Chapter 70 – Prisoner of War
“And…here…we…go…”
“The Joker; The Dark Knight
Osiris
Iron and rust. What once gleamed under the flickering light eroded away from the nipping windchill, and the raining of sorrowful tears. The prisons are no place for the weak; the presence roaming the halls devours hope and spits out despair with a menacing grin akin to actual monsters. Monsters with rows of teeth and claws demanding the offering of unmarred flesh and blood.
Certainly, I’m not that type of monster. But a monster.
The jails are quiet tonight despite our new guests in its cells. Three adults snatched from their home under the conquest of vengeance. My steps echo through the dreaded atmosphere as the events tonight replayed in my mind with vigor. Just like that, I’m smiling for the thousandth time tonight! Observing the miserable pack responsible for the destruction of my life corrode in the storm of chaos was a dream come true. Death and blood mingled like lovers, stealing the breaths of man and woman alike without remorse.
And my Little Moon was their angel of death.
There was a beast inside her all along, starving for the freedom it deserved. Her fun was my form of excitement and humiliating her pitiful mate was my entertainment. The light in his eyes, fueled by determination, died with defeat after defeat. Alphas hate losing; it breaks their fragile little hearts because they’re used to being kings. Hell, they are kings.
Alas, the beat–down surely humbled Neron. He couldn’t touch me. He can’t touch me. I’m a god and he is a lowly mutt; he never stood a chance, and he knew it. And now, I have two things he cares about the most in
his world.
His father and his mate.
Too bad he’ll lose both.
I walked past the cells of Ashley and Steven Lane, chained to the wall like mutts, unconscious upon the grimy floor. Separated in distant jails, my Lady knew it will weaken their bond, therefore making their inevitable deaths painful beyond belief. Lady Sanguine did quite the number on them as their wounds are slow to heal. They begged and pleaded with her until she knocked them out with a blow to the head, sick of their whining.
I wonder what she has in store for them.
But I don’t care about those meat sacks. My eyes are on Jonathan Prince. I cannot touch Titan Prince, but I’ll do so through his grandson.
Haggard breathing echoed in response to his exhaustion as the rusted chains behind him held his slanting. body up. Auburn hair curtained his somber eyes, dark strands in harsh contrast to his paling skin. His clothing is disheveled because of the rough handling by my subordinates and partner. In all honesty, Jonathan Prince
was a sight for sore eyes!
1/5
Breaking down an Alpha is an art few can master. It doesn’t mean I won’t try.
Who is to say I can’t have a little fun myself before Lady Sanguine casts the first stone to his death?
His blues shot open when I opened his prison doors. The chains that held him captive sung a sour tune as he growled and struggled with the desire to kill me. It was hard to not laugh at his weakness, but I did. Titan’s face molded into Jonathan’s, snarling at me with heavy–duty hatred that did nothing but irritate me. I wanted to wipe his gruesome face from my mind for good.
“How do you know my grandfather?”
He wastes no time jumping to the point. I ambled toward the wall, leaning against it as I stared the defenseless man down. Being this close to him, I can smell his scent; identical to Titan’s. Jonathan Prince is no more, but a bastardized version of my abuser. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“Titan Prince and I were less than acquaintances.” I spat out. “Your old man was quite skilled at striking down those he deemed undeserving of his kindness; a talent you inherited, apparently.
“He’s been dead for a long time, you fool. Whatever high horse your riding on, it is about time you got off.”
“Death does not and will not absolve him of the crimes he committed. He no longer walks the earth, but his legacy does. And I plan to end it.”
Jonathan arched an eyebrow as the realization hit him. He chuckled and shook his head. “You were a member
of Zircon Moon, weren’t you? Either that or you came from another. It is odd; you don’t smell like a werewolf.
You’re just a full–blooded leech.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I chuckled, crossing my arms. “Smelling like a dog causes more problems. The advantages of getting rid of my wolf outweighed the consequences, including the freedom from being tied down to a waste of a pack like yours.”
“You killed your wolf?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“That is for me to know and for you to never find out.”
“Why did you attack my home?”
“Zircon Moon needs to die.” Memories of my childhood attacked my mental defenses, flocking in once a crack in the barrier was exposed. Anger filled my veins like fire trailing spilt gasoline, threatening to explode. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, Jonathan Prince. There is no way in the fiery pits of hellfire did you all deserve the endless blessings over many decades of your pack’s existence. From afar, I watched it grow in number and abundance–birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and so much more. I watched Alpha after Alpha reign over your land as if it wiped their sins clean. Zircon Moon lived long and prospered despite the bloodied uprising filled to the brim with tears, death and torment.”
I grabbed the primitive man by the chin and forced him to look at me. I wanted him to feel every drop of
Chapter 70–Prisoner of War
hatred I have for his damn bloodline and his pack. “Your grandfather ruined my life! He destroyed my family- my mother, my father, and my older brother, and he destroyed the love of my life because of his obsessive need for power. You and your son, his living descendants, carry his sins. The only way to mend that is to destroy your bloodline for good!”
“What my grandfather did to you has nothing to do with me or Neron. I don’t know you, nor do I care about a beast who slaughtered innocents on my land!” A vein pulsated in Jonathan’s neck, desperate for my attention. One cut with a knife and he’s done for. “Painting my grandfather to be a monster is your prerogative if you wish to continue your fantasy of getting revenge on a dead man. You proclaim him to be a monster, but I see one right before my eyes. If he allegedly killed your family and your lover, it must’ve been within good.
reason.”
I heard a crackle, and then with pain radiating through my fists, Jonathan’s head shot back with a deep groan. I stood above him, feeling my fangs poke at my bottom lip. My hand is still curled up in the fist that socked him in the nose. Titan’s face wore like a mask over Jonathan and it refused to leave. His cackling rung through the darkness of my mind, haunting me like a ghost. It taunted at my weakness and cruel existence as a hybrid.
