Severing Sanguine: A Companion Book to The Fallocaust Series Book 2 (48 page)

But Sanguine’s brow suddenly creased, and Silas tried to hide the annoyance at the young chimera noticing the blood on his cuffs. Though as Sanguine’s nose twitched Silas knew it was much worse than just that.

“Gunpowder too…” Sanguine said quizzically. “Why are you lying?”

“Sangy…” Nero laughed nervously. “You can’t really ask boss man questions like that. It’s king business and we’re just his lowly subjects.”

Sanguine’s lips pulled and Silas saw his fingers start to grip his arm. “Okay, my apologies.”

Silas forced a smile. “Just king business as Nero said. Come love, let’s get you some food.”

I was staring at the white door again. In the end it seemed I was always staring at that white door. The one with blood streaks on the doorknob and the splashes of blood over the frame. So many different ways that blood wound up on that door. From beating on me, from Jasper’s hands when he got it on his fingers, or even from me when I wanted to paint my crows.

In my own trance I watched that door, because time no longer affected me during these states. That was why days and days could pass with me staring forward in this trance. Only coming-to when Jasper would snap his fingers in front of my face to feed or water me… or when I felt the pressure against my ass.

Then the doorknob turned and a small beam of light shone into this dungeon I had been trapped in. A dirty hiking boot stepped through, followed by stained jeans and a grey t-shirt that had been patched with different scavenged articles of clothing.

And finally it was followed by his face. A gaunt face, with eyes sunken in so far it was like he was a skeleton with a voice. All of this below stringy, unkempt curly black hair which he sometimes tied back to keep me from grabbing it during the rape.

Jasper. I’m too scared to ask how you are. It has been five months now and I’m still terrified of the question. Though I think when you boil it down – I’m more afraid of the answer.

“Do you know I’m a chimera?” I asked him while I got down on my back and separated my legs. I must still be young if I’m on my back. As soon as I got too big for him to physically handle he had me chained, so hands and knees only.

“Does it matter?” Jasper said in a hoarse voice. I gasped when I felt the pressure between my legs. I could already hear Crow calling me to come fly with him over the city. He’s telling me Nero will be there too.

“It doesn’t matter because your ass feels the same, and that’s all I care about,” Jasper said with a grunt. His hand raised and he picked up Barry. “And you’ll take my cum the same, demon-monkey.”

Then Jasper wound Barry’s butt, and put it near my head. I turned my face towards Barry’s furry stomach and made his song fill my eardrums.

Now I don’t have to hear the grunting; now I don’t have to hear his heavy breathing.

Just Daisy, Daisy.

No…

Sanguine, Sanguine.

Give me your body please,

You might be a chimera, but you’ll never escape me.

I’m always on your shoulders, and even when you’re older.

You’ll be all mine, I control your mind.

In the clutches of insanity

I woke up with a rattled cry, and immediately felt a hand on my arm. Though my half-asleep, nightmare-infested mind was unable to process the touch as anything but threatening, so I found myself jumping out of bed with a manic snarl, falling backwards onto the floor.

“Hey… it’s okay,” Silas’s voice sounded.

I squinted, trying to adjust my eyes to night vision, and saw his silhouette start to come into view. My body was shaking from the nightmare I had, and it was hard to keep my breathing steady. I tried to get up but as I looked down I saw my arms covered in shining blood. I had clawed myself in my sleep.

Silas sat down on the edge of my bed. I could smell fresh cleaned laundry and realized he was dressed in clothing for outside, even though it felt like it was still night.

“You were grunting and tossing in your sleep,” Silas said. “And it looks like you hurt yourself again. Would you like some Xanax?”

I shook my head, even though I enjoyed how it made me feel. “I was dreaming of…” I paused as I saw Crow standing in the doorway, giving me a hard look. He hadn’t been happy with me since I had come back from running away. Every time I saw him I felt like there was a deep chasm in my stomach. He was angry because I had been ignoring him when he tried to talk to me – I wasn’t meaning to hurt his feelings I just didn’t like how he insulted me. It was just a small break from Crow… I would play with him soon.

