(6)

Music. Dances. Chatters.

A platform of wiggling bodies, filthy touches and foul languages.

Cigarettes. Wine. Poker cards.

Rings of smoke filled the air. Drunken talks. Stolen kisses. Blood stained tables. Lost money.

She didn't belong to this place. She was a withering flower.

She stood facing the wall. Yong Soo snaked his arms around her slender waist. His hot breaths tickled the crook of her neck. She wished the party would just end.

One by one, he popped the buttons on her collar and slipped his hand to caress her cleavage. She covered her mouth. He massaged her breasts and gave them a rough squeeze. Muffled moans. Flushed cheeks. She fought back the tears. His lips traced along her neck hungrily.

His phone rang. He withdrew from her and read the text.

"Leona, I needa go out for a while," Yong Soo said, slipping his phone back into his pocket casually. "Yao wants to see me da-ze."

She nodded and fixed her collar.

"I'll be right back." He leant in and kissed her on the cheek. "Love you."

She didn't answer.

She trudged back to the couch and sat down. The night was long.

Although Yong Soo had asked her to wait there, she wanted to go out. Yet, she didn't want to meet all those debauched, insolent people. Her father included.

When her mother got murdered, he sent her back to Yao. Her uncle wanted nothing but for her to become one of them, and possibly inherit the family's fortune one day. She didn't know what she was doing most of the time. She was just there, tossed around between two families. Her father wanted her back, but then again his intention as pretty much the same as Yao's. He would betroth her to someone and they would take over the mafia. All the money they obtained with dirty hands sickened her.

She stood up and walked out of the lounge room. The party droned on. People were slowly losing their sanity. They got louder. More obnoxious and wanton. She caught a couple of men and women making out in one corner.

She remembered that night. The unforgettable kiss. So chaste.

She had never been able to ask for his name. He released her after the kiss and smiled. He jumped out of the window and left behind the documents.

She wondered who that boy was.

"What're you doing here all by yourself, milady?"

She shuddered. The voice was soft and gentlemanly. It didn't blend with the atmosphere at all.

She turned around to meet those gorgeous purple eyes. She blinked incredulously at the white-haired boy before her. He was wearing a dark blue suit with a red bowtie. He took her hand and kissed it.

"Would you like to have a walk with me, Miss Wang-Kirkland?" he smiled. He spoke with a unique accent. Obviously someone from the North.

She nodded. He took her away from the crowd and out of her father's enormous mansion. They strolled around in the garden.

"The sky is surely starry tonight, isn't it?" the boy said, looking up at the stars above them.

"You-" Leona frowned. "I remember you."

"Pardon me." The boy chuckled and stared back at her. "I did not hurt you that night, did I?"

"No." Leona shook her head. She must have gone berserk speaking to one of the enemies.

"I'm relieved," the boy nodded and kissed her hand again. She flinched and frowned, "Why are you here?"

"I came to see you, Leona." He smiled.

"You know my name?"

"How could I miss the name of such a beautiful angel?" he chuckled.

"How…dare you." She blushed and looked away. "You should, like, probably leave before they catch you."

She turned on her heel and started walking.

"Don't you want to know my name at least?" he grinned and caught up with her.

"What good is there, tell me."

"So that we can get to know each other?" he suggested.

"And?"

"Perhaps I can make you love me?"

She halted and laughed.

"You're a very funny person." She giggled. How he wished he could freeze that moment and embrace that cherubic face.

"I'm not trying to be funny though." He blushed and took her hand once more. "May I have the privilege to spend this night with you, milady?"

"And your name is?"

"Emil," he said.

"Okay, Emil, what's your plan?" she asked, "Surely, you came here for a reason, right?"

"The reason is you, I'm afraid."

"Don't take me for a fool." She laughed. "You work for the Bondeviks. Have you come here for the documents?"

"No." Emil shook his head. "I sincerely just came to see you."

She stood motionless for a moment, examining his face. His cheeks were beet red and he quivered a bit. She had never seen a mafia member this adorable and readily flustered before. She remembered the way he gave in to her advance, how his strength was not even compatible with the task he was assigned with. Still, he tagged along with it. He was probably forced to comply with the order.

Just like her.

"You know…you didn't just steal the documents from me that night," he muttered.

"Oh?"

"You stole my heart too."

