Page 19 of Xeda

"You think I care? You wanna lose your job? Or maybe I'll put you in the glasshouse for arguing with me. So, do it." A loud bang rang out as something hit the door.

There was a soft whimper, then a second later, he heard the door slide open.

"We really shouldn't do this."

"Shut up."

He heard the scuffle of shoes next to him and then felt someone kick his side.

"He's out. Let's just wait for Hendrik."

Another shuffle on his other side, then the scent of foul breath. "Hendrik is shit at his job. Or my fighter just sucked. Either way, Dad's gonna know." The foul-breathed human jabbed his side. "Hey, you gotta Scipad. Take a picture of me with it.” He felt the human shift over him and then place his weight on top of him. The stupid beast was sitting on him. He grabbed one of Xeda’s horns and pulled on his head. “Come on, move over there and get me holding him up.”

“You shouldn’t do that! What if he’s not dead?”

Xeda’s head swiveled back and forth as the human shook him. “He’s chained still, and if he gives any sign of movement, you can just shock him right? Come on, this will be a sick shot. Just make it quick."

The other human cursed under their breath as they fumbled with something. Xeda heard them move around him as the other shifted on top of him.

Xeda started to rise from the abyss, slow and careful so as not to shock his system. Like a sea creature rising to the surface, he woke silently, creeping up on his prey that floated above unaware.

He let his body warm, let the blood pump through his veins, making his hands and feet tingle. He kept himself motionless through the process, drawing nearer to the surface.

The one on top of him tugged again on his horns before letting his head drop. "Hold on," they said. Xeda felt him shift before he felt the cool metal of a knife at his throat.

"What are you doing?" cried the other.

"Just get the shot," they snapped.

"What the hell are you doing?” shouted Hendrik from the door. “For fuck’s sake, get off him now!”

The human shot up off him but continued to stand over him. “Chill out, Hendrik, he's gone, you killed him."

Xeda heard Hendrik's angry gasps, as if the man might collapse. He shouted something unintelligible, stumbling forward by Xeda's guess. The human standing over him was tugged off him as Hendrik took his place.

"Stupid boy! Do you wanna get killed? What the hell is the matter with you? Have some sense!" he screamed.

Xeda felt fully awake now. He opened his eyes a slit and saw the putrid human standing just beside him. His leg was just in reach.

Perfect.

Without missing a beat, Xeda moved. With one hand, he slipped out the bone he had hidden beneath the belt at his back and lurched upward. He lunged forward and stabbed the bone straight into Hendrik's leg just below the knee. Blood gushed out as Xeda twisted. The man hollered like an animal, dropping to his knees, his hand smacking against the ground as he caught himself.

Xeda wrenched the bone out and slowly stood. The other humans screamed, scrambling out of the cell. Their shouts rang out into the night. Hendrik groaned as Xeda came around and kicked him on his side, forcing him to roll on his back. He dragged him farther into the cell and then relished as the man's eyes grew wide with terror, his pants soaking at the crotch.

Xeda stood over him, the bone clenched tight in his hand. He let himself gorge on the man's fear for just one more moment. Then he brought the bone down.

CHAPTERSIX

Ophilia

There was a lot more commotion than usual in the hallway of the living quarters as Ophilia stepped out of her room. From the far end, she could see Warren talking with several soldiers, with other staff hanging around them.

One of the higher-ups must have gotten thrown in the glasshouse. That was usually the reason for extra gossip, especially this early in the morning.

The last time she remembered that happening was when they had thrown the woman who had held Warren's position in that glass chamber after they had caught her stealing rings out of one of the jewelry safes. She spent a whole day in there before the police force (run of course by the most powerful houses) came and picked her up. Ophilia remembered hearing the screams walking down by the west courtyard. The glasshouse was awful torture, the temperature so hot you were sure to pass out. And the mirrors along the walls coupled with the light spray of gas made you hallucinate the worst horrors possible. A trip so bad you'd need therapy from the trauma it caused. You were lucky if you only got a half hour inside and were only rattled for a couple of weeks. A whole day...they had to carry her body out, glass shards stuck in her neck from her shattering the glass and attempting to cut her own throat.

Ophilia kept her head down as she walked the length of the hall, attempting to pass the group unseen. She caught the tail of the conversation as she crept by.

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