Page 119 of The Sea Witch's Son

“I must say, you have the loveliest playroom.” Tightening my grip, I start dragging him towards the guillotine, “So many toys at your disposal. It must get overwhelming.”

“It’s not...” He’s panting, wrestling against the thick material of his cape, “...a playroom.”

“We will have to agree to disagree.”

I drop him on the ground and watch him try to crawl from me. It’s a pathetic attempt, the fumbling movements don’t get him anywhere before I pull him right back.

“Here’s the thing, Jack.” Pressing a foot into his spine, I pin him to the ground, “You can play pretend all you want, but the Dragon does not take kindly to those who steal from her. No matter how spoilt they are.”

“I’m an actor!”The scream explodes from his mouth, “And I didn’t touch your fucking drugs. I would rather cut off my arm than buy from you.”

I tilt my head, watching his thick jowls swing angrily.

“I almost believe you.”

Grabbing a fistful of his shirt, I shove him headfirst into the lunette. The lock clicks into place, trapping the man who’s about to scream his head right off.

“I am a busy man, Jack.” Rolling up the sleeves of my shirt, I wander over to the release handle, “I do not appreciate my time being wasted.”

“What are you doing?!”

The high-pitch squeal echoes around the playroom, nearly putting a smile on the painted faces in the audience, “Take me out right now!”

“Did you show the same mercy to John Rabbit?” Holding back a smile, I click the handle into place, “I don’t think so.”

“I didn’t take your fucking drugs!”

“Again. That’s not the answer I want to hear.”

I pull the release and the blade drops.

Jack’s scream sends a rush of adrenalin through my system. I wait as long as humanly possible before hitting the emergency brake the matriarch had installed for this very reason.

For all her faults, the Queen understands the importance of a slow painful death.

The blade screeches to a stop a hair length from Jack’s neck. The sharp edge is almost grazing the skin, just a couple centimetres shy from penetrating his flesh.

As soon as he realizes his head is still attached to his body, the heartless prodigy bursts into tears.

“P-Please let me go. I-I’m begging you.”

Crouching down, I marvel at the tangled state of his hair, “Tell me what I need to know, Jack. Or you will end up no better than Mr. Rabbit.”

The beautiful irony of the situation seems lost on the imbecile stuck staring at the ground.

“I-It wasn’t my fault.”

“Hao Yu says otherwise.”

More sobbing ensues and I wait for him to pull himself together.

“I-I said I would never buy from you. N-Not ever.”

Looking at my watch, I let out a sigh, “You bullied me first, Jack.”

“You put snakes in my fucking backpack!”He’s screaming again, trying to rip his head from the thick blocks of wood, “I couldn’t sleep with my window open formonths. I hate you and your disgusting serpent of a mother.”

I hit the release and the blade drops.

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