Twisted Empire - Episode 67&68

 

TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire - Episode 67&68

(Her Blade, His Neck )

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

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At the same time, their eyes opened, flashing them dark pictures of their insatiable needs.

The water stilled around them, their body rhythm matched up, and their souls communicated things they can't quite understand.

Wasn't he supposed to be unconscious for 24hrs?

How did he even know she was here in this pit?

Those questions besieged Teal's mind with the force of a bullet, but she didn't stop responding to him.

She didn't stop taking in his insanely voracious presence, cementing herself inside.

Their lips are still moulded, and the excess tightness of the intimacy didn't even allow water into their mouths.

She felt like softening her legs around him, but the moment she made a move to do that, she found herself tightening it instead.

Not minding her bleeding wound that's painting canvas in the water, or the danger that they're currently in. She locked him as tight as he's holding her, as if he weighs a thousand pounds.

They pulled away at the same time, and the bubbles around them disappeared with the waves.

Four began swimming up, and she helped, doing the little strokes she could do with her fine leg till they got to the surface and swam to the shore.

Four made her sit on the ground gently, then he took her wounded leg to check it out.

The bandage got taken away from the water, so the fresh wound is out. He looked around the area, and he wasn't surprised when he saw they're in the middle of circled caves.

This village is highly weird anyways, they'd have to find their way back to the people.

"How did you know I was in the pit? When did you even wake up?" How did you know the courtyard I was in?" Teal asked in a slow rush.

He brought his face back to her, the cold wind of the shore hitting their wet skins.

"Don't ask questions," He said.

"What do you mean don't ask questions? Don't even start this shitty attitude again. Do you know how worried I was when you were brought in with serious frostbites? I've never seen you unconscious before so it was a first. Try and understand where I'm coming from and stop—

"You're talking too much, save your might." He cut her off, standing up.

"Jerk," she muttered as she stood too.

She began limping away, from him.

"And where the f+ck do you think you're going?" He asked behind, rubbing his scar slightly.

"Away from you, isn't it obvious?" She replied, leaning on the first cave wall she saw.

"There are wild snakes at the back of that cave." He said, and she stopped, turning back to give him a sour look.

She started coming back, however; he met her after she took just two steps and swept her into his arms. She relaxed there, throwing her arms over his broad shoulders.

"When you lose your way during a mission, your first concern should be finding your way back to your people, you didn't read that in the rulebook? Hmm?" He asked rhetorically as he took the other way which led to the second cave.

He entered that cave, and the water leaking in through the cracked roof sprinkled their heads as he took her across, tearing cobwebs out of their way with his hand.

"You were being a jerk," She scoffed.

"I was thinking of ways to end Sierra, and you were bugging the process with your questions. It's normal to get irritated." He faced her with a squeeze between his brows.

By now, they're out of the cave, and from there, he began climbing a wooden bridge.

He didn't adjust her in his arms—not even for once. He's like he's a robot with no energy limit which surprised her cos he's the same man laying unconsciously in bed at the courtyard room some hours back.

He's back to looking ahead, but she noticed he covered her wounded leg with his second palm to limit it's exposure to the contaminated wind of this place.

His second hand is the only one holding her, and yet, she feels so secure and safe. Also, she could smell him again.

"Thank you," She smiled a little as he words left her tongue slowly.

He faced her.

"For coming to the forest for me, and for jumping in the pit, too." She added.

"Pay me for the two if you're so grateful." His frown disappeared.

The bridge was making zippy squeaks beneath his boot as he walked it.

"What payment?" Her little smile came again.

"You're smarter than this." He replied, and she rolled eyes, but then like a wolf in rut, she snuck her face to his neck, kissing his Adam's apple and letting go with a soft bite.

"I'm not a fan of boring neck kisses," he mused, though his c+ck is twitching in his pants.

Teal rolled eyes again, and he wants to make those eyes roll harder when he's inside her.

He wants to take her on this bridge— as weird as that might sound. He wants to eat her out on the surface of danger, bury himself inside her so deep that she'd lose her hearing, f+ck her like his property...his gift.

He wants to do mean things to the pink meal between her legs and enter forcefully if she declines, but then...not when his comrades are struggling on the battlefield.

