Chapter Two #2
“Perhaps we should just wrap up this evening and return to The Great Hall?” Stewart said, wrenching my gaze to his. He’d torn off his mask, as had most of the Masters. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’d rather be somewhere warm with a jewel to fuck.”
I struggled to remember the pact we’d all made in the maze.
How he and Ben were on our side.
They hadn’t lifted a finger in our defence.
Either they realised the odds weren’t in our favour or they’d torn up their promises the moment Victor brought us down here.
Throwing Stewart a pissed-off look, Victor scowled. “Always thinking with your dick, Stewart. I have a good mind to revoke your exclusive access to Penelope. You’re getting as pussy-whipped as Henri.”
“Pussy-whipped?” Ben laughed. It sounded genuine, but his eyes flickered warily to his friend and business partner. “Stewart is many things, Vic, but whipped by a woman is not one of them.”
“You know what?” Victor dropped his gentile mask and revealed the absolute monster within.
“I am sick to fucking death of people lying to me. Do you think I’m a complete fool?
Do you think I’m not aware of how you feel about your jewels?
How the games you play with Penelope and Abigail are a fucking joke?
Do you think I don’t hear you ask for consent before you whip them?
” He shook his head. “You act as if you’re in a relationship with them instead of being their motherfucking Master, and it’s pissing me the fuck off! ”
Victor’s tirade bounced off the cave walls.
A few Masters stepped back warily in case they were next in the firing line.
Stewart cleared his throat. “We met you through our dark-web company, Vic. We’re the reason you’re so protected with your technology scramblers that no civilian can buy. You know our background. You know—”
“That you made your wealth being digital warmongers? That you’re the best hackers I’ve ever come across?
Yes, I know.” He chuckled. “I also know you hide your wealth in a company that prides itself on philanthropic endeavours and building shelters for women and children. A company that’s public!
A company funded by the very underbelly you claim to protect your clients from.
” Victor sneered. “I’ve always found you two amusing.
It’s why I allowed you to have a membership.
But that amusement is swiftly fading.” He tipped his nose.
“You’re both getting soft, so don’t think for a fucking moment that I don’t know every single thing that you do.
Stop treating me like a fool, both of you.
” His eyes scanned everyone. “All of you.” His gaze landed on me. “Especially you.”
His entire face blackened. “I’m sick of all the two-faced fucking liars in this place.
” Pointing at me, he laughed. “In fact, you’re the only one who’s never lied to me.
You’ve been upfront about your hate for me, even while pretending submission.
” Stalking toward me, Victor bent and grabbed me beneath my arms.
I gasped as he hauled me to my feet.
Peter tried to keep hold of me, but Victor merely kicked him in the chest and sent him sprawling.
“Tell me, Ilyana, did you truly think you could beat me? That you could ruin my life’s work?
You speak too freely and trust too blindly.
I know every detail of your planned insurrection.
I know you used my kitchens as your little meeting room to discuss how to undermine me.
I know you’ve been building little bombs.
Bombs that have been gathered and destroyed, by the way.
I also know Peter would never have gone along with your stupid plan if he wasn’t in love with you himself. ”
Sneering at Peter restrained in Larry’s hold, Victor laughed in my face.
“I don’t see the allure, I truly don’t. How did you manage to convince Henri—a man born into this life—to turn his back on his true nature?
How did you undermine Peter’s obedience to me?
What the fuck is so special about you, huh?
” He scanned me from head to toe where I stood lock-kneed before him.
He shook me, then let me go and wiped his hands on his trousers.
“Tell me that, and perhaps I won’t kill you tonight. ”
I wanted to spit in his face, but all I could see was Henri as he passed in and out of consciousness. He wasn’t coherent enough to speak, his eyes hazy with confusion.
God, what if they’d kicked him so hard, his mind was broken as well as his body?
I wouldn’t be able to stand it.
To have Henri alive but brain-dead.
To have him exist but not remember me...
Shuddering with terror, I clamped my lips together and refused to speak to Victor.
I had nothing to say.
“Fine.” Victor nodded as if I’d just confirmed everything he thought of me. “You’re the true rot here, Ilyana. And what must happen to rot?” He leaned so close, his wine-rancid breath gushed over my face. “We cut it out.”
I spoke before I even knew what I was doing. “You want to know why I have more power than you?”
He froze.
“It’s because I’m strong enough to love. Wholeheartedly and unconditionally. That’s what makes me special. That’s why you will never win because love beats evil every time. It will always win. It always has. Love is undefeatable.”
