Page 4 of Madness Behind the Mask
Please gods, don’t be that cruel.
The bedroom door opens, making my pulse thud at the sight of a broad silhouette that’s easily recognizable even inthe dark. Uncle David shuts the door behind him, and I swing my legs off the bed in excitement. I love learning how to be a good wife. I’m going to make Caden so happy and my father so proud. Ilick my lips, wetting the area as Ikneel on the cold floor. When my uncle sits down and spreads his thighs, I shift between them, my handeagerlyreaching for him in the dark.
Hard fingers close over my wrist before I can suck him into my mouth though. He pulls me towards the bedroom door as I’m left confused about what’s happening.
“Uncle David?” I ask once we’re in the hall, knowing better than to have made a noise that would’ve woken mycousin. A good wife never disturbs those sleeping.
He raises his other hand, and the confusion mounts at the sight of blood on his fingers.
“You’re hu…” I start.
But then it hits me, and excitement mounts as I drop a hand between my thighs, beneath the white nightgown I’m wearing. Sticky wetness meets my tips, and I raise my hand in excitement. “I’m bleeding!”
The beating finally worked, triggering my puberty,and soon I’ll get my ascension. My pace picks up as we head towards my parents’ room, but before we reach their door, Uncle David stops me.
“Don’t tell them I was in your room.” He digs out astickof gum from his pocket. My eyes light up as I take it from him. “It’ll be our secret to surprise your husband, okay?”
I nod, absolutely delighted about how this night is going. When Uncle David starts to walk away though, my smile fades a little. “Aren’t you coming in with me?”
He shakes his head. “This is your moment, Sau.”
He disappears down the hall, but I’m too excited to think much of it. Thisismy moment. This is the moment I become a woman, when I can do my duty as a woman of this Family. I’m going to get married to Caden. I’m going tohave my own babiesand raise them as strong soldiers. I’m going to make Father proud,help him win this war against the werewolves and the vampires.
Excitement buzzing down my fingers, I open the door and rush in.
PART ONE:
Ahatedenemy
TWO
ANTONIO
8MAY1917
The young witch isdressed all in white, so pristine, so pure, her rosy cheeks the only color beneath her veil. She smells of a false innocence, not sick-likewith stress orfear burrowed deep within her pores. She’s too young to know such harsh truths.
Oh, she knows of the monsters in the dark, has most likely been told of our sins. Be good or thewerewolves will get you. Eat your food or thewerewolveswill eat you.
Nothing but fairytale monsters that speak not of the true monstrosities we can be.
I breathe in her scent. A small smirk curls my lips.
But she will learn it soon.
And so fitting on her wedding day too – that moment where a girl becomes a woman. Where young Sau, the first born of the Shadow’s newest generation, will learn what it means to be afraid.
To fear.
To never sleep again without her heart racing in her scrawnylittlechest.
I lick my lips,trailingmy tongue across my caninesas I watch her fromthe roof of the next building over. The witches think they’re so smart, spelling the venue so other supernaturals (sups) can’t enteron her special day, this binding of witch Families, this creation of pacts that will see their numbers grow. But I don’t need to enter to be able to killa witch. My rifle aims over the side of the roof, anglingdownto point atlittle Sau’s head.
Thenit trailsover to herfather’s.
Herfiance’s.
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
