Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Stella must stop walking because River growls, “Move.”
“Yes!” Luna was a friend to all of us, even to Priest at one point. The term isn’t what he would call her today.
We hit the top of the stairs and tread back through the entrance. Cool wind billows through the rustling trees before I inhale it into my lungs. “I just buried mine. He’s going to be ripe. Gross.”
“Gross. Even for me.” Stella smiles wide, showcasing sharp fangs.
The boys are quiet as we pass the headstones of residents who have passed over the years, stopping when we hit the boundary made up of historic stonework.
All the blood leaves my face.
Shit.
They’re going to see who I shot that night. What if they know the man he resembles? They’d connect the dots the same way I did. They’d surely know, since nothing passes the Kings. Which means they cannot see his face.
“This place is in serious need of an upgrade.” River leaps over the edge first.
Landing with shock waves over the soles of my feet, I dust off my hands. Grass and overgrown weeds blanket the unmarked gravesites, except mine.
He’s not going to be decomposed enough. Dammit.
Cursing my ancestors, I shuffle out of my robe and grab one of the shovels that are leaning against the boundary. Brushing my hair to the top of my head in a high pony, I unclip the robe and let it fall to the ground, exposing my clothes underneath.
“What the fuck are you doing?” War’s tone has more bite than the cool breeze.
“I’m being practical, War. You should try it sometime.” Forcing the spade into the bed of loose soil, I start shoveling fresh dirt.
“Oh, so practical, wearing ten-thousand-dollar shoes to dig up the corpse of your first victim.”
“Shut up, War.” He’s clearly going for a new record of how many times he can piss me off in a twenty-four-hour period. Moments later, the boys have stripped their own robes and shirts, leaving them in nothing but their jeans.
Music and laughter reverberate in the distance. “Well, at least they’re all having a rad time.” River wipes the sweat from her forehead, her long blonde hair curling around her neck. She gives up and ties it to the top of her head.
“I wonder what the third step is.” Vaden shovels into the next layer of dirt. Knowing that there are only three steps isn’t exactly comforting when you consider this is the first.
“Honestly, could be a six-person orgy, for all we know,” Stella teases.
“That would require a lot of incest!” I need to get this body out of this shitty little hole and pray to Lilith that he’s decayed enough. Multiple holes in the head has to account for something in the anatomy of decomposition, right?
“So?” War’s unrelenting mention of incest has my agitation multiplying. “You do know that incest wasn’t a taboo thing between our families way back then. Wouldn’t be surprised if we’re all related somehow down the line, especially with all the secret baby drama from our grandparents.”
“You mean, my grandparents.” My spade hits something hard. “Yes!”
“How the fuck did you get to yours quickly?” Vaden glares up at me from the cavity of his grave.
“Because I panic-buried!”
Everyone pauses.
Priest is the first to break the silence. Of course. “Hold up. Let me see him.”
My mouth falls open. “Ah… sure!” Terror wells in my stomach but I keep myself composed. “I need a break anyway.” The barrier hits my back when I stumble backward, my skin sticky with sweat. How long does it take for a body to decompose? It’s cold, but not winter. Shit.
I rush forward when he stops shoveling, blood cursing through my ears.
No! This is—
“I’m all for innovative slaughter, but this is… damn.” Vaden’s head tilts to the side, examining what’s left of the body.
My eyes burn as relief washes through me. His forehead is a montage of brutal lacerations, not an inch of skin recognizable. The wounds are still flamed crimson, but instead of resembling the very reason why I killed him, he looks more like Freddy’s brother.
“Now I’m mad.” Priest’s eyes fly up to mine, catching the final tremors leave my body.
“Ditto…” War swipes his hand over his abs. To fight my wandering eye, I jump back into my shallow grave.
“My turn.” War tugs on Priest’s collar and he shuffles out, leaving me to deal with the one person I don’t want to right now.
Suddenly I’d prefer my brother in the small space.
He leans down and continues to tear open the bag the body is wrapped in. “Get out, Halen.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” Dirt crumbles from the edges when I do just that. Get out.
Moments later, he stands to his full height after searching his body. “Why?”
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out because if I said I did it, they wouldn’t believe me. I don’t have the mindless rage that it takes to be able to carve someone up like you would a ham on Christmas Day.