Page 75 of The Black Lotus
“When I knew he was watching, I made the kills extra… bloody. He would come out every time and watch until I had to scold him one night, tell him no more watching. Of course, I knew he wouldn’t listen, but that led to him finally asking why we killed and shyly saying he wanted to try.” She kicks her feet and Jason drops them, scurrying back to his corner as she stands, keeping her heels off. “I was so excited. This was the moment I was waiting for! I wanted to hand him a victim right then and there, but hisfather,” she says with a sour tone, “said we had to wait until his tenth birthday. Unfortunately, that fight between Adam and I ended in him winning.” My eyebrows dip slightly in confusion.Is Aster’s dad not all that bad?
Something resembling regret crosses her features, but she quickly masks it, picking up the knife and twirling it once more. “I’m sure Aster told you what happened; how I was blindsided when that stupid girl, Kara, teamed up with my husband to entrap us both.”
My mouth falls open.I’m sorry, what?Herhusbandhelped Kara send them both away?Why would he want to be locked up forever?They were the best killing duo of all time, and Aster’s father-
“I didn't know at first, that my dear Adam was behind our capture, but once I found out, I set my plans in motion.” She slices the blade across her finger and watches with a blankexpression as the blood drips down her finger. “Adam claimed he didn’t want our son like us, that he didn’t even know Aster was watching us work. He only found out when Aster asked, and the only reason he agreed to ten was so he had time to try and fix him.” She sticks her finger in her mouth, popping it out as her knuckles turn white around the handle.
“My husband went behind my back and tried to get Aster to understand that what we were doing wasn’t good, that we were bad people, but my sweet fox was too far gone. There was nothing the dead weight attached to us could do to turn him back.” She raises her hand to the light, staring at the spot her wedding ring used to be. “We didn’t speak after we were arrested. Not until I found out I was pregnant and I knew that would get him back on my side. Back to obeying me. I told him and to no one's surprise he was a sobbing mess, begging for my forgiveness, which I gave. When Zephira was born, I knew I’d never get to see her again, I knew I couldn’t give her the same upbringing I gave Aster, and that made me angry at Adam all over again.”
Everyone assumed Adam was the mastermind, the one forcing his wife to do unspeakable crimes, but just like a lion, the lioness was the one who was truly in charge. My hand twitches wanting to reach up to cover my aching heart. He was her cover up, but he made sure she couldn’t hurt Aster any more than she had.
Adam is a good dad; he was just poisoned by his evil wife.
“I was devastated, and during my horrible depression, sweet, young, innocent Jason found me.” She looks at her personal servant, his eyes lighting up like a puppy. “He may not look like it,” she walks over and pinches his cheek, “this handsome fella is a lot older than he looks. He has been so good to me despite everything we’ve been through.” His cheek pulls out as she drags him, letting go and leaving him by the door when she walks backtowards me. “He helped me from the beginning, keeping tabs on Aster and my sweet Zephira. With what that poor girl went through, there was no need for me to push her to be evil. The ones taking care of her were doing that for me.”
“What happened to Zephira?”
Her gaze locks mine as she stalks towards me with lethal intent. “Did I say you could speak?”
“No.”
“Then why did you?” She drags her blade slowly across my cheek, drawing a line of blood. “You’re lucky I was going to ask if you wanted to know or else this would be worse.” She licks the blood from my cheek, and I have to swallow the vomit threatening to spill as her slimy tongue touches my skin.
“My sweet Zephira was tortured, raped, beaten, chained, and so much more I don’t have time to go into all the glorious details. But I let it all happen. I needed it to because when she was old enough, she killed them all and the Man Eater was born.”
“You knew your daughter was getting raped and you just let it happen?” Disgust fills me as my lip curls.
“Some sacrifices had to be made.” She shrugs, playing with her blade like her daughter's innocence never mattered.
“If Zephira knew this, she’d hate you.”
“Too bad she will never believe you over her dear sweet mother.”
“There is nothing sweet about you. Even your husband knew that.”
“Well, he’s dead, so his opinion doesn’t matter either.”
“Dead?” I whisper in disbelief.
“Oops! Guess the cats out of the bag. Yes, I had Jason kill Adam once he found out I was trying to puppeteer our children's life again. He wanted his son to be happy withyou,and, well, I didn’t.”
I struggle against my binds, my body pushing forward as I scream, “They will never forgive you!” How could she take away the one person who actually cared about them and wanted them happy?They need to know.
She motions for Jason with her finger and he obeys instantly. She walks behind him, whispering and looking at him. “Why would they need to forgive me? I didn’t kill him. Jason did.”
“Under your order!”
“Yes, but they’ll never know that. All they’ll know is that their dear, darling mommy killed daddy's killer.” Jason’s eyes widen as she plunges her knife into his neck and drops him like a sack of potatoes.
This was her plan all along; get a cop who could somehow get her free, to kill her husband, then pin all of it on him as she rides off into the sunset after she kills me. Aster would never forgive her, she has to know that.She would lose both of her children if they found out the truth.They’re not dumb; they’ll find out. They have to-
Stepping over him, she stops in front of me, leaning over me once more. “Finally, we are alone.”
FORTY-TWO
ASTER
Zephira is crumbling, her body trembling as her hands cover her mouth and her eyes fill with unshed tears. Cynthia signed her own execution; there’s no coming back. If Zephira was her puppet, those strings are permanently cut after hearing the awful things she let happen to her. If I was Zephira, I’d let my silence be my answer enough for all the revenge I would plot. We are flesh and blood. I look down at my little sister with the sudden urge to shield her from what is unraveling, but I don’t. She needs to be on our side.This is the only way.I feel bad having to use Zephira’s pain to my advantage, but I’ll do whatever it takes to save Serena.
