Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Kai
Blood clings to my hands, my clothes, staining everything a sickening red. Torturing tends to be a messy occupation, and despite how many years of practice I’ve had, it never seems to get any easier. Or cleaner.
Unlike Kitt, who has been trained since childhood to be poised, just, and kingly, my training has consisted of more hands-on work.
Battle strategies, assassinations, and the art of torture made up much of my education.
And due to this unique and extensive training I’ve received, I am very good at what I do.
Except, it seems, when it comes to the Silencer cowering on the dungeon floor before me. It’s been days. I’ve beaten this man to a bloody pulp, and what have I learned in return?
Nothing.
To say that I’m pissed would be an understatement. The only useful word I’ve gotten him to slip past his lips, besides the splitting screams and pleas, is what I’m assuming is his name.
Micah .
I sigh, crouching down to hover over his broken, bloody body. His long hair, matted with blood, falls into his deep brown eyes. They widen when they meet mine, making him look so young. He can’t be more than a few years my senior.
“Now, correct me if I’m wrong,” I say, deceptively soft, “but I don’t believe you’re mute.” I grab his jaw and pry it open to reveal the blood pooling in his mouth, over his tongue, staining his teeth scarlet. “But I could easily make that happen. I could carve out your tongue.”
I drop his head to the stone floor and stand to leave, aware that I’m already late for dinner. Slamming the door to the cell behind me, I offer Damion a curt nod. He gives me a slow bow of his head in return before following me down the long hallway of cells.
Our footsteps echo off the stone walls as we make our way up the stairs and into the bright, sun-filled hallway above the dungeons. I deftly head to the throne room even while my mind wanders.
The Trials are quickly approaching with only four days separating us from the first deadly game.
These past few days have followed the same routine of training, eating, talking, and torturing.
And well, toying with Paedyn. She’s been my main source of entertainment as of late.
She’s entertaining. With her wit and stubbornness and obvious annoyance with me—
Stop.
I push thoughts of Paedyn from my mind as I stride through the large doors of the throne room. My hands find their way to my pockets, casual despite how very aware I am that my navy shirt splotched with blood does not quite fit the dress code for dinner.
The servants have already brought food to the table, which everyone sitting around it is greedily enjoying.
Heads turn when they hear my shoes on the polished floor, several pairs of eyes flicking from my face to the blood clinging onto my clothes.
I ignore their stares, seeing that I was too tired to change and too hungry to care.
“Ah, Kai. Glad you could make it.” Father sounds peeved, per usual, as I take my seat.
“Honey,” Mother says quietly, leaning towards me, “you look a little...well, bloody.” She cringes as her eyes roam over me, assessing her son.
“Occupational hazard, Mother.” I give her a small smile, the sweet one I reserve for only her. She nods hesitantly before trying to relax back into her chair.
I barely listen to the quiet chatter carrying on around me. I’m finishing the last of my beans when an incessant tapping has me looking up.
Strands of Paedyn’s silver hair fall around her face in loose curls, the rest of it tied back into a messy knot at the nape of her neck. Her eyes are pinned to her plate, her thumb and silver ring tapping a steady beat against the wooden table.
And then those ocean eyes slide up to mine.
I tip my head towards her drumming thumb. “Is there something on your mind, Gray?”
She looks me over as if noticing my presence for the first time. “Is there something on your shirt, Azer?” Her eyes skim over my clothes before widening slightly. “Is that...blood?”
I’m sure I imagine the flash of worry on her face, the look of concern when she thinks it may be my own blood staining the shirt. “Careful, darling. You almost look as if you care.” I give her a lazy smile, and she gives me a lazy eye roll.
My gaze snaps to Mother when her gentle voice cuts through my thoughts. “I hope you all have begun pairing up for the first ball!”
I glance around the table. Only the three who haven’t previously lived in the castle look slightly confused. Hera, Ace, and Paedyn haven’t grown up watching these balls, haven’t even been to a ball. I envy them.
“As is tradition,” Mother continues, “the contestants will partner up for the balls that are held before each Trial. And since there is an odd number of you, whoever does not have a partner will be paired with someone, don’t worry.
” Her smile somehow grows wider as she says, “So choose your date and get practicing your dance steps.”
Kitt shifts beside me, and I see him quickly glance in Paedyn’s direction. I run a hand through my hair before turning my attention back on my food, needing to focus on something.
