“You’re probably wondering why you’re here. Well, I can explain,” he goes on, sounding almost cheerful and it’s the most unsettling thing I’ve ever heard.
“See, you belong to me. You always have.”
My brows pull in tight, my stomach twisting.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking,” he chuckles like this is all some kind of joke. “How the fuck can this man own me?”
He points straight at my arm, and I glance down.
“Not just by the mark you were stamped with,” he murmurs, and my eyes shoot to his. “You know, the one you so bravely cut out?”
My teeth grind but I stay silent and expressionless.
“I’ve actually had to watch over you very carefully you’re entire life. You see…”
He sits now, making himself comfortable.
“When you were a baby, Wrath killed your mom and fucked her corpse.”
My entire body tenses and I feel my eyes sting with tears.
“Oh, but don’t worry, he begged that you lived,” he smiles and when I blink, a tear drops down my cheek.
“Of course, I couldn’t have a baby at that age…” His dark eyes drag over me with disgust. “Especially a female.”
He gives a lazy shrug, like it meant nothing.
“So, I gave you away.”
Then he leans in, his face shifting, something colder settling in.
“But I couldn’t have you not suffer. No. I needed you to suffer for the rest of your life. So I gave you to Iris, knowing exactly how she’d treat you.”
My lips part, but I can’t speak. The words catch and burn in my throat. All I can do is blink rapidly, another tear sliding down my cheek, hot and unwanted.
“Why?” I whisper, voice barely there. “Why did you need me to suffer?”
“Because your mother did. It’s only fair game.” He shifts closer, the heat from his breath almost brushing my skin. “See, your mom… she was a witch.”
My eyes go wide, shock hitting me like a fist.
“She founded Oddity, actually.”
I shake my head hard, like if I shake enough, it’ll all disappear.
“I’m sorry, what?”
He suddenly slams his hand against the bars, and I freeze, every muscle in my body locking up.
“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” he bites out, his face pulled tight, jaw twitching.
I stare at him, wide-eyed, as he steps back, cracking his neck with a sharp jerk, one eye twitching like a fuse about to blow.
“Your mom founded Oddity,” he growls, clearing his throat like it takes effort to say it. “She actually had a good thing going… But they weren’t using Oddity like we do now. No. She was deep into human sacrifices—some high, dark voodoo power shit.”
He lets out a laugh, like it’s all just ridiculous.
“You know, Wrath’s mother and father lived at Oddity back then,” he says suddenly quieter, like he’s remembering something. “He was my best friend.”