“No, I can’t. I won’t,” Rae whined.
Ruby took the gun herself and forced it against her sister’s chest, and Rae’s arms curled around the metal shaft and wood butt. Her hand seemed to want to pull that trigger, to destroy everything in sight and even kill. She thought if she could unleash the fury of a full metal jacket, she could end her sister easily and possibly escape.
Of course, that was just another fantasy. As Rae held the deer in her sight, two adorable fawns peeked their heads out from a nearby shrub. Without a sense of danger, they frolicked toward their mother and let out falsetto noises of curiosity and adoration. Her tongue seemed to thicken against her throat.
Rae attempted to lower the gun away from their mother, but Ruby took the barrel in her hands and held it steady. “Do not run from your destiny,” she said. “You are Rae. You are immortal and pure like the glossy dew that falls into the soil.”
“I cannot kill,” Rae protested.
“Did you already forget that you killed your maker? You clearly have the potential inside your heart,” she said. “Give these beasts a slice of immortality.”
Lost in a state of panic, Rae shut her eyes and focused on the heavy beating drum of her heart. Thud, thud, thud—the meaty organ kicked against her sternum. The beat of war, the apple plucked from a tree, the coiled snake resting in the stomach; in one instant every archetype flashed through her mind until—
Boom.
“No!”
Rae let out a shrill cry of fear, desperation, and loneliness. Shaking, she dropped the smoking gun and clasped her hands over her cheeks. Womanly shrieks ripped through the forests, sending the deer running as a herd. Rae couldn’t believe what she had done.
Ruby jumped and stomped her heel into the earthy soil. “Damn!” she cursed. “Damn, damn, damn!”
“Is that all you can think to say? I murdered their mother,” Rae cried, mouth full of thick saliva.
Ruby took her by the root of her hair and pulled until she stood firmly on her two feet. “You moron. You missed!”
Rae wiped her wet eyes and focused on the tree trunk where the bullet hit. Slowly, sap dripped down the bark. She hadn’t merely missed her target. She hadn’t even tried.
“I’m sorry, Ruby. I tried. I really did,” Rae muttered.
But there was no time for cheap apologies. As soon as the deer vanished into the green forest, the driver opened the door to the sound of the babies crying for their rightful mother. “Madam, I’m sorry to cut your trip short, but the minister of propaganda wishes to see you at once,” he said.
Ruby clutched the dead blackbird’s feet together and squeezed. “Severin? What on earth could he want?”
But before she found her answer, Rae lifted her rifle and pointed with a smile. “Bang,” she said. “See? Maybe we can both be icons.”
Needless to say, Rae received the worst thrashing of her life on the way back home.
Chapter Six
Father, why is it that I feel you near me wherever I go? Is this the type of mania an orphan feels, the ghost pains of separation after being ripped from your father’s hands? It’s troubling to me that I do not sense my mother. I feel as if she died with the incident. My birth. Judging by my pack’s past brutality, I might not be wrong.
I hope you can forgive me for who I have become. It is a mad world with mad makers, but I have lived a path carved out for me by a captor. Maybe we were all made from trauma, purposefully molded into the image of our tormentors in so that the system could continue.
Father, if you are near, I am sorry. Sorry for everything that happened to us. Sorry for the pain the world has caused you. Sorry for my mother…
But know this. I’m only here to break the system that binds her in the center. I am the lion in their gilded cage.
Lucas pressed his fingers into Killian’s shoulders. He shook him awake as they walked toward the gates of the marble towers. “What’s wrong with you? Your face is the color of a ghost,” Lucas said.
Killian eyed the terrain and felt his heart swell longingly. He wanted love, to feel as if he wasn’t just floating in idle space. Sometimes, he felt as if everything had been stacked against him.
“Just thinking about someone,” he said.
“Her?” Lucas asked.
Killian bit the inside of his cheek. “Two families were stolen from me. The first happened when I was too young to understand. But the second time it happened, I should have been prepared. Do you ever feel like the rules have been sculpted to fuck you over?
