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Huling Na-update:
2025-03-15 00:59:10
Chignaturehehehe. i think Damian is in love. sorry for the late updates, i ran home to write and still couldn't beat the deadline. I'm working on being better. and guess who's falling in loooooooove... *swoons*
Kaugnay na kabanata
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 97
LILIANAThe water fills to the brim in the bath-tub, almost spilling over with bubbles. I watch from the door as Rachael turns off the faucet and pours in some essential oils from the vials lined up on the counter.I’m somewhere else in my head, miles and miles away from reality. I could’ve died alongside her, but she chose to save me. Thinking about it makes my stomach churn with unease, yet gratitude.“With all that has happened, I’m sure you’d like to soak in—” she notices me. “We will miss her dearly, of course. She was like the little sister I never had.”I sigh, pulling the bathrobe tighter around me. “She didn’t deserve that.”“None of us do but here we are, taking shit we don’t plan for.” She laughs bitterly, wiping her wet hands with a napkin. Her first statement throws me off guard. Are we still talking about Irina or…? “I’m sure she wouldn’t want us fussing over her now. She’s at rest wherever she is.” She dips her hand in to test the temperature. “The water is gonna get co
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-15DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 98
LILIANAShrouding darkness is all I can make out in this place.Arms close around me in what feels like an embrace. Wait, what is this? This can’t be heaven. Where’s the choir of angels singing? Oh, shit.A loud ringing in my ears causes me to wince. Then piece by distorted piece everything starts to come together. The faint echo of my name, the fragmented parts of an argument and…a scuffle?“Open your eyes, dammit!” That sounds like Rachel. That’s when I find myself approaching bright light which envelopes me completely. I snap back to consciousness, gasping awake and a dry cough hacking at the base of my throat. I raise my hands, touch my head and raise it to my view again–no blood. Patting down my body, it’s the same thing. “I-I’m alive?” I murmur, half in confusion and half in a daze. “Thank goodness, God!” Rachel has her hands behind me to support my back. “You scared the shit out of me.”Oh, and I’m no longer naked. That’s the sweetest relief. Thank fuck!“What happened? He d
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-17DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 99
LILIANAI’ve barely been able to close my eyes since I assured Rachel I’ll be fine alone. Every second, I find myself throwing cautious glances over my shoulders, checking for danger.All of this is twenty minutes after Damian left.I know my days in this house are numbered. But when will I find the courage to walk away without–“God, I need a drink!” I blurt out to Rachel, collapsing right beside her on the bed. She’s refused to leave me alone.“Me too,” she admits with a sheepish smile playing around her mouth. “With all that has been unfolding lately, people are dropping around us like flies—I can’t deal with this anymore.”“And you can’t leave because?”She looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “You know why, it’s not foreign to you.”The image comes to mind. Her father wouldn’t want her to stop working here due to the personal favors he gets from Damian.“Letting your greed get in the way of your daughter’s happiness is just shitty parenting.” I sigh, staring wistfully at her. “I hop
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-19DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 100
LILIANA“There was someone hiding in my bathroom.” I say to Damian as we step into my bedroom. “I don’t know how he knew, but he came to prevent what would have happened. He intended to shoot at that person, not me.”Damian walks up to me, until I have to tip my head all the way back to look into his stormy face. “He could’ve planted that person in there, Lily.”“I don’t think that’s possible—”He shakes his head slowly, sympathy passing through his eyes for a moment. “You’re too innocent for this world, Milaya.”The way he looks at me like I’m some kid pisses me right off. “I know what I’m saying. I might not be the best judge of character but I’m not blind to put the missing pieces of a puzzle together.”“If I find out this is a lie—”“It’s not. I swear it.” Shit, my voice wouldn’t stop fucking trembling. “Rachel saw him too and she went to trail him.”Without a w0rd, he sweeps out, leaving me to follow from behind him. When we get to the east side of the garden, Rachel is waiting t
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-21DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 101
LILIANA His office is just like I remember it, dimly lit and very spacious with the grand oak table sitting close to the window. Behind it is a floor to ceiling drapes that feel too thick in my touch. Drawing them apart, I’m met with the pleasant surprise of a wall of windows, granting a view of exquisite landscape draped in moonlight. It’s beautiful to behold. The decorations on the wall are quite simple and minimalistic, very unlikely for a man as complicated as Damian. But who’s judging? The only thing on the table are a desktop computer and some files, including a familiar one whose heading states ‘debt collateral’. Coming from a case of severe ptsd, touching that is one thing I never want to involve myself in.Ever again.As I look to the side of me, there’s a mini-bar with all kinds of alcohol in all their finely-shaped bottles. However, one of them stands out for me. Taking a quick glance at the door, I decide, “A little sip won’t hurt nobody.”I grab the glass cup next to
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-21DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 102
