I peer over at Teddy and see him frowning. But before I can pull my pants down, he’s pushing me from the room, closing the door in my face.
A small giggle erupts from my throat as I stand up a little straighter, feeling like my job is done. I got him to react. That’s good. That’s what Teddy needs. A little push in the right direction. Now, I just need to wait for them to fuck so I can see.
I want to see all of it.
I adjust myself again and run a hand over the back of my neck.
Right. What was I doing?
I stop to think about it for a moment before remembering. Ah yes. Georgiy. The ring.
Without another thought, I move down the hallway and toward the secret entrance to the catacombs. With a press of my fingers, the door swings open, and I disappear behind it. My feet are bare, and I relish the feel of the dirt beneath my toes. It’s hard to see, but I don’t mind it. I spent ages in small, dark spaces when I was young. I’m used to it. I didn’t let it frighten me. Instead, I learned to harness it, mold it into something I could use to my advantage. And now here I am, able to traverse the tunnels without looking. I’m blind down here, and I don’t mind it.
A mole rat of sorts.
I wear that title with pride. Because I’m the one who gave it to myself, nothim. Me.
As the darkness gives way to light, I find myself in the butchery. I move toward my desk and then the shelves behind it, shuffling jars of bones around until I find what I need. A vertebra. The perfect one. A C2.
I move to a machine I bought last year when I really got into making bone jewelry. People have asked how I got into this. It just happened, a random revelation on a not-so-special day. I’ve always collected things—bones, body parts, et cetera. One day, I was setting bones out on a table and realized it would make a nice necklace.
And the rest is history.
I’ve made some fabulous pieces, things I’d love to sell one day.
If it weren’t illegal.
I pull goggles over my eyes and get to work. Dust flies this way and that, puffing up around me as I whittle the bone down until I’m left with a polished and perfect ring. I use a small carving drill and write in tiny letters on the inside:Property of Bane.
I hold it up to the light as I brush the dust from my cheeks. “Beautiful. My best work yet.”
Now I just need to find Georgiy and put it on his finger.
A testament to what we are.
More than boyfriends, more than husbands. Soul mates.
“Agatha, have you seen Georgiy?” I ask as I wander into the kitchen, making sure to wipe my feet off before entering. Don’t want to upset her by tracking in dirty footprints.
Oh, Georgiy wouldn’t like that.
Shit. I forgot to wipe up the puddles in the bathroom and pick up my towel.
Oh well. I’ll do it later when I’m back in the room.
Agatha shakes her head and then hands me a sandwich stuffed full of greens and veggies. “No, I haven’t, dear, but hereyou go. Eat this. You need the antioxidants. Did you take your vitamins today?”
I shake my head and she tuts, handing me my pill box and a glass of water. Dutifully, I take them, and she nods when she sees me following her directions. My chest expands. I adore her.
“Have you asked around about Georgiy? Maybe the guards have seen him. He is just as sneaky as you.”
“He is. The sneakiest. Hey, wanna see the ring I made him?”
Agatha gasps and shuffles over to me as I pull it from my pocket. I place it in her palm, and sheoohsandahhsover it, admiring the detail of my work. She appreciates it. She always has. She’s currently wearing the earrings I made her last month. The ones made of molars.
“This is gorgeous work.”
“I know. It’s my best work yet.”
