Page 102 of Descent

But Ero tenses suddenly, glancing at another screen I barely noticed before. Probably because most of the screen is black. Only one little box shows an image of the front porch of the house upstairs. Where Dom is waving up at the camera with both hands.

“Honey. We have a guest.”

“Not funny.” Then why am I laughing? Hysterically.

We rush back across the gangway, up the stairs, slipping through the house. Too late, I notice Dom’s expression as I step outside. And the blood leaking down his forehead from a cut.

“Tried to warn you…” Dom grumbles.

“Look what that got you, Domenico.”

27

CIRCE

“Look what that got you, Domenico.” Ananke saunters up the patio stairs, looking disturbingly symmetrical as always. Her makeup is perfect. Her little mask is tucked into her bust. “Next time, do as you’re told and Guillermo won’t have to educate you.”

The aforementioned bodyguard and two others step into view, a gun trained on Dom, two aimed at us. Just that wouldn’t be a challenge, but several more emerge from the house behind us, disarming us and forcing Ero and I to our knees.

“Welcome home, I suppose,” Ananke croons, eyeing the two of us, clearly enjoying our haggard appearances. Days on the road. Fucked-up discoveries about our past.

You try looking fresh through all of that.

“This…” Ero snarls, his hand shaking as he waves back at the house. “This is some sick shit.”

“That doesn’t even begin to describe what you did to us,” I spit with every bit of venom I can muster.

“You seem surprised. I’m not sure why.”

“Not surprised. Just pissed off.”

“Relatable. I amthoroughlyaggravated with your disobedience.”

“That’s what happens when you try to cage a tiger. Eventually you get eaten.”

“Or pissed on.” Ero sniffs. I almost don’t get why he says it until I see Ananke’s face contort in disgust.

“Defective, the both of you. I should have incinerated you after your first failed tests.”

“Like the test you set up in the desert? Or was that just an attempt at killing us gone wrong?” My lover bares his teeth, every line of his body radiating murderous intent.

“Of course it was a test. Everything is a test, you stupid child.”

“To what end?” Dom chimes in, staying carefully still between the armed guards.

“If you must know before we end this, you are the culmination of Pantheon’s mission. A very long and arduous investment.”

“Uh…news flash, we’re a botched experiment.” I throw one thumb over my shoulder towards the house.

“What you see as botched, I saw as data used to perfect the method. Every system has bugs that need to be worked out. Besides, I only need to show a proof of concept to my investors. By the time we go into production, my agents will be fully functional drones, ready to be commanded.”

“That sounds ridiculous.”

“It seemed completely impossible when I proposed the theory for my doctoral thesis. Until I began testing hypnosis in my therapy patients. Circe was such a clever girl. She was also so adaptable.”

Bile rises in my throat. “My parents sent me to you to help me.”

“Your speech impediment and anger issues would have worked themselves out on their own. I saw so much potential in you, I just couldn’t resist. Or stop.”

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