Page 54 of Hupotasso
“Is he now?” She sneers.
“Yes. But I don’t know who, and I don’t really know anything about Viper. I’d like to know what you think of him — after all, he is your brother.”
Her eyes flash angrily.
“I’ve told you never to say that.”
“Sorry,” I step back a little as her fangs begin to descend.
“If you must know, I despise him,” she hisses as she stalks to the sweets cupboard, “as I despise them all. Although at least he doesn’t hide behind a veneer of culture and entitlement. He’s a cunt through and through and makes no show of being anything other.”
“Eleanor speaks highly of you,” I frown, “surely you don’t hate her?”
Her fangs retract and she bites down hard into a cookie, her eyes not leaving mine as she chews thoughtfully.
I try another tack.
“Ah, does Viper stay here all year round? Or does he have royal responsibilities?”
‘If he goes some distance will the bite reduce in intensity? Will his grip on me diminish? Oh fuck, please, say it’s so.’
“The youngest son has no responsibilities,” she sniggers. “He lives only to satiate his sick desires and make a nuisance of himself.”
“Sick desires?”
She shrugs and I get the impression she’s not going to reveal any more. I can’t help but shudder, though. He’d already given me a taste of that, and intimated he could do anything he wanted with me, any time. The fact I can’t even formulate the words to ask for help makes me think he’s not lying.
“Does he have to marry? You know, like Falcon did?”
“No.”
“Does he ever go away?”
“Where are all these questions leading?”
“Ah, nowhere,” I shrug, “I’m just trying to understand the family dynamics.”
“Then go see Eleanor,” she hisses, “and leave me be.”
I turn to leave, my brow furrowed. I’m beginning to think my only option might be to go to Falcon. Perhaps he’ll be able to discern a change in me. But he’d made it obvious he loathes me, so he might not even care. Hell, he might have given Viper permission to do anything he wanted with me, for all I know.The depth of his hatred for me now seems to be limitless. But surely this is taking torturing me too far, even for him? Surely...?
Spinning, I ask something that I’d been wondering since Caroline had mentioned it.
“Ah, Asumpta, one last question, I promise. As the procurement officer for this castle, does, ah, does Falcon have a favourite kind of meal?”
She grins a sly, evil grin.
“Sure.”
“Ah, what kind?”
‘Please, oh please, don’t say redheads.’
“Do you really want to know?”
I stare at her for a long, long minute, before shaking my head and leaving.
I guess I already know.
