BLUE BLOOD

51 | an eye for an eye

x

This was a lion's den. Father locked us in here for twenty-four hours. I wondered how many hours passed. Silas watched, cornered the lion loosely chained to the wall, while I sat quietly, terrified, in the furthest corner.

"Seven days," Silas said, staring in fascination at the growling lion.

"What?" I whispered, lips cracked. I had half a water bottle left and no food to sustain myself.

"I think this lion hasn't eaten for seven days," Silas smiled as the terror rose in me.

A low scratching sound of chains stirred and I watched as the lion opened its brilliant, dark eyes. The lion stared at Silas before snapping his mouth into a huge roar. Silas stumbled back, laughing in horror and delight all the same. He was insane. He was crazy, I thought until I saw the soberness in his eyes. The coldness.

No. Maybe not. Maybe I was the crazy one.

"What? Are you going to start crying?" Silas sneered as I huddled closer to the wall. "I don't understand why father chose you as heir after Alexander died. He was weak but you were weaker. "

At first, I used to react hotly to his taunts but not I didn't even blink. "What does that make you, if Father chose me?"

Silas smiled a smile full of teeth. "Do you see the chains, Vesper? They're loosening. The lion will fight and struggle with us as bait and he'll eat us all,"

"Unless?" I asked, knowing he always had a solution.

"Unless we kill the lion."

"No," I whispered, "We can last the twenty-four hours, Silas. Father will unlock the door and we can escape."

"That's not how you play the game," Silas snapped, narrowing his eyes. "If you try that, I'll cut off the lion's claws and leave scars on you if I have to."

"You're insane, Silas," I choked out, tears streaming down my cheeks. "You're crazy."

"No," Silas shook his head, crouching closer to the lion to goad it. He held the dagger in his hand, glimmering from the light of the door, and brought it down to the brittle chains. "I just know how to play the game."

I screamed as the lion broke free from the now-broken chains. Silas, well... Silas just laughed.

x

The darkness of the room reminded me of the lion's den. The scars on my body given by Silas had long faded but it seemed to burn today.

Most people, when they wake up, open their eyes instantly. I didn't. I was used to keeping my eyes closed when I gained consciousness to make sure of my surroundings.

You felt safe with Avery Dragomir.

And then he drugged you for Ella's journal.

The reminder was painful, sharp and fresh. I buried the thought and carefully listened to gauge if anyone was in the room. I could feel my ankles and wrists tied to a quiet comfortable armchair. Voices drifted.

"It's not on her. Where did the bitch hide the journal?"

My shoulders slumped imperceptibly. Satin's frustrated words brought me relief. They haven't found Ella's journal yet. But then confusion filled me. They should have, by now.