"You look better in my uniform, Asteri." He said, and he saw her do that little blush smile again.

She might think she's hiding it, but she'd have to learn the art of hiding better with him. She's bad at it.

Rest of the journey was short and silent. They went through shrubs and grasses, two highs before coming down the the valley which led back to the village.

The battlefield is an embodiment of desolation and ravaged.

All the batches have emerged, and all the armies are currently leading the battle together.

Four dropped Teal far away from the strife, then he picked a spear from the ground.

"Stay here, you're not joining the fight with your leg like that. I'll finish this and attend to you in a jiffy." He told her.

She found it hard to nod before he went to the field, joining the battle.

The way he uses the spear amazed her, and she was wide-eyed for a minute as she watched him.

He climbed an horse, and from there, he speared the enemies, hacking their arms and heads away from their bodies and throwing them into extinction.

His horse jerked forward when he pulled the reins, and a high jump brought them to a crowded part of the field where he threw the spear.

It hooked four enemies at the same time, tearing away the lap of the last one.

Four left the horse and pushed it forward before he could land on the ground.

The animal ran off, and he didn't even get the spear again.

He fought with his hands, his knees, elbows and chest. He entered with his whole body, killing with blows and blind hits which sent the enemies flying each time he delivered.

He went out of his way when a knife was thrown towards him. The knife met someone behind him instead.

"Geez!" Yulia's voice groaned.

He looked back, and when their eyes met, hers rounded.

"Giant spider? When did you—

Four wasn't looking at her face, his eyes are on her bleeding arm which still has the knife stuck inside.

He faced the enemy who threw the knife, going for him with a single high jump.

He kneeled him in the chin, and the moment they landed on the ground with him on top, he dealt his face with the heaviest punches he has ever conjured.

The teeth, tongue, throat, lips, jaws... everything mashed up like pudding, and his blood painted Four's fist.

By the time he stood, the enemy's face was already gone.

He pounced on the next, handling two. The next is three at a time then four like his name.

Bodies dropped around him, and he just kept eating the feats like a beast.

He's thirsty for blood, and it's obvious. His vein is out again, and he's not even looking at anyone.

He's not seeing faces anymore.

He just catches, breaks, smash, and kills. His mechanism is simple and calm, yet violent and deadly.

Paine dropped the body of the terrorist he just killed with his rod, and he let out a deep breath when he saw what's going on.

The rest of the armies had to stop too when it got to a point, all they could do was stare at him.

"Master..." Sergeant Kash smiled, going on his knees tiredly.

Rook wiped his own bloody mouth and sat on the body of one of the terrorists, quietly setting his knife down as he spit blood with his saliva.

Shannon and Brent just collapsed at the same time, beside each other.

Their hands are a home of bruises currently, their bodies too.

Even Morgan sat on the bare ground, wiping her sweat and blood.

Surprisingly, the remaining terrorists began retreating as if they received a sudden order.

They began moving back, getting away from Four as far as possible.

They retreated like dissipating smokes, slowly till all of them jumped down the valley, vacating the village.

Amidst the carnage, Four scrubbed his face viciously with his bloody hand,, and when he looked back to see the ones he killed singlehandedly, he felt queasy, and he had to close his throat very tight to stop himself.

Teal left the background and came to hold him, balancing him.

"The frostbites haven't cleared from your skin yet, I think that's why you're suddenly weak." She said.

He shut his eyes for a while before opening up again.

"I'll take him," Yulia joined them.

"No you can't, you're wounded too" Teal replied.

Kash started getting up to come, but Paine walked past him, coming over.

"I'll do it, my wounds are minor." He proffered.

Four placed his arm on his shoulder, leaning on him as they left the field.

"We need to redress your wound as soon as possible." Yulia told Teal.

"I know," Teal smiled, both holding each other as they left the field too.

The armies began returning to the main courtyard, and luckily, none of them is on the ground with the dead terrorists.

They didn't lose anyone, but when they arrived back at the main court, April and Skye are nowhere to be found, even Theo and Stormy.

Rook and Shannon left in search of them.

"I think you should get soaked in the herbal water again." Yulia faced Four, but he wasn't hearing her.

He took the kit from where Anassa had kept it, then he came to squat in front of Teal, attending to her wound by himself.