“Well, thank you for that helpful lesson, Ilyana.” He smirked. “But I must ask, are you so sure it always wins? That seems like a big word for an emotion that can end as suddenly as it begins.”
I knew he led me into a trap, but I stepped into it anyway. “Always.”
“In that case, let’s test your little theory, shall we?”
My heart stopped as he snapped his fingers and barked at his guards. “Stand him up. If he can’t stand, then drag him.” Stepping away from me, he pointed at the altar. “Bind him in place.”
“Wait, what?” I flushed with ice. “No, don’t. What are you—”
“Time for a teeny experiment.” He grinned as two guards dragged Henri upright.
Henri let out a blood-curdling scream.
Roland gagged. “Eww gross, his shoulder is dislocated.”
“So it is.” Victor marched toward Henri and slapped him on the cheek.
“Hold still.” Eyeing up the two guards bracing against Henri’s weight, he spun around to face the Masters.
“Ian. You are or, rather, you were a rugby coach before you made it big with your online sports gambling sites. I assume you’ve had to set dislocated joints before on the field? ”
Ian stepped forward, his dark skin soaking up the meagre flickering light. “I have.”
“Fix him, then.” Victor waved at Henri, slumped and sweating in the guards’ hold.
“Why?” Ian wrinkled his nose. “Aren’t you just gonna kill him? Who cares if he dies with a dislocation or two?”
“Why do you think you can ask me questions?” Victor bared his teeth. “Do as I say.”
With a huff, Ian stepped toward Henri and grabbed his wrist.
Henri choked on an agony-filled groan.
“Hold him steady,” Ian muttered as he guided Henri’s arm up straight in front of him with no care or kindness.
Henri’s head lolled forward; his knees buckled.
I was glad he passed out again.
At least he wouldn’t feel—
He woke with another scream as Ian yanked his arm forward. The pop of Henri’s shoulder locking back into place made my stomach roil.
But relief filled me too.
Now his joint was back in position his spine looked okay.
Thank God.
“There.” Ian backed up. “Happy now?”
Victor smirked. “Very. Thank you.” Nodding at the guards, he said, “Altar. Do it.”
Henri’s left shoe dragged along the ground as the two guards lugged him toward the stone platform. He’d lost his right shoe and his sock.
Another two guards stepped forward and grabbed his legs. As one, they slung him like a carcass, reminding me of how we’d thrown Kyle over the cliff.
The heavy thud of his body as Henri landed.
The dangle of his dirt and blood-covered limbs.
He flickered in and out of awareness and agony. Cradling his newly set arm, he groaned and did his best to sit up but failed.
My heart wrenched in my chest; I couldn’t breathe.
Seeing him on the altar made every part of me howl for help.
Removing his handkerchief again, Victor dabbed at his face as he stood over Henri. He studied him for a moment as if trying to decide what to do.
Henri spasmed. Rolling over, he almost fell off the stone table as he convulsed and spat up a huge glob of blood.
“Easy, easy.” Victor pressed Henri’s no-longer-dislocated shoulder down. “Breathe.”
Henri cried out. He licked his split lip. “Vic—”
“I know.” Victor’s tone was soft and consoling. His touch as he cupped Henri’s bloody cheek fatherly and gentle.
Henri twitched and moaned, his face swollen from so many punches, his jaw puffy, his shirt torn and cape missing.
“There, there,” Victor crooned as Henri sucked in a breath and cracked open blood-shot eyes. He flinched as he noticed Victor touching him. A heavy groan escaped him as he wrapped his good arm around his chest.
Had the guards broken a few ribs too?
What else had they broken?
“He needs to see Dr Belford,” I snapped, gagging on fear all while trying to be brave. “You have to help him.”
Victor sighed and caught my eyes. “Oh, I have to help, do I?” He clucked his tongue.
“Did I have to play nice when I knew all along he was consorting with you? Did I have to be the better person when he betrayed me? Did I have to silently forgive him when Kyle’s body washed up covered in stab wounds?
Did I have to pretend he didn’t lie to my face about what happened in the caves that day?
Did I have to hope that my offer to make him family—to make him godfather to my son—would sway him to forsake you and choose me instead? ”
Peter sucked in a gasp beside me.
So Victor knew Henri was complicit all along.
We were so stupid.
So na?ve.
I slouched with horror.
Death suddenly seemed like freedom.
There were so many things far worse than death and I had an awful, awful suspicion that Victor would make us wish for that freedom before he was through.
I choked on a morbid thought.