Total pages in book: 209
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
“Fuck you.”
“While not always a nocturnal predator, the lion takes most advantage of the dark to stalk their prey,” says Markadian. “You know, like our kind does. Also—and this part is rather relevant in this present moment—the lion can easily consume up to 40 kilograms of meat in one sitting. Isn’t that impressive?”
“Shut up,” hisses Kyle.
“Lions have one of the strongest bites among big felines,” he goes on, “around 650 PSI, from what I read, easily capable of ripping through hides and crushing bones. And the roar of a lion? So mighty! It can be heard from 8 kilometers away, which I find far more impressive than, say, your brother’s screams, which barely reach the hall …”
Ashara continues to stare at Kyle from nearby, her eyes full of curiosity, as if studying him like a research specimen, every reaction, every word. She says nothing herself, a silent spectator to the scene unfolding.
“I can understand why you love lions so much,” Markadian drones on. “They are such simple animals. Strong, deadly, yet simple. Fodder for bored, simple artists with no inspiration.”
In the cage, Kaleb’s leg slips, he yelps in a panic, swings it around the bar again just in time to avoid another swipe from the lion below, still blinking through the blood in his eyes.
“Does it feel strange to call him your little brother?” asks Markadian. “After all, you are nearly half his age in appearance, even if he retains a bit of … sweet naïveté in his eyes.”
Ashara continues to stare, eyes narrowing.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” Kyle hisses through his teeth.
“Honestly,” Markadian goes on, “I’m more astonished you don’t seem to know these fascinating facts about lions yourself. I was given the impression they are the animal you most love.”
Kyle shakes all over, teeth clenched hard enough to break.
“Though … you don’t seem to have a great track record for knowing much about the ones you allege to love,” he goes on. “Take Tristan for example, who saved your brother’s life, then hid him from you all of these years … Did you know Tristan at all? This person you threw your mortal life away for?”
“S-S-Stop.” Kyle is steadily losing sanity. Tears are flowing and out of control. How much longer can Kaleb hold on? How much longer until he falls to his death? “P-P-Please,” he begs, barely perceptible. “My b-brother …”
“It was a good deal you struck,” insists Markadian. “You’re now guaranteed safety. Tristan, too, the former love of your life you know nothing about. Elias Asad Trujillo. Your irrelevant friends in Nowhere. Wasn’t it exhausting? To worry about so many people? Now all you’ve got to worry about is yourself.”
Ashara’s lips purse tightly, still studying Kyle, eyes never leaving his face.
“Did I mention I’ve tasted him, too?”
Kyle’s sobs choke away. He turns his eyes onto Markadian.
“Every night since I discovered him,” he goes on, relishing Kyle’s reaction. “I have savored his delicious blood. He offered it. Willingly. He is so … generous. An innocent heart. I tasted it … literally sucked all of his innocence out of him. It was a delicacy unmatched by any other. The look in his eyes as he played his violin naked for me … while I tasted him as I pleased.” Markadian moans, reliving it. “In more ways than one.”
“Y-You—f-fucking—” Kyle can’t speak.
The lion roars, leaps into the air off its hind legs. Claws catch the back of Kaleb’s tuxedo jacket, tearing it open as it rips through. Kaleb screams out. Is it in fear? Or did the claws cut into his back? He can barely see.
Kyle shoves his way back to the stage, leaving Markadian. “Kaleb!” he cries out. “Don’t let go! Hang on! I’m gonna get you out of there!”
Kaleb blinks through the blood on his face, squinting with his one good eye, the other shut and sliced through. His heart is in his throat. He is full of confusion and fear.
The sight of Kaleb in so much pain and terror is breaking Kyle’s heart. “It’s me! Your big brother! I’m here!”
Kaleb doesn’t even seem capable of seeing Kyle, squinting in his general direction, disoriented, his muscles shaking. He is growing weaker. It’s exhausting, clinging to those bars. He says nothing at all back, perhaps questioning what he heard.
“Now wait a dang sec,” comes another voice—Cindy, from a few tables behind Kyle. “That’s your brother in there? Your real life brother? The violin guy?”
“Oh, that’s so sweet!” cries out someone else nearby who Kyle doesn’t know. “A dramatic plot twist!” “Is this another trial?” someone else asks in the crowd. “Punishments get more creative by the year,” yet another states, sounding astonished.
Kyle hurries around the stage, grabbing each of the bars, inspecting them, looking for the illusion. “Stay strong!” he yells out to his brother, who keeps straining to see him, squinting with one eye through a veil of blood, tracking the voice. “Keep holding on!” No matter which bars he shakes, nothing appears unusual to him, nothing feels like a hidden hinge or lock, the whole cage uniform. Where’s the door? “Don’t let go!”