"You need to rest," she held his shoulders back.

"Not till I dry up your wound." He hoarsely replied, focusing on the dressing.

Teal just let him do it, and when she looked up, Yulia winked at her. A wink she replied with her little smile.

Yulia's arm is getting treated by Paine, and Brent is attending to Sergeant Kash's wound.

The other wounded armies are helping each other treat their wounds too since half of them have mandatory medical skills.

Time is 5am in the morning, meaning they fought for more than ten hours with no inside casualties, so it's probably the biggest duration recorded in their military feats.

They lost five villagers though, and it's expected since they were outnumbered, but they still won.

The various treatments were still ongoing when Hera bursted into the court, looking mad.

Her hair, scattered.

Her face, rough—she's got rashes.

She's barefoot, and her blouse has several tears in several places.

Four didn't even look up at her, but he knows she's here. He could smell her stupid perfume.

She gave Teal a seriously foul look before looking down at Four who's still attending to Teal's leg.

"We broke up, accepted, but stop pretending to not see me when you obviously do. It's hurtful, and you better get used to me cos no matter where this goes, we're still getting married." She said.

Four is currently wrapping a fresh bandage to Teal's leg, so he still didn't give her any attention.

In annoyance, Hera tried touching his  hair, knowing he hates when anyone does that and he'd surely give her attention.

Before she could even touch, Teal's hand grabbed hers.

She pushed her off easily, and Hera staggered back with a bratty gasp.

Paine was behind her and would have caught her, but he moved away, Hera fell on the ground.

She began crying and talking at the same time, her glassy eyes on Teal.

"You think you own him? You don't! You're betrothed to him but do you even know him well? He looks calm but he's lethal! He hurts people around him for his own gain!! He'd go any length to prove his point and carve it into your bones!! We were still very much in love during my ninth birthday, but just because I talked to another boy in our class, do you know what he did? He poured sand in the eyes of the boy and he's blind as we speak! And on my birthday night, he choked me till I passed out cos I confronted him about the boy he blinded! He has been toxic since birth, you think you can handle him?" 

Hera was already standing as the story left her mouth like a tale.

And Four? He's still squatting, still attending to Teal's wound as if the story is not centered around him.

Lady Yulia doesn't even look shocked, she's aware of his son's personality.

Hera is obviously not lying.

Teal is trying hard to hide her shock, but her eyes betrayed her. She's staring at Four, waiting for him to say something, but he didn't make a sound. In fact, she's doubting his hearing ability presently.

"Look!!" Hera pulled down her blouse sleeve, revealing a dark tattoo at the back of her shoulder.

FED.

Meaning; Four Eros DeVille.

"That same night after he choked me till I fainted, he waited till I woke up and sneaked me out of my father's house. He took me to a tattooist and branded me as his, threatened me to never go close to any boy or he'd blind them. Boys feared to come close to me since then, and even till now!! His impact is still there, and I really can't like any other man that's not him. He carved himself deep into my essence and now you think you're a goddess who's here to tame the devil? No you can't! And you better not fall for him! Our relationship has been signed in hell the moment he put this tattoo on me so back off!!" Hera yelled at the top of her voice, her tears raining down her chest.

Teal slowly took her leg from Four, but he grabbed it back, and she winced faintly.

Hera wiped her tears, nodding at Teal.

"Fall for him at your own risk. I'm still his property anyways, so far his tattoo is on me." She laughed.

Four stood finally, stalking threateningly to Hera with just one plan;

Smash her face to the pillar, break get head and dump her body in the cobwebbed cave.

Hera was shifting back fearfully, but before he could get to her, Lady Yulia blocked him.

"Get out of my way, Blackie." He warned in a cavernous tone.

Hera quickly rushed into the nearest room to hide.

"I know you'd wound her badly if you get to her, so chill." Yulia held his shoulders.

"Wound?" He scored a sly smirk. "She's an obstacle that can be removed with one bullet."

"No no no... She's The Marquis daughter you can't do that!" Lady Yulia pushed him back again.

"Do I care? Have I ever cared about positions? Don't give me that bull." He glared.

"Her father is an higher up, you can't further offend him after what you did at Pedro's office." Yulia calmed him more.

