Page 10 of Beautiful Venom
Not a question, but I still say, “Yeah.”
“You thought right. I’ll make your wish come true.”
My lips part.
Did Kane just agree to help me without my having to resort to all the diabolical plans I had prepared?
What?
Why?
Does he perhaps pity me?
Honestly, I don’t care. I’ll be the most pitiful puppy if that gets me in. I have no time to focus on my pride in situations like this.
“Really?” I ask, still not believing my ears.
“Yes. I already had someone else in mind for the initiation, but I’ll take you instead.”
A shiver goes through me when he says, ‘I’ll take you instead.’ Even though his tone doesn’t change, there’s a strange shift in his expression.
A smile curves his lips, and I stop and stare. Am I supposed to find him this gorgeous?
It soon disappears as his mechanical tone fills the air. “Fair warning. This is not your run-of-the-mill initiation or some hazing ceremony where you’ll be asked to take silly dares. You will be tested. You’ll be pushed to your limits. And you’ll be asked to offer your body and soul at the altar of demented people. If you refuse, you’re out and banished for life. If you don’t prove to be willing to be used for Vencor, you’ll be sabotaged until you escape the country or shoot yourself. And if you betray Vencor, no one will find your bones. Are you sure you still want to participate? Sometimes, being an outsider is much safer than being a blood-bound insider.”
Another chill runs through me and I tighten my hands on my phone. I’ve heard a lot of rumors and I’m part of dark web forums that discuss theories and stories about what these people are capable of.
Kane’s words said in a neutral newscaster voice shouldn’t shake me, but they do.
If I’d heard this a year ago, I would’ve turned around and left, but now?
Now, I have nothing to lose. And if I must use my life to avenge my sister, so be it.
So I say in a resolved, dead voice, “I’m sure.”
Kane watches me, neither surprised nor approving. “If you change your mind before you’re accepted, say a word only the two of us know and I’ll make it stop. No matter what it is. Let’s go with…red.”
I nod. “Why are you helping me?”
He taps my cheek with his index finger on which he’s wearing the ring. The cold metal sends a chill through me, but that’s nothing compared to the electrifying fire that spreads down my belly as his skin touches mine.
“I’m curious if you’ll last and how far you’ll go, my fake fan.” His smile drops as he pats my cheek one final time. “Don’t disappoint me.”
3
DAHLIA
Don’t disappoint me.
Don’t disappoint me.
Don’t. Disappoint. Me.
It’s been a week since Kane spoke those words to me. He’s said nothing since then, and for some reason, I can’t get them out of my mind.
I’ve been trying to sneak into the arena to watch the Vipers practice, maybe catch Kane’s attention and ask him about what steps will be taking place going forward. However, their security is no joke. They have a zero-tolerance policy for outsiders. Even if they’re the team’s biggest fans. Doesn’t matter if they go to Graystone University.
If it weren’t for the very real pictures in my phone, I’d think the whole conversation I had with Kane and the promise he made about taking me to the initiation was a figment of my imagination.
