. So much worse" she said, her hands resuming her task and moving over my body.

The fear in her voice sent shivers down my spine. Just how cruel could Ilvane get? If he decided to really hurt me, what was the worst thing he could do? The fear of the unknown gnawed at my heart, constricting my lungs.

"You need to turn now."

I let go of my hair and let her turn me around to wash my back.

Wanting to stop the dark thoughts swirling in my head, I glanced back at the maid. "I don't think you've ever told me your name."

"That's because you've never asked" She stepped around me, her lips curving in a smile. It was a sweet one. "Ana. My name is Ana. But why the sudden interest"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you've been here for three months now and this is the first time you're asking for my name"

My brows dipped, my lips pressing inward. "I didn't think I would be here for so long, so I didn't see the need to know anyone who worked for Ilvane."

She shook her head. "You're going to get yourself killed, girl. Let go of your pride or master will strip you of everything," she said, then let out a tired sigh. "You know, I've never met your mother but I can't help but hate her."

"Why?" I asked, even though I had an idea.

"Because she knows where you are and what to do to guarantee your safety but she absolutely refuses to comply... You are her daughter, so why does she allow you to suffer so much..."

It was the same question I asked myself every second of the day, but I knew the answer... I knew why she didn't love me and why she might even be happy to just let me die.

"I always wished I wasn't an orphan you know, I thought maybe if I had parents, I wouldn't have ended up as a maid for Master Ilvane, but now, seeing someone like you abandoned to die even when you have a mother who can protect you, I think being an orphan is not that bad at all..." She uttered then froze, her mouth forming an o.

Her words shouldn't have hurt but they did, and all of a sudden, I couldn't make out the bathroom tiles as they blurred in front of me.

"I am so sorry, Vesper; I didn't mean to say that," she quickly apologized, her eyes searching mine.

I shook my head, my gaze dropping to the floor. "You don't need to apologize. Please wash the foam off me, I'm starting to feel nauseous."

"Okay," she nodded, then turned on the shower.

I held my breath as the water dropped down on me, my eyes blinking shut. The tears that had filled my eyes slid down my cheek, the sound of water drowning out one gut-wrenching sob that escaped my lips even after trying my damn best to hold it back.

*****

"Ana?" I called, staring down at my bitten-down nails. It was a habit I'd picked up from being anxious every day, and it kept getting worse. "Can you help me get out of here? My mom might not act like she cares right now, but if you help me, we can give you lots of money to start a new life and ..."

She chuckled, cutting me off. "No, Vesper, that is never going to happen."

I stared eyes wide at her. "Maybe you don't believe that my mom will give you a lot of money..."

"It isn't about the money, Vesper". "Look, if I help you escape and by some miracle, I disappear into the heavens and never walk the earth again, Master would still find me, and once he does, he will kill me. The mafioso never forgives betrayers"

I met her eyes in the mirror. "You can't possibly believe that... Ilvane is not God"

"You're right he's not. He's a demon, and those are a lot scarier," she said, turned my chair, and crouched in front of me. "You have no idea how easy he's been on you, Vesper," she said, then took in a deep breath. "Since you've been here, how many men and women have worked with us that suddenly vanished into thin air and never showed up again?"

I stared at her, my brain working overtime. There had been a lot of faces that I'd seen from the day I was brought here that I hadn't seen again. I'd always thought it was because they were working in shifts...

My eyes widened as I realized what she was trying to say.

Ana chuckled bitterly. "They're all dead, Vesper."

My blood ran cold. "How do you know that?"

She grinned, but her sad eyes were a contrast. "Master always makes us watch their execution. He does it to let us know not to cross the line. Also, Sir Zevran carries most of those executions out, so don't let his cute look and thin frame fool you. If your mother does not comply with their wishes, he'll probably be the one to cut your head off."

I flinched, my fingers clenching on the edge of my seat.

"But Zevran is just a child" I got out, refusing to believe that he was already a killer. He could be no more than twelve surely.

"Yes, He's a child but he's a child born to a demon. He is Master's only heir, so of course, his training started from the second he was born"

Ana's eyes looked far away, but I could see the horror swirling in them. I could tell she was remembering something traumatic.

Her gaze was resolute when she finally met my eyes.

"I can't help you escape Vesper. That is the ultimate betrayal, and People die for less here," she said, got up from her crouched position, and walked to the door.

She opened the door and then glanced back at me. "Stay and behave. Don't piss off the master more than you already have," she said, stepped out of the room, and slammed the door shut.

I sat, stared at myself in the mirror for a few seconds, and then covered my face with my hand. Then I screamed and screamed again until it felt like my throat would bleed.

"Does that help?" Someone asked and I whipped around, my neck almost snapping from how hard I'd jerked.

My gaze clashed with those of Zevran.

He smiled-the same chilling way he'd done earlier. "You don't look human at all you know," he said, tilting his head. "I've never seen anything so pretty"

I didn't know what to say to the compliment.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, watching warily as he stared at me without blinking.

He stepped toward me and I winced as the sharp scent of copper hit my nose.

Blood. He reeked of it.

"I came to play with you, Vesper. Let's play. Okay?"

ZEVRAN ILVANE POV

She watched me, her brows dipping.

I crossed my fingers at my side, my heart barely beating from holding my breath.

"Why would I play with you?"

Her voice was hostile but it still sounded angelic to my ears. She was so perfect that every time I saw her, I had to stop myself from blinking so that I didn't miss anything.

