So, his name was Judas.
Judas’s jaw tightened. “And what makes you think any of us are the right hands?”
“Because,” Zagreus muttered. “We’re the only ones who know it exists.”
The room fell silent again, and I just sat there, heart pounding and realising that I was in the midst of a conversation that could determine the fate of millions. And I was terrified.
“As much as I’d like to discuss the end of the world,” I looked up to find him swirling the liquor in his glass. “I’d hate to ask you to have this conversation alone, Vitale.”
All heads turned to me.
Zagreus didn’t react immediately; he stared at Judas for a moment, jaw tickling faintly, and then shifted his eyes to me. His fingers slid upward just a little on my thigh, and he sighed. “Then that goes for every other presence in this room, I suppose.”
Abel leaned forward to the woman in red and whispered something in her ear. Since I was sitting beside her, I heard it.
“Be a good girl, Saffron. I’d hate to paint your ass red if you make any trouble.”
Okay, I didn’t sign up for this.
I felt the blood leave my face. I didn’t even have to speak as Zagreus pressed his lips to my temple. “Get your fix, Dolcezza,” he murmured. “I’ll be done soon.”
I stood slowly, feeling the heaviness of every eye in the room slide off me, and walked out with Saffron and the one with red auburn hair.
The last thing I saw before the door clicked shut was Judas leaning back in his chair with a half-smile, raising his glass again.
“Now, let’s talk about who is going to die first.”
The door shut, and the guards outside led down a quieter hallway, dim lights and long silence. And I still couldn’t shake what I just heard. Were they going to kill someone? What had I gotten myself into?
I tried to focus on my breathing as the guard opened another door ahead. A parlour-like room, spacious but cold, with tufted velvet couches, warm lighting, and tall windows overlooking the garden below. Not a prison, but it felt like one.
The guard left after I heard a click. He locked it. Of course he did; none of the men in that damn room would want their woman escaping. And yes, I somehow knew these two were also some kind of victims to their whims. I wondered what their stories were.
I watched as the red-garbed one walked in first, and she didn’t even glance back, but somehow she had changed from timid one to fierce one. There’s rage in her of some kind. I felt like a pervert letting my eyes rake over her waist, where the garment was missing. She was stunning, did I mention?
I heard shuffling on my side to find the other woman, a petite and fragile-looking one with auburn hair and pale skin, taking a seat, folding her hands over her lap, and fidgeting with her thumbs. She hadn’t looked at anyone in the eyes yet. Not even once.
I stood awkwardly by the door, unsure whether to join her or not.
The woman in red finally turned, her mocha eyes scanning me in one long, slow, sweet look as she tilted her head. “You’re new.” She sighed, crossing her arms. “Looks like you’ve been thrown to wolves, too.”
I swallowed. “I… wasn’t told where to go.”
The fragile one stirred on the couch; her eyes were glassy. And I took a deep breath.
“You’re with Zagreus Vitale, aren’t you?” she asked, and I nodded. “He’s the deadliest.”
No need to remind me.
I flushed and felt myself being interrogated as she poured a glass of wine and handed it to me. “He kidnapped you?”
I swallowed, not knowing how much I was allowed to tell her. If Zagreus knew, would he punish me? My tongue tied itself in knots. “I… don’t know what I’m doing here.”
“None of us did,” she replied, sipping hers. “Mishka, by the way.”
Her name was as beautiful as her.
“Celestine.”
