Valentine III.

*Sneak Peek: Break Again.

You know I had to do it... A little Vday gift for my loyalest readers. You guys wanted dark? Happy Valentines Day...
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"Property of Valentine?" he reads snarling. He bears a look of calm, raging anger mixed with violent disgust. His pupils still shimmer like two fuming blazes as he furiously eyes the mark on my exposed collarbone.

"Wouldn't you say this is a bit...outdated?" He breathes angrily.

Insolently readjusting my robe so that the writing is once more concealed, I cross my arms over my chest and level his gaze.

"Tell me, who's your real owner?" he prods all too-calmly. Though the flames have been extinguished from his body, hot steam still dances across the surface of his skin, hissing sharply into the air.

"That is a command. I want to hear it from your lips" he warns, taking purposefully threatening, yet slow steps in my direction.

"I am my own fucking owner. Valentine doesn't own anything... and neither do you." I spit back at him, grinding my teeth. I keep my feet planted, refusing to show any weakness. Refusing to feed into his little game of terror.

"Let's try this again" he hisses finally reaching me and grabbing me by the collar of my dress. Wrapping his knuckles around the fabric, the now-wrangled material slightly digs into my neck as he pulls upwards, forcing me to the tips of my toes.

"Who. Is. Your. Owner?" he breathes into my ear. The strain from suppressing and containing his wrath is clearly audible in the rasp and tremble of his voice.

"I. am." I retort shakily in defiance. I can feel myself growing light-headed at the reduced airflow from his grasp around my garment, but I don't care in the slightest.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" I snarl knowingly in his face. A mischievous smirk graces my mouth as I bring my face closer to his. Completely deriding him.

"You must not know who you're talking to" he grits trembling.

"Does your ego need some watering? Fine. I'll give you exactly what you want. You? You are Hades. Ruler of nothing. A coward and a a soulless beast who cares for none other than himself."

At the mention of his name, a dark inking sears itself into my wrist. It stings terribly. At first glance, it appears to be a blotch, but as I peer closer, I can distinguish 5 horrific letters etched into my skin in black ash: 'H A D E S'.

I try to shake out of his grasp to touch it...to try and wipe at it, but using his grip on me he snaps me back into place, facing him.

"Say it again" he growls sizing me up.

Torn between the rising torment of trying to resist his command and resentment, I gladly oblige and give him another one.

"Hades, the worthless king of Nothing" I spit angrily.

I feel another searing pain as his name once again excruciatingly ingrains itself into the side of my neck.

"Keep fucking saying it until I say so" he roars further tightening his grip around the collar of my robe.

"I hate you Hades. So much..."