DAMIAN…I’m falling. So fast that it’s impossible to put a brake on it if I wanted to. So hard that I’m sure to shatter into a thousand pieces after I land. The picture of Liliana sitting on the floor with her thighs spread and finger between them hits me so intensely that my eyes roll to the back of my head.It’s her. She makes me lose my bearings, snatching the wheel right out of my hands and steering me in whatsoever direction she chooses. I’m not complaining.I will go to the fucking ends of the world if she so decides. It’s like my body’s automatic reaction to her and I don’t mind if it’s a distraction. No matter how healthy or unhealthy anyone thinks it is.When we both lower down to earth, I don’t wait in my seat, but she’s coming to meet me as well. I gather her into my arms and immediately merge our lips together, slanting my lips over hers and hooking my arms around her body. She responds by opening up to grant me access into that beautiful mouth, expertly rolling her ton
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-22DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 103
LILIANAThis woman again. In front of me. She might look like she’s smiling, but somewhere underneath all that fakeness is a viper waiting to tear me apart. My heart cannot stop trying to beat its way out of my chest and abandon me to my fate. I quickly mask my shock with a calmness I don’t even know I possess. “What are you doing here?” My voice stays hard as steel. Damian passes me a sideways glance. “You know her?”I swallow tightly, trying to choose my words with care. She’s manipulative enough to turn those words against you. “How can I forget the face of my own mother?” I spit, keeping my eyes pinned on her. She brushes invisible lint from her clothes and gives me an unimpressed look after glancing around at the living room. “Is that how you welcome your mother?”“When she treats me like rags and reminds me with every second she gets that I’m the reason why my sister died? Then, yes.”“What?” Even Damian is unable to conceal his shock at the revelation.“I don’t care where yo
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-22DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 104
DAMIANThe moment the vain woman exits, I call the guard who let her in and give him a stern warning. “If that woman ever does as much as step foot inside this estate, I’ll have you tied to a porsche and dragged like a rag doll all over the streets of Sochi.”He nods several times. “Yes, Pakhan.” As I turn in Liliana’s direction, she ignores me like one would a ghost, making a beeline for the stairs. The last picture on her face is akin to a look of resentment before she turned away.“Lily—”She whirls around so fast she almost gets a whiplash. “What?” Her chest rises and falls with so much anger. But her eyes—they tell another tale. One I’m willing to find out. What the hell did I do?She resumes walking like her behind is on fire and the only way to put it out is getting as far away from me as possible.“Don’t…” I heave a sigh. “What’s going on? Can you just talk to me?” It’s like the person I was with is a whole different person some hours ago. She doesn’t stop. She’s flying the
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-23
Pinakabagong kabanata
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 139
LAJLA/STELLEZAA little smile. Whispered conversations. A little touch. Nights of pleasure sigh. That’s the only way I can explain whatever this is between Damian and I. He captured my heart before I even realized it. And the way he takes me with so much intentionality both scares me and takes my breath away. What if I wake up one morning only to realize that it’s all been a fantasy? A longing for the scarred girl inside me to feel loved by a man like him? This is the monster of the Seemya Kastorov who nestles beside me every night like a tamed tiger. “What are you hiding from me?” I raise my head and there he is, tanned skin glowing by the streaks of morning light filtering in. His arms are crossed and I drag my gaze away from the way his muscles ripple in that tight shirt to his beautiful eyes. Two years since we’ve been together and he’s still a wonder to behold. Mine.I smile at him. “Now, why would I want to hide anything from you?” He smiles briefly but it turns into a fro
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 138
LAJLA/STELLEZAMoving to Sochi has been the best decision I’ve made for myself. Being miles away from my mother, getting my life together again, relishing in my new found freedom–it’s bliss. Being able to afford a comfortable place of my own, not having to bust my ass working for meagre.Thankfully, Liliana is old enough to have control over a bank account. It doesn’t need to go through our greedy mother before it gets to her. Although on certain days, I get sad and miss her. I miss Red too. She’s been more than a friend, supporting me every step of the way, even on my worst days when all I wanted to do was wear a noose around my neck and hang. There’s only one thing I’ve never told her and I would like to keep it a secret for a while. If she finds out, she’s going to have my head for it–literally kill me. But if she learns my reason at the right time, she’ll understand. Just maybe.Snapping out of my thoughts, I throw on my blonde wig to hide my dark locks. My red gloss stands out
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 137
LAJLA/STELLEZAThe muffled sound of gunshot still rings aloud in my brain, hours after I’d bathed and settled on my bed. Sleep refused to take over and now I’m left to stare at the ceiling and wonder what next.A gentle knock has me sitting up. Red comes in with two mugs of something steamy. Perfect for the cold weather. I grab one, then immediately go to work distracting myself and trying not to look in her direction. If I don’t, then maybe she won’t recall the calamity that happened at the club.Again, this is Red we’re talking about. Nothing goes past her nose without deep scrutiny. Better than I am who would rather pretend not to see it. I don’t care about a lot of things.“Let’s talk about what happened earlier tonight.”“Hmm hmm, this tastes better than all the others you have made, don’t you think?” That’s my pathetic attempt at diverting the topic, of course this will make her prod for words.She gives me a serious look that strips away every trace of amusement from my face. “
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 136
