Page 71 of Iblis' Affliction
“It’s too late for that now, isn’t it?” Ejder’s accusing words cut the air as he strode past him. Hands crossed over his chest, he froze in the middle of the hall, granting Talha a hard stare. “I warned you. I told you this would happen, yet you never listened. What are you gonna do now, Abi?”
“Who knows…” Talha faced the window. The bright light he used to love now felt intrusive. “Put the black curtains up. Print Camilla’s portrait, frame it, and attach a black ribbon to it. Put it on a stand and bring the table back, but no chairs. People should remain standing. Do it today. I’ll be giving my statement here tomorrow. Only the Hale Family and my people. No outsiders, no police.”
His focus jumped around until it stumbled over the black figure standing in the doorway. The surprise in the dark eyes of his lieutenant was obvious, but Dinçer quickly steeled his face into a mask of dispassion. “Shall I take care of it, Talha?”
“Please, do.”
“This is a bad idea,” Ejder said, rubbing his shoulders. “She died here. Even being here now feels disrespectful. It’s like… the signs of death are everywhere. This whole place is giving me chills now. Think about her family. All they see here will be blood and the massacre. Instead of listening to you, they will be imagining what happened to her here. People will think you are heartless or that you don’t respect the dead.”
“They might if I fail…” Talha said, blood pounding in his head.But if my words reach them, they will have a greater effect. People’s minds will be more receptive here exactly because of the tragedy.
“Sell this place.” Ejder pressed, and Talha raised his hand, demanding silence.
“I’m selling nothing. Please, do what I ask without arguing. I’m tired.”
Jaw squaring, Ejder drew his shoulders up and forward. “I don’t like it. I know that look in your eyes. You are playing games. Why? You will give him up, won’t you?”
Talha replied with an ambiguous movement of his head, and Ejder, materializing by his side, grabbed his shoulder. Hellish flames dancing in his glare, as he leveled his eyes with Talha’s. “There is no other way. Either you give him away, or I demand the Royal Game.”
“The Royal Game?” Talha shot up a brow, too tired to laugh. “And who would be the game? Me?”
“Iblis.”
Talha smirked, shaking the painful grip off his shoulder. “No, you won’t. I’ll never allow it.”
“I’m not asking you.” Ejder deadpanned. “I demand his head. It’s my right.”
“You demand nothing.” Slamming his palm against his brother’s chest, he ground out the words. “While I’m the head of the family, you will listen to me. I will not allow the Royal Game. Is it clear?”
“Talha…” Dinçer’s face darkening with every step as he approached. “Ejder isn’t the only one who wants him dead. I’m sorry, but he pissed off too many people. The Game is inevitable and the most merciful death for him.”
Ignoring his friend, Talha kept going, “You have no idea what you are talking about. You will die there and bring death to all the hunters. He will laugh while feeding you part by part to snakes. Don’t you remember how wrong the last game went?”
Dinçer frowned. His eyes flickering between Talha and Ejder. “Was he there?”
“What are you trying to say?” Ejder growled.
“What do you think happened back then? Salik?” Without waiting for the reply, Talha finished, “Slater was unhappy because I didn’t let him join the game, so he entertained himself instead. Back then, he was playing, fooling around. Now, imagine him getting serious.”
Disbelief narrowed Ejder’s black eyes. Talha instantly hated that look on his brother’s face. “Then kill him now, while he is still unconscious…”
“I don’t want to say that, but Ejder is right. You don’t have a choice, Talha.” Dinçer said. “If not him, it will be us. The Hale family demands his head. If you shield Iblis, they will come after you.”
Shut up, I know it already.Talha closed his eyes.
“Abi, please, listen to Dinçer.”
“No, you listen. Do what I say or go home to Mardin. Iblis is mine, and I’m not giving him to the Hale Family, you, or anyone else. His life belongs to me, and only I can take it, is it clear? He’ll die from my hand when I decide it’s time. That’s it for today. I need to rest. I’m tired.” He faced the door but halted. “Dinçer, don’t leave yet. I might need you later.”
THE HOPE TO FALLinto the oblivion of a dream crushed against the cold mattress. He’d been sure that sleep would swallow him as soon as his head touched the pillow, but he kept tossing and turning, uncomfortable in the cool softness of linens. Something felt lacking, and he couldn’t figure out what. Everything seemed normal. The smell of bitter almond suffused the air. The mashrabiya windows glowed with golden light, casting symmetrical patterns over the fluffy carpets, and not a single bird chirped outside.
It was quiet.Too quiet.
Instead of relaxing, Talha’s senses sharpened, as if his whole body expected an attack any moment. He wasn’t used to silence and solitude. Not anymore. Life with Slater had never been quiet. The unquenchable energy the reaper oozed filled his days with constant chaos. The one he learned to live in. The one he didn’t know how to live without anymore.
Why do I think about him? It’s already decided. If he won’t run, I’ll kill him…
Yet, despite the thought, he couldn’t escape the hollow feeling of loss that dented his chest. The bed became uncomfortable as if stuffed with needles. He sat up so abruptly that blood, draining from his head, left him blinking through the darkness of his failed vision. The buzzing in his teeth and nape washed him in cold sweat and intensified the piercing noise drilling a hole in his brain.