A tired smile graced his face. “Isn’t that the point? To keep the rich richer than ever before… Man, this game has been played since the rules were methodized,” Lucas said.
Killian nodded, but he had a feeling that this wouldn’t be the end of these thoughts. As they walked into the actual grounds of the towers, he noticed how grand in scale the architecture was. A solid gold ceiling glimmered its splendor above their heads, and suddenly, the weight of where they were sank in. By all accounts, this place was made to feel like it was heaven. And that’s exactly how Killian knew this place was hell.
Lucas pointed at one of the old paintings hung near the entryway. A beautiful omega perched in a rowboat. On one end were three candles, on the other a plate of sliced apples. “You see? It’s art like that that makes a man worry,” Lucas said, shaking his head.
Killian’s eyes trailed down toward an old man with a black hood who sat in a wooden chair with a thin scalpel in his hand. Planted firmly in his eye socket was a small magnifying monocle. As he breathed loudly and squinted, he cut into the center of a blackbird. A string of guts fell onto the marble table.
“I wasn’t aware of any visitors,” the man said to Severin. “Clearly, I’m busy, and you are interrupting, Minister.”
“I need you to keep these men under your wing and out of the queen’s sight,” Severin said, ignoring the man’s comment.
“I serve the queen only,” the man protested meekly.
“I am asking you for one simple favor. After all we’ve been through, please, don’t make me beg,” Severin said.
The man set down the scalpel and removed the monocle, sighing audibly. The blade was covered in a thick red paste that dripped onto the edge of his flowing black robe. “Am I to presume you wish for me to keep them out of the sight of the prime minister as well?”
“This is for the purpose of national security,” Severin said.
The man curiously raised an eyebrow and smiled, revealing his yellowing teeth and disfigured mouth. “Does she know yet?”
Severin remained silent, but the man cackled loudly. “So, more secrets. Good, good. I love games. It’s by far the best change within the Republic. Lots and lots of games to play. So much fun.”
“Just do as I say, dammit, and I won’t have you killed,” Severin snapped.
Killian nearly chuckled at the sound of urgency that clung to Severin’s command. By now, it was obvious the three alphas were needed for his gain, but their purpose was still to be decided. One thing was for sure. He didn’t like the sound of those games, but he was confident that they were in the right place, and he wasn’t going to let his pack brothers worry.
The man croaked. “How much is national security worth these days? Perhaps you can purchase me a new bed? Better yet, I’d be willing to settle on a new room located in, let’s say, the upper quarters.”
Severin blinked wildly, and he contorted his jaw as if he were chewing on the physical thought. “Whatever you need for payment, consider it done. Just give these men jobs,” Severin said.
The man was much older than Severin. He gripped his chair and stood, knees bending from the pull of gravity. Groaning, he took in shallow breaths of dusty air and walked through the large stone hallway lit by thin candles. “Come, come,” he muttered. “I have a job for you.”
The alphas followed but Severin did not. Instead, he turned his back on the men and moved in the opposite direction.
“Where do you t
hink you’re going? You can’t just leave us here,” Vash said.
Pausing, Severin faced them and smiled. “I told you I’d allow you to see her. Right now, I need to go about my business. If Ruby finds out you’re here, you’ll be taken into her quarters and castrated. My advice is to lie low. I’ll be back when I have more to offer you.”
The whole thing didn’t sit right, but they had very few options at this point. Besides, as nice as the city was, a life near Rae was better than anything else. “It’ll be fine, Vash,” Killian said. “We’ll follow the man to our quarters and rest easy for the night.”
Lucas patted Vash’s shoulder and squeezed. “Yeah. I bet they have some good wine here. Oh, and servants! We’ll get more than wine!”
Vash stepped closer to Severin and shoved him with his finger. “Don’t fall back on your word.”
