Page 181 of House of Pain
“She’s a half breed, did you forget?” Matias crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw working a piece of gum. “She doesn’t think the same way we do. Lacking the killer instinct and shit.”
“Right. I keep forgetting with that tight ass and legs for days that she’s only just ahalf.” His eyes flashed on her, and Alecto recoiled inside. “At least you were lucky enough to get the good genes from the witch side of your family.”
“Yeah, nothing worse than an ugly witch.” Matiasliterallyshivered.
What an arrogant prick.
Alecto glanced at the hill stretching behind their backs, stopping at the very top of it where the campus ground started. The Dean’s building wasn’t far.
Maybe they weren’t coming after her.
“Don’t look for your friends,” Gabe said, glancing down at his watch. “If they’d chosen to come after you, they’d already be here.”
“Chosen?”
“Yeah, we gave them a choice,” Matias said, beaming. “They can either save you or the Book.” He looked at Gabe’s watch and tsked. “Guessing from the time, it’s clear that your Inner Circle left you to die.”
They both laughed as if it was the funniest thing in the world.
Alecto swallowed. Her throat prickled with needles. She had to bite her tongue to not let herself fall apart.
Of course they chose the Book. It was the smart thing to do. The clever choice. A witch could be replaced, even the one who was legacy.
The Book, however, could not.
“I say we end this sooner,” Gabe said. “Clearly, they’re not coming. We might make it in time to see them ripped into shreds by Grothics if we get rid of her now.”
Fear rolled down her spine. She once again tried her restrains, the ropes chafing her naked skin.
Fuck, fuck, FUCK.
“Of you go, pretty witch,” Gabe said. “You were a nice fuck; I’ll give you that. Tight, pretty to look at. I’m almost sad we gotta get rid of you.”
Matias laughed, and the boat shifted as Gabe pushed it into the lake.
A scream lodged in Alecto’s throat, but she bit her lip. She wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her scream with fear and beg for her life.
She’d rather die.
Which she probably would.
Alecto’s heart raced as the boat floated further from the coast. She stayed sitting in the middle of the floor, but it wouldn’t help her once the creatures of Blood Lake smelled her blood.
And they would smell it. Soon.
Alecto bit her lip, a whimper escaping as the realization that this was the end hit her. The view of the coast became blurry, and she blinked hard, letting the tears fall.
For a moment, she just lolled on the water. Her mind was becoming heavier with each inch she floated further away from the coast.
There was a swish of water that snapped Alecto out of her trance, and she fought to keep her mind clear as she looked around. Another swish, the water moving a few feet away from where her boat was.
“Whooo,” Gabe hollered. “Who do you think came first for you, Black? The sirens or the blood serpents?”
“If I were you, I’d hope it’s the sirens,” Matias called. “At least they’ll make you imagine you were on the beach as they devoured you.”
Their laughter filled the air.
Another swish of water, this time closer. Alecto strained her eyes to see which of the many horrible creatures living in the Blood Lake it was. But the water stayed silent.
