Bloody celebration [III]

"Cheers!!!"

Darius Harper proposed a toast after the announcement. He was thrilled that his son returned in one piece and also assumed his role as the mafia king. 

Meanwhile, one person was particularly terrified out of his wits. Draco wished he could just slip away, but he knew that someone was watching him keenly, though he couldn't tell who. 

"Congratulations" Penelope boldly walked to Tyler and raised her glass. He clinked hers with his and stepped away decisively, leaving Penelope confused. She finally had the chance to lay her claim on her man, but he walked away before she could say anything further. 

The scornful gazes of the other ladies made her blood boil, and she could have snapped at someone who called her "an old cargo," if she had not been led away by her brother. 

All the mafia bosses were expecting to chit chat with the mafia king, but after whispering something into his father's ears, Tyler left the gathering without a second glance at anyone. 

However, before he could exit the hall, he halted and looked towards Draco's direction. With an eerie "Whoosh!!!" the pocket knife was embedded in Draco's throat, and the glass of wine slipped from his hand. Everyone watched as he fell backwards, clutching his bloody throat. There was pin-drop silence, as no one knew why he did it or who was next. The people around Draco were so scared that one of them even peed his pants. 

Tyler walked closer to his victim and carefully pulled out the knife from his throat. 

[Whoosh!]  

[Whoosh!!]  

[Whoosh!!!]  

[Whoosh!!!] 

Only one person was left breathing at the table. Tyler cleaned his pocket knife on Draco's shirt before declaring menacingly, "Get these trash out of here." 

That said, he turned around and left the hall without exchanging any other words with anyone. The last person at the table was the driver who was elevated to a leader. Now that Draco was no more, he had no way of surviving, unless he chose to flee. Draco's son would skin him alive for standing by and watching his father get killed. 

Everything happened in less than a minute, and no one in the hall could tell when Tyler swung his knife. All they saw were the dead bodies of Draco and his men, save for one. 

Tyler's parting words hung eerily in the air, "You don't expect to leave after your own kill order, do you?" It was a question that no one could contest, because Draco was the one who attempted to kill Tyler first. However, they would have loved to see how Tyler killed him. Though they were all there, it felt like their eyes were closed the entire time. No one saw a thing. The blades were just too fast for their poor eyes.

"Reaper…" 

That was the word on the lips of everyone when they watched the mafia king depart from his own party before it could even begin. Tyler felt stuffy amid the crowd and needed to take some fresh air. With the skills he exhibited just now, no one dared to pressure him to introduce his partner - as had been the custom for ages.  

The new mafia king was a reaper, and they were glad they could caution themselves with the little they just witnessed. 

From the moment Tyler stepped in until the time he left, he didn't say a word to anyone. Only his father had that luxury.

==============

"What are you doing here?" Iris was startled to find Tyler in Rachel's villa. The lights were off, and he blended into the darkness as if he were one with it. Stealing a glance at her sister, Iris gave Rachel an apologetic look before stepping into the sitting room with Tyler. 

"I'm Tyler Harper. Thank you for saving my life." He blurted out robotically. Tyler then stretched his right hand towards Rachel and smilingly introduced himself. 

Rachel's pent-up frustration was gone when she saw her sister hail and hearty, so she wasn't so apprehensive towards Tyler anymore. 

"Rachel Bowman. And I must say, I did nothing. Iris had to drain her whole body to save you." Rachel's response was unexpected, and Iris was unsure of how the mafia prince would take it. She noticed the air around him had changed, as she still remembered him as someone with a terrible temper. 

Tyler smiled knowingly and let go of Rachel's hand. He then handed her his card and added, "I owe you a life debt, so feel free to reach out to me whenever you need help. Anything at all."

Tyler was a bit too serious, and Iris was surprised to hear what was coming out of his mouth. Rachel excused the two, still unable to describe their relationship.

"I owe you my life, Iris, and I'll spend it serving you, my lady." Tyler pulled Iris by the waist and kissed her on the lips briefly. 

When she regained her wits, she blurted out angrily, "You son of a bi…" Before Iris could finish her words, Tyler grabbed her and captured her lips with his once again. This time around, the kiss was longer, deeper, and more tender. 

Iris got lost in the sweet moment with him, as the suppressed emotions of Minerva began to consume her. She loved Alaric, but her hatred was equally as strong as the love in her heart.

[Pa!!!] 

After indulging in the kiss for a while, Minerva's hatred took over Iris, and she broke the kiss, landing a heavy slap on Tyler's face. Iris couldn't tell what came over her, but she suddenly felt a strong hatred overwhelming her. It was as if she was not herself anymore. 

"Alaric… Don't you ever lay your filthy hands on me ever again!" Iris threatened in a trembling voice that caused Tyler's eyes to turn blood red. He could tell that Iris awakened her memories of Minerva. He felt that it could even be more than that.

"These hands would touch everything on this body. You know why? Because I'm all yours. You saved my life, Iris, so you can't get rid of me that easily."

Tyler's words dumbfounded Iris, which caused Minerva to lose her grip on her momentarily. 

"I need to get you out of here, Iris. This place isn't safe for you and your sister anymore. Please don't argue with me." Tyler tried to convince Iris when he noticed her being silent. 

"You want us to go elsewhere? How about I end you right here?" 

Iris placed a pocket knife to Tyler's throat, pushing it deeper into his skin, till she saw blood. 

"You might want to say your last prayers, Alaric." Iris taunted heartily, daring Tyler to move an inch. It was as if she had a split personality.

Tyler was both shocked and amused at the sudden turn of events. He couldn't believe that she could tell where his pocket knife was. This tiny weapon had claimed so many lives tonight, and nothing could have prepared him that he was going to be one of them. 

"Don't you think it's funny you want to kill me with my own pocket knife? Why did you go through all the pain to save me then?" 

More blood oozed from the cut, as the knife was pushed deeper into his body. A sharp pain hit Tyler, and he could tell Iris didn't do that. He could only mention her name to snap her out of whichever trance Minerva was keeping her in. 

"Iris! W… what are you doing?"