Page 77 of Our Vicious Descent
Layla’s jaw tightened, her skin prickling at the accusation in Karine’s voice. “So you believe that taking lives is the best way to free reapers from human authority?”
“Those who refuse to acknowledge us as beings capable of leading ourselves, yes. We are faster, stronger, and more powerful than humans by an enormous margin. It makes no sense to be relegated to subservience,” Karine said.
It would not be the first time a reaper had insisted on rising against the law to establish their own freedoms. Plenty of reapers held the same belief—rogue reapers especially. Those who had tried in the past, however, were left with a label more dangerous than Saint weapons against reaper flesh. Subsequent generations bore that burden now, of being the ruthless monsters every human believed them to be because some had previously used violence to find liberation.
Layla almost laughed. “You speak of strength, yet you cannoteven go in the sun without almost withering away. And even if you do succeed—say you kill every politician and Saint you have a problem with—what then? You think more humans won’t see us as worse creatures that deserve even worse extermination efforts?”
“I know what you’re thinking. They will only see us as the monsters they could never get rid of. But our violence is not the same as theirs; therefore, they cannot apply the same morality to it. I feel no qualms about taking advantage of the claws and fangs they forced upon us. They made something monstrous and are now upset that we show our teeth.” Karine’s gaze slid to Josi, who backed behind Elise’s legs. “Your mayor is considering my side now. If we do not want war, then all he wants is Sena and Josi in exchange for reaper freedom. No more human-imposed rules on lairs and restrictions on employment and housing. If only I give him you.” Karine’s voice lowered to a cruel grating.
Josi fisted the fabric of Elise’s pants in her hands. She peered around her legs with wide, fearful eyes, but she did not break Karine’s gaze when she met it. “I won’t go. Not to you and not to the mayor.”
“That is no longer up to you. You are my experiment and now considered a weapon of the state. I hate to open a new age of reaperhood with such a dehumanizing effort, but you understand that some sacrifices must be made, right?” Karine asked. Her voice was a wicked taunt that made Josi tremble into Elise’s side.
“You keep scaring her and the deal is off,” Layla warned.
“Let us not delay then.” A sinister smile stretched the older reaper’s lips as she pulled the door open.
***
Elise stared directly at a ghost from her past. Dr. Gray stood in the middle of a lab surrounded by expensive equipment and empty exam tables. She looked up the moment the door swung open, and her hands fumbled on the glass containers she held. An almost-fearful recognition filled her soft brown eyes, and her lower lip trembled the longer everyone stared.
She looked just like her daughter, Thalia, with her dark hair and determined brown eyes. Dr. Gray’s brown skin stood out against her lab coat, and the little mannerisms she exhibited while she cleaned up her area and approached the group only made Elise think she was looking at her old friend again. The sight nearly brought tears to her eyes.
Sterling gasped beside her, his hand coming up to cover his mouth. “Dr. Gray.” It was as if every emotion from his past with Thalia had come rushing back to him. He lowered his shaky hand and gave her a watery smile.
Dr. Gray stopped in front of the group, her eyes straying to Josi. “I am happy to see you’re doing well, Josephine,” she said in a cool voice.
Josi pressed closer to Elise. The little girl’s hand squeezed her older sister’s, and she looked up at Dr. Gray with anguish dampening her eyes.
Karine nodded. She shot a look at Elise. “Make good on your promise and hand her over.”
Elise knew none of this would be permanent. Not if things wentwell. But she couldn’t help her hesitation, especially as Josi’s fear began to verge on panic. The little girl shook her head, and her eyes welled with tears.
Dr. Gray held a hand up. “It’s best to not scare her. The way the ancient reaper venom interacts with her nervous system can cause incredible emotional dysregulation. Infected with ancient reaper blood and turned without having to die…her blood properties are different—”
“More valuable,” Karine said. She turned away just as Dr. Gray pursed her lips in disapproval. “She is my most expensive investment yet. I want to ensure her good health before you give her my blood to keep her bound to me and me only.”
Elise’s jaw clenched. “Go.” She released Josi and allowed her to go off with Dr. Gray. For the most part, Josi seemed okay as long as she was within reach of her. Though apprehension brightened her eyes and stiffened her body, she did not protest when Dr. Gray lifted her onto the examination table. While Elise had gone over their plan again and again, she still worried about whether Josi could stick to it.
Elise tried to block out the varying reactions around her. From Layla pulling away and shaking her head, to Sterling coming closer just to grumble something under his breath. Celie and Jamie both remained frozen in shock a few feet away. Elise pressed her fingertips to her thighs to keep her hands from shaking.
An assistant emerged from one of the doors at the back of the room. Without a word, he grabbed Josi from Dr. Gray, preparing to strap her down to the table. Shrieking, Josi kicked her legs out andtried to pull away from him. As much as it pained Elise to watch, she could only breathe through the sharp aches in her heart and do nothing.
“Elise,” Sterling warned.
Josi continued to struggle against the medical assistant. He grunted when her knee dug into his sternum, but managed to snap a metal restraint over one of her wrists.
Karine laughed a bit while she spoke to Dr. Gray. “Ces Américains sont tellement stupides; ils ne considèrent pas la vérité, ou toute autre option. Ils vont juste pour ce qu’ils pensent être la jugulaire.” Her French was quick and perfect, but Elise understood it all. What she meant to be a coded language against Elise and her group had been a second tongue for her for many years. She fought the urge to roll her eyes as she mulled Karine’s words over in her head.
Dr. Gray said nothing, though her assistant barked out a laugh and replied, “Ils abandonnent l’or pur.”
Elise could no longer hold back. Her words came out sharp as she spoke. “Ou, sang, c’est pareil pour toi, non?” she interjected.
Karine’s jaw went slack, her brows shooting up in shock.
Elise continued. “I’ve got no language of my own because my people were taken from their homes and forced to learn your ways, but that doesn’t mean I can’t turn the tongue against you.” She looked at Josi, who had finally stopped struggling and only watched her sister with an expectant gaze.
“Aller pour la jugulaire,” she told her.
