Basiliskos Idryma

Chapter 01: The Sacrificial Lamb

In life, we make choices, and we have to live with whatever those choices lead to. May it be for good or for worse. That was something Belladonna wished she had known before her life spiraled out of her control. Instead of being a coward and a pushover, she should have considered the consequences she would have to live with because it was her own life that was at stake.

What if she hadn't agreed to be sold? What if she told them that instead of blaming her and forcing her to sacrifice her own future, they should take responsibility for their own child? That it was not her place to make sacrifices because she, too, was a child.

If only she had, perhaps she would not have had to go through such agony, and maybe she would not have been broken to the point of no return. But she knew there was no point in ruminating on what might have been. It was not as though it would change everything that has happened to her. She wasn't even sure that she would be able to escape from their grasp. She never imagined that she would live long enough to reflect and feel regret.

Amidst her disaster of a life, like a light at the end of a tunnel, a hand reached out to her. A benevolent hand? Or perhaps a treacherous one? She didn't even care anymore. She was willing to serve as their stooge as long as they kept their promises.

A man came to her, blurting out those sweet promises.

"I'll protect you. I'll keep you safe and alive. I'll help you get retribution from those who have wronged you. They will crawl beneath your feet, pleading for their lives."

And like a petty beggar who hasn't eaten in weeks, she bites it.

She has no clear recollection of what entirely happened or how it happened—next thing she knew, she was standing in front of a colossal door. There was a tall man with a massive build tailing behind her, towering over her. When they reached the threshold, the man tapped her shoulder and as if it was programmed in her subconscious, she took a couple of steps forward.

She casted her gaze around, becoming acquainted with the place—a mansion that seemed like it belonged in ancient Greece. Ancient, not only because of the architectural design that was obviously designed after those of ancient Greece but also because it looked like it had been through many wars, judging by its tattered appearance. It was in such a poor state that it looked like it would collapse if it weren't for the few remaining pillars.

"Madame Minerva, we've arrived." The man spoke into the radio he was gripping in his hand, a hand so huge it made the radio appear twice as little. A punch from him would send her straight to her grave. She did not dare do anything that would lead to that.

They had been in each other's company for about five hours now since the Godfather handed her to him, yet she could still feel his eyes boring into the back of her head like a predator eyeing its prey. She finds it a bit excessive. He didn't need to keep such a close eye on her; she wasn't going to run away. She took them up on their offer already. Even if she were to, where else would she be?

She truly had no desire to run, but out of habit, her eyes meandered around the area, looking for somewhere to run to in case she needed to. It was her survival instincts kicking in. It didn't take her long to realize she'd never be able to leave in this place on foot. The whole place was covered with tall trees as far as her eyes could see. There was no trace of a path at all. And the only sound she could hear was the rustle of dry leaves whenever the wind blew and the occasional static sound coming from the man's radio.

Some minutes later, she heard footsteps coming from the other side of the door. They were quite faint but she could tell they were coming from high-heeled shoes just by the sound of it. It sounds rather familiar. Oddly.