oor-to-ceiling glass walls revealing a glowing city skyline bathed in golden l

eauty, my heart p

ened into a grand dining hall-chandeliers dripping with crystals, a long dining table adorned with tal

was alrea

e at our

mother smiled-poised, polished, calculating. Beside them sat two cousins I hadn't yet

d softly beside me

smile. "It's lov

ed a glass. "To

his, and whispered, "To truth," though

mes I couldn't pronounce, wine older than I was. I tried to eat, but my ha

ou must be enjoying the attention. The castle. The pr

her tone-but it was like

hearsed smile. "I'

fingers resting on her g

caught off

rjected smoothly, cutting me of

ell-a bea

his steak. "I'm sure she does," he said, voice dr

he table-the kind that di

ine glasses gleamed. I sat straighter, trying

politeness. Dange

colate laced with raspberries-Levi's m

ing," she said, s

rimson velvet, tied with an antique gold ribbon. As she p

owly. My fingers

ghtened around

mother urged swe

bbon-carefully

id ca

d- A white cloth, soaked through with red. Blood. And

The metallic s

eath

t?" she asked, tilt

head, unabl

elonged to someone very dear t

, his chair scrapin

nough," h

, sipping her wine as

methin

didn't yet

ared at the blood-stained locket, tryin

red just for me. "Ignore

w what-or wh

klace, the bloodied chain. It did

d I seen

each back in my

Levi asked quietl

ded s

was

n their food-everyone except Levi's mother

confront the moment, another co

-

oor o

was

legant. I'd never held a real conversation with him, bu

he dining room,

e hadn't ye

ssness and urgency, he

as planned. Subject No.

choed acros

silence cove

oward Sam-still b

d me. Or perhap

our eyes met, he im

he muttered quietly, and

mmed int

t uncomforta

d in hell-surrounded by the d

hat I felt-fear. Curiosity. Disc

gnore the weight of their

at moment, I rea

ng horr

d not ask

-

t, his hand gently pressed against my back. He didn

he said quietly, "Forget i

I asked, eyes locked straight

pau

d me dead

aw cl

erstand...

s his f