Chapter Nine: Tensions of Power
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The echoes of the crumbling prison faded as Crow led his new band of broken villains out into the open night. Their quiet obedience, broken wills, and shattered pride were now his to command. However, there was one, among all those he controlled, who lingered near him with a different kind of focus.
Lady Nagant.
She walked just behind Crow, her movements slower, more deliberate, as if her body had grown accustomed to the weight of his control. Yet there was something else in her eyes—something that went beyond the mere subjugation of her will. There was a quiet, simmering intensity, a need that Crow hadn't expected. She didn't look at the others. She didn't care about their presence. Her eyes, her attention, were fixed solely on him.
Crow glanced over his shoulder, catching her gaze. She was practically glued to his side now, her steps matching his rhythm. Her expression was softer than before, lacking the usual cold sharpness that had defined her as a formidable assassin. Instead, she was watching him with something new: adoration.
"Lady Nagant," Crow murmured, his voice low, a knowing smirk curling at the corner of his lips. "You seem... unusually attached."
She nodded without hesitation, her eyes never leaving his face. "I was always loyal to my cause. But now... I'm loyal to you."
Her words were soft but firm, the devotion in her tone unmistakable. There was no hesitation in her movement as she took another step closer to him, her arm brushing against his.
Crow couldn't help but smirk. It was yet another addition to his growing collection of loyal followers, but something told him Lady Nagant wasn't going to be just another pawn. There was power in the way she looked at him—power he hadn't fully anticipated. But as he moved through the complex, he couldn't ignore the subtle stir of discomfort in the air.
Behind him, the unmistakable presence of someone else lurked—Mirko.
Her footsteps were heavier now, her usually confident strides filled with tension. She had been trailing behind Crow ever since they escaped the prison, but now her eyes were narrowed in irritation, her fists clenched at her sides.
Mirko had noticed.
She'd noticed the way Lady Nagant clung to Crow, how her gaze never strayed from him, and how she now walked with him, just a little too closely for comfort. It was driving Mirko mad. She had been the one who'd captured his attention first—hadn't she? She was the one who had been manipulated by his charming quirks, had been reduced to a willing, devoted pet. But now...
Now, Lady Nagant was taking up all his focus. All of it.
"Hey," Mirko called out sharply, breaking the silence. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the air. "What the hell is going on here?"
Crow turned slightly, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Mirko. His gaze swept over her before landing on Lady Nagant again. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice still cool, his tone almost teasing.
Mirko's face was flushed with both frustration and something deeper, something more personal. "This! You're letting her cling to you like that?" Her eyes darted between Lady Nagant and Crow, and her fists tightened even further, her nails digging into her palms. "You didn't seem to mind me following you around, did you? What's the deal with her?"
Lady Nagant's eyes flickered for a moment, but she said nothing. She didn't need to—her presence next to Crow spoke volumes.
Crow chuckled darkly, sensing the jealousy building in Mirko. It was almost... cute. "She's loyal," he said simply, not bothering to elaborate. He didn't need to. Mirko had been his pet—docile, obedient, always seeking his approval. But Lady Nagant? She was different. And it was clear to Crow that this difference was already starting to stir conflict.
Mirko's face turned an even deeper shade of red, though now it wasn't from the usual blush of admiration. No, this was different. It was frustration, jealousy, and a sense of ownership she didn't want to acknowledge.
"I'm... loyal too!" she spat, her voice growing sharper, more defensive. "I've been loyal from the start! But I don't see you letting me... cling to you like that!" She was practically growling by the end of her words, her usual confident demeanor slipping into something much more possessive.
Crow tilted his head, enjoying the moment. He could feel the tension mounting, the air thick with the unspoken emotions of both women. Lady Nagant, ever observant, stepped just a little closer to Crow, her presence practically overlapping his as she subtly leaned into him.
Mirko's gaze snapped to Lady Nagant, the jealousy clear in her eyes. "What the hell?" she muttered under her breath. "I thought you didn't care about this sort of thing."
Lady Nagant didn't answer. She didn't need to. Her actions said everything.
Crow grinned, amused by the turmoil he had unwittingly caused. "Mirko," he said, his voice low and calm, "You're my pet, aren't you? You know your place." He turned to Lady Nagant. "And Lady Nagant," he continued, "I'm still deciding just how useful you'll be."
The words were laced with a subtle yet undeniable promise of control, of dominance. The subtle difference in how he spoke to both of them sent a ripple through the tension in the air. Crow wasn't entirely sure if Mirko could hear it—the promise he had made with his words, but the look in Lady Nagant's eyes made it clear that she understood exactly where she stood.
Mirko's teeth clenched. "I'm more than just your pet, Crow," she muttered, but the hint of doubt in her voice betrayed her earlier certainty.
Crow smirked. "We'll see, Mirko."
As he turned to lead them further into the night, Lady Nagant's hand brushed lightly against his. It was the smallest of gestures, but to Mirko, it might as well have been a declaration of war.
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End of Chapter Nine.
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