Chapter 15
Dash
My little, little fox just changed her coat. It ’ s a new season, after all. It feels good to see her act out, to know my corrupting influence is working.
The twisted part is I want to help Mila. Just because we are trapped doesn ’ t mean we can ’ t fight. Dying with dignity is better than just laying down and taking it.
I might just be falling for her fight. After all, fire is alluring, it gives warmth and the illusion of safety, you just have to be careful not to get burned. I need her fire, but I have to have it under control. I need to control her.
“ You going to let her run?” Cillian grumbles as he shoves another huge bite of steak into his mouth.
Why bother cutting it when each bite could be considered a petite fillet?
“ Of course not,” I smirk as I settle into my chair and look out at the crowd of onlookers who are pondering what my move will be. It ’ s all about keeping people on their toes. I can ’ t have them plant their feet firmly in the ground, ready to fight me.
“ Why Mila?” Cillian asks, his chewing barely mask his serious tone.
Why do you know her name? I made a deal with her; she is mine. In many ways.
I glance at Dante, who casually eats his lunch like a prince that has no worries. “ You both disappeared,” I say as I change the subject.
“ Poof,” Dante grins slyly, “ We ’ re back.” He presses his knife into his cheeseburger and cuts it slowly.
When Mila told me Dante and Cillian sat at this table, more pieces of my dad ’ s fucked-up puzzle fell into place. Of course, I know Dante and Cillian. We ’ ve had the pleasure of meeting many times and forming an acquaintanceship of sorts. There is never one player who rules over everyone. They wouldn ’ t live long enough to survive. You need friends. Allies. Dante's and Cillian ’ s families are allied with the Kings.
“ Damian was worried,” I comment as I grab another fry and eat it.
My cousins and I usually see Dante and Cillian a few times a year. This past year, though, they both disappeared.
“ I ’ m sorry about your mom.” Dante lowers his head in respect.
“ We knew it was coming.” I bite.
“ That only makes it harder.” Dante ’ s voice trails off. He never got to say goodbye to his father, whom he worshipped and praised.It's Dante's mother who is the monster in his life.
“ Where ’ s your brother?” I ask pushing mom’s memory away. Dante has a younger brother, Nico. I think he ’ s around fifteen years old now. Dante ’ s relationship with Nico mirrors mine with my cousins. Fiercely protective.
“ My mom,” Dante pauses as if saying the word mom has a visceral reaction, “ thought it was best Nico remain home for now.”
Cillian ’ s eyes flicker my way, and he subtly shakes his head for me to stop probing.
“ When did you both get here?” I ask him instead of Dante.
“ A year ago.” Cillian takes another bite, reminding me to eat while I can. He glances at Dante. “ We had a feeling something was up. We arrived here together.”
“ Why didn ’ t you tell us? You should have called.”
“ We knew you all would try to break us out.” Cillian replies.
He ’ s right.
“ Now you ’ re here, though, so something is definitely happening. They wouldn ’ t take Dante out of Italy for no reason. Not after his father was killed.”
I take a bite of my pizza, tasting nothing. “ You think it has to do with The Cleansing?” It makes the most sense. Dad wanted me to thicken my skin, so why not throw me into the gauntlet?
Dante raises a brow. “ Mila tell you that?”
I nod. “ I needed someone to fill me in, so I made a deal with her.”
“ Makes sense. She ’ s quiet but sees everything. She ’ s not like the others here,” Dante adds.
I feel my neck stiffen. I don ’ t like her name on another man ’ s lips.
Get over it. She means nothing to you.
“ You don ’ t need her now,” Cillian firmly states.
I shrug, not wanting to tell them that ’ s a lie. I do need Mila. I trust Dante and Cillian, not as much as Titan and Damian, but I don ’ t have options here. I need Mila for reasons I ’ d never admit to either of them, both physical and mental.
No, I wasn ’ t planning on fucking the ballerina, but I do need her to help me physically, like changing my clothes. I have no idea how I ’ m going to get dressed or get pants over this huge ass cast.
That makes me feel incredibly weak.
Vulnerable. I can ’ t show Dante or Cillian that side until I trust them fully.
Then there’s that mental side that Mila feeds. How can I turn that taste down now that I have it on my tongue?
I can’t. So I won’t.
There ’ s a certain high I get watching her rebel and break free from her shell.
“ Leave her alone, Dash,” Cillian says after my long moment of silence.
“ No.” My eyes narrow. Is he into her?
“ She ’ s not one of them. Don ’ t taint her,” Cillian comments.
“ He,” Dante says, interrupting with a shake of his head. “ He ’ s like Damian. Cillian is just trying to protect people. Women in general.”
Aww, I forgot about Cillian ’ s past. His need to protect Mila isn ’ t because of who she is, but rather what she is. A female.
“ I would take your advice, Cillian, if Mila hadn ’ t already been corrupted. You don ’ t see her like I do.” I hold his stare, a challenge that might dissolve my newly found allies quickly.
Dante watches before he speaks. “ We have bigger issues than Dash ’ s crush, Cillian.”
“ She ’ s not a crush,” I retort hastily. She isn ’ t. I agree, though we got off-topic.
“ The Cleansing,” I state.
