"I'm trying to?—"
"You're trying to tell me how to handle problems inmydomain." He steps back from me, cold as an arctic wind. "Lionel, beat him. Break something that will remind him to stay quiet. Then dump him outside."
"No, wait—" I start, but Cassius turns that frigid gaze on me.
"Another word, and I'll kill him slowly while you watch."
I shut my mouth.
David screams as Lionel drags him away, begging me to help him, calling my name over and over.
The sounds of violence echo from the next room—thuds, cracks, David's cries getting weaker.
When it's finally quiet, Cassius turns to me.
"Go to my room."
"Cassius, I?—"
"Now."
I go, feeling his cold fury follow me.
When he finally comes in, I try to explain.
"I wasn't trying to undermine you. I just thought?—"
"You thought wrong. You forget your place. I don't take orders from toys."
The word 'toys' hits like a slap. "I'm not just a toy?—"
"Aren't you? That's what this was. Three nights of playing with a new toy. And now you've shown me you don't understand the rules."
"Please, I'm sorry. Punish me. Hurt me. Just don't?—"
"Go to bed. Alone."
"But it's my last night?—"
"And you wasted it trying to show mercy to someone who would have destroyed us." He moves to the door. "Sleep in the guest room. We'll discuss the terms of our agreement in the morning."
"Cassius, please?—"
But he's gone, leaving me alone with the echo of David's screams and the weight of my collar and the knowledge that I've ruined everything.
My last night, and I'm spending it alone because I tried to show mercy in a world that has none.
Because I forgot that I'm nothing but a toy to him.
The collar feels like it's choking me as I curl up in the guest bed, knowing that tomorrow he'll send me away.
And it's all my fault.
Chapter 6
Cassius
The cafe is nothing special.
