Page 134 of A Dose of Agony
That means the orc guy must be the kappa. He’s by far the creepiest in appearance.
My heart picks up speed as I realize everyone has arrived except the two most important.
I don’t have to wait long for the gathering to be complete.
A pale-skinned High Orizian enters from the doorway on the left. He has curled grey horns on the sides of his head, black beady eyes, and thick veins in his wings that seem to grow darker every time I see him.
The jinn walks by his side, their arms linked like they’re a couple.
I somehow manage not to heave chunks.
I can’t wait to see this man on his knees, begging for mercy.
I don’t relish the deaths of the others, as much as I had previously looked forward to getting my revenge. It’s different when actually observing them. They’re all beings with personalities and desires. Whole lives I will personally end.
To some, that would feel empowering. Instead, I find it sad.
I breathe deeply. At least five of these people are guilty of personally harming me in the caves. They can die slow and painful deaths for all I care. The other five made bad decisions but have yet to commit the crimes they will die for.
Still, I’m willing to hand out premature executions to save my sister.
Funny, of all of these massively powerful beings, it’s still the giant cyclops who unnerves me the most. How bizarre?
Prey instincts are weird.
“Ahh, the long-awaited jinn,” the little witch says.
Liz doesn’t so much as meet her eye. She keeps her expression uncaring, but her eyes are dead.
Now, it begins.
Now, we break the shackles they’ve placed on her.
“Let’s get this started and finished quickly,” Vincent says. He nods to the butler, who grabs a container of dark red liquid and stands at the end of the table as everyone takes their seats. Vincent’s body shimmers, and then he is in his human form. The stiff former headmaster of Shadow Hills Academy.
My pulse pounds in my ears.
Liz is at the end closest to me—well, the looking-glass portal I’m seeing them from.
“Taste,” Vincent commands to the butler.
The young, bearded man takes the entire container to his lips and sucks down several gulps. He’s human. Is he under a spell? Bound the way Liz is?
They choose a human because they’re the most vulnerable to poison. If he doesn’t die, they’re all safe. There aren’t any poisons or potions I know of that would kill other beings but not a human.
I do, however, know of a few potions that willweakensupernaturals but have no effect on humans.
They sit and wait. A clock ticks from somewhere I can’t see.
“Begin,” Vincent commands. The butler starts pouring an offering of red liquid into a small wooden glass at each seat. No one moves or speaks while he pours.
“Now, choose another container,” Vincent says to the butler. “Repeat.”
I blink.
The butler obeys quietly, returning the decanter to the table and grabbing another. This one is a thinner liquid, slightly lighter in color. He gulps down the liquid and waits.
“Being extra careful today, are we?” the griffin comments.