Dante nods. Cillian, the huge oaf, still studies me like he is a judge, jury, and executioner.
“ It ’ s a fighting competition that happens every weekend. Sometimes, the fights are standard, one-on-one; other times, it ’ s more theatrical. Hunts, tactical games.”
“ Mila said you both rarely participate.”
They nod. “ We had a feeling it was a test for us, being here, that is, so when we first participated, we made sure no one would question us again,” Dante says.
He cracks his neck. “ Death has a way of silencing others, especially if you make it into a show. Screams have echoes that linger long in the mind. That ’ s why people fear us. We didn ’ t just participate; we made it painful, and then we turned on the bystanders, those who chanted for our opponent. We didn ’ t stop until we were forced to. Of course, the rules have been altered now. You can only fight your competition.”
I feel the weight of the cast on my leg. Mila said I was safe until I was healed. “ Are you forced to compete or did you sign up?”
“ Forced?” Cillian shrugs. “ More like threatened by our family. Dante ’ s mom threatened his brother.”
There ’ s a coldness, a sterile tone in Cillian ’ s voice as his eyes grow distant. “ Who did they threaten for you?” I question.
“ Cillian didn ’ t get a warning, just a body sent to him,” Dante answers for him.
Cillian stands suddenly, the cafeteria quiets. “ I ’ m getting more food,” he grumbles as he storms off the dais.
Dante watches his friend flee and waits until he ’ s out of earshot to add, “ His uncle sent his girlfriend’s body to the school.” Dante ’ s tone is somber. “ We, um,” it ’ s the first time I hear him falter. “ We buried her here. I helped.”
Jesus.
My father wouldn ’ t do that. Would he?
Maybe? I don ’ t know the man he is anymore.
“ My cousins…” My voice feels snagged in a snare.
“ I don ’ t think they will kill Titan or Damian. They are equal to you, Dash. But as Cillian said, maybe it ’ s best you leave Mila out of this.”
I seal my eyes shut. That ’ s why my father forced Mila on me now. She is leverage over me.
“ I can ’ t.” I somberly reply. Then I tell Dante my suspicions that Mila was arranged to marry me. Dante ’ s confirmation that I could be correct makes me feel…starving. I want revenge for both Mila and me. I want to break her, make her strong enough to survive because now she is chained to my side. It ’ s not a matter of if she will sink, but when. It ’ s not a matter of her learning how to swim, either. She will sink and drown. I just need to make sure she can survive death, or in other words, this new life with me.
Am I a dick? Yeah. I am using her, but I don ’ t want to have to bury her body like Cillian did.
“ We ’ ll keep an eye out for her now,” Dante whispers. “ Let me tell Cillian. He ’ s not going to react well. He ’ s protective of those who can ’ t defend themselves.”
I nod.
“ Dash,” Dante says, leaning forward on his elbows. “ You know what this means, right?” He arches a brow, “ You need to claim Mila. It ’ s important for the school to be aware that she belongs to you and is under your protection.”
“ I don ’ t want her to know about her future.” I flick a piece of pizza crust off my plate.
“ Why?”
I hesitate before answering him. “ Because her future is the only thing fueling her. Death comes in many forms, and like I told you and Cillian, I don ’ t want to see Mila die.”
Dante leans back and rubs his jaw, “ Fine, don ’ t tell her about the marriage, but make the school think you're dating. It will keep them away for a while.” I don ’ t miss how he stresses the last word. “ Eventually they will come for her either way. Better to make them fear our wrath than just her father ’ s. Mila is tied to you, so make sure that knot will hold against the perils we are about to face.”
My chest deflates slightly, much like a punctured tire. “ I can do that. You can start to spread the word that she ’ s mine.” I can make Mila think I want her because I do. I want to kiss her again. I just can ’ t let it go beyond that. It will never be a real relationship. Then again, Mila is good at putting on a show, dancing the routine she is told to.
“ Make sure she knows that.” Dante warns.
Cillian returns with another tray of food and Dante continues, as if I had never mentioned Mila. “ This is a test, but that means we either pass or fail. The question Cillian and I have been asking ourselves is what happens after. What are our parents planning for the next level?” Dante states. “ Neither Cillian nor I have been forced to join The Cleansing again. It ’ s as if we have passed and are waiting for something else to happen. Then you arrived. Due to your current predicament, we have a few weeks before you have to compete.”
“ You can ’ t wait to train till your cast is off, Dash. You need to start training now,” Cillian informs me.
I shift my broken leg, which is throbbing. “ How the fuck am I supposed to do that?”
“ You train in other ways. Other forms,” Cillian offers. “ Your hands are still functioning. You ’ re slow, but a well-placed blow could level your opponent.”
“ This is fucked.” I ’ m fucked.
“ You ’ re backed into a corner, Dash, but you have a new perspective. Use it,” Dante offers. “ We ’ ll help. Cillian and I train every day. We have a private room. No eyes or ears. You ’ ll join us.” It isn ’ t an offer, and if it was, I ’ d be stupid to turn it down.
I reach for my crutch, rubbing the cushioned edge of it. “ So,” I hesitate, “ What the hell do you think our parents are training us for?”
Dante and Cillian both look at me. Neither of them has an answer.