The Butterfly and the Spider
Doflamingo tensed for a moment and made for standing up.
 Soon, though, he relaxed back on his favourite sofa with a chuckle. He had recognised the person slipping past the large doors of his room: not an enemyânot anymore at least, even if he didnât know how long that would last. He watched the young woman he had grown familiar with in the past years and said, âYour stealth skills are worthy of your reputation as an assassinââhis lips still curved in a smileââbut you canât fool me yet, Violet.â
 Doflamingo never called the surviving princess of the Riku family by her real name. Instead, he addressed her with the alias she had chosen for herself upon joining his pirate crew. They currently were in the palace once called home by the previous royal family; that was before he took control of Dressrosa, the kingdom his own family had ruled over centuries ago.
 Before they turned their back to their people and joined the other losers in the âHoly Landâ.
 Doflamingo turned his mind from his hatred for the Celestial Dragons (heâd been one of them too before his foolish father left Mary Geoise with his wife and children) and focused on Violetâs face. Her expression told him that those walls felt foreign to her, now: half of her family dispersed and the other half imprisoned, she was the last member of her dynasty who could move relatively freely around the island. He was sure she would take advantage of it eventually, but he was willing to take the risk.
 Killing you now would be premature.
 He toleratedâno, enjoyed her presence. Besides, he wasnât the kind of man who would pass up the opportunity to include one more skilled member in his family, no matter who they were. So, he had taken Violet under his protection in exchange for her loyalty and services as an assassin. His back laying comfortably on the pillows, Doflamingo watched the woman take a deep breath and hesitate. Then, she finally stepped out from behind the thick drapes and showed herself. He looked at her in silence, taken aback by her alluring dress.
 What do you have in mind?
 She looked completely different from the usual Violet, who wore outfits suited to combat rather than flirting.
 âI wasnât expecting to see you like this,â Doflamingo said after a while, serious. She was part of his family now, after all, and he had responsibilities towards her. âWhat does this mean, Violet?â
 âIâŚI need you to promise me that you wonât hurt my niece.â
 Violet took a few steps towards him, aware of her sensuality. He refrained from showing that it was affecting him. Even in such situationsâespecially in such situationsâhe needed to be the one in control. âWhat makes you think that I would want to hurt Rebecca?â he replied calmly, putting his chin on the palm of his hand.
 âI know what you do to gladiators fighting poorly in the Colosseum,â Violet said while taking another slow, calculated step towards him. Her long skirt swirled around her slender ankles like a colourful flower caressed by the wind.
 âSo, itâs about that!â Doflamingo was amused to see her almost jolt back, the erratic flaps of the wings of a butterfly caught by a sudden gale replacing the previous image of a beautiful flower. âStill, Rebeccaâs performance isnât as lacking as those useless menâs,â he added with a sneer.
 âBut sheâŚâ
 âSheâs just fighting her way,â he explained. âIâm fine with that as long as sheâll keep entertaining the people of Dressrosa.â He raised a hand to stress his words. âI couldnât care less about her pacifist views or her policy to only dodge attacks if sheâs putting up a show nonetheless, and people love to insult her.â He smirked, expecting Violet to fall for his provocation. However, as he stared down at her, she didnât look angry but confused. His smile disappeared. He wondered why people always assumed he enjoyed resorting to violence even when it wasnât necessary: if Rebecca liked to fight with a blunt sword and make his opponents fall off the ring, be it that. Her fighting style of choice wasnât his business. Besides, he didnât have time to waste with that naĂŻve girlâas long as she did her part in the arena at least. Violet didnât seem too convinced, though, so he added, âIf thatâs bothering you, letâs just say that you being here will work as an extra insurance towards me not interfering with your nieceâs questionable fighting.â
 Violet looked up at him with inquiring eyes, silent, and came a little closer.
 âI feel youâtrusting people is hard,â he told her with a smirk. âBut you can trust me.â He laughed again, louder this time, and Violet actually jumped back. However, before she had the time to realise what was happening, he twisted his fingers. A moment later, Violet had her arms pulled above her head as he controlled her body like a puppeteer with his little puppet. With the help of more strings, he turned the trembling woman around so that she would give him her back. It was easy for Doflamingo to lift her off the floor and make her sit on his lap, giving he was much taller and heavier than her.
 âWait, No! Not like thisâŚ!â
 Doflamingo ignored her complaints and twisted more of his invisible threads around her wrists to immobilise her completely. Now, she was at his mercy: like a butterfly in a spiderâs web. He licked his lips, savouring her frantic heartbeat.
 You came here by your willingness, choosing to risk everything. I admire your courage but donât think Iâll leave myself open and let you read my mind with your powers.
 Doflamingo knew what she was capable of doing. She would probably try to elicit information from him, but he wouldnât allow her to do that. âDonât worry, I wonât hurt you,â he said in a low voice. The womanâs breathing was erratic as if she was straining herself not to cry. âTry to relax.â Despite everything, he wanted it to be a pleasurable experience for her too. He buried his face into her wavy black hair and whispered, âYou smell goodâŚlike the scent of the sea on a sunny day.â When his hands slid down her body, with just the thin silk of her clothes between her porcelain skin and his fingers, Violet shivered. Doflamingo smirked at her reaction, and since she seemed to have calmed down, he didnât stop.
 Youâre enjoying this, arenât you?
 After a while, he felt the womanâs nervousness gradually relenting under his careful hands. She remained silent, but her body language and soft moans told him that she was ready for more. His touches became more daring as he kissed the back of her neck. When excitement took her over, he released the strings around her wrists.
 Violet slipped down to the floor, panting, her face a deep shade of red. He stared down at her, his head slightly reclined, and his lips curved into a mocking smile. Violet blushed even more and looked down. âDo you want a drink?â he asked casually, taking a sealed bottle and two elegant-looking glasses from the table. Even while doing so, he kept his eyes fixed on the woman as she tried to catch her breath, but she was still too overwhelmed to be able to speak. Soon, though, she stood up on slightly trembling legs and nodded half-heartedly.
 âIs it justâŚthat?â she finally managed to murmur, glancing sideways.
 Doflamingo didnât reply immediately. He was enjoying her embarrassment too much and wanted to keep her on edge a little longer. Instead, he carefully uncorked the bottle and slowly poured the red wine into the two glasses. Next, he smelled in the fragrant scent of the clear liquid, and only after that, he spoke. âFufufu⌠Were you expecting more, maybe?â He was still staring down at her with the same mocking expression as before, enjoying the scene. âDonât be too greedyâthis was just our first time after all!â
 âThat wasnât what I meant!â she retorted. She had turned an even deeper shade of red and, a moment later, she rushed out of the room.
 âYou can come visiting me anytime, dear Viola!â Doflamingo laughed. Now that they got intimate with each other, he could use her actual name. He sipped both glasses of wine with a satisfied smile on his face. Maybe, that was the start of a fruitful relationship.
 âKeep your friends close and your enemies closer,â they say.
 And if the daughter of the previous king ever turned against him, he could still kill herâor have her killed by her niece.
  From his tall throne, the rightful king of Dressrosa smiled cruelly.
yousharknotpass
pixelskylines
romaincrisis
snowghoul
theartofmadeline