An awkward silence fell between them. She raised her eyebrows. His hands were getting sweaty.

She burst into laughter.

"That's, like, the most awful pick-up line I've ever heard," she blurted out. His blush darkened. He wanted to bang his head on the wall.

"I bet you, like, have never flirted with a girl in your whole life." She laughed. His composure crumbled down. He twiddled his fingers and looked away. True, even the lines he had said earlier were offered by Berwald. He had to practise them many times to avoid stuttering. He was completely hopeless.

"Relax," she said. "You don't have to pretend. Just be yourself, Emil."

He nodded and took her hand timidly.

"I'll show you around the garden," she said.


(7)

They walked around the garden aimlessly. She showed him some of the flowers she planted. Almost all the flower beds were filled with roses. A variety of them. Arthur loved roses. He used to keep another park decorated with an assortment of peonies just for her mother.

There was a small maze and inside was a magnificent Victorian-styled construction. They ambled towards the pavilion that stood right next to a glass house. They settled down on a wooden bench. He saw a fully-blossomed, red rose and decided that it would look stunning on her. He picked it and put it into her hair, just above her orchid.

They chatted for a bit. She told him her family. He told her his.

"I used to live with my dad," she said. "You know Arthur Kirkland?"

"Of course." Emil nodded. "The Great Britain in the underworld. I think everyone knows him."

"Well, that's him." She shrugged. "I lived with him until I was eight. He never let me out of the house, so I never went to school. He taught me at home. When my mum died, Yao was determined to retrieve me. He struck a deal with Dad."

"So you came back to live with your uncle."

"Yes, he deemed it safer for me to stay with Yao." she nodded. "My mum got killed by one of the Bonnefoys."

"The Bonnefoys?" he blanched. He had, indeed, heard of the endless conflicts and disputes between the Kirklands and the Boonefoys- a notorious French mafia. Their rivalry could even date back to a hundred years before. Both ancestors despised each other to death. The Bonnefoys were renowned for their conspicuous and merciless deeds.

"As a revenge, to get back at him," Leona added. "And I have no idea why I'm telling you this. This is all so personal. I, like, have a feeling that you're plotting something. But well, I, like, don't care. Strange, isn't it?"

"I never want to kill in the first place," Emil admitted. "But my brother…he's very keen on taking the entire Northern Europe. And he now loathes your father very much."

"Why?"

"Because he is associated with my parents' death."

Leona gasped and stood up. She glanced down at Emil, who remained rather unfazed.

"I…am very sorry about that," she said. "I guess you have, like, every reason to take me down."

"Which I'm not going to do." Emil looked up at the girl. He stood up and cupped her cheeks.

"Wrath is nothing but a vicious cycle," he said. "I don't want to live on revenge. I want it to stop. Right here. Right now."

"And do you, like, even know what you're doing?" Leona asked. His hands felt cold, but his gaze was ever so tender and genuine. He leant in and pecked at her lips. Her heart was racing. All the heat flew to her cheeks. She grasped his hands and kissed back.

She had never relished the touch of another person this much. Yong Soo would never treat her this way. His ego and pride forbade so. She would forever live in his shadow.

"I, like, can't believe I'm doing this." Leona pulled back from Emil and shook her head. "I really should be getting back into the house."

"Do you hate me that much?" Emil sighed.

"I don't hate you, Emil," Leona confessed and stroked his hair. "On the contrary, I find you very appealing. But…I can't, like, hide this from you. I'm engaged, Emil."

And if one could hear the sound of a heart breaking, it was very similar to a shattering glass. His eyes widened. All the colours were drained from his face.

Leona sighed, "He's…my cousin. The family wants to uphold the tradition of preserving the same bloodline. The girls are usually married off to close relatives… As a result, years of inbreeding have made our members rather…eccentric and mentally unstable. My mother kinda ruined the custom. But…well…that's the way things work. Reality is always cruel. I must go now, Emil. It's been a…um…wonderful night with you."

She wanted to disappear as fast as possible. Otherwise, her tears would resurface. And she definitely didn't want Emil to see her cry. Even if they were only to meet once, she wanted to retain a good impression for him.

"Are you happy?" he asked, refusing to let go of her hands.

"Huh?"

"Are you happy with the way things are?" Emil repeated. His voice cracked a little.

