Chapter 50 #2
“ Your procedure is due to your lack of self-control, Braum. You brought this upon yourself,” he insists sharply.
He adjusts the sleeves of his jacket, clearly preparing to head out any minute.
“Even if you haven’t succumbed to the temptation to dive into the well of secrets The Universe provides us, after tonight your fate would’ve been sealed.
Hiding a woman that does not belong to you, sharing our secrets with outsiders, and getting caught with your pants down in the sacrificial room—your list of crimes against the White Stag is extensive and severe, Braum.
” He glances at the others. “You’ve doomed yourself and your friends. ”
My stomach bottoms out at the declaration.
This can’t be happening. It isn’t real. I can’t just sit here, trapped in this fucking room, waiting for the moment the doctors decide to scramble my brain. The Universe did not lead me to Everly only to have our paths severed. There must be a way out of this that I’m not seeing.
“What do you mean we’re doomed?” Vick growls as he slowly sits up to study my father. “Are we going to end up like James?”
There’s a soft, wet thud that follows his question. I refuse to glance over to watch as James Woodrow’s head rolls toward the drain in the middle of the floor. My father doesn’t look either. Instead, he stares at Vick, his eyes narrowing in cold contempt.
“You’ve caused too much trouble on campus, Maverick,” Dad drawls. “You’ll be returning to the doctors in Rookwell Tower. They’ve concocted new serums and drugs that need to be tested on humans. You’ll go back to being a guinea pig.”
If Dad was expecting a reaction to this, he’s missed his mark. Vick’s face darkens with shadows but otherwise he doesn’t respond.
“What about me?” Rowan asks, anxiously. “My face is too pretty to end up on the floor like that.”
At this, my dad laughs. I don’t think there’s a time in my entire life I’ve ever heard him make this sound, and now that I have, I wish I hadn’t. His laugh lacks any real mirth, and his face doesn’t light up.
“Don’t worry, your head will remain on your shoulders, Rowan. Though—” he tilts his head slight to the side to get a good look at him. “—I’m sure you’ll be begging for James’s fate by the time the doctors here are done with you.”
Rowan balks. “Wait! What does that mean?!”
Dad ignores Rowan, his expression settling into disdain as he does one last sweeping glance over the three of us.
“Farewell, Braum. I hope after your surgery is completed, somewhere in your broken mind it haunts you to know you brought this all upon yourself,” he says.
My heart races as I realize our time is coming to an end. Panic rises. If he leaves, we’re done for. Desperate, I attempt to stall him.
“What about Everly? Where is she?”
This gets the reaction I was looking for. Dad stiffens as he turns his attention back to me.
“Whatever happens to Everly is no longer your concern.” His hands ball into fists. “Stumbling upon the three of you sullying her was an embarrassment I will never live down!”
“What happens to her is absolutely my concern!” I snap back, my anger rising. “She’s mine . What’s more, she belongs to The Universe. She houses it now. She’s a blessed vessel! Destroy her, you destroy it.”
Dad laughs coldly. “She doesn’t belong to you, Braum. She is the half-daughter of one of our great leaders—he has finally determined her fate after all these years, and now she’ll see it through. As for The Universe—don’t worry. I’m still spry enough to procreate.”
Surprise causes my shoulders to slump.
“Everly’s a daughter to one of the seven leaders?” I ask, in disbelief. “But?—”
“Everly’s mother tried to overstep her place by attempting to ensnare a leader with a child,” my father interrupts coldly. “It didn’t work. James was ordered to take Everly into his care to keep her away from her other siblings, who might’ve seen a half-blood as a threat to their ascension.”
Clearly not interested in the biological connection, Rowan shouts, “ Where the fuck is Everly ?”
Dad sighs. Alarm bells are going off. What is he waiting for? While he does enjoy the sound of his own voice, knowing it rings with importance, he’s not one for chitchat.
“Fine, if you must know,” Dad drawls. “Everly is being prepped.”
“‘ Prepped ?’” Vick repeats in a voice so dangerously deep and full of rage I have to do a double take to make sure it’s him and not some demonic creature.
