Chapter 71 Confrontation Gone Wrong
Unknown POV
"You can come out now," he calls in a calm voice.
I gingerly step out of the shadows and come face-to-face with him. He's dressed in his signature homeless look - shabby, worn clothes, shaggy brown hair with a pair of dull, manic brown eyes. Yes, the odd combination has always been a mystery to even myself.
"Master," I greet.
"I'm surprised you came. Does your father know you're here?" he asks.
He most likely already knew the answer but still expects one. "No, master."
With only a hum, he spins on his heels and heads down to his basement, and I have no choice but to follow him.
His 'basement' isn't like the typical one we know it to be. It's more of a torture/witch outlet.
On one side are segregated spaces where thick silver chains hang from the ceiling, all currently unclasped.
On the other side is where he gets busy the most. Runes, specially crafted bowls made from bones, potions, and whatnots are carefully arranged in order, their smells offensive as hell, and displayed like they're his most priced possessions - maybe they truly are.
Sometimes, I wonder what will happen if they all magically disappear one day...
"I see you've been quite busy these days, master," I note, taking in the steaming rising from one of the bowls lining a table in the middle of the room.
A sinister smile graces his lips. "Did you come here to investigate me, boy?"
"The people of that pack are dying in rapid successions, master. I think that should be enough reason for concern."
The smile wipes off of his face in an instant, something darker crosses over his features and I feel my pulse stall a little. "You dare to question my decisions, boy?"
I bow my head and answer quickly, "No, master. I–"
"Careful, boy. You're starting to ask questions that don't concern you," he says in a cold voice.
My hands clench into fists, trying to think of anything to get me out of this situation, but unfortunately, my mouth doesn't get the message. "Or what? I'm quite sure it does, master," it spits. See?
The first slice of a shadow tendril directly through my back has me falling to my knees with a pant. Those things hurt like a fucking bitch.
He sighs like my words have offended his greatly but he's trying to play it cool and not let the fact that he's a psycho show through. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood tonight, boy. I won't let your father hear of it if you promise to not let this repeat itself."
I tamp down the growl that threatens to leave my lips as my wolf bristles with a burning hatred. In all honesty, I think I'll prefer my father's wrath and fists than shadow tendrils, any day. But I definitely won't be telling the psychopath that.
"And the vial?" I ask, trying to change the topic. I refer back to the purple vial liquid he had given to me months ago. He had still yet to give me any instructions on it.
"Ah yes," he beams, his face lighting up once more. "The preparations are almost ready and when they've all been completed, only then are we going to make use of it. At once," he concludes, then turns to face me. "Now, have you gotten all the answers you came here for?"
"I want to leave," I blurt out suddenly, regretting my words as soon as they leave me.
Master throws his head back and laughs like I had just told the biggest joke in history. It isn't any normal laugh - it's sick, depraved and full of contempt.
He steps forward and crouches down to my eye level, gripping my chin tightly.
"You've gotten a lot bolder than the last time, boy," he grins like a maniac. "Now listen carefully," he snarks. "Until the agreement between your father and I have been finalized and fulfilled, you are to remain my slave for as long as possible. Am I clear, boy?"
My eyes are burning with open hatred as I growl, "Why? Why do I have to get involved?"
Crack. Is the sound that echoes through the silent space in the next moment. My head tilts sideways.
"Ask your father. He's always whined about what a useless son and a disappointment you've always been. I have no business with your family dynamics whatsoever."
Then as an afterthought, he directs multiple shadow tendrils towards me. Each one more painful than the next. They cut through my flesh, carving themselves deep until they almost hit bones and then ripping out once more. Over and over and over again.
I don't count how many minutes have passed - or hours even, but all I can smell is the pungent smell of my blood-soaked body, the acidic taste repulsing my taste buds as I bite my tongue to keep from crying out. In here, it's a show of weakness I can't afford to let through.
Master continues to laugh, and I know he's truly lost his mind - he already did a long time ago anyways.
I know the full details of his agreement with my father - since his disappointment of a son refuses to carry out such a 'simple' task, he resortes to a more assuring means. In exchange, I'm their bargain. Master needs something to do his dirty works for him anyways.
The past year of my life has been the worst so far.
The excessive loss of blood starts to make my vision blur, but I fight off the accompanying dizziness even as my body threatens to shut down.
"Look at you, boy," he mocks, a smug satisfaction in his expression. "Learn your place you worthless piece of filth. I'm your master for a reason, because even you are replaceable."
What the hell is he talking about? Has he found someone else is is ready to discard me?
I have no problem with that but not if it involves taking more innocent lives.
"Don't look so, devastated. All those lives were necessary sacrifices for the greater good. The Royal Eclipse must never be fulfilled. It's what she wants," he says, eyes alight like he's speaking about his favorite star.
Now I'm starting to wonder who this 'she' he's always talking about really is.
But before I can dwell on it any further, he turns on his heels without another word, and leaves me lying in a pool of my own blood, my body has started to heal on its own but due to the severity of it, it's going to be a longer process than the other times.
I drag my body upright, stumbling out of the disgusting place. I bite back a groan with every step. The city is dark, roads empty with only the reflection of the moonlight bearing witness to my pathetic state.
I will find 'her' and destroy them all, starting with my father - even if I have to end him myself.
And I swear on my life, I will.
Once and for all.