“Jasper?” Silas said.

I shrunk down; my lips disappeared into my mouth. I nodded and Silas made a sympathetic noise. “Unfortunately, lovely, I need to go to Cardinalhall or I would stay with you until you fell asleep.” He brushed back my hair and smiled. “I would fight that man every time he dare infiltrate your dreams.”

My body was drawn towards his touch, not only had I gotten used to it… I was starting to enjoy his soft hands. I felt safe when Silas was near me, and for once in my life… I was feeling valued and loved.

In a place where I belonged.

“Why do you have to go there?” I asked as Silas got up and disappeared into the living room. He came back a minute later holding two blue pills and a glass of water.

“We’re putting your plan into motion, lovely boy,” Silas explained, and at that admission I smiled before taking the two pills, just to make him happy.

“You’re going to take care of the children, right?” I asked cautiously. Above everything else I wanted to make sure the kids didn’t get scared.

“Of course, they’re already prepared and are excited to do some acting. We told the little things they’re going to be movie stars,” Silas said, and he took the water glass from me once I swallowed the pills. “After we’re done with the photos everything else can happen without me, but I need to watch over the process to make sure it’s believable. You’ll be asleep for the entire time with the amount of Xanax I gave you, and it will hopefully be without nightmares.”

I laid back down in bed and chuckled when Silas gave me Barry and drew my blankets up over me. “I’m not a child, you know.”

Silas laughed with me, and just to be an ass I suspected, he started tucking me in. “I can still baby you, and you can just deal with it, smartass.” Then he pinched my cheeks. I snorted and made a motion to bite his hand.

“Sleep well, love. Think of something fun we can do tonight, perhaps have dinner outside on the rooftop? It’s going to be a beautiful day and we can bring some extra bread for your crows.”

I smiled and nodded, feeling incredibly stupid as he tucked my blankets into me, but also doted on which was kind of nice.

My body was anxious and my mind racing after Silas left, but soon the Xanax kicked in and I was lulled back into a deep and restful sleep. Not a single nightmare dare defy the king’s orders, even in my subconscious. So I actually stayed asleep and remained as such.

Though when the black veil started to draw back from my dreams an unusual sound could be heard. A sound that was two drum beats being beaten simultaneously one after another like they were making their own rhythm.

I opened my eyes to see what it was and realized I was listening to a heartbeat. I turned my head and saw King Silas fast asleep beside me on his side, smelling of greywastes and covered in a thin cloak of dusted grey. It looked like he was so tired he hadn’t even had time to change.

Something else was perplexing me too. I looked down and saw he had his hand on my chest and his face almost touching my shoulder. This was odd and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, I just knew it wasn’t making me anxious.

Maybe I… I might like it…

So I moved my body so I was closer to him, but no sooner had I done that did he open his eyes, and blinked slowly at me. The sandman was still in him though, he was half-asleep.

Silas’s hand drew down my side and he pulled me closer to him until his body was pressed against mine. I felt him let out a long breath that was followed by a sigh.

“Stay still, that’s an order from your king,” Silas murmured. “You’re warm, and soft, and I’ve had a long night.”

“I don’t mind,” I said, enchanted with the fact that I did indeed not mind. “This isn’t as scary as I thought it would be.”

Silas laughed lightly, his eyes were still closed. “You thought cuddling was scary? Weird boy.” He yawned and fell silent again and I stayed still to let him continue his nap. I enjoyed having an excuse to be still and in bed. I always felt lazy when I spent days watching television like I had done in the condo apartment.

So I closed my eyes too and listened to Silas’s breathing and his heartbeat. I was even able to tell when he started falling back asleep. And when he had I felt shy but also warmly content to have him near me.

I think I might be… developing feelings for him.

Crow snorted when this thought appeared in my head. I looked over at him and saw that he was perching on top of a big piece of furniture that my clothing was kept in. I forgot the name but it was a large cabinet.

“What?” I said to him in a low voice.