The man glaring daggers at Dad, with reddened cheeks, veins protruding from his forehead, teeth bared, and nostrils flaring could pass for Vick if not for the way his eyes have gone black with rage. I’m pretty sure this is Death incarnate.
“Yes, she still has a wedding to attend, you know. There is much to do to prepare a bride before she can see her groom.”
Oh no... They’re going to marry off the woman I love.
A roar breaks the short pause. It’s so loud it rattles my bones. Vick goes from docile captive to raging beast in a blink of an eye. He fights his restraints as he pins my father with a look that promises not even in death would he find peace if Vick gets his hands on him.
“She’s not going to be in any wedding!” Vick bellows as he struggles to get free.
Dad gives him a half-smile. “Everly becoming Arthur’s wife is the union the White Stag has been looking for, for quite some time. With her prestigious bloodline and his connections to the royal family, the Children of the White Stag can expand overseas, starting in Europe. It will happen.”
“You can’t force someone to get married!” Rowan snaps.
Father opens his mouth but is interrupted by a knock on the door. He begins to turn around, but one of the doctors moves from where he and the other doctor are standing to answer it. The door is cracked open a hair, and a message is relayed in whispers.
“HELP!” Rowan screams. “HELP US!”
There’s no point telling him screaming is useless.
The door clicks shut without any rush, and his screams are eaten up by the padded wall seconds later.
The masked man moves toward my dad who bends down for the message to be whispered into his ear.
When it’s been given, the doctor returns to stand behind the other.
Dad’s attention turns back to us as he reaches up and adjusts his black tie.
“I’ve been requested by the White Stag, which means Everly must be ready,” he announces, his mouth turning upward into a pleased smile. He turns his back on us and heads toward the doors. “Farewell, you three.”
No, this can’t be right. This isn’t the end!
I heard The Universe singing It’s praises as we filled every hole in Everly’s body.
It wanted us there, with her. We’re supposed to be together.
She was right when she said Rowan had to be there with us.
I should’ve realized that beforehand, when I realized my time at Serenity Falls was over and I planned to escape with Everly and Vick.
We are supposed to end up together, that’s what The Universe was singing inside her.
So how the hell am I here instead of with her?
“Wait, Dad, please. There’s got to be something we, I, can do to win back favor with the White Stag! Just tell me what it is!” I beg, flinging my pride away at the chance I could survive this and somehow save Everly. “Please! You can’t leave me here like this. You can’t have me lobotomized!”
Dad ignores me to knock on the door. That’s when I notice it’s not padded. No padding on the floors and no padding on the door… we’re not in Williamson Health Center. Those rooms are padded all the way around.
Are we still beneath the chapel?
The door opens, and my father takes a step to leave but suddenly pauses. Looking over his shoulder, he nods to the doctors who are watching him.
“You know what to do with the Underhill boy, correct?” he asks.
Both doctors nod.
“Wait, what?” Rowan asks, fear causing his voice to hike up an octave. “What’s going on?”
“Good. Remember to give him antibiotics after you’re done with him,” Dad continues.
“We want him scarred, not riddled with infection. We need him alive so his decisions haunt him for the rest of his life. Let the others watch before you drag Braum to the surgical room and Vick to Rookwell. Once he’s recovered, take Rowan to Sortage Residence Hall, where his new room will be ready for him.
You’ll see a fire out in front of the building, ignore it.
That’s Rowan’s Collection being burned.”
“WHAT?!” Rowan and I scream as the doctors turn to look at my friend.
Without another word or a last look in my direction, Dad leaves us, letting the door click shut behind him. The doctors turn to face Rowan, moving as one as they march toward him.
“No! Stop!” he screams; his eyes widen in horror as he tries to fight the jacket he’s trap in.
I shake my head and shout out, “Don’t touch him!”
But the doctors don’t listen to either of us. Instead, they descend upon Rowan like quiet grim reapers there to steal his soul.
When Rowan begins to scream in pain, I know time’s up—we’re all going to suffer.