She frowned. There was no way she was pleased with how things were arranged. It was fate. She didn't have a choice.

"Do you even love him?"

She cringed at that very question. It struck her so hard she covered her ears.

"And does he love you the way he should?"

"Stop it…"

"For once, I know that I'm ineluctably and hopelessly in love with you," Emil admitted. "And I don't know how you feel about me, but from the first time we met, I knew I wouldn't love anyone the same way. I want you to be happy, Leona, even if circumstances are harsh and unpleasant. I would do what I could to make you feel at least loved and cherished."

She shook her head. There was no way to hide her tears now. They streamed down her face uncontrollably. He hugged her. His arms weren't the strongest, but in his embrace, she felt secure.

"What're you doing?"

Leona pulled away from Emil abruptly. Mei stood in front of them and frowned.

"Who's this?" she scowled and as she scooted closer, she gasped.

"Leona!" she exclaimed, "Why are you-"

"Please." Leona shushed her cousin and pleaded, "Don't tell anyone."

"But he's from the other mafia!" Mei protested. Leona clamped her hand over her mouth.

"Please, Mei, I'm, like, begging you."

Mei sighed and brushed off Leona's hand. She glimpsed Emil suspiciously.

"Yong Soo's looking for you," Mei said with creased brows. "And he's extremely pissed."

"Is that so." Leona nodded calmly and shot Emil one last smile. "I must go now, Emil."

Frankly, he didn't want to let her go. If he could just clutch her hands and take her away from this place, he would.

She turned and started walking away. He took a step forward, ready to chase after her.

"Hey, if I remember correctly, you're known as Iceland in the underworld." Mei blocked his way and folded her arms crossly. "Now tell me what you're doing here."


(8)

"They have been waiting for you, Leona," said a tall boy in his early twenties. He had short, dark brown hair and golden-rimmed glasses. His long bangs were combed neatly to one side. Like many other boys in the household, he wore a changshan. He slouched against the wall with a traditional Chinese fan.

Leona stopped in front of her half-brother and refused to make any eye contact with him. Noticing her distraught expression, he put away his fan and stood up straight. He scooted closer to her and sighed.

"You know," the boy spoke with a mixture of Chinese and Portuguese accents, "I'd very much want to help you."

"Cheng, you know you can't help me," she said.

"You can't keep rebelling against them," Cheng said. "It would only make things worse."

"Aren't things, like, already at the worst?" she sneered.

"It's painful to see you like this," the boy said, though his face was deprived of any visible emotions. There was a time he wanted to lend a helping hand, but he knew his sister too well. She was stubborn and self-righteous.

"Go in," he urged and gestured to the office at the end of the hallway, "they're all in there waiting for you. Your dad's here too."

It didn't make things any better. She dragged her heavy body towards the office. Yong Soo appeared at the door.

"Where have you been da-ze?" he interrogated and clutched her wrist. She hissed and wiggled out of him.

"Sit down, Leona," Yao commanded.

The girl scanned the room. Sitting sternly in his office chair was her uncle, Yao Wang, also known as China in the underworld. The man was short, but his voice was hoarse and strong. He tied his long, black hair into a ponytail. Sitting cross-legged next to him was her father, Arthur Kirkland. His thick eyebrows furrowed. Standing in one corner with a katana was her half-uncle, Kiku. Her distant cousins, Lien and Kasem stood by quietly.

"I, like, assume this is gonna be a long lecture, huh?" she snickered.

"Leona, watch your manners!" Arthur growled.

"Sit aru," Yao repeated, narrowing his eyes. He was fuming, but he refrained from slamming the desk.

Leona glimpsed the chair in the middle of the room.

"Go," Yong Soo whispered, clasping her elbow.

"I can sit on my own." She glared at him and flung off his hand.

"Now what?"

She lolled in the chair and shot the two older men a condescending smile. "Is it, like, something I did?"

Yao didn't hesitate to stand up and stomp towards her. Before she could dodge, he smacked her hard on the face. She gasped and fell to the floor. All the others in the room watched silently as Yao stood over her.

She blinked, tears threatening to trickle down. She swallowed her them and glared at her guardian, whose face had gone red with fury.

"I will not tolerate any more of these unacceptable behaviours aru!" he yelled, practically shrieking. Arthur stood up as well. She peeked at him. He only glanced back unsympathetically.

