Page 91 of Servitude to Serpents

She had no right to ruin everything and then…try toleave.

Each inhale hurts, although I know I’m physically fine.

How does that make sense? How does each movement of my chest feel raw and agonizing when nothing has really changed?

“Congratulations, Sir.” Stuart nods toward me, bringing my attention back to the screen. The obscene number there doesn’t feel like it’s enough.

It would never be enough.

My breakfast curdles in my gut as I nod. “Let them know there will be stipulations before you accept. Strict ones. She’s to be a showpiece, nothingmore. If they disobey, the consequence will hold the weight of the House of Serpents. Ensure there’s no trace of this deal should Bloom get word of it.” Fuck, what is that sound in my voice? The thickness, like speaking through the sludge lodged in my throat.

Stuart nods in supplication, something that might have looked a bit like regret, maybe sympathy, crossing through his eyes.

That’s what you’ve made me, Pup. Something to be pitied.

You never realize you’re falling until you're inches above the ground.

It’s far too late tosave either of us now.

Angels Like You by Miley Cyrus

Chloe

My hands shake as I’m led into the office by Henrietta. The usually bright woman’s head is hung. Even the air is heavy with miasma, like it knows something terrible is coming. It has been two days, two days my neck has been bare, aside from bandages. Two days, I was locked in my rooms, the only visitors Henrietta and Master’s doctor. The pain medication doesn’t sit well with the lack of food in my stomach. Everything again tastes like ash anyway. My eyes widen as I finally focus on the room around me, rich, dark opulence sitting in shambles.

Destroyed.

The man at the helm of it all stares, his eyes pressing into me like a physical touch, like sliding into a warm bath despite the cold, indifferent look on his face. His attention snaps to my wrapped, fractured hand. He’d pressed a kiss to my lips after he broke it, his lips so soft as I sobbed and screamed, crying out for him, for people long dead and long forgotten… Then, he left.

Again.

I had no clue the depth I could suffer, the way the pain and misery never seemed to bottom out. There was always further to fall, always more time to wallow. My chest clenches knowing the state of things is my fault. Tears already bud my eyes as the woman in front of me nods before departing, the smell of sage and oak filling my lungs as I drop to my knees. I should look down, bow my head to him, but I don’t.

I can’t look away. He’s a phantom, a wraith about to slip back into the ether.

He’s looking at me like he feels the same. It only serves to further sour my gut.

I’m so focused on molten hazel eyes, I don’t recognize the peopleon the screen at first as he turns it my way. It has been years, after all. My heart wrenches as I finally turn my attention to my mother, leaving a small but well-kept house. Her blue eyes are more wrinkled but just as empty as the last time I saw her. The day I told her I was moving to another state, and she only nodded before excusing herself to her bedroom. I had hoped she’d tell me not to, that she’d tell me to come home.

The same misguided hope I feel now as I turn my confused stare to Sir.

“You’ve heard a lot in your time here. I trust everything will stay with you.” He glances over at the picture of my mom, my heart stilling in my chest as I launch to my feet, my body groaning as I do. A started gasp leaves my raw throat as I see the date.

This month.

It was taken this month.

“What do you mean?” I whisper, but I know.

God, Iknow.

He doesn’t answer me.

His silence is as effective of a weapon as the pen, the whip, at punishing.

“You’re-you’re sending me home?”

“Nobody goes home, not even you.”

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