Page 1 of Sworn to Consume
Prologue
Malec
“Malec,” Mom’s voice floats down the stairs. “It’s time to sleep. Myko’s waiting too.”
I hate it.
Every night, Myko—my guardian,like Mom always says—has to come and pull that weird glow out of my body. Like it’s poison.
LikeI’mpoison.
I hate being the weird one. I hate that I can’t go outside like my cousin Alessio. Even Chris—she just turned one and Auntie Cora already takes her out in the stroller three times a day.
But me?I’m the one who has to stay inside, like I’ll break something. Or someone.
“Malec, where are you?” Mom calls again.
I duck behind the big sofa on the first floor, pressing my back to the cushions. I don’t want to go to bed. I don’t want to be the boy they all whisper about when they think I’m not listening. But I hear them.
Lately, something new started happening. I can see it now—the colors of people’s souls. They glow. They move. Theyvibrate.
I didn’t tell anyone. Not even Mom.
But I think Myko knows. He always knows. When I ask him about it, he just says,“It’s not the right time,”or“You’re too young.”
But I’m five. I canhandlethings! I’ve already handled all the whispers. I’ve already cried enough at night.
Tonight… I followed one of the soul-colors. It was stronger than the others. Brighter. It led me here—to the first floor. To the locked room. I can’t let Mom see me.
“Malec,” she sighs. “Please. My belly is so heavy and I’m exhausted. Don’t make it harder on Mommy, okay? Let’s go to bed together. I’ll tell you more sea monster stories.”
Dad says my brother or sister will come soon. He says I need to help Mommy and be the man of the house.
I crawl lower, keeping quiet as I peek from behind the couch. She’s at the bottom of the stairs, wearing her pink pajamas—the same kind she always matches with Auntie Cora. Her hands are holding her big belly as she breathes out slowly.
With a belly that big… maybe my brother or sister will come out bigger than me.
I should eat all my food like Bon said. She’s our new mercook. She told me I’ll grow bigger and stronger if I finish my fish, even the ones with the bones. I believe her.
Mom scans the floor one more time, eyes soft and tired, before turning back up the stairs.
“Malec, please...” Her voice trails off as her footsteps fade upstairs.
I exhale quietly. She’s gone.
I rise onto my tiptoes, eyes fixed onthatdoor. Dad’s office. The one he always locks. He says one day I’ll be old enough to spend hours in there with him—but not yet.“No need to rush things,”he always says.
But today...
Today I followed Uncle Mariano down here, and when he left, he forgot to lock the door. The door is open now, and that glow I’m chasing? The soul whisper? It’sin there.
I don’t have long. Uncle Mariano will come back soon. I rush to the door, standing tall as I can to reach the handle, and push it open with all my strength.
The light’s still on. He’s definitely coming back.
I take a step inside—and the tingling starts again. My forehead buzzes with warmth where the crescent moon mark is glowing. I don’t even need a mirror. I know it’s shining. I’m used to it by now.
“My baby boy...”