"Defying orders. Disrespecting the elderly. Throwing tantrums. Wandering off on your own." Yao seethed, "Did I miss something? What have I taught you? Where's your virtue gone?"

"What?" she scoffed. "You, like, expect me to have virtues in this family?"

Yao raised his hand again but Arthur caught him this time.

"Leona," the blond-haired man warned, "you should keep in mind your identity and status in this family. You're not allowed to interact with anyone outside. This is to protect you."

"Mind you, you're getting married very soon aru," Yao said. "You should listen to Yong Soo. Stop giving him trouble."

"Why," Leona asked and pointed at her cousin, "should I marry him?"

"What?" Yao growled. The girl stood up and balled her hands into fists.

"This is for your own good," Arthur said. "Get married. Settle down. One day, you'll both need to take over a share of this family."

"Do I, like, even have a choice?" Leona cried. "Have you ever asked for my thoughts?"

"Your thoughts!" Yao exclaimed. "My dear, we all know your thoughts. All those pointless fantasies would only ruin you one day. Be realistic and mature. I've always treated you as my own daughter. We all dote on you and you know that clearly! What we have saved for you has always been the best. You should be grateful aru."

She felt like laughing and crying at the same time.

"Leona, stop doing something foolish," Arthur echoed. "Do not endanger this family further with your recklessness."

"You know what I think?" the girl quipped, "I'd rather leave than stay here for the rest of my life."

"Enough!"

Yao slapped her yet again. The girl collapsed to the floor and panted.

"You're grounded," he said. "You will remain in your room until you reflect upon your own selfish actions and ask for forgiveness."

The black-haired man made a gesture to his underlings. Kiku bowed and took the leave. Lien and Kasem followed suit.

"Think for yourself aru," Yao said and turned away from the girl. He nodded at Arthur. The two men went out to continue their business talk.

"Are you…alright da-ze?" Yong Soo squatted down and offered his hand.

Leona snubbed him and stood up.

"What did I even do?" he asked. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"You didn't do anything," she said plainly and gazed into his doleful eyes. For once, she felt guilty. True he wasn't her ideal target of marriage but they had been together since they were kids. She could, however, never view him more than a brother and a genuine friend. "I don't hate you. I just hate how things turn out."

"Come on," he sighed and took her hand. "Let's get you back to your room."


(9)

When they were back inside her room, she took off her high heels and slumped down on the couch. Yong Soo filled a glass of warm water for her.

"Where did you go in the party?" he asked.

"None of your business," she turned away.

"Don't start it," he snarled and gripped her chin. He turned her face towards him forcibly. "Look at me while I'm talking to you."

"Are you angry?" she scoffed, "Are you, like, gonna flip?"

"Can't you at least recognise me as your fiancé and respect me a little da-ze?" he said. "Why must you reject me?"

"Does it hurt your pride?"

"Stop it," he snapped. "Leona, I swear this is the last straw. I'm having enough of your princess tantrum."

"Then, leave me."

She shoved away his hand and stood up. The great difference in their heights didn't deter her. She glared up at her cousin.

"You know I can't," Yong Soo said, "and I won't."

"You're just using me to please Yao," she said. "You want a share of this family."

He gulped. She shrugged and started walking towards her dressing table. She sat down and unclipped her hair. She put the rose into a vase.

"And I'm the key to your inheritance." She turned to stare at him. "Correct?"

"Leona..." he sighed and strode towards her. "You know that's not the only reason da-ze. I do love you."

"Your love feeds on pride and greed," she muttered and took off her gloves. "You, like, think you can counteract Kiku? He's still Yao's favourite."

"One day, I will show Yao that I'm more capable and when that time comes, I'll take over this entire mafia da-ze!"

"See?" she chuckled. "That, like, accentuates my point. You love me for the money and the power you can obtain."

"That's not true," he retorted.

"Please leave, Yong Soo," she said. "I need to get changed."

"Whatever you say da-ze," he grumbled and jammed his hands into his pockets. "You'll be mine soon anyway. You should obey and respect me like a wife should."

"You're clearly dreaming," she said.

"Am I?" He looked back and smirked.

"Next time you wander off again, I'll punish you."

His childlike smile faded.