And here is his offspring, sculpted into his perfect liking. I hated him. Oh, Lord Apophis, I hated him!
“Was it within good reason for your bastard idol to mark, rape, and impregnate my lover?” Jonathan went mute. I got him. “Amber, an innocent soul, a victim of the circumstances Titan brought her in. Only lusting after the power she had, not her beauty, and the desire to keep her as his breeder. Children of avatars are non- existent. But he was determined to make the first, even if it meant her pain. Sound familiar?”
The former Alpha was reticent for what seemed like an eternity before he spoke again. “I don’t believe you. My grandfather was a good man! He wouldn’t do anything like that, least of all to Selene’s avatar.”
“I don’t expect you to. Prince wolves are notorious for deflecting responsibility. You all refuse to hold yourselves accountable for the horrors you inflict on innocent people. Titan did it to Amber, and you did it to Kiya. Different circumstances, yet the same action and brutality. If Kiya wasn’t your son’s destined mate, your would’ve kept her for yourself.”
“You’re a sick man with an even sicker mind!”
“Maybe, but you didn’t deny my accusation, which told me all I needed to know.” I continued. “I know all the terrible things you’ve done to her. A sip of her blood revealed all. The similarities couldn’t be ignored, Jonathan. You are your grandfather incarnate in different flesh!”
“So, this shit isn’t really about gave him earlier healed completely. “It is about avenging your lover. Kiya is but a surrogate for your Amber. You stole her to fulfil your twisted fantasy of having your lover back, and you call me a monster?” He laughed again. “You don’t care for her.”
your family.” He sighed, shifting his body weight to his knees. The shiner I
“And you do?” I accused. “You ruined her life because you were too weak to save your mate and your daughter.”
That got him riled up. He charged at me, but the chains yanked him back like rubber bands. His futility awakened a new power in my veins–a power over the oppressor. “You have no right to speak of them. You know nothing! That little menace is responsible for their deaths and always will be!”
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I giggled, then erupted into laughter. A wolf without his mate is a loser, and Jonathan is a loser. Pathetic. Useless. “Your arrogance is admirable. So is your inability to see the truth. You only care about power like your predecessors; power and reputation. Fate did the world a favor in taking away Celeste and Nuria because now your son is suffering the same fate.”
“You won’t touch my son.”
“I don’t have to. Having Lady Sanguine choose me over him is gradually killing him from the inside out, and I’ll be there to make sure he’ll never experience the joy of having her again.” Faint clicking from the distance awakened a grin on my face. “Love is the least of what you both deserve. Think about it this way; if your grandfather learned to keep his hands to himself, none of this would’ve happened. You abusing Kiya was a catalyst to all of this. You only have yourself to blame, Jonathan.”
A growl erupted from his chest as he scowled. “Then get it over with! Kill me!”
“Not yet.” I shook a finger at him with a cocky grin. “Can’t have the full meal without the appetizers, first!”
The scent of the prey draws the predator in like a fish on a lure, igniting their instincts to hunt and feed. Ensnared by the scent of the monster, the hurried sound of clicking heels stopped at the prison doors I opened. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the unbridled hatred overflowing in Lady Sanguine’s eyes. With the hilt of her blade inside her balled fist, she took her first steps inside, settling herself behind the chained man.
I know Jonathan senses her because he abruptly stopped breathing.
Without warning, Lady Sanguine’s hand grabbed a handful of his hair and jerked his head back so hard I thought I heard his neck crack. “Not so tough now, are you, Alpha?” She teased, twirling her blade between her fingers.
“You’ll regret this, Kiya.” Jonathan hissed, gritting his teeth. “You think Neron will ever love you like this?”
“I don’t need his love, nor do I need him.” She shot back. Pride bubbled in my chest. I knew Kiya was mine for good, and this proves it. “If you miss him so much, I can bring him here so you both can die together!” Tearing of fabric resounded in the air, Jonathan’s shirt becoming looser in the back. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this. Do you regret what you did to me, Jonathan?”
Silence.
The fool couldn’t give an answer. Or he didn’t want to give an answer?
“Your silence is a response.” My Lady replied.
“You killed my wife and daughter. I did what I had to do. You’re only alive because my son loves you like a lovesick puppy.”
“And that love is what’ll kill him. As for you, I’m going to take my sweet time brutalizing you before I kill you. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
Grunts transformed to pitiful roars of pain when Lady Sanguine slowly and deeply dragged her bloodstone blade across Jonathan’s right shoulder blade, blood gushing to the dirtied floor. Her gleeful, almost child–like
laughter echoed with his screaming as her carving continued, blood staining her hands. When she finished, she kicked him once in the stomach before leaving Jonathan’s cell.
Poor Jonathan. Those wounds won’t heal at all. Leaving him lying on the ground, I watched the retreating figure of my Little Moon disappear in the darkness.
“You plan to bring Neron here?” I asked her through our link. She stopped momentarily.
“Yes. Father and son will die together. It’ll be a fitting end to their legacy.”
“And of Ashley and Steven?”
“I’ve planned their deaths. I’ll deal with them when I’m ready.”
“It isn’t wise to wait, Little Moon.”
“And it isn’t wise to poke your nose in my business. Stay the fuck out of my way, Osiris.”
Our conversation ended there. I tapped a finger against my cheek as I thought through our interaction and her temporary break back at Zircon Moon. Lady Sanguine surely is a fierce woman skilled at the blade, but something is…off.
Ever since her encounter with that bird, she’s been different. Even more so when her Alpha came to the
rescue. And she plans to bring him here.
I don’t like this.
It looks like I’ll have to monitor my Little Moon to make sure she doesn’t break further.
She is mine.
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