Page 283 of The Wishing Game

The advantage of already being dead is that he will not die again, but he'll feel pain. Every. Single. Time.

I remove my knife, only to bring it back against his flesh, stabbing repeatedly and closing my eyes as I listen to the music that is his cries of pain. He groans and moans, crying out and begging me to stop. But I don't. He hadn't stopped when I begged him either. I keep stabbing him until his body looks like a torn canvas, ripped to shreds, with frayed edges and bits of pieces strewn onto the ground.

My breathing becomes labored, my own body aching from the effort of my blows. I hit and hit until his throat is too raw to scream, his pain too profound to be uttered aloud.

Leaning back, I admire my handiwork. A boost of confidence surges through my veins as I see our roles reversed. No longer am I the victim. No longer am I the one in pain.

All those years of dreaming of what I would do to him have finally materialized.

But as the adrenaline wears off, I slowly realize that I'm not any more fulfilled than I was before. Sure, I got to confront my biggest enemy. But seeing him like this—knowing that this is what awaits him for the rest of time—my hate for him dims a little. Not because I feel vindicated, but because I finally see him for what he really is.

A man.

Just a man, and not the god he'd claimed to be.

A pitiful man.

He is dead, in hell.

I am alive and well.

I have won by default.

"I think I'm done," I say as I look back at Ze. He's leaning against the entrance to the gallery, one leg propped against the wall. His arms are crossed over his chest, his attention riveted on me.

"May I have my turn now?" he asks, slowly coming closer.

"Your turn?" I blink in surprise.

"You have had your revenge. Now it is my turn."

I don't get to answer as he withdraws his sword, placing his thumb at the tip and allowing the blade to nick his finger. Blood flows down onto the ridges of the blade, and with one smooth strike, he cuts Sergio in two—vertically.

I gawk in disbelief. It's the most unsettling sight I've ever seen. He can still blink and move, even cut in two. Not one second later, though, and a curdling scream erupts from both of his half mouths as he yells in pure agony.

"What did you do?"

"My blood is poisonous for most beings," Ze comments. "The Custodian will once more administer him the Letharion and he will forget this exchange. But he will never forget this pain. The torture he experienced before will not compare to the agony he will feel from now on," he explains, satisfied.

"I think that's the perfect punishment for him." I nod. "Let's get out of here now. I've had enough of him."

"Are you certain? I can think of a few more ways to make him suffer. You just say the word. I can even obliterate his soul..."

"No." I shake my head. "That would defeat the purpose. He will suffer for eternity. That is enough for me."

He inclines his head.

"I am happy if you are happy."

I raise my gaze to meet his, surprised by his words. A slow smile tips at my lips.

"I think we still have time for somefun," I say. "We need to celebrate after all. Do you have a pub or somewhere to grab a drink in Aperion?"

"A pub?" he repeats, confused.

"You know, an establishment that sells alcohol."

He thinks on it for a moment.

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