"You heard that?" His brows puckered.

"Ed told me everything, so just calm. I know she did something to deserve the breakup, but chill...I beg you." Yulia replied.

Four's gaze went to Teal, and he met what he expected—doubt.

He's aware that she hasn't signed herself over to him—he's changing that soon.

He knows she's only just warming up to him, and Hera's speech only ruined things to the foundation.

But then, can Teal escape? No.

He never lets go of anybody he has marked, and it's not a surface tattoo  this time...it's a soul mark.

He has marked her soul, and all escaped routes are blocked.

It's his way, or the highway.

--

[Third Courtyard]

When Shannon arrived, she lost her breaths at what she saw.

April is sitting on the bloody lawn of the court, and Skye's dead body is on her laps.

She's crying, so loud that it echoed on the lawn walls.

Her tears wet Skye's body, and his blood soaked her uniform.

"Specialist Skye?" Shannon covered her mouth, kneeling beside them.

There's a note on the lawn ground, written with Skye's blood.

"I'M SORRY I KILLED OUR BABY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE SUGGESTED THE ABORTION. I LOVE YOU, AND LIVE WELL. DON'T CRY FOR ME."

Shannon began crying as she read the blood note. She tried to console April, but it was like pouring water in the ocean.

Her tears just made April cry harder.

--

[Second Courtyard]

Rook ran inside, but the only thing in sight is the bodies of the terrorists.

No Stormy. No Theo.

"Theodore!!" He yelled, entering the rooms one by one to dig.

"Theodore!!"

The echo of his own voice came back to him, and soon, Brent entered the court too.

"He's not here?"

"I'm not seeing him." Rook replied, looking crazy as he flipped up a chair, bursting another door open.

"Theodore!!" He yelled again.

"Theo!" Brent joined the yell.

"So this is love." Stormy's tricky voice sounded from the exit. 

She's standing there poignantly, her bloody arms folded.

"Where is he?" Rook rushed over.

"I have no idea. We fought together, but he suddenly disappeared." She shrugged.

"He's here!" Brent said from the back

Rook sauntered there to see Theo squatting below a oak table.

He's holding his knife tightly, looking fretted with his arms curled on his knees.

"Theodore!" Rook pushed the table away to reach him.

"Rook." Theo looked up with a kid, innocent stare.

Rook knelt and shoving his body completely into his own, embracing him warmly.

Brent looked at Stormy, and Stormy shrugged again, darkly before leaving the court.

Definitely, she did something to Theo.

The moment she stepped out, she came across Sierra who's sitting on a broken bench with smoking lips.

She strutted past her, but Sierra cleared her throat and talked...

"You look like a likable bîtch." 

Stormy turned.

"Dear Major, what do you mean likable? Aren't you only hooked with Specialist Allegra?" She said.

Sierra stood.

"She's way out of my league now. The other time when you came to the clinic to ask for friendship, I should have taken you serious. You're useful. I love strong bitçhes." She said.

Stormy sported a malevolent grin.

--

[Athens, President's Mansion]

Uncle Dave arrived as early as 7, but President Spyros hasn't even seen him yet.

He ordered the guards to keep him in the circus, and he's currently on a call with The Marquis in the general lounge.

"I told you to ruin Four DeVille's life with me, why not start from his father?" The Marquis suggested.

President Spyros sat on a armrest, nodding.

"Elaborate,"

"With Pedro gone, the base falls into the baddest turmoil of all times. It'll be interesting to watch. Now imagine Axel DeVille becoming the new General while Four is as lowly as a Private?" The Marquis explained.

President Spyros laughed.

"And then we toss a challenge at him to see how far he's willing to go to protect his father's position." 

"What challenge?" The Marquis inquired.

"Make him sign an undertaking and break Teal Ambrose's bethrotal to him, and also make him sign another agreement to get married to your daughter before he'd reclaim the General's seat. Once he becomes your son-in-law, you can make him mop the house and clean kitchens." President Spyros explained.

Now it's The Marquis turn to laugh.

"Cool, but all these won't happen with  Pedro alive. You should do the will of the citizens. Immediate justice for the lives he took." He said.

"Of course," President Spyros hung up, then he called for Mrs. Katerina who came out of the study.

