Page 20 of Traithorn

Then, Vernon’s light catches something else. Blue and purple bruises litter her throat, ringed like fingertips. Rage seethes through me, thick as spilled ink.

I can’t wait to end that bastard, so-called boyfriend of hers.

Howdarehe claim he wants her dead and then sleep right beside her?

No, she’s ours to claim. Ours to hate, kill, and make bleed. Ours to fucking possess.

Just like we’ve ended everyone who’s touched her, like that fucking journalist at the crime scene, we will kill him.

And once again, she’s with him when shebelongs to us.

A traitor, through and through.

We swiftly exit the apartment, and I make sure to leave our next final gift.

Another letter, for her.

Chapter 9

LOST LITTLE LAMB

Isolde

Something rattles my boneswhen I wake up at midnight, a sound startling me from my dreamless sleep. A nameless dread engulfs me as I try to figure out what woke me up. Casper’s lying beside me, his light snores filling the space, bringing a sense of comfort.

Eyebrows furrowed, I stare at him. He’s on his back, mouth open, arms slumped to his side while he sleeps peacefully. It’s in moments like these that I remember why I’m still with him—the peace, the safety. Despite all he’s done, I still care about him.

The room is unexpectedly cold, bringing with it a sharp shiver of discomfort as I realize my bedroom window is wide open, and my bra is unclasped. Scowling down at my chest, I quickly fix it and stare at Casper. Did he unclip it while I was asleep?

Snow trickles in through the window sill, the sound of trees whistling in the wind resonating through the room.

A gut feeling tells me that’s not what woke me up.

Casper’s snores quieten, and the sudden silence feels oppressive. Any sound would startle me, like watching a horror movie, knowing there will be a jump scare, and still getting frightened.

Something catches my attention in my peripheral vision. A flicker of white fluttering by the glass pane, tucked between the windowsill and the open frame, by what looks to be a small stone. On silent feet, I get up from bed, the cold instantly traveling up my heels to the top of my head and casting a violentshiver over me. Casper turns in bed, noticing my absence even in his sleep, and mumbles before opening his eyes.

“Get back to bed, baby.”

I ignore him and continue toward the windowsill, noticing the piece of paper there. It’s only when I reach out a hand to grab it that I realize my entire body is overtaken by tremors. As soon as I have a hold of it, I slam the window shut and twist the lock into place, the click far too loud in the silent night. Then, I just stand there, staring out into the stillness, at the world outside with not a single soul awake at this ungodly hour.

Steeling myself, I glance down at the envelope in my hand. The number‘2’is written in black ink on the front page. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I glance at the clock, noticing it’s ten minutes after midnight. Meaning it’s only forty-eight hours left until my twenty-fourth birthday.

The mere thought of that leaves me physically ill.

Noticing something is amiss, Casper instantly sits up in bed and rubs the sleep off his eyes. “What is it?”

I rip open the envelope, only hearing blood rushing endlessly in my ears, counting down to my doom.

And drop the letter as soon as I read it.

You’re invited to a masquerade party at Mayhem Castle.

February 20th, 8 p.m. sharp.

Arrive in your finest dress.

Xo,

---