Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 148397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
The urge for bloodshed rushed up my gullet.
These men were just as bad as all the rest.
I should exterminate them. Slaughter them. Save the jewels and—
Condemn myself to Victor’s wrath.
I’d already pushed my limits where he was concerned.
What if he snapped and killed me, and Ily was left all alone? Alone and at the mercy of Kyle?
Swallowing hard, I stepped back.
It wasn’t my job to save these jewels.
It didn’t even look like they wanted to be saved.
I wouldn’t interfere, but I would threaten them…just a little.
Casually holding up the axe, I made eye contact with the two Masters. “I’m not sure if you’ve heard the castle gossip, but I killed Daxton Hall and permanently disabled a guy called Roger. Instead of punishing me, Victor gave me a job.”
“Yeah, we heard.” Stewart nodded with a wince. “You’re his in-house exterminator.” He glanced at his partner. “Ben and I are fully aware how strict Victor runs his home, and we’ve never given him any reason to discipline us.” He crossed his arms. “We pay our membership fees, come for some R and R, and leave.”
Stewart took over. “Like we said, we, eh…we’re not like the others.”
I laughed under my breath. “Bullshit.”
“It’s true,” Ben, the bald guy, jumped in. “We have tamer tastes than the rest.” His eyes narrowed. “Compared to you and the rumours circulating about your love of blood, we’re probably pathetic, but…we run a stressful company together. We’re the bitch of every board member we stupidly appointed, and this is the only time we get to de-stress.”
“By fucking slaves.” I sniffed. “If you’re rich enough to visit Victor, then you could afford a good fuck out in the real world.” Stepping forward, I lowered my voice. “You’re fooling yourself that you aren’t one of us.”
“We’re not fooling anyone,” Stewart said. “We know our limits. Ben and I don’t have time to date, and we can’t hire prostitutes if that’s what you’re getting at. Our company is public and of a sensitive nature. We’re watched every fucking moment. The board would steal our company if there was even a whisper of controversy. In fact, they’ve been trying to do exactly that for years. The one time I risked going on Tinder, the girl I matched with was one of their spies. So…fuck you and your judgement. We want companionship as much as the next guy. It sucks we’ve had to resort to this, but…Victor provides us a safe space to play and—”
“What Stewart is trying to say,” Ben said with a sharp edge, “is…fuck off and leave us alone.”
Lowering the axe, I glanced at the jewels.
I studied their trusting eyes.
I vibrated with both man and beast and felt the nudges of that idiotic hero who’d come here hoping to save them.
But…that wasn’t my path anymore.
Without a word, I turned on my heel and left.
* * * * *
My torch stopped working in the fourth hour.
Four fucking hours and I still hadn’t found her.
I trembled with a deep-seated chill, and my ancient Casio hinted the morning had well and truly bled into afternoon.
I’d heard nothing.
Seen no one.
Just me in this ancient tomb, slowly dying in the dark.
Every crevice led to a blacker cave.
Every alley spat me out into emptiness.
I was lost and turned around and—
Pinpricks of light.
I stopped moving and peered at the cold ceiling above.
My eyes slowly adjusted to the claustrophobic blackness, aching with the need to see.
And…bit by bit, glow by glow…I did.
Raising my arm, I touched the forever-wet rock and stroked the faint luminescence.
A rustle of legs. A wriggle of insects. The light glowed brighter, then vanished as the critter scrambled behind a crag.
More light blinked on around me—like bluish stars falling from the heavens.
For the first time in my miserable existence, I stood in awe as more and more dots began to glow, following the contours of the cave, lighting up the space with cool teal radiance.
It felt as if I’d stepped into another dimension.
Found a portal and fallen through.
Glow worms.
The name popped into my head, followed by a stabbing memory of sitting on the rug in my childhood lounge and watching David Attenborough. He’d bewitched me with his iconic voice, filling my young mind with facts about all sorts of animals. His documentaries were the highlight of my weekends, all while my mother stayed locked in her room.
I’d been lonely and lost and living without any kind of guidance.
I was raised by the TV and consoled by the radio.
Enough!
Shaking my head, I pressed my fingers to the lump on my temple from the blowhole sucker-punching me.
I had to have a concussion.
No way would such a pointless, ridiculous memory dare trespass otherwise.
No way would the pathetic little boy inside me dare, fucking dare, make himself known.
Hefting the axe, I tossed away the useless torch and followed the path of glow worms.