“Violent progress requires violent methods,” Arc says in a voice that does not sound like his own. “That’s what he told us every time one of his ‘subjects’ died.”
“He sounds like a monster, not a man.”
“He was both,” Shock says.
“Your parents didn’t try to stop him?”
“Most of us were pulled from orphanages. Some off the streets.” Arc’s eyes finally open. “When my mother was killed by one of the cavrinskh, my father couldn’t bear to look at Trench or me… so he gave us to what he thought was an orphanage but delivered us straight into the Maker’s hands.”
There’s no emotion in the words.
Arc kisses my forehead. “We’ve moved on from the anger. He’s dead. There’s no one to be mad at anymore.”
I don’t believe him. “How did he die?”
“I killed him,” Arc says.
Risk exhales softly and I don’t have to ask what frustrated thoughts Arc hears. “He was trapped inside one of his facilities when it burned to the ground.”
“Good. I hope he suffered.”
Chuckling, Risk nuzzles my neck. “You’re bloodthirsty. I like that.”
“Were you able to escape because of what he’d done to you?”
“Yes and no.” Arc stretches and sits up. “He decided to test us and that, eventually, led to his downfall.”
I don’t know if I want to ask how, but Risk tells me anyway.
“The Maker put him in a cage against the wall where the others were and then told the others he was dead.”
“By that point, I had glimpses of the future, and Riskknewhe wasn’t gone, but the others…”
“They were relieved,” Arc says with his back still to me. “I know that they thought my suffering was over, but… at the time, it made it hard to fight what he’d done.”
“It’s what finally let us escape,” Shock says. “Risk knew what to do, Arc could follow all the instructions, and I knew it would work.”
“These two kept me alive,” Arc stares at the window. “And I’ve been a burden to them ever since.”
“I swear to all the saints if you say that one more time, I am going to tie you down and make you believe the truth instead of that decades old lie.” Shock actually sounds mad.
I imagine the ways he mightpoundthe truth into him and Arc’s eyes go a little wide as he turns to me. “Would you enjoy that?”
“Maybe?” I swallow back an apology for my thoughts, because it would be false. “If you’d enjoy it?”
Risk chuckles, wrapping his arm around my waist and turning his face back into the pillow.
“Come back to bed,” I hold my hand out to Arc. “If you don’t, I’m sure I’ll have nightmares.”
I might have them anyway.
ARC
Chrys does manage to fall asleep. I do not.
When I’m certain leaving won’t wake them, I slip out into the kitchen and pick at leftovers.
Sisan need sleep.Kissu puts his paws on the counter, standing to peer up at me.Why up?
