Arianna didn't want to be scared but she had infinite reasons to be scared now especially when she saw the perversity mixed with menace in Kenith's eyes. Whatever Kenith wants to do with her, he plans to enjoy every moment of it.
"Here you are," The creepy smile at the corner of his lips widened causing the hairs on her arm to stand on end.
For someone who was held in prison, he didn't look bad at all. If anything, it seemed as if he had cleaned up before stepping down here.
Her gaze noticed his slightly damp hair proving her thought. So while his men were creating havoc down there, he was having his bath and preparing himself to take over the gang after his minions cleared the scene - which was equivalent to taking people's life. Arianna knew she would never forget this experience in a hurry considering the number of lives wasted today - including that of Big Joe.
Although Kenith was used to wearing suits, the one he wore now was elaborate and luxurious. He wasn't afraid to show off anymore because the only one aka Big Joe, who could stand against him was gone. And based on hierarchy, he was the next in line. The gang practically belongs to him now.
It was obvious that Kenith had not been expecting her at the door but Cassie instead and the look in his eyes told Arianna he finally reasoned it. Because in the next minute, his eyes focused on her in a way that made her take a step back and Arianna realized she still had blood on her.
Dried blood to be precise.
She saw the moment suspicion crossed his eyes followed by denial and the next minute, kenith pushed the door wider only for his gaze to fall on Cassie's body.
Time seems to stop.
Arianna noticed every minuscule detail on Kenith's face as soon as he started at Cassie's corpse. Just like the stages of grief, there was first shock and denial.
Kenith looked numbed as if he didn't want to believe that it was Cassie lying there. Although he didn't make a move from where he stood, Arianna could already imagine him leaning over Cassie's body and shaking her just to confirm she wasn't gone. Yet he just stood at that spot, unable to say a word.
He was frozen.
Then, there was pain and guilt. Kenith looked regretful for sending Cassie here; he wished he could turn back the hands of time so he could change his choice and as well save her. But it was too late. Death was a primordial law magic couldn't even break - without dire consequences.
They say you never know what you have until you lose it. Although Kenith was an asshole, Arianna could tell that he loved Cassie. And that was what scared her the most because she just took what he loved the most from him.
And just as Arianna feared, the next stage of his grief wasn't bargaining nor acceptance, but anger. A wave of Great anger that left her petrified and the only thing that came to her mind was,
Arianna was just about to flee past Kenith when he reached out and yanked her back into the room by the hair with all of his strength. She screamed not just in pain but apprehension as he sent her flying to the ground.
He discarded her as if she was a piece of toy and not a human being made of flesh and blood - and breakable bones.
The air was knocked out of her lungs when she landed on the ground. But there was no time to dwell on the pain because Arianna turned and began to crawl back on all fours as Kenith walked purposely towards her with the intent of harm.
The way his nostrils flared and his chest heaved greatly made him look like an injured beast that wanted to ruin anything in his way and all that did was to put more fear inside of Arianna. It was as if Kenith lost every reason to live and like every human out there, reverted to his evil and primitive nature - savage at heart.
"You killed her!" He roared and bound for her.
Arianna's eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest as she crawled back for safety, unable to find her footing. But he caught up to her and pushed her down to the floor, looming over her.
She contemplated pulling out her pin and stabbing Kenith in the throat just as she did to Cassie but he was a man that weighed tons; was bigger and taller than her.
Arianna was sure that wouldn't work the second time especially when he had his hand closed around her throat and cutting off her air supply. It would take time to reach the pin in her hair, not to mention that might end up backfiring on her and he might use it to stab her instead. She needed an opening - one that wasn't coming.
Her priority was to breathe and she clawed at his face only to receive a stinging slap across her face that made her see stars. A whimper left her mouth, that hurt like hell.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you!" Kenith declared through gritted teeth, his grip on her neck tightening.
Arianna did not doubt that, she could see the killing intent in her eyes. To confirm his words, Kenith banged her head against the floor so hard she cried in pain.
"It hurts, ye?" he had a maniacal look "I'm going to make sure you feel every pain Cassie felt before she died, in the most brutal way," He promised just as he hit her head the second time.
Hot tears made their way down her cheeks, he planned to split her skull open. Arianna was sure she was beginning to have a concussion with the pressure in her head.
No, she can't die like that.
And her prayer was answered.
There was a loud bang and she felt Kenith jerk before her face was splattered with blood. Again.
Damn it, this was the second piece of clothing she would have to change.