“How is that possible?” It doesn’t take a genius to know who saw what was behind that door. Oh, little Kalliope, what a mess you’ve gotten yourself into. Her return is crucial—now more than ever. The things she saw, the people she could tell…
She doesn’t know where she was held. I made sure of it. We’re secluded. No sigils, brands, identifying landmarks of any kind. A failsafe.
Fail.I’ve failed.
No, not yet. There’s still time.
“It looks like access was granted to Katerina. But after investigating, it turns out she was…indisposed at the time of entry.”
“I know about the incident. But that doesn’t answer how she could be in two places at once.”
“Well, sir. She seems to also be missing…missing some fingers,” 456 says with hesitation.
A small, miniscule part of me—more like a sliver—tingles withan odd sensation of…worry? No. That can’t be right. I’ll figure it out later. But the larger part fills with fury. How could she be so careless and to allow someone inthatstate to nearly kill her.
“It seems she got what she deserved. Serves her right. Let it be a reminder to always expect the unexpected.”
“You don’t think she should see a healer?” His eyebrow raises in question.
I chuckle, letting the ominous sound send shivers down his spine. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Despite my rage, I can still see the beauty in the carnage that was created in Kalliope’s wake, and nobody should be the least bit surprised she would sever a few fingers. It’s barbaric. “You’re dismissed.”
456 turns without another word, and I’m finally left alone with my thoughts—exactly how I prefer it. But just as fast as the door clicks shut, it’s pushed right back open, a gust of wind following suit, and my hands immediately fly to cover the papers as soon as they rustle. My composure is long gone, and I allow the grimace to take purchase on my face, letting whoever barged in here know precisely how this scene is making me feel.
“He’s here,” Katerina says, keeping her hands firmly behind her back.
“Knock next time,” I push through clenched teeth. I don’t know when the simplicity of respect or order was lost amongst my people, but it will soon be rectified. Perhaps I’ve gone soft, let too many things slip between the cracks, but not anymore.
“See to it he is in the chamber. I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I instruct.
“But Callum isn’t back yet,” she counters.
My bones vibrate with a barely restrained violence, and the smile I wear feels like a loaded weapon. In the matter of seconds I have her screaming on the floor, her eyes pinch together in anguish, and I relish in the pain radiating off her. The bone-crunching sound echoes throughout my office when she fallsto her knees. Power radiates from her. I can feel it coiling, feathering—pleading to be unleashed. To shove me back and knock me off my path so she can vanish with nothing more than a few fragmented memories of what happened.
Instead, she’s met with the wrath of a thousand men, and I dig my claws in deeper, until finally, the screams subside and we’re basking in the silence. Tears shed down her cheeks as she lies there unmoving. Paralyzed is more like it, as I make sure she stays in a conscious state, only allowing her eyes to track my movements.
“763,” I say each number with brutal punctuation. “I don’t care if he’s back or not. He could never come back—it doesn’t make any difference. He’s a dime a dozen, but there is only oneme.AndIwill be there in ten minutes. Do I make myself clear?”
I release my hold, and her chest heaves with lungfuls of air. “Yes, Commander.”
“Now leave beforeIstart taking body parts from you as well.” Katerina’s movements are sluggish at best, but in due time, she reaches the door and crawls out to the other side. I waste no time and shut it, making sure the lock is firmly in place.
Alone at last.
Walking down the halls is like strolling through a ghost town, the only sounds coming from the squeak of my shoes and the low hum of the overhanging lights.
I descend the first staircase, then another, concrete steps echoing beneath my boots like a countdown. The air thickens the farther I go, damp and heavy, until the stench of mildew curls in my nose. I round the last corner, and there it is: a steel door half swallowed by the dark.
Letting myself in, I’m not surprised by the low lighting that greets me, aside from the one pendant lightbulb showcasingtonight’s guest. His eyes squint to see who’s entered, but the harsh contrast makes it impossible to identify. The door closes with a thundering noise, kicking dust up when it slides into the frame.
“Who’s there?” he asks, strong and confident, not giving away that he’s scared in the slightest. Keeping my hands placed within each other behind my back, I walk to the right, making sure to keep my face concealed within the shadows. “What do you want?”
It’s always the same questions. Who are you? What do you want? Why are you doing this? As if any of that will save him. As if knowing will stop what’s coming. The first one always earns me a smile. Who am I? Wrong question. You should be asking how many enemies you’ve made. How many souls are out there, clawing to be the one to watch you bleed. Because if you have to ask which of your enemies finally snapped…you were dead the moment I walked in.
Enemy might be a stretch in this case. However, the moment he allowed Kalliope to leave this realm, that’s exactly what he became. It’s laughable to see where we are now. Me, free and at liberty to do whatever it is I wish to this poor unfortunate soul. And him, bound to a chair with absolutely no way out.
“Harrison, it’s been such a long time,” I taunt. The confused expression he wore a moment ago quickly melts away, and realization takes its place. His mouth is slightly ajar, and the wheels turn faster with all the possible scenarios of how this came to be.
He won’t figure it out—not all of it, anyway.
