The Taste of Seduction

Marcus, deciding to ignore the rambling boyfriend, dropped beside Diana who seemed too weak to speak, only groaning due to her weakness. After examining her to ensure that she had no internal injury but broken skin, blood loss and tissue damage, picked her up gingerly and wanted to leave for his apartment, but he stopped after hearing a train of bullshit spewed by Cole.

"As long as she, we, no she I mean, says it ….. It... it is a domestic accident,

as long .. we do .. as long ..we do not acknowledge the case, nothing can happen to me or us," he stammered as he tried to speak coherently despite his fear.

"If we are off that part with the cops, it is you that will go to jail, in fact, I will tell the cops, you tried to rape her and beat her to this state while trying to intimidate me.

I wasn't able to stop you because of your overwhelming strength and my frail body, so I called the cops for help. That sounds even perfect" he smirked with an evil grin while resting on the wall, looking to find his confidence in the wall behind him as he laughed maniacally.

"This bitch has the effrontery to laugh with other men, come late home in the company of another man laughing like they just finished making out, she deserves it," he shouted with a burst of energy as though injected with adrenaline while pointing towards the woman lying blood covered on the floor.

"Better, take the chance I am offering while I am still being nice," he added while trying to make a tough face.

Marcus, realizing Diana was beaten because of jealousy and insecurity of her boyfriend, finally lost his cool. Placing Diana on the bed after ensuring that she was comfortable and would be in no serious condition for a couple of seconds, stood up and walked menacingly towards Cole with his eyes revealing their original colour, blood red.

With immense bloodlust and anger filled with his chest, he walked towards Cole. Cole shivered as he felt he was targeted by a prehistoric beast, with his hair standing straight on ends as he began pleading with Marcus.

"What are you doing, man? Are yo-you lo..looking to kill someone," he stammered, unable to withstand the pressure he felt as soon Marcus walked towards him.

"So you mean, even if you beat her up to this state of health, you are not sorry, not apologizing, not concerned about her health and life, and you have the effrontery to think about how to pin it on me while you go scot free after she gets again," he roared in a loud voice that shakes the room while almost in front of cole.

Grabbing Cole by the collar, he raised up the wall he took as his support , raising his hand while controlling his strength to prevent blowing off the idiot's head, he slapped Cole multiple times within three seconds in a frenzy and speed that exceeded that of a natural human being.

Due to the impact of the slap and frenzy, Cole fainted immediately and dropped to the floor limply as soon as he was released from Marcus's grip.

As Marcus lifted Diana's frail body, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger towards Cole for the pain he had inflicted upon her. He carried her gently, cradling her in his arms as if she were the most delicate treasure. He placed her on the bed, taking a moment to examine her injuries again.

His eyes traced the bruises and cuts mar her once-beautiful skin. The sight stirred memories within him, memories of a time when he himself had been in the midst of war, surrounded by violence and suffering.

He had learned the art of healing and medicine, a skill necessary to survival since he was wounded at times, being at the forefront and leading the army.

A wave of empathy washed over Marcus as he recalled the countless lives he had tried to save during those dark times. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, with steady hands, he began to clean her wounds, his touch gentle yet purposeful. He drew upon his knowledge, meticulously tending to each injury, after confirming no internal damage had occurred.

For once, he was glad that Cole was a weak man but after sighting the bruises and the trauma that she must have experienced over time, he felt his anger surge again at the bastard.

After cleaning her up with a wet towel and warm water with her groans coming inconsistently, he forced some medicine he found in the kitchen down her throat after making sure they were safe. When he was done, he applied some medicine on the bruises which caused her to groan aloud while she gripped his body tightly.

Petting her for a while, he carefully carried her to the bed, after discovering that her breathing was regular and starting to sleep. As Diana slept, curled up in a protective ball, Marcus couldn't help but feel a surge of sadness wash over him. He knew all too well the instinctual need to shield oneself from harm, to create a barrier of safety even in the vulnerability of sleep.

He turned his gaze to the fainted Cole at the end of the room. He dragged him from the room to the kitchen.

"You still deserve death," Marcus roared loudly in his head as he set sight on Cole, his eyes still glowing red. He picked a nearby cup, filled it with water, returned to the room and emptied it on Cole, waking him up in pain and groggy.

He swiftly slapped Cole, who came to himself, becoming sober after receiving another impact to the head.

Trembling and scared, "what do… do .. you want?" he asked with his eyes filled with horror as he glanced and saw the blood red eyes that seemed to have a glow of their own.

"Tell me what I need to know and I will not kill you else, you can be a guest to lucifer tonight in hell," Marcus responded with an indifference that told Cole that this monster in front of him was not joking about killing him.

"Why does she seem so attached to you, that she refuses to let go no matter how much you abuse her?"