He gave her instructions, and she immediately left to carry it out.

Xanthe stayed on the railings, watching without catching anything important at all.

President Spyros was led to the circus where Uncle Dave is waiting, and he flashed a smile.

Uncle Dave greeted him with a curt bow.

"Get us cups of coffee, 2 cubes of sugar each." Spyros ordered, and a butler left to get them ready.

"Shall we?" He smiled at the uncle.

--

[Police Station]

As predicted, the case got tougher this morning, and everything feels like a delirium to Pedro—a phsychotic episode.

As he sat in front of the attorney who's interrogating him with questions he has no answer to, he felt like a ghost.

He felt empty on the inside out, like a witch performed alchemy and is using his body for him.

He killed eleven people, and the families of the eleven people are currently in front of the station.

They're asking for immediate justice, and if they don't get it, they'll start a coup rally.

"When did you start taking cocaine, General Pedro DeVille?" The President's attorney asked him.

He's sitting in front of the bald man in a small wired room.

He shifted his gaze to him, slowly.

"I don't take drugs, I'm not a druggie."

"But you killed eleven citizens under the influence of CC" the attorney continued.

And that's what he can't even explain, but he's very sure whatever drove him mad is from Empress's office, but who's gonna believe him?

Empress Vergara is a respected mental health doctor, and she's even acknowledged by the president cos she's mad good, so how would he explain her connection?

They'd think he's lying on her to save his head after he left her for Yulia.

He was hopeless as he sat there, staring into space.

The door opened, and a country official came in, whispering into the attorney's ear for a while.

The attorney nodded and stood, his face indicating that whatever he was told isn't good news.

"The President's order from above just arrived. Say your last prayers, Pedro DeVille. You're getting executed by fire." He said.

Tears left Pedro's eyes.

--

[Therapeia Mental Institute, Balcony]

Axel and Empress stood there, shoulder-to-shoulder. They stared down at the fleet of buildings beneath them like they're gods.

"His execution order came? Perfect." Axel said, playing his zippo.

"You're a bastard, he's your father...show some pity at least." Empress sighed.

"He has always chosen Four over me, so I shouldn't give a damn too. I won't miss him." Axel faced her.

"What was the smoke he inhaled from the brazier?" 

"You don't have to know about it," Empress faced him too.

"Thought we grew closer as partners, you're still boxing secrets." 

"You don't have to know, Axel." She repeated. "I'll tell you whenever feel like you're eligible."

"Fineee" he sighed, diving in to kiss her, but she pushed him back fast by the chest.

"Aren't you banging that woman? Cassie?" 

"So you're putting tabs on me now, wow! Empressie! You impress me." Axel shook his head.

"We'll see after Pedro's death, things would get extremely mad." 

He went downstairs, and Empress's phone dinged.

It's a message from her lover which lit up her face as she read.

--

[Boma, 10AM]

April refused to let Skye body be taken back to the base for burial.

She insisted he should be buried in the lawn he died at, and no one argued with her.

The armies dug up the earth, and the villagers took the job of creating a coffin for him faster than expected.

Skye was buried under the pouring morning snow, and April couldn't stop tearing up.

Only a few of the armies cried, but the likes of Rook and Brent cried, even Shannon and Teal herself.

He suffered that hell in the pavilion but then died in their third mission, it's disheartening.

DIED IN SERVICE was written on his grave surface boldly.

Yulia and Four held the same apathetic looks on their faces. They look sadistic like they normally do, and Four's eyes never left Teal who seemed to have kept her distance since Hera splurged her trash.

The distance he's gonna blur soon after they leave this village.

He's looking at Sierra secretly too. Her death method is ready in his mind, but he doesn't plan to do it in this place.

He's gonna kill Sierra in front of her mother in Athens, and he'd force the mother to drink her blood.

Hera is part of the crowd too, but she sat very far from Four, and she's fidgeting with her fingers.

Vonn is awake, he stood beside Anassa, tearful like the rest of the villagers.

The five dead villagers were buried in one hole, and the bodies of the dead terrorists were getting gathered for mass burial to about environmental stench when Lady Yulia's mobile suddenly trilled.

She was gonna ignore, but seeing it's her attorney, she picked.

