Page 150 of Dance of Madness

I shriek, whirling fast and wincing when my cut knee scrapes against the ground.

Then the floor drops out from underneath me.

Nero is standing in the shadows just outside the ring of light from the overhead bulb. I can only make out his vague silhouette.

And his violent green eyes.

Slowly he steps into the light, and my blood chills.

He’s still in the suit he wore to the restaurant. Still lookingunreasonablygorgeous.

But he’s changed. Not physically, but when I look at him, I know without a doubt that I’m not looking at the same Nero who I knew before I walked into that restaurant.

“What’s happening?” I choke, my chest heaving with my panicky breath.

“I asked you a question, Milena.”

There’s no emotion in his voice. No joy. No anger.Nothing. And he looks at me the same way.

Just…blank.

“What is this?” I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself, rubbing my bare, freezing arms.

“It's a cage,” he growls quietly.

“But why am Iin it?!” I scream.

Nero says nothing. He just watches me, his head tipped slightly to the side.

“Maybe you should keep watching the movie. It’s aclassictonight.”

He nods past me to the TV, where the hellish loop has already started again.

“Are you ready for tonight?”

“Yes Papa, I’m ready.”

“That’s not me,” I snap, shaking my head. I jab an accusing finger at the screen. “That isnotme!”

“Well then she’s the spitting fucking image of you,” he grunts.

I stammer, my brow furrowing, fear surging inside me.

“N-no, I mean…I mean it’sme, I just…” I shiver. “I didn’t say those things.”

“Really. Sure sounds like you.”

Icy shards sink into my heart as his impassive, uncaring gaze lands on me.

“Nero,” I choke. “Get me out of here.Please?—”

“Have you ever even actuallyreadGoethe?”

I stare at him, dumbfounded. “What?”

“The Sorrows of Young Werther,” he growls. “Have you even fucking read it.”

“Of course I have!” I plead. “Like thirty fucking times!”

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