Since the girls outnumber the boys, it’s likely that Kitt will be paired with whoever doesn’t have a partner. But that won’t stop him from asking one of them if he wishes to.
It’s clear that Paedyn intrigues him. But even if Kitt wasn’t going to ask Paedyn to accompany him to the ball, which I don’t doubt he will, she doesn’t want me.
I like a challenge.
But she’s made it abundantly clear on what she wishes us to be: competition.
Enemies.
And more importantly, why isn’t that what I want as well?
* * *
I wake the next morning, drenched in sweat.
This isn’t uncommon, not with the nightmares that tend to haunt my sleep. But today is different. Today it is bloody boiling outside. It’s only dawn, and my room is already sticky with humidity.
I roll out of bed and make my way to the bathroom where I splash cool water over my already damp face. It doesn’t take me long to get ready, begrudgingly pulling on a white cotton shirt before slipping out the door and—
And there she is.
She steps out of her room with her head down, quietly shutting the door before looking up and practically jumping at the sight of me.
“Plagues, Kai, don’t scare me like that!”
I blink.
It’s the first time she’s called me by my name, and I realize then that I could get used to the sound of it rolling off her tongue. She seems to notice what she’s said and clears her throat before beginning to walk down the hallway.
“Aren’t you up early for a prince?” she calls over her shoulder. “What, no breakfast in bed?” I catch up to her easily, taking about three strides before I’m walking beside her.
“If you’re not getting breakfast in bed, neither am I. I’m just a regular contestant, remember? No longer a charming prince for the time being.”
“You were never that to begin with.”
I chuckle as we turn the corner, spotting the kitchen looming just ahead. The smell of biscuits and eggs wafting from within is enough to make me change course.
“So—” Paedyn begins, probably the start of some snide comment that I’ll never get the pleasure of hearing because I grab her wrist and tug her towards the kitchen doors. I’m sure she is just as hungry as I am, and breakfast won’t be served for nearly another hour.
I’m doing us both a favor.
Apparently, Paedyn doesn’t share my sentiment. Her feet dig into the floor at the threshold of the kitchen doors, eyes darting between mine. “What are you—” she starts, giving me that murderous look I’ve already grown so familiar with.
“Shh.” I press my finger to her lips lightly and the words die in her throat. “I suppose my job will forever be feeding you now, hmm, Gray?”
Her flustered expression has me laughing quietly before I hear the scuff of shoes, reluctantly drawing my gaze from her wide-eyed one.
We’ve drawn quite the crowd. Several servants stand staring at us, taking in the scene before them.
But they scuttle away swiftly, snickering as they try to make themselves look busy.
“Hello, ladies,” I call, looking around the room at the blushing servants. “I’ve brought a far more interesting guest today than Kitt.” I place a gentle hand on the small of Paedyn’s back, prodding her forward.
It’s a question, a tentative test, an innocent inquiry.
Is this okay?
I briefly wonder if she’s considering breaking my wrist, maybe contemplating placing a dagger to my throat—
And then she relaxes, easing into my touch.
An answer to my question without uttering a word.
Yes.
I guide her towards the center of the kitchen where I’ve spotted Gail, currently hunched over the stove.
“Morning Gail.” She spins around, her face lighting up when she sees me.
“You look lovely as always.” My mouth quirks as I hop up onto the counter and sit beside where she flips crispy pieces of bacon over the stove.
“You’re such a kiss-ass, Kai,” she teases, lightly whipping a towel in my direction. Her eyes land on Paedyn and she straightens, nodding curtly. “Ah, Miss Paedyn. A pleasure.”
“Please,” Paedyn sighs with a small smile, “No miss . Just Paedyn.”
I can practically see Gail relax, probably thanking the Plague that formalities aren’t needed. “Now, what is a sweet girl like you doing hanging around riffraff like him?” Gail jabs a thumb in my direction while I snatch a strip of bacon from the pan behind her turned back.
I let out a low laugh. “Oh, sweet isn’t the word I would use to describe her, Gail. She held a knife to my throat only a few days ago.”
“He deserved it,” Paedyn says simply, shrugging slightly.
“Oh, I’m sure he did,” Gail replies, grinning at her. “I probably would have done the same.” She glances at me, nodding towards Paedyn. “I like this one.”