HEIR TO THE DOJO

Eight days death ultimatum

Cassandra's words stung the air like a curse.

At first, it felt like a joke— Like a circus at a funeral.

But who jokes with death like that. But her expression contrasted the idea that she was passing a joke. Concern etched over her face like a mask.

But Ragnar, he merely chuckled— He actually laughed like he'd just heard the biggest joke of the century. Cassandra raised her head to look at her in a way that says; 'is he going mad?'

Ragnar leaned in, his elbow resting on the table.

"Try harder," He said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Trying to scare me with that cheap joke is not going to work."

Cassandra's eyes narrowed in disbelief before she exploded. She jerked up. The chair scrapped backwards, leaving a scratch to the ground.

"Do you think I'm f*cking joking here?!" She yelled, frustration and anger bubbling in her voice. "For thinking all of this is a joke is stupidity. You've been marked to die. In the f*cking next eight days!"

Silence fell over the room. And the tension rose drastically.

Ragnar's smile dropped, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Earlier when she pressed her hand on Cassandra's neck, he felt a strange inexplicable aura.

Cassandra's chest heaved as she paced up and down the room, her heels clicking into the silence, but it couldn't slice the tension.

"But Why?" Ragnar asked, his voice low, the concern unmistakable.

Cassandra stopped and spun on him. Her eyes burned with tears that threatened to spill.

Her chest heaved palpably like she was exploding inside. "Because I'm cursed. I can't marry any man except for a man," Her voice wavered, cracking with emotions. "Any man who attempts to force himself on me dies!" A droplet of tears slipped from her eyes.

Silence.

The room was heavy with emotions and tension.

Cassandra's relationship with men had been strictly restrained. No boyfriend. No spouse. Just die single. Lonely.

She wants to feel the love, the care of a man. She wanted to know that tingling feeling she'd always seen in movies. But it was just impossible.

The college bully who simply attempted to have her way with her, but she was fortunate to escape died mysteriously the next eight days.

While she was in university, during a 'truth or dare' game, the guy who kissed her didn't live to see the nineth day.

Ragner sighed gently after reasoning the strange aura around he must be because of the curse on her. He leaned forward "So, is that it?" He said casual, raising a brow.

Cassandra's head snapped to him like she'd just misheard.

"What are you talking about?" Disbelief laced her voice.

Ragnar leaned backward, unbothered by everything he'd just heard. Cassy strutted forward, glaring into his eyes. "Listen," Her palm slammed against the desk. "You're bound to die in the next eight days!

" If you think this is some kind of joke or some fantasy movie then get ready to sleep deep in the soil in the coming eight days." She yanked her designer purse to storm out of the room when Ragnar reached for her arm. "Cassandra. Wait." His voice stopped her. But she didn't turn. "It is not myself I am worried about, but you."

The words felt surreal. Cassandra turned to him in shock.

Ragnar pressed on gently and firmly. "I understand your concern, but I will never let anything happen to you." He assured. "I already promised I'll protect you no matter what."

Cassandra blinked. Her mind raced. What the heck?!

Who would wait when they heard death is already hovering on their head. But Ragnar wasn't only waiting. He was comforting her, and the feeling felt surreal. Tingling in a strange way she'd never felt before.

"If I'm going to die in the next few days, what about you?" He asked gently. "What is the consequence?"

She shook her head, unsure of the answer to give. "I..I don't know." She said quietly.

After a moment of silence, Cassandra looked up at him. She didn't look him in the face like she would break if she makes eye contact.

"All of this is none of your business," She said, her voice detached. "You should be more concerned about spending the rest of your days doing something memorable." Tear slipped down to her cheek which she hid away instantly.

She yanked free and hurriedly walked out of the room. The door clicked shut.

The emotion still hung in the room. Ragnar stared at the door through which she left. Ragner was sure nothing was going to happen to him because he'd been fortified by Master Dojo Barrt from any evil. But what about Cassandra?

"I'll never allow anything to happen to her," Ragner said in his thoughts. "I promise."

Cassandra strutted to her car at the station valet, hiding her tears under dark sunglasses. She yanked the door open and sank onto the seat, slamming the door shut.

The silence enveloped her like a coffin. She yanked off the glass and tossed it to the next seat. Tears streamed from her eyes freely now.

"W— why was I born this way..." Her voice cracked with emotions.. "Why is my life so horrible, why...." She kept hitting the steering wheel in frustration and anger.

When Cassandra was born, 'the lamp of life' of her future partner suddenly died— It was mysterious— unusual.

Her grandmother warned her parents to make her stay away from sexual relationships as she grows, because she's born never to have a partner, and whoever tries to force her way with her will die.

And it had been happening right from high school. The guy who kissed her during the 'T or D' game slumped and died in the next eight days.

The professor who tried to lure her to bed mysteriously disappeared after the next eight days.

Her destiny has been forged— unbroken. final! Maybe.

Her phone buzzed inside her bag, cutting through the chaos of her mind. Her finger felt heavy. She allowed the phone to ring out. It buzzed again immediately.

She reached the purse lazily and pulled out the buzzing phone.

She stared at the screen for a few seconds before picking up his father's call.

"How dare you, Cassandra," Mr. Valemore's Voice nearly burst the speaker. "You went behind to bail that criminal! I want you back to the mansion right away."

She could hear her mother's voice in the background as she was speaking to cool him off.

The line snapped.

Cassandra sighed. She dropped the phone and leaned into the seat with a heavy heart. After a while, he ignited the car engine and drove off.

Ragnar walked out of the station with a gentle stride, his bag casually slung over his shoulder.

The warm afternoon air brushed his face lightly. Deciding to push the thought about Cassandra aside for the meantime, he was more eager to see his wife, Amelia.

Thinking about her, a gentle and warm smile curled his lips. It has been 5 years since he last heard or seen her before he was kidnapped.

He imagined how gorgeous she would have grown.

Five years ago, Ragnar was nothing but a think of humiliation in his wife's family.

Insults were norms to him. He was the errand boy of the family. No reverence. He was just the son-in-law who gets pushed around like a puppet.

But now, he's back. Not as the worthless son-in-law of the Valemore family. But a man with a hidden empire.

Yes— you heard it. He's the son-in-law of the Valemore family— Cassandra's family. How?

I'm as shocked as you too.