Page 135 of Blinding Light

“P-please,” Theo begged. But Bekn ignored and glared at Cyprian instead.

“And have you come after me?” He snarled.

Cyprian shrugged. “Guess there’s only one way to find out.”

Bekn’s eyes darted to his younger brother, then back to Cyprian. He scoffed. “You can have him.”

“Bekn!” Theo cried out. Cyprian’s heart clenched at the carelessness in Bekn’s voice. Whatever had happened to them, had made him hate his younger brother enough to sacrifice his life.

“Theo.” Cyprian took a step forward, making the other man retreat until his back hit the prison bars. “Do you know where your brother keeps his drug lab?”

Theo nodded shakily.

“Don’t tell him, you fucking runt!” Bekn called out behind him.

“Shut up. This is the last time you’ll talk to him like that.” He turned back to Theo. “You won’t die today.” He gestured to his keeper. “You can bring him back, we’ll keep him in the family for now.”

Theo’s eyes widened. “As a s-slave you mean?”

Cyprian wasn’t sure yet. He wasn’t sure of anything, but he did know that Theo didn’t deserve to die. He had been a victimhimself. But now was not the time to show any weakness. They’d talk things through once tonight was over. “Yes,” he said instead.

The crowd approved, cheering and shouting their agreement.

Cyprian turned back to the prisoners. “Open all the cages!” He called out. Barred doors slid open, followed by a thunderous sound. The crowd sighed in anticipation, creating a heavy silence throughout the entire arena. None of the prisoners left their cells. Instead, they huddled up in a corner, eyes wide as they awaited their sentence.

Cyprian pointed his finger. “See that old man there?”

All eyes flashed to Ludo Fandi, who shriveled back in his cell, shaking his head wildly.

“He’s yours to attack. Yours to hunt. But remember this—” The first prisoner slowly walked out of his cell, “he’s not yours to kill.”

More prisoners dripped out of their cells. One fool tried to flee, screaming and begging as he went for the doors of the arena.

“Ignore him,” Cyprian growled. His yellow gaze was focused on the rest of Attica. Their initial hesitation was slowly morphing into something different. Ludo Fandi had become prey in a quest for survival, and they all knew one thing—only one of them would die today. The old man would be the sacrifice.

They crept closer to the final cell, where Ludo Fandi still sat, bewildered. He didn’t seem to realize the others were going to do this, were going to come for him, snatch him up and beat him down if it meant their own lives would be spared.

When he finally did, his movements were sluggish, the moment too late. The crowd roared at the unfolding show. Purple jumpsuits scattered everywhere, owning the heart of thearena, the prisoners snarling and hunting as they ran along to the beat of the drums.

Ludo Fandi never stood a chance. He barely made it halfway, until Bekn had caught up with him, making the old man stumble and fall. The rest fell over him like a swarm of birds of prey. They pummeled him, shouting and swearing, and tore off his clothes.

Cyprian watched with an empty heart. This man, who had fathered him, who had forced his wife to sell him, and the rest of his siblings, who had left hiswifeto rot after beating her almost to death, was Cyprian’s to kill.

“That’s enough.” He lifted a hand. Strolling forward, he gazed down at the man who had spit at him when he’d stood by the door of his apartment and had begged for his love.

And then his vision faltered, splitting in two. One was still here, glaring at Ludo Fandi, but the other one peered right at himself as if he looked down from the crowd. Cyprian felt his brother’s presence. Felt him watching from up there.

Once more, he had come for Cyprian, only today he’d come to see him kill their father.

“Hi.” Cyprian whispered.

“Who the fuck are you talking to?” Ludo spit out. Blood dribbled from his nose down over his lip.

Hi.

“Have you come to kill him with me?”

Ludo’s eyes turned to slits. “You fucking monster.”

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