It was a poor threat, but Severin nodded in acknowledgment. “Farewell,” he said. “And do try to be safe. You’ve made it this far…”
The old man lowered his black hood and hobbled toward a large wooden door. Upon opening it, he led them out to the back of the premises. The sun was setting along the horizon, casting a rich purple hue over the entire sky. In the near distance, an old and rather worn down barn stood, and behind the structure, cornfields flowed with the wind, only a few short months away from being ready for harvest. That is, if the ears turned out to be viable to distribute. The land was essentially barren. Every year, it was getting harder to grow anything outside. Fitting.
The wind scurried across the land, causing the stalks of corn to loudly rustle against one another as if they were issuing a dark warning. Killian knew where they were. They had fought on this very field so long ago. They’d watched their best friends and soldiers die here. It was remarkable to see what could grow with the lifeblood of so many victims, but Killian felt the quiet urge to run.
The man hacked and spat on the ground. “You came at a terrible time. I was about to stuff the queen’s new trophy.”
“Trophy?” Lucas asked.
“Yes, from what I have heard, the twins had a fine day of hunting. She nicked a blackbird and wished to keep it as a trophy.”
“Doesn’t sound like our Precious,” Vash said. “Are you sure she shot the creature?”
“As sure as that the world is turned upside down every twenty-four hours,” the man said.
Killian peered back at the grounds. The structures were immaculate and massive and must have housed at least one hundred rooms. Made from solid marble, the buildings reflected the royal-purple-and-orange-sherbet sunset against his pale skin. “Perhaps, the world has already turned down,” he said to himself. “Vash, do you get the sense that we’re walking into a trap?”
Vash nodded and appeared troubled. “I have no doubts that we have agreed to play a wicked game designed by wicked people, but we’d know if we are walking into a trap. Trust me on that.”
“Severin enjoys speaking in riddles, but he lacks the quality of a mystic,” the man said. “Don’t listen to the apple-polisher.”
“I’m not worried about Severin,” Killian said.
The old man paused and shook his head. “You should always be worried,” he said.
Lucas laughed and opened and closed his fist methodically. In prison, he worked out every day. “I don’t think you understand who we are and where we come from, old man.”
Pointing at Lucas’ tattoos, the man showed his teeth. “Ouroboros trader scum. I know exactly where you come from. Do not fall into the trap of believing that this world is polished and new. It’s a ghastly hideous palace, built on death and deceit.”
“We survived the worst wars mankind has yet to offer,” Vash boasted.
“And now, you are the villains. In the New Republic, there are heroic leaders,” he said. “You can’t take away the cards in a poker game. You can only hope the dealer shuffles the cards correctly, can you not?”
The men stayed silent until they reached the barn. The inside was empty, spare a rough bed of hay and some rusted shackles. Killian’s stomach shifted, and he instinctually darted his eyes toward a patch of land where they might escape. The only problem? The fields were endless.
“You’ll sleep in here tonight until we find something for you to do,” the man said, motioning them forward. “Come on, now. Into the chains. And no funny business either. I may be old, but I know when someone is lying. I keep it on record.”
The old man pointed to his skull, and smiled. He watched as the alphas put on their chains, tugging to make sure they were latched correctly. After adjusting the metal rings, he let them drop and began walking back to the quarters.
“Wait,” Killian said. “You’re leaving us, too?”
“It wasn’t your design to come here, yet you made the mistake of following. Now, what is your next move?” he asked.
This time, the man’s laughter sent Killian into a fit of rage. “You fuck!” He pulled on his chains, not at all fazed by the pain of the metal cutting into his flesh. He lunged forward until his wrists bled and ached.
“Keep your insults to yourself. You will come to need that energy soon enough,” the old hoary rat said.
Killian lowered his voice and panted. He felt as if all was lost. “Please… Before you go, please just show us where she is.”
The man put on his hood again and snickered. “Go to sleep. It might be your last time to dream.” The day turned to night as the pestered man walked back into the marble towers.
