Page 2 of Seth
The pale stomach washed in blood as Seth shook Justin’s hand off and pulled the knife out.
Too much blood, Seth thought in dissatisfaction, not seeing anything behind the leaking wound. Somewhere beneath all this blood and the muscle layer, there should be a cage of costal cartilages. A part of him that lacked patience wanted to skin the ribs so he could see the process better, but Justin hissed, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He glanced up.
Dread twisted the soft features, turning Justin’s mouth into a gaping hole. The boy lifted his palms to his face, watching the blood drip from his fingers. His mouth flapped as he gaped at the scarlet line on his chest. He blinked, then again and again as his hands fell upon the wound, trying to close the cut.
Realizing the futility of his ministrations, Justin frantically scooped the lost blood and poured it back into the wound. But the blood only slipped through his fingers.
Seth smiled.Silly boy, you have always been naïve, but that’s why I loved you. Too bad you betrayed me.
He wanted to kiss Justin’s lips and comfort him, but time was running out with every drop of blood. Soon, Justin would lose consciousness, and he wanted him awake; he wanted them both to remember this moment.
He glanced down, concentrating. Placing the edge of the knife to the point where he thought Justin’s sternoclavicular joint was located, he pressed. The bone resisted; the blade refused to move. He wanted to use his other hand to apply more pressure, but that would leave Justin’s throat open.
“Tsk…” It would be so much easier if Justin willingly helped him and held his own throat.
Maybe it was a bad idea to slice it in the first place,but Seth wasn’t sure how else he could make Justin stay put without tying or drugging him.
No, drugs would only ruin the moment.Muddy, lifeless, opaque, drugged eyes displayed no soul, no life, no honesty. Seth didn’t like restraints either. They didn’t feel quite right. Rough and brutal, they were suitable for carnal pleasures, not a delicate moment like this.
Only the blade could still people and leave their souls intact. Too bad this method had side effects.
Justin jerked and the blade inched lower.
Here it is.Seth’s heart fluttered as the knife cracked through the first joint. He smiled, licked his lips, and repositioned the edge of the blade, holding the length parallel to the ribs. The fear of wounding Justin’s heart cut his breath.
Justin wheezed beneath him. His body convulsed, bloody saliva foamed and dribbled out of his mouth. Pain clouded his gaze, and Seth’s heart shrank with empathy. He hated hurting Justin; he was his favorite after all. Yet, he didn’t stop, needing to hurry up and finish before the shock took its toll and Justin lost consciousness. Seth held his breath as he sliced down through the cartilages attaching the ribs to the sternum. The black wound parted.
Third… fourth… Just a little more. It will be over soon, I promise.He tugged the skin aside with his fingers to enlarge the gap and clear the view. The wound pooled with blood way too quickly. He could barely tell muscles from bones.
Justin’s hands didn’t try to stop him anymore. The boy lay perfectly still; just his throat bubbled under his palm in barely audible whimpers, betraying the life that still trembled in his chest.
Seth swallowed as the fifth rib parted from the breastbone. Excitement spread through his blood intensifying the tremor in his fingertips. When the last rib cracked off under the blade, Seth exhaled. His lungs tightened from holding his breath for too long, but his heart was light.
Here it is…He’d been waiting for this moment so long that his head swam with the endorphin rush. His vision sharpened as he inhaled the night freshness mixed with a salty, metallic smell. The scent of life and death.
He smiled, then frowned.
So much blood. Is it supposed to be like this?A thought sobered him.What if the blade caught the heart?
He put his knife in his mouth to hold it with his teeth as his fingers slipped into the wound. After finding the rough edges of the ribs, he squeezed through, secured his grip, and applied all the force he could muster in a vigorous tug.
A loud crack sounded as something broke in Justin's body. Seth didn’t care anymore. A powerful wave of euphoria spread through his chest. Time slowed, but his pulse sped up matching the fast beating of Justin’s heart that bathed in blood in the gaping chest. Electricity filled the air.
So fast…Unable to resist, Seth reached out and dipped his hand in the crimson liquid. His fingers wrapped around the sleek, beating organ, gently squeezed it.
The night lost a few shades to darkness as he held the most valuable treasure in his hand. His trophy. He had the right to take Justin’s heart the same way the boy had taken his, but unlike Justin, he would cherish it.
Reluctantly, he tore his focus away from Justin’s chest and glanced up at the bluish face of his lover. The hazel eyes rolled up, leaving only white crescents visible. Long lashes trembled as the bloody mouth hung open.
Shock…Fear shivered up his spine.No… Too soon. You can’t die now.
The adrenaline syringe burned through his pocket. For a second, he considered using it, but Justin blinked, then again and again, until his gaze focused on the sky above. The bloody lips parted, more tears skidded down his cheeks, and he mouthed, “I’m sorry…”
Seth smirked, leaned forward, and planted a tender kiss over the bloody mouth.I forgive you. After all, love is always all-forgiving, absolute, isn’t it? Still, you never should have betrayed me.
Seth’s cheek twitched; he gulped the bitterness down.