LAJLA/STELLEZA“Table four in the aisle next to Bri.”“Got it.” I pick the tray, trying to keep the drinks from spilling as well as maintaining my balance on the killer heels on my feet. The place is teeming with hyped, drunk men enjoying the show that the dancers give them.Although there’s a no-touching policy enforced here, some of these men have no idea what it means to keep their hands to themselves at all times.I smile at the customers around the table and they return it as I serve their drinks. They’re still nice and friendly until the booze kicks in. On my way back, I find myself looking at Red as she glides around the pole in that lingerie set I got her. She’s magnificent when she dances and that’s probably why she’s at the centre where most men are spraying her so much cash with reckless abandon.They all love her.She’s Fin’s golden ticket and I’m proud of her. I walk into a hard wall the moment I turn. The apology falls out of my lips before I can stop it. The stranger
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 135
LAJLA/STELLEZA“Who is that?” Red asks, with a squint at the woman.Ignoring the dread which has now pooled down at the bottom of my spine, I straighten my posture and tug on her hands. “No one. Come on.”Red complies thankfully. But she still has that thinking look on her face. One where her lips curled into her mouth in thought.“You can’t ignore me forever, Lajla. Me and you have to talk and we have to do it now.” The woman’s stern voice commands again, rattling me in my steps. “Or she gets it.”On another thought, I change my mind about ignoring her. “Um, Red? I’ll need you to be on the lookout for the uber. I’ll be with you in five minutes tops.” I’m already on the move before she can voice her protest.The woman’s lips are curled into a sneer when she sees me approaching. “I knew you’d be a fool to not answer your mother’s call.”“My mother’s dead.” I reiterate, cold and calmly. “I don’t have all night, Arbana. What do you want?”“It’s been what, eight months? Six? You left witho
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 134
UNKNOWN POVIt’s been one hell of a week running around, bussing all these tables and getting these drunk men to keep their wandering fingers to themselves. How can they even when the only things Phineas lets us wear is some shiny, barely-there silver slip that clings like a second skin. The hem barely brushes the tops of my thighs, and the neckline dips low enough to tease but not reveal it all.Just enough to keep the tips flowing. Thin spaghetti straps dig into my shoulders, sometimes falling off and keeps me wondering when my shift comes to an end. The stupid uniform keeps flashing skin from the right side of me where there’s a high slit.“This is bait, Fin,” I complained one day. “The shoes are killing me. Can we switch to maybe sneakers or something?”“It’s what keeps this place running, honey.” He patted my hand and batted artificial eyelashes at me. “You’re doing just great in them. A few minutes more and I’ll let you off.”So, I suck it up and take it like a good girl. Not
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 133
LILIANAI can’t bring myself to look at Theodore as he sits opposite me with legs apart, elbows on knees and head bowed. Is that supposed to be the posture of remorse? What the hell did I walk into?He sighs and raises his head. “Lily, what happened? How did you escape that monster?”I say nothing. Just sit there and stare, wondering if I’m in my right senses if I decide to trust him once more. However, I’d be a fool. Time should have taught me better.“You knew my husband sold me off to the Russian mafia, didn’t you? You were aware of it all. You listened to me get kidnapped by the men Kyle used to mingle with and you did nothing.”His features scrunch up in anger. He shakes his head. “Sold you off? Kyle sold you off?”Irritation flares hot. “Don’t try to make me look foolish, Theo. If it worked in the past, doesn’t mean it can happen again. Tell me the things I need to know. Did you know Kyle was involved in dirty dealings with these men?”He opens his mouth to say something, then s
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 132
LILIANA“Don’t feel bad, Liliana. Certain things happen and we have no control over them.” Those are my sister’s words that I try to console myself with. It didn’t matter what situation we were in, she knew the right things to say.But as I sit in this car and gaze at the house I have abandoned for months, I feel like I have lost everything all over again. What words would she have for me if she were still around?Eric gives me a look from the mirror. “I’m sorry if you had to be caught up in the middle of the heat like this. But if there’s anyone to blame, it should be Kyle.”“I don’t think I need that information anymore. Kyle is dead and I’m back home.” Even if it doesn’t feel like one. “You don’t need to apologize. We are all tethered to something one way or the other and owe dues.”He shrugs. “I guess you can put it like that.”Squaring my shoulders, I open the car door and step out. Before I can take more steps, Eric halts me. “I’m not in the best position to say this but you sho
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 131
LILIANAI’m looking into the face of the man who was my bodyguard appointed by Theo to watch me after my husband died and can’t seem to fathom what he’s doing in the home of my captor.Does Damian know he’s in here? The answer comes to me almost immediately; yes, he does. Yet, the truth in that doesn’t stop me from asking my own questions. “W-what are you doing here?” I stammer out.He’s Eric alright, but at the same time, he’s not. His face lacks the warmth I trusted. That character has fallen out of place and here is the man he has always been.Wait, who is he? “I need to ask you come questions and I’ll need you to be completely honest with me.” He sounds detached.Says the lapdog masquerading as a double agent to feed information to his master. Can’t a woman trust anyone these days?“You both know each other?” Rachel looks between me and the burly man still patiently waiting for my attention. When nobody gives her a response, she excuses us and shuts the door.“Liliana—”“Don’t t