“What the fuck…” Lucas growled.
“He’s just messing with us,” Vash said. “These people want to get under our skin. We’ll be back with her by tomorrow. Hell, they’ll probably hand us new medals of honor by next week.”
“You’re acting delusional,” Killian muttered. “They’re telling us the truth. We just need to be better at reading between the lines.”
Unable to agree on the issue, the men took to arguing, but Killian remained transfixed on the dimly lit windows of the marble building. He counted over 253, but not one seemed to offer any clue as to where she was housed.
He thought about her hunting, and a smile curled on his face, bringing joy into his heart. “I miss her so much,” he admitted.
“Me, too,” Lucas sighed.
Killian ran his fingers through his unkempt beard. Every time he felt the rough strands, he was surprised at how long they had become. His hair was the same way, waving down past his vision. Despite it being no more than a warm blanket, he felt secure like he could withstand anything.
Still, when he thought of Rae’s hazel eyes, he let go and focused on the light breeze. He felt as cold as ice might, but at least ice could freeze someone to death. The coldness of his heart was something different. He knew God assured mankind that certain bitterness was to last forever.
Vash lay back against the thorny hay and traced the outline of his dense scars on his abdomen. “I think about her every single second I’m awake.”
As Killian closed his eyes to rest, the wind rustled across the land, forcing an unsettling fear into his heart. He couldn’t help but wonder what Severin was gaining by bringing them here. Perhaps, it didn’t matter. The alphas had something to dream about, but would their answer to their prayers finally come? They were so close to her, and yet, Killian felt so far away.
At last, when he laid his head back, he saw the stars above align. And just as he was about to close his tired eyes, he saw a pair of grimy feet.
His eyes widened as a blade rested against his throat. He gaped and exhaled loudly in shock.
“Sit up and shut your mouth, filth.”
Chapter Seven
Ruby sat on her knees and traced her finger around the mattress. She leaned over the back of the bed and fixed her eyes on the cornfields below her window. When she turned, she noticed a newspaper clipping on her dresser. Staring back at her were the three escaped alphas, threatening to find their way back to her sister. Severin slowly came behind her and kissed the crook of her nec
k, but this act of affection only caused her to tense up and reject him.
“The prisoners… have they been found?” she asked.
Severin’s warm breath fell alongside her shoulders and the soft skin on her back. He massaged her shoulders. She was tense. Always tense. She could barely look at him.
She turned her head to see his grotesque tongue exiting his lips to taste her flesh. This mode of affection was rare, and Ruby allowed it simply to conserve her energy.
“Mm,” he grunted and huffed loudly. “Can’t we put our stress aside for one moment and allow ourselves a little love? I mean, my God, sometimes I feel like we’re not a couple.”
Ruby sucked in a tight breath and forced herself away from the minister. “That’s because we aren’t a couple,” she muttered. “You seem to lack any understanding of the state of the Republic. I need those men, and I need them dead. Rae would very much like a funeral for her first loves, and it would be wise of me to give it to her. At the very least, it would get the bitch one thing she asked for.”
“Wise, maybe. But you’re right, my dear. I do lack some understanding. What is it you want from her, anyway? The people anticipate her, that much is clear, but she could disappear tomorrow and they’d find another martyred celebrity to worship. I simply can’t comprehend why she is so necessary.”
Ruby swallowed and sucked in her cheeks to give herself an air of intelligence. She despised seeing Severin’s gloating eyes light up with every word he spoke. Ruby was the prime minister, not him. She wasn’t as stupid as he made her out to be. Not to mention, he was the one obsessed with the planning of the rituals associated with her.
“I just need the alphas to disappear,” she said.
“Once our men find them, I will personally deliver them to the milking chambers with the rest of the criminals. You can use every drop they offer to aid in your pregnancy,” he said.
“Stop,” she said.
“You’re right. Being a parent is worse than you think. It requires careful planning. Trust me, you are better off without a child, but maybe you know this already.”
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