Page 44 of Eat Me

“Eat.”He tells me in a commanding tone. The tone one would use when they’re standing their ground and won’t back down.

I eye the bowl apprehensively, my stomach growling despite my hesitance about what the food could be. Marcus's commanding tone makes it clear it wasn't a request.

Marcus sighs after I still hadn’t moved to take the bowl, his expression softening slightly. "Look, I understand your hesitation. But starving yourself won't change your situation. It will only make things harder for you in the long run."

He holds out a spoonful of the soup. "Here, I'll even taste it first if that will ease your mind."

Before I could protest, he put the spoon in his mouth, swallowing the soup. That didn’t give me any reassurance of what could be in the food. Besides it not being drugged. Which could also have been a possibility.

"See? Just ordinary chicken soup. Now please, eat." He tells me holding the bowl out to me again. With shaking hands, I reach out and take the bowl from him.

“You know eating it didn’t really prove anything…right?” I tell him, raising an eyebrow with a shaky smirk on my face.

He gives a light laugh, “I guess not…but you took the bowl…didn’t you?” Marcus smiles at me teasingly as I shake my head in annoyance. I look at the soup in the bowl, it looks good, and I can tell even the pasta noodles are homemade.

“Did your mother make this?” I ask, trying to delay eating. I know he sees what I’m doing as he gives me a pointed look.

“I know you’re stalling…. but I will answer you.” He grins as he looks down at the soup then back at me, “It was made by our mother….and Jasper. He wanted you to eat something.”

I jerked up at that, “Jasper?” I know he’s the most unpredictable one…. He's good at doing and saying things that make me pause.

Marcus laughs at me in disbelief, “Yes, Jasper quite likes cooking with our mother. I believe he feels like it’s a bonding tool. He may try to do the same with you… eventually.” I’ll be surprised if they ever let me in the kitchen. There are plenty of sharp objects in there…my mind drifts off and Marcus must have seen this as he clears his throat.

“Now eat. Don’t make me ask a third time.” I sigh at his words, but with a shaky breath, I lift the spoon to my lips. The first taste of warm broth hits my tongue, and I nearly moan in relief. It really is just chicken noodle soup, rich and comforting. I hadn't realized how hungry I truly was until that moment.

"There's a good girl," Marcus says softly. His eyes never leave my face as he watches me intently as I eat, a small smile playing on his lips.

"See? Nothing to be afraid of," he murmurs, allowing his voice to become soft, "We take care of what's ours, Victoria."

I pause at his words, the second spoonful halfway to my mouth. "I'm not yours," I say quietly, but with less conviction.

Marcus's eyes darken slightly at my words, his smile taking on a predatory edge. "Not yet," he says softly. "But you will be. Soon enough, you'll belong to all of us."

I suppress a shudder at his words, forcing myself to take another spoonful of soup. The warmth that has been spreading through me from the food now feels tainted by Marcus's possessive declaration.

"You keep saying that" I mutter, staring down at the bowl. These men intimidate the hell out of me, but at the same time draw me in. I don’t like the fact I’m curious about them and that I find myself reacting to such men…. I shake myself out of those thoughts before I wind up in a rabbit hole down to wonderland, "But you can't just... claim a person. I'm not property to be owned."

Marcus chuckles, the sound sending chills down my spine. "Oh, but we can, little one. And we will." He reaches out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I flinch at the contact but don't pull away, not wanting to risk angering him.

"You'll come to want to own us in the same way.” Marcus’s eyes gleam with an unknown emotion. I watch him warily trying to figure out if I want to comment back or not.

I stare at Marcus, trying to process his words. The idea of wanting to ‘own’ them, to have that same possessive claim over them, not only felt alien to me, but it sounds wrong. A small part of me, a part I try desperately to ignore, is intrigued by the intensity of his gaze and the promise in his words.

"I don't think I'll ever see things the way you do," I say softly, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "This isn't normal. It isn't right."

Marcus's lips curve into a cold smile. "Normal is relative, Victoria. What's normal for the spider is chaos for the fly." He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And in our world, you're the fly caught in our web."

I suppress a shudder at his words, and at the predatory gleam in his eyes. "Is that how you see me? As prey?” I didn’t know if I wanted to know the answer to this question in all honesty.

“More like we see you as something we want to devour.” Marcus chuckles darkly, making the hairs on my body stand on end. I stare at Marcus, unsure how to respond to my comment. Part of me wants to argue, to insist that I’ll never let that happen… But another part, a part I’ve been desperately trying to ignore, feels a strange thrill at his words.

"I don't understand," I say softly, setting the now-empty bowl aside. "How can you be so certain I'll accept all of this? That I'll ever want to be part of... whatever this is?"

Marcus's lips curve into a knowing smile. "Because we see the potential in you, Victoria. I know you’ve heard this from more than me…. The strength, the adaptability, and you've shown more resilience than most. And because, deep down, I think you're curious. Drawn to the darkness we represent, even as you try to deny it.

I swallow hard, unable to form words to respond to Marcus. His assessment hits uncomfortably close to home. As much as I want to deny it, there’s a part of me that’s intrigued by their intensity, by the darkness they embody. But that doesn't mean I want to become like them.

"You're wrong," I finally manage to eke out. "I'm not drawn to this. I don't want any part of it." I know I’m lying to myself, and by the look on his face, Marcus can see right through me.

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