Crow shrugged and started flicking his nails like he was picking dirt out of them. “You’re exposing yourself to more hurt. The moment you let your guard down is the moment you get burned again.”

His red eyes lifted from looking at his nails and I saw an eyebrow rise. “All pretty and dolled up, ready to flaunt your body and throw yourself at the king. You look like a whore now, and above that you rarely listen to me anymore. Are you starting to think you don’t need me?”

A sting pricked my heart at his words. Crow had been my oldest friend. “No, never,” I said. “It feels nice to start to trust people again, and it makes me feel good to be around Silas.”

Crow snorted again, his face dripping with a patronizing sneer. He shook his head though and said nothing else, a few moments later it was apparent why.

Without even hearing anyone come into the apartment, I saw my bedroom door slowly open.

Automatically I growled but I swallowed it when I saw it was Elish. Cold, intimidating, towering Elish… but also predictable. Only his words held bite, physically he wasn’t a huge threat.

Though, to my shock, I saw an intense look of distaste come to his face when he saw the scene that was right in front of him. I didn’t understand it; because Silas had made it clear the entire family was used to him being touchy and physical with them. Why was Elish not happy that Silas was sleeping next to me?

“Is he asleep?” Elish asked in a tone that matched the displeasure on his face. His strong jaw was locked and his purple eyes narrow slits.

I nodded, and my mouth moved to explain that I had woken up like this, but I realized I didn’t owe him anything. Silas was the king of the entire world and if he chose to sleep next to me then I was honoured to be beside him.

“I bet you think you’re special to him, hm?” Elish asked coldly.

Taken aback I stared at him, not knowing what to say to that.

“Lying next to you, so fast asleep. Spending all his days and evenings schooling you, coaxing you from cowering under the bed like a feral cat, patiently urging you into the daylight like the rabies-riddled vampire bat you are.”

I stared at him.

“Don’t get used to it, or perhaps you should… because I will enjoy the look on your face when you realize that the king who sleeps slung over your body… is not the king who rules the world,” Elish said, continuing his verbal assault. “You are his new toy. Even though the only reason he plays with such defective, damaged goods is because he feels guilty for breaking it in the first place. Do not get used to this treatment, Sanguine. King Silas quickly grows tired of broken toys. Your novelty is going to wear off, and soon, so prepare yourself.”

Crow was a black shadow behind this chimera who radiated white and silver. And though these contrasting men could be no different, the hostile glint in their eyes made them almost appear as twins.

My eyes travelled from Crow’s to Elish’s and back, though as a thousand retorts moved swiftly on my tongue not one of them made it to voice. I seemed too stunned to form a proper response.

Elish turned to leave.

“How do you know?” I suddenly asked.

My oldest brother slowly turned around and I saw his hand clenching the handle of the door. I decided to press my words forward and ask again.

“How – do – you – know?” I repeated. “I thought I was the first abandoned chimera to come back. The first
broken toy
. So how do you know?”

I was looking at Crow, but when my other-half glanced down at Elish’s arm I looked there, and saw the exact moment Elish’s hands tightened against the golden door handle.

Then I realized it.

“Because it happened to you?” I dropped my voice, but I was unable to hide the amusement on it. The prospect made my heart flutter and though I didn’t want to admit it – a smugness soon followed, a sense of pride or perhaps satisfaction.

In spite of my own personality, in spite of my own cowardice that I still had… I smirked.

“I would watch your words,” Elish responded coolly. His back was still turned to me, and his head lowered. “You will only get one warning.”

“You made no attempt to watch yours,” I responded back in my own harsh tone. I felt a swell of anger jolt through my body and there was no part in me that wanted to take this chimera’s talking without defending myself. “Whatever he wants from me… I’m fine with it. He’s my king and as you can see… right now he is quite content under my arm.”

I watched perplexed as Elish’s shoulders started shaking, and his head remained bowed. It appeared like he was under grief, like perhaps he was crying. I didn’t think such an emotion was possible on someone like Elish. Was he really that affected over my words? Did Silas really hurt him?