Prologue

Clutching the skirt of her white wedding gown, she ran toward the entrance, her bloodied bare feet touching the white floor. The kind of white which matched the expensive wedding gown she was threatened to wear. 

A beautiful trail of red steps could be seen behind her. 

Her dark locks cascaded down her spine and blew back and forth as a gust of wind threatened to blow the veil fastened with her hair. With a tug, the veil fell and her hair along with her soul were free of the burden of holding virtues like virginity, obedience and modesty. 

She had none of these virtues to offer to the man who tried to marry her at the nook of a knife. 

The same knife she used to slash his precious balls. 

She heard him call out behind her, a low and intimidating voice that had haunted her ever since he first laid his dreadful eyes on her. 

William Joseph was her nightmare from the moment she had known of his existence and obsession. 

His peculiar obsession with her, Calliope Wilding, Orlando Wilding's young widow. Not with the rumoured cursed duchess of the Orin. 

Her beliefs were shattered today. She truly was cursed. When her father, her people and even her dead husband called her cursed, she refused to trust their belief. 

She wasn't cursed. She wasn't the root cause of their misfortunes. 

But today, her lifelong belief was shattered at the hands of this monster named William Joseph. 

Suppressing the muffled cry, she speeded up and walked towards her destiny. Even if no one believed her, she would create her destiny. 

Her beliefs were shattered. Her pride was crushed. But she still had something worth living. 

Her wishes. 

A wish to find her knight in shining armour. One who would glue back her pieces. One who would avenge her crushed pride. One who would give her more reasons to live. 

She wasn't Persephone and Joseph, the monster was not hades. And this place sure wasn't the underworld that was going to trap her for eternity. 

And so she ran. She ran and ran and ran. 

And finally saw the gates, wide open as if waiting for her just to escape this disgraceful abode of the monster. 

A monster who was given the place of God in people's hearts.  

It was a shame he won people over by his deception and shameful acting. 

"Your grace?" Calliope heard an agonized whisper. 

Falling on her knees, Calliope gazed up, those mismatched irises of her reflected the pain of her heart as she found Jane staring at her in horror. 

One blue and another black iris. 

The root cause of the belief that Calliope Wildings was a cursed woman. An eclipse on her loved one's happiness. 

The basket carrying pistachios fell on the ground, several pieces rolled over to her. 

"I killed him, Jane. I killed him," Calliope whispered, barely finding the strength to utter those words. "I finally killed the monster of my nightmare. I'm free." 

Jane's eyes widened as realization hit her and she fell on her knees caressing Calliope's black tear-stained face. "Your grace, you killed the prime minister?"

The intensity of her crime hit Calliope like a bullet, and unruly tears trickled down her cheeks but her lips tugged to form a smile. 

"I'm a woman wanted by the law," Calliope whispered. 

"What have you done, Your Grace?" Jane cried along with her. "What will become of our family now?" 

"Where are knights, Jane?" Calliope cried in her arms. "Why can't one come to save me? I refused to be a damsel in distress but I truly need my knight to bring me back to life?" 

Who would have thought this heartfelt wish of Calliope would be fulfilled in a way she had never imagined. 

Knights don't always come in shining armour. Some come in black suits with a face of angel and temperament that of a saint to lure the duchess to his lair. 

Monster like Joseph might not have an Underworld to trap but the devilish angel Callum Facci appeared in the form of a knight might have a sensual hell to pull her to. 

… 

Author Note: 

It's said that veils symbolized virginity, obedience and modesty in some cultures. That was what Calliope meant above. 

...

Hello everyone, I am back with another book on dark horses (what a weird name, I know). Almost a year ago, when the idea had struck my mind to write a boo on Villain, I had instantly acted on it. Burned midnight oil and cried my eyes out. Persephone and Santiago had burned and soothed us at the same time.

I wish just like Callum and Calliope that you would give the book great love and support the way you have given to THe Villain.

Callum is back with his deceptive kisses and loyal promises. Now it's a game to see who will fall first. The duchess or Callum?

What would Callum chose Love or duty?

....

This book is participating in the WPC contest. Please leave your valued comments, reviews and power stones to support it. We intend to win the contest to get daily updates.