She watched in horror as he slammed the door so hard it almost got unhinged. It took her minutes to register his threat. Once she was all alone in the room, she stumbled towards her bed. She sat down and let tears rinse down her face.

She was a caged bird. A bird with clipped wings who so desperately wanted to learn to fly. She looked around the room. The luxuries. The goods. The clothes. A host of girls out there would dream of a life she led. But all these possessions presented nothing but constraints. She was tied to the ground of this family forever. The barred windows. They served as a clear reminder that she was a property to the Wangs and the Kirklands. Soon, she would belong to Yong Soo. She could envision her future. Entrapped. Restrained. Bound. No way out.

There would be more tears to shed. More pain to endure. More deaths to witness.

Until the day she died, she would live an everlasting dream of yearning.

"Emil…" she sobbed in her sleep.

Would she ever see him again?

That boy who might mend her wings and set her heart free.


(10)

Leona woke up early the next morning. She did, however, remember that she was grounded. It wasn't the first time she was locked inside her own room. She went into the bathroom and took a morning shower. She returned to her dressing table and started drying her hair.

"Leona?"

She turned towards the door. Mei knocked again. Leona got up and scurried to let her cousin in.

"Morning, sis!" Mei smiled brightly and entered with a tray of breakfast.

"Morning, Mei." Leona smiled back and peeked at the extravagant meal.

"I guess Yao will never stop spoiling you." Mei giggled. "Even though you're grounded, he asks the kitchen to prepare a grand meal for ya. Hopefully it can cheer you up?"

"I doubt it," Leona sighed and sat around the table in her scarlet dress.

"Maybe this will boost your appetite?" Mei winked and slipped a piece of paper into her hands. Leona blinked curiously and unfolded the paper.

Dear Leona,

It has been a wondrous night with you. I am not very good at expressing myself in the form of a letter, but please do consider my words thoroughly. I wish for nothing but your genuine happiness. My feelings for you will not waver regardless of our identities and pasts. If you feel the same towards me, I do, sincerely, hope that we can meet again. I shall wait at the church down the town at noon until you appear.

Love,

Emil

"Well?" Mei giggled, "Feeling better?"

"How…this…wait." Leona's mouth gaped open. Her hands shivered. "How did you…get this?"

"I talked to him last night," Mei said, sitting down across the table. "It seems that he does have the hots for you."

"Oh shut up." Leona blushed and clutched the letter close to her heart.

"Are you going?"

"I…um…" Leona stammered and creased the paper nervously.

"It's unlikely of you to act like this." Mei tittered. "I believe I have not mistaken- you're truly in love with this guy!"

"Why are you, like, helping me anyway?" Leona frowned. "You…didn't tell anyone, right?"

"Of course I didn't tell anyone!" Mei pouted. "Or else how would you get this letter?"

"Then…why?"

"Because," Mei said, "I want you to be happy too. You're like my dearest sister. Plus, you've always helped me out with the difficult missions."

"I can't go," Leona sighed and looked down at the big bowl of porridge. "I'm grounded."

"I know." Mei nodded. "So we'll just have to sneak you away."

"How?"

"I'll think of something." Mei giggled and stood up, hands on her hips. "Now eat your breakfast. Fuel your day with energy. You're gonna meet that pretty boy very soon!"

"Mei…" Leona walked towards the other girl and grabbed her hand. "How could I thank you?"

"Well, save your blessings for me and Kiku," Mei said. "We're getting married."

"You…are?"

"Yes." Mei grinned widely and held up her hand, revealing a glittering diamond on her ring finger. "He proposed to me last night."

Leona frowned. She didn't have the heart to crush her dreams and point out that Kiku was probably doing this for the purpose of inheritance as well. Mei was most definitely a wise girl. She would have realised this, but she had been in love with Kiku for a while, since there was a period where Kiku took her under his wing and looked after her meticulously. He was, nonetheless, doing this out of the obligation to train and nurture her, not to mention that she was actually his half-niece.

That man was incapable of demonstrating affection and care. He was even worse than Yong Soo. There were only ambitions and powers in his eyes.

"Wish me luck," Mei said.

"Yes, of course." Leona smiled and gave her cheek a swift kiss. Mei cackled and bounced out of the room gleefully.

Leona returned to the table. She sat down and read the letter repeatedly. She had the widest smile on her face.