When A Villain Falls [Yandere Villain x Hero]

Chapter 45 - Price of Loyalty

The lights in the room were dim, the constant hum of tension simmering between us. Plague sat on his throne, one leg lazily draped over the other, his eyes scanning over the mess of screens in front of him. He wore a tailored black suit, the fabric sleek and almost liquid in its finish, with a sharp, high-collared jacket that accentuated his imposing presence.

The silver tie he wore shimmered faintly, reflecting the muted glow of the screens, while his dark boots added an edge to his polished look.

I stood beside him, pretending to focus on the screens, but my mind was elsewhere. Dressed in a fitted, deep crimson blouse that contrasted sharply with the shadows, I paired it with high-waisted black trousers that flowed effortlessly around my legs.

The blouse's sleeves billowed slightly, lending a sense of movement as I shifted restlessly. My hair was pulled back into a loose bun, a few strands escaping to frame my face, and I wore minimal jewelry—just a pair of silver earrings that caught the light as I turned. 

I couldn't shake the news I'd just heard.

Astrid... she'd left.

One of the newer members of the team, but still, someone who was supposed to be loyal. And now? She was working for someone else.

Betraying us.

Betraying me.

The taste of bitterness crept into my mouth. It was becoming harder and harder to tell who was on my side anymore. Yvie, Julius... and now Astrid. Was anyone left?

"I thought she was different," I muttered, more to myself than to Plague, but of course, he heard me.

"Ah, Astrid," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Such a shame, isn't it? When they show their true colors."

I didn't respond immediately, just clenched my fists at my sides, anger bubbling beneath the surface. I hated this—this constant feeling of betrayal, of uncertainty.

But more than that, I hated that I wasn't surprised. Plague's presence, his manipulation, had changed me more than I wanted to admit. Maybe he was right. Maybe they were all rats, scrambling for scraps, ready to turn the moment it suited them.

"Where did she go?" I asked, my voice low but steady.

Plague tilted his head, studying me with that intense gaze of his.

"Why do you care, my love? She's no longer part of your little team. Let her go. She was never worth your loyalty."

"She was," I snapped, the words coming out harsher than I intended. I took a breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. "She was supposed to be. But now she's working for someone else. Someone who's... dangerous."

Plague's lips curled into a slow, predatory smile.

"Dangerous? Oh, how exciting." He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "And who, pray tell, is this new employer of hers?"

I hesitated, my mind racing. Astrid had gone to work for a rival figure in the city's underworld, someone who had managed to stay under the radar despite all the chaos Plague had caused. Someone who could still pose a threat.

But it didn't matter.

None of that mattered right now.

"I want you to bring her to me," I said, meeting his gaze, refusing to back down.

Plague raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Bring her to you? And what exactly do you plan to do with her, darling?"

"I need answers," I replied, my voice firm. "She left us—left me—and I need to know why. I need to understand what's going on."

Plague chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair as though the entire situation amused him.

"You're adorable when you're angry, did you know that?" His hand reached out, his fingers brushing against my arm, sending an unwanted spark of something through me.

I flinched but didn't pull away.

"Joey," I said, my tone sharper. "This isn't a game. I need her back."

He sighed, as though indulging me, and then nodded. "Very well, my love. If you want her, you shall have her."

He snapped his fingers, and instantly, two of his men appeared from the shadows, standing at attention like obedient soldiers. Plague gave them a brief nod, his smile widening.

"Find Astrid," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding. "Bring her here. Alive."

The men nodded and disappeared just as quickly as they'd come, leaving me standing beside Plague, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn't sure what I'd do when she got here.

Was I going to confront her?

Beg for answers?

Demand an explanation?

A part of me didn't even care anymore. I just wanted this endless cycle of betrayal to stop.

Plague stood up from his throne, walking around to stand in front of me, his fingers gently lifting my chin so I was forced to look at him. His eyes were dark, intense, and far too close for comfort.

"You've grown stronger, you know," he murmured. "You're no longer the naïve little thing I found. You've changed."

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "Because of you."

He smiled, but there was something deeper in his gaze—something that unsettled me. "I'm not just teaching you about betrayal, my dear. I'm showing you the truth of the world. The truth of who you are."

His words sent a chill down my spine, but before I could respond, the door creaked open. I turned my head just in time to see Astrid being dragged into the room by Plague's men, her hands bound, her face bruised but defiant.

My heart clenched at the sight of her, but I couldn't let it show.

Not here.

Not now.

"There she is," Plague whispered in my ear, his voice soft and dangerous. "Now, let's see what your little traitor has to say for herself, shall we?"

He released me, and I took a step forward, my eyes locked on Astrid's. The betrayal in her eyes mirrored my own, but I wasn't sure who had betrayed whom anymore.

All I knew was that I needed answers.

And I was going to get them.