"Because it's either that or you wait for Master to come to fetch you," I got out, and just like every other time, I was reminded of Master's ultimate hold on her, a fierce, hot burning started up at the center of my chest.

I hated the way Master treated her. I knew he said that he only resorted to beating to correct disobedience and set people on the right path, but Vesper was an angel, and every time he put bruises on her beautiful, flawless skin, it just made me feel like tearing something apart.

Killing and cutting up those men who had betrayed Master had taken the edge off, but I was still feeling itchy.

Her gaze dropped to my hands, and I hurried to hide them behind my back. I'd tried to wash all the blood off as best as I could, but I was sure she could still see the reddish sheen on my pale skin.

"You should go play with children your own age. I shouldn't have to deal with your father and you too." She lifted her head, her mercury-gray eyes catching the light filtering into the room like frost. "Get out of my room," she said, pointing to the door.

I stared at her, the dark feeling in my chest swirling and making it difficult to breathe. I clenched my hand, my face scrunching as I fought to calm down.

What the hell was this awful feeling? Ever since she showed up three months ago, every time I saw her, I had the strangest feelings that made me feel as if I was going crazy. It was suffocating, I hated it but I've also found that I've come to crave it.

Master must never find out. He would be disappointed if he found out that I did have feelings after all.

I could recall how happy he had been when the doctor had given him my test results and pronounced that I was a psychopath. For the first time, he'd looked me in the eyes and told me how proud he was.

I thought that his approval would have made me happy, but once the words left his mouth, I found I didn't care for it at all. Still, he had been the only God I knew, and for a while, I was content to walk in his shadow, but now, my focus was shifting.

I'd never felt anything but satisfaction when Master tortured people... and when I tortured people, all I felt was pleasure and liberation; it was like getting a drink of cold water after threading a fiery desert for days... Until Vesper.

From the very moment I set my eyes on her, everything shifted, even the vibrancy of how I saw the world changed. It became brighter, vivid, all of it molding to complement her very essence.

I thought about her every second of the day and watched her for the next. If the day came that I would have to kill her, could I really do it?

"I told you to get out. Don't just stand there and stare at me!" She snapped, getting up from her seat.

"I didn't mean to stare" I got out quickly, moving back to give her more space.

Her eyes were suspicious. It was as if she thought I was going to attack at any minute.

It was both weird and refreshing to see someone who wore their emotions on their sleeve. I could just look at her and know everything she was thinking or feeling. It was foreign because in our world, showing any emotion at all was asking to be killed. I learned that at a young age. The hard way.

"Then why are you still here?"

"I just thought that you'd appreciate going out of your room and playing in the field for a while. Also, there's no one close to my age except you, so it should be okay for us to play together," I said with my practiced smile that disarmed even the most hard-hearted.

It didn't work on her, though. Instead, it made her move even further away from me.

"Stop smiling like that, you're creeping me out" She shouted, glaring at me.

My smile faltered, the corner of my lips twitching.

Did I need to be firmer? I didn't want to leave the room without her.

"If you come with me, I might consider helping you escape from here," I said, watching her keenly.

"What?" she asked, her eyes widening, and for the first time, she took a step in my direction. "Will you really-" she stopped, then shook her head, her soft features sharpening. "Damn it, why am I even talking to you?" she muttered under her breath, then held my gaze. "I don't need your help. You and your father can go rot in hell! Get out!"

I stepped toward her and she shoved me harshly, her breath short and sharp as she glared at me.

The spot her hands had touched burned, the pain of her rejection stinging.

"Get out right now!" She yelled, pointing to the door with trembling fingers.

She was agitated, and I didn't like that it was because of me.

I nodded, turned, and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

There was a lump in my throat, and as I stood in front of the door with Vesper on the other side, it grew more suffocating.

But then I remembered that Master had said that violence was an act of love and that control was only lost when one got overly passionate about something they truly cared about.

For a moment, the suffocating feeling eased.

Maybe she shoved me so hard because deep down she wanted to be my friend and didn't know how to go about it. But I knew it was all a lie. Master had also said violence sometimes only meant violence, and that to get control, one must exert it without holding back.

But I didn't want that with Vesper. I just wanted her to like me and be with me.

"Don't hate me, Vesper?" I whispered, tapping gently on the door. "I even said I was going to be yours forever."

"Master Zevran," someone called, and I turned.

Ana stood there with a bowl in her hand. She was Master's little mistress. She thought no one knew, but I did, but I didn't care about her. Whatever Master did was his business.

"Are you looking for..."

"No," I said, cutting her off, then proceeded to smile but stopped halfway as I remembered Vesper saying that I had creeped her out. "I just wanted to see if Vesper wanted to play with me, but... She doesn't"

"I'll speak to her." She said and opened the door.

Vesper glanced up, and for a long second, I forgot how to breathe as her lips curved in a small smile, her eyes shining as she saw Ana.

The dark feeling brewing in my chest churned, the vice of it twisting in my heart as I watched her let Ana get close enough to touch her.

Why wasn't she pushing Ana away when, just moments ago, she'd pushed and glared at me like I was the most disgusting thing to ever exist?

I clutched my chest.

I never coveted anything, so what was this awful feeling burning through my veins?

My hands balled into fists.

Vesper's eyes met mine, then she turned to Ana and nodded, the small smile making another appearance.

I hated it. Hated it so much it felt like I was dying.

I watched as she spoke freely with Ana, the urge for mayhem getting harder to resist.

I couldn't bear it. I couldn't bear her rejection.

Ana was going to have to die.