"Yes?"

"I'm guessing you're unaware of the death declaration." 

"What declaration?" Yulia blinked.

"Execution by fire—for your husband. He killed citizens under the influence of cocaine last night, and the President ordered this execution to appease the affected families." The attorney said.

"Wait...what!!" Yulia's eyes and mouth widened as she faced Four.

Four went closer, and the phone fell from the woman to the bloody ground. She began.

"Speak to me," he held her, eyes so demanding.

"Ed,... execution by fire. He killed and...The President...

She sounded crazy as she spoke incoherently, but Four gathered the main points.

"We need to go back to Athens now. We need to arrive before five hours. Execution by fire is carried out five hours after the order gets out. We need to get home before then!" Yulia said, acting mad.

"But there are only horses" Teal said, unable to catch her own breaths.

"Actually there's a ship, but it's old, and we abandoned it. You can use the waterway if you can persevere through the sea storm, and there's a large risk of shipwreck. I won't advice you to use it, but there's no other option." Anassa spoke.

"There's really a seaway?" Yulia asked.

"Of course, but we kept it hidden so well that even if you study the map of this village for days, you won't detect it." Anassa explained.

It didn't take long after that.

The armies packed up with the next ten minutes, and a lot of them even forgot many things.

They left their horses in the village, and they were led to the main seaway where the old brown ship is.

Anassa, Vonn and many of the villagers followed them, and as they got into the old ship one by one, they waved in sync.

"You'll come see me someday, right Teal?" Vonn asked her.

"Of course, stay fine till then." She smiled a bit.

Vonn smiled, and Anassa suddenly stroked Teal's hair. It was unexpected but short.

"We'll be expecting your next visit, and by then I hope it won't be because of Usman, but because you really came to visit." She said.

"Sure," Teal nodded.

"And I hope y'all are able to save the General." Anassa further said.

"Thank you, Anassa." Yulia replied.

Teal got in the ship with the rest, and she sandwiched herself between Brent and Sergeant Kash.

Shannon is still consoling April, and Rook is still petting Theo.

It was Four who rode the ship.

No idea where he got that skill from, but he's the jack of all trades, so it's not even shocking.

The ship is leaking slightly, so as he began riding, some armies had to start scooping water from the floor.

Hera sat at the back of the ship alone.

Morgan sat alone too.

Stormy and Sierra are together.

Yulia is still shivering, and Paine sat not far from her in the midst of other armies.

Four drove them insane in the ship, literally.

It got to a point, and they had to hold each other tight so they won't tumble into the sea.

The drive took five hours and few more minutes.

Water was almost drowning them in the ship when they arrived at the Athens shore.

Yulia already called for a bus before they arrived, so a Sergeant—Rui, is already waiting for them with the long bus.

"They're gonna execute him at the front gate of the base to serve as a deterrent for the armies. The President ordered it." He said urgently.

Everyone except Hera got in the bus, and Yulia drove.

The moment she zoomed to the main road, Four's phone awakened in his pocket, and he dug it out.

He's got several texts from his Biker, but the top text that's not from the Biker caught his attention.

• You won again, 2:1. I'm doing the count, but why were you asleep for the first hours and left your betrothed to lead your squad? Then you woke up in the middle of the fight and slaughtered my men like animals. I don't like that. You're growing wings, and they need to be cut. I promise you'll land on a wheelchair during the next mission Bet with me, and I'll take her.

Four's palm choked the phone, and Teal's eyes clashed with his own, but he looked away, his palm strangling the phone like a neck.

Yulia grinded the car to a screeching halt in front of base gate.

Even without getting out of the car, the squad members could already feel the heat of the fire, and they could already see the executioners in black death uniforms strolling around with armies.

Everyone got down from the bus in a rush, and everyone froze, too.

In front of the gate, Pedro is bound to a metal cross like an unforgivable sinner, and his body is on fire already.

He's burning so bright, the sight so terrible and ghastly.

Four fell devastatingly on a weak knee, and Teal backed the car to balance her footing.

Sergeant Kash was wide-mouthed.

Yulia's tears started afresh, and her legs broke into a depraved run towards the burning fire.

"Ed!!!!!!"

TBC.

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