The Devil's Good Girl-Chapter 273: Dance of the damned

[Present Time]

Marcus squinted as he kept his observant eyes on Quentin. The latter seemed to be deep in thought, and he had been silent since.

’What is he thinking this time?’ he wondered, gulping nervously as he could only assume all sorts of evil things. ’Is he thinking of Michael? Or... Fil?’

"Mr. Arkwright."

Suddenly, Marcus flinched at the calm sound of Quentin’s voice.

"Ye — yes?" he asked, stuttering. "What is it, Quentin?"

Quentin fluttered his lashes at him and smirked. "Are you still scared of me?"

"No." Marcus’s came out just so naturally from his mouth he almost bit his tongue.

"I don’t think it’s possible to kill that friend of yours," Quentin remarked.

Marcus almost heaved a sigh of relief. "It’s — it’s okay."

"Was it?"

"Of course! If you can’t, then..." Marcus trailed off when Quentin arched a brow. Noticing the change of mood, he quickly figured out he worded it wrongly.

"I know it’s not like you can’t..." To coax him, Marcus slowly stood from his chair and went to the seat opposite him. He leaned forward a little, looking all curious. "But is this person you’re talking about... is he really that troublesome?"

"He is." Quentin nodded. "Very — for you and me."

"For me?"

"In the human world, you’re like an ant he can squash down with his pinky." Quentin raised his pinky while the rest of his fingers were clasped into a fist. "You’re that small to him."

"In the human world..." Marcus muttered, looking up at Quentin as if to know if what he was thinking was correct. "You’re saying this person also blends in with humans?"

Quentin nodded. During Quentin’s time in Kenzo’s apartment, he learned everything he could about the present year and the years he missed. It was why he quickly adapted to the ever-changing times. One of the things he learned was Jackson.

Although Jackson kept a lowkey profile in the business world, concealing his face from the prying eyes of the public, everyone knows him. He might’ve changed his surname, but Quentin knew the man people called a legend in the business world was none other than Jackson.

He didn’t need to confirm this. All he had to hear was the company’s name.

Solana.

"Do you know the plant Solanaceae family, Mr. Arkwright?" Quentin asked, and Marcus rocked his head.

"My grandmother likes plants, so I heard about that. What about it?"

"It has a genus flower belonging to the Solanaceae Family called Datura," Quentin casually shared. "It is both beautiful and dangerous; it can easily captivate onlookers, but caution needs to be taken tending to it."

Marcus’s brows knitted, unsure why Quentin was suddenly talking about flowers. Did he like them? Should he get him one?

"Do you know what that specific flower symbolizes, Mr. Arkwright?"

Marcus shook his head. "No, I don’t."

"It symbolizes the cycle of life, death, and resurrection." A short smile turned up on Quentin’s face. "It represents Filomena. They were her favorite flowers as well from the South."

Marcus pressed his lips. "You said... Fil was your wife?"

"She still is."

"But how can she not... know you?" Marcus mustered the courage to ask.

He knew Quentin was nothing but a monster. However, he knew Fil, and he claimed that she was his wife. Since Marcus was already trapped with this guy, he felt like he should know a bit about the devil he made a deal with.

"Because she’s a selfish wench." Quentin shrugged. "Though it’s partly my fault she doesn’t remember. She lived and died, lived and died again, and again, and again. And each time, she suffers."

His smile stretched. "Her fate is designed to be like that, Mr. Arkwright. Whether I do it or not, she’ll ruin things for herself. That’s how she dies every time."

"Every time... you’re saying this isn’t her first life?"

"I’m not quite sure how many times she lived and died, but what I am certain of is that she can’t have a happy life." Quentin cocked his head a little to the side. "Especially not when I’m awake."

"Awake?"

"Oh, I didn’t tell you? I was sealed for decades."

"And the one who sealed you is that person you’re talking about? The person who intercepts your plans today?"

Quentin nodded in satisfaction. "You’re a quick learner."

Or Marcus was just too scared he knew being alerted was the only way he could last long. At the back of Marcus’s head, he wanted to know who could make Quentin back off. If he got lucky, he could ask for this person’s help.

However, his fear was triumphant.

What if the person Quentin was talking about was ten times worse than Quentin? A person who could make Quentin have second thoughts should be a monster like him.

"I may have grown powerful over the years, but that man... hah. What a lucky man." Quentin clicked his tongue. "Anyway, had you not taken action on your side?"

Marcus’s shoulders stiffened. "It’s not that easy to kill Kenzo."

Quentin frowned. "Why are you so slow?"

"Why don’t you do it yourself?" Marcus blurted out, and when he realized it, he quickly bit his tongue. Fortunately, Quentin didn’t nitpick on him.

"I owe Kenzo," Quentin casually explained. "He took care of me, and because of him, I learned so many things about this world and Filomena. So, I can’t kill him myself."

Marcus mentally frowned, thinking owing Quentin had no value at all. If he owed Kenzo, wasn’t it only logical to keep him out of his list?

"Mr. Arkwright, you should work on your expressions. I can read your thoughts," Quentin humored, making Marcus’s face freeze. "You think since I owe Kenzo, I shouldn’t touch him at all? However, even though I owe him, it conflicts with my reason and purpose."

"Simply put, he’s an important person in Filomena’s life. Hence, he should die," he continued as if that was enough to explain it.

Even Marcus couldn’t deny how vague that explanation was. Looking up at Quentin, Marcus mustered the courage to at least know Quentin’s motives.

"I’m working on it," he reassured before hesitatingly asking, "Quentin, why do you want to kill the people she treasures so much?"

Quentin assessed the look on Marcus’s face before a light chuckle escaped him. "Are you thinking everything that I am doing is for love, Mr. Arkwright?"

Marcus’s back stiffened, making him laugh even louder.

"Oh... I supposed it does look that way. Though I used to love her at one point; she wouldn’t be my wife if I didn’t admire her," Quentin shook his head. "But my relationship with her, our marriage... is more than just love, Mr. Arkwright. It is much deeper and quite... sinister."

His lips curled up as he added, "What’s happening is simply a continuation of our dance. Have you heard the dance of the damned, Mr. Arkwright?"