Page 22 of Entombed In Sin

“You would regret killing Knox,” I promise quietly.

“Why? Because then you’d come after me? Make me pay?” She throws her questions, laced with venom, at me in a challenge. As if she thinks it all comes down to one decision: her or Knox. But it’s not that simple and it wouldn’t be that cut and dry.

It won’t come to that, anyway.

“Because he likes you, and Knox doesn’t like anyone. Once he’s decided that you're what he wants, friend or otherwise—” I glance down at the man struggling under my foot, “—he won’t relent until he gets it. He’s going to work hard to get back intoyour good graces, Little Viper. And that’s the type of person you need around; someone willing to fight for you.”

Beatrix blinks rapidly in surprise while some of the tension in her jaw relaxes.

“I’m going to skewer you both the minute I get up!” the man under my foot snarls. “Arnie! Arnie, help me!”

I don’t take my eyes off Beatrix as I continue, “You have suffered at the hands of others your whole life, my pet. Knox’s mistake yesterday is just another incident in a long slew of injustices you’ve endured. Why not take all that pent-up anger you have at the world and do something with it? You deserve peace. Find it by driving a blade into this man’s flesh. I promise, you’ll feel much better afterward.”

Indecision wars on her face. Her eyes fall to the man beneath me as her shoulders stop moving. She’s holding her breath—considering the situation. Her potential victim fights me harder, screaming empty threats at us. He’s ignored.

Her throat constricts visibly as she swallows. “I don’t know about this…”

“You don’t have to know, that’s why I’m here. Let me help you shed that dead skin so your scales can shine, Little Viper.”

The hint of eagerness that lights the back of her eyes up is beautiful. I can’t help myself. Leaning forward, I kiss her forehead lightly. When I pull away, the light in her eyes is brighter.

“No, no, no!” the man beneath me screams, still thrashing. Too bad being overweight and old doesn’t bode well for someone in a position like this. He has no chance of escaping us.

I hand my knife blade down to Beatrix. She doesn’t know it, but I might as well have handed her my heart. Her gaze drops to it. Beatrix’s frown deepens, but she doesn’t say no. She doesn’t object. She’s just… not sure. That’s alright, I have all the patience in the world to walk her through this.

“It’s ok,” I assure her. Resituating my blade in my hand, I lower myself to kneel on top of the fat bastard and use the hand I’m holding onto my pet to guide Beatrix down with me. She crouches next to the flailing man.

“Hold on to my wrist,” I order.

Beatrix’s hand slides out of mine so that she can wrap her dainty, small fingers around me. Her grip is firm, but I can feel the slight tremor racing through her.

“Good girl,” I mutter. It doesn’t go unnoticed that color gathers under her cheeks nor do I miss her near inaudible gasp. My lips curve again at her reaction to praise. She’s such an obedient pet. The best pet.

Transferring the knife to my other hand, I flex my wrist so Beatrix can feel the muscles in my arm bunch.

“P-Please don’t do this!” the man blubbers loudly.

“Make sure, once you’ve committed, to see it through,” I tell her. “If you don’t want to go to jail, you need to make sure your victim never escapes.”

The man beneath me screams in terror. Beatrix doesn’t nod, but her eyelashes flutter and her breathing quickens.

I lift the knife up slowly. Beatrix‘s arm mimics the motion as she keeps hold of my wrist.

“Get off me, you freaks!” the man beneath me screeches. I lean my knee harder into him and he screams. “Please, don’t do this. Don’t kill me. Take whatever you want, but please, don’t take my life.”

My pet doesn’t seem any more swayed by the man’s pleas than I am. Good. Her first kill might not be the easiest, but I know she needs this. I don’t want emotions to muddle this for us. Beatrix looks over at me.

“Together?” she whispers.

I hold her gaze, willing her to understand that everything we do, whether it’s killing a man or running a business, or simplyliving to a ripe old age—I will be with her until the end. She’s stuck with us. Withme.

“Together, Little Viper.”

With that, I bring the knife down. Beatrix’s grip tightens around my wrist. Not to stop me but to help me. The man beneath us screams in agony as half the blade disappears into his back. Beatrix gasps. Her grip grows tighter as I pull the blade back out and up. This time she’s the one who urges me on. When the blade strikes again, there’s a soft giggle. I look over at Beatrix. Her eyes are trained on the hilt of the blade, and a wide smile pins the corners of her mouth upward.

“Again,” she whispers with a childish glee.

How could I deny her anything? Together, we stab the man again. This time the blade goes deep. Our victim gasps and flinches, but he continues to fight us. His thrashing becomes more pronounced and desperate. He bucks, kicks, and flails, but none of that seems to bother Beatrix. Her giggles turn to laughter, loud and joyous. She’s oblivious as I transfer the knife fully into her hand and when I let my foot up and kneel beside rather than on our victim. The blade continues to rise and fall without my help.

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