Page 398 of Reign

My bangs.

The gardener makes a horrible wet sound. Luciano doesn’t let him fall. He drives the knife into his stomach.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Oh. My new Chanel dress is ruined.

The thought floats through my head with perfect clarity.

Completely fucking ruined.

There is blood all over the front of it. More hits my legs when Luciano drives the knife into him again. The gardener’s body jerks with every strike. Luciano’s hand holds him upright.

There is screaming happening.

High and awful.

I think it’s coming from somewhere behind me.

The gardener’s eyes are on mine. Wide and terrified.

Then something changes. The focus disappears.

One second he’s looking at me. The next, he isn’t looking at anything. I see the exact moment the life leaves his eyes.

He’s dead.

Luciano stabs him again.

Again.

Blood runs over Luciano’s hand.

Again.

The gardener isn’t moving anymore.

Again.

There is blood in my bangs.

I can feel it.

One drop is hanging somewhere above my eyebrow.

If that gets into my eye, is that dangerous?

Can you get something from blood in your eye?

Why isn’t Luciano stopping?