Page 49 of The Reaper's Vice

I was the first of the Madam’s in Training to undo my shackles and swim to the surface of the lake, but was unable to help any of the others, forced to watch and wait as only seven of my eight sisters resurfaced.

After thirty agonizing minutes, I was allowed to retrieve Zenith from the bottom of the lake. But what I found wasn’t her anymore. Zenith's pretty face was bloated and purple, her tongue hanging from her mouth unnaturally like she tried to bite it off in her last moments of insanity. And her legs—God, her legs.

I shudder as I remember the mangled flesh around her ankles—carved down to the bone in some places where Zenith tried to claw her way free of the iron shackles. Even till the end, she fought. She fought and fought and fought, and I was not going to allow her life to end in vain. If no one else would, I would live through this. I would survive, if only to be able to carry on her memory. Zenith’s, and the other four girls we lost in the plast eleven years.

Ebony, 3 months. Dehydration.

Samantha, 4. Accidental poisoning.

Carissa, 8. Knife wound.

Monica, 8. Knife wound.

And now,Zenith, 12. Drowning.

I recite their names, ages, and deaths so I might etch their memories into my mind. So much is lost in our training that, I’m afraid if I don’t carry out the silly ritual, I’ll eventually forget them entirely.

I’m broken from my thoughts as someone jiggles the door to the tiny bathroom. I whip around, deftly undoing the lock and preparing a speech on people needing to have some damnpatiencewhen my eyes catch on flaming red curls.

“Nina! I’ve been looking all over for you!!”

I blink at the light shining from her bright white smile, wondering where all her energy comes from this early in the day. “You okay, Magoo?”

She rolls her big blue eyes, pulling at my arm impatiently. “Of course I am. But I won't be if we don’t get going!”

My eyes go wide as I look at the iron clock hanging on the wall of the lavatory.Is it really almost seven?“Frick. Let’s go.”If we’re late to the first of the winter trials… I don’t even want to imagine the punishment we’d face.

I silently promise to thank Maggie for this later as we race through the woods toward the clearing, the icy morning air burning our skin and reddening our cheeks. Frosted grass crunches underfoot as we stumble into the clearing, and I take Maggie by the hand as I lead her toward the lineup. We take our place beside the other six girls silently, hanging our heads when Madam sends a piercing glare our way.

“Nice of you to join us,girls.” She plucks a gold gold-crusted watch from her pocket and flips it open, her cruel emerald eyes taking in the ticking hands. “You made it just in time. How lucky for you.” She snaps it closed with a sneer and pockets it before stepping into the center of the clearing, holding her pointed chin held high to the frost-covered skies. “The first of the three winter trials will now commence.”

A sense of dread fills the air as three white-masked men step from the clearing, their bulging muscles barely hidden behind their fine fine-tailored suits.Masks.

Faster than I can blink, they’re upon us, their strong arms reaching out to restrain. Each one of us fights, kicks, and screams, but it doesn’t affect them in the slightest. With a nod from the Madam, each Mask pulls out a syringe, injecting it into their captive’s neck.

I don’t even notice when mine goes in—too busy keeping eye contact with Maggie, praying she understands the words my eyes are screaming at her.Don’t be afraid. Keep your head. I’ll protect you. No matter what happens, I will protect you.

And then everything goes black.

I wake sometime later, my eyes crusted closed and a pressure on each of my extremities. I pry my eyes open, my vision swimming at a blinding fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling. I try to lift my head but, find my neck immobilized by a thick leather strap, then try to move my limbs.No luck there, either.In addition to the restraints, headphones are fitted to my ears, blanketing the world in silenceand causing panic to grip my chest. My chest rises hard and fast, but I force myself to calm down, shutting my eyes and focusing on my breathing. I take deep, slow breaths in and out of my nose, praying it will be enough.

When I know I’ve calmed down enough, I crack my lids open—only to slam them closed when I realize what’s dangling mere inches above. I hadn’t noticed them earlier due to the light and my panic, but now that I’m thinking clearly, there’s no question what they are.

Twin spikes—each tip positioned the perfect width apart to puncture both my eyes if it were to drop even six inches.

I long to reach out and hold Maggie’s hand, to tell her everything is going to be okay, like I thought it would be earlier. But being here, not knowing what this next test is, I truly don’t know if I’ve lied to her.

My thoughts are interrupted by a sharp crack, and I know the Madam has turned on the headset.

“By now, the last of the drugs administered to you should be making their way out of your system. In five minutes, the first of the winter exams will begin. Listen closely as I explain, for I will not be repeating myself.”

Madam clears her throat, clearly pleased by our restraint. “By now, you may have noticed the spikes positioned above you. For this test, you will be asked questions pertaining to the Sanctum and your roles as the Madam—should you progress enough to be given that esteemed title. For each question you answer incorrectly, the spikes will lower. Answer enough incorrectly, and well…” She doesn’t finish the sentence. “If there are no questions, we will begin.”

As always, we remain silent. Once, a sister actuallydidhave a question about a trial, and Madam repaid her by cutting out her tongue. She’s still alive, but the light she used to hold in her bright green eyes died that day.

“Good. Best of luck to you all.” Her voice holds none of the sentiments her words do. “We will now begin.”

The spikes jostle horribly as the machine roars to life, but I don’t have time to think about them—don’t have time to think about anything else as the Madam’s voice rings out in my ears.

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