We knew that sooner or later, we’d be sold off just like the humans they trafficked.
Liana and I detested what our mother represented. Years of learning about every criminal alliance in the underworld had taught us that she was high up in the food chain and drove a lot of despicable deals.
Yes, she protected us, but at the cost of others. She didn’t care that they were innocent; she let them suffer. She encouraged their punishments. She encouraged the gladiator games. And she encouraged human auctions.
“We have to try. Should we go over the plan again?”
She shook her head, flashing me that smile that usually got her what she wanted. “I’ll meet you two in the agreed-upon spot.” She leaned in and pecked my cheek. “I love you, sestra.”
“Love you too, sestra,” I repeated softly, staring at my twin. We were identical—both of us blonde, with freckles on our noses and golden-brown eyes. Nobody could ever tell us apart, aside from her being right-handed and me left-handed. “This will work,” I whispered. “Then we’ll be free of these walls and chains. Kingston will be free.”
“And if she catches us?” she asked, eyes darting around.
My chest tightened with the knowledge of what would happen if she did. Torture and beating for Kingston. Possibly for us too. Each breath pierced my lungs as foreboding filled my veins.
“If she catches us,” I started calmly, “I will kill her. For her part in what was done to Kingston and all the other innocents.”
Liana smiled. “He makes you brave.”
“I’d kill for him,” I admitted. I’d die for him too, but I didn’t voice that. “He’s it for me, Liana. I hope you find someone who’ll make you feel the same way. I know you’ll understand then.”
I was drawn to his heart, his every broken piece.
Her eyes flicked to my bracelet and her shoulders slumped. “He might be the right man for you, but it’s the wrong time. Same with this escape plan.”
I hugged her tightly. “There’s no right time for anything in this life. We have to make it, grab it, and seize our own happiness, even if we have to lie, steal, and cheat.”
Then, I turned around and left my twin behind without another glance, not doubting for a second that I’d see her again.
“Sunshine, I promise.” Kingston was restless. Our time was running out. “We’ll come back for her, but unless we leave now, we won’t make it.”
I didn’t want to leave my twin behind, but I knew Kingston was right. They didn’t call him Ghost for nothing. Nobody matched his skill when it came to disappearing, hunting, and ending a target.
“Okay,” I agreed. My twin was my other half. Leaving without her was like leaving part of myself behind.
His hand gripped mine, squeezing in understanding.
Then we ran.
Our feet sunk into the thick layers of snow as the castle, that caused all of our nightmares, disappeared behind us. I stumbled, falling to my knees, but Kingston’s firm grip quickly yanked me up.
The sky was gloomy, nearly invisible as snow descended from the skies above. The heavier it fell, the less likely they’d be to track our footprints. The sharp, crisp air felt like a whip against my face. The air fogged around us with every exhale as we raced hand in hand, the Siberian landscape swallowing us whole.
“Almost there,” Kingston urged, sensing my fatigue. He was in excellent shape; he had to be to survive here. Unlike me.
Each breath split my chest in half.
The wind wailed, bringing with it the dreaded barking of Ivan’s dogs. I sent up a prayer that maybe he’d set Puma on our trail. She wouldn’t hurt Kingston or me. She was the best dog out of all his vicious animals.
“Kingston,” I cried, snowflakes piling onto my eyelashes and wind biting my cheeks. “I’m… I’m… Leave me behind. I’m slowing you… d-down.”
My chest heaved and I trembled as I let out silent sobs into the night.
“No, we do this together. Keep running, Lou. We’re almost—”
He never finished the statement.
Bang.
A single shot was all it took for Kingston’s body to drop and begin to jerk in slow motion. I stumbled face-first into the snow, my fingers gripping his hand. I lifted my head to find ruby-red snow stacked around Kingston’s body.
My world came crashing down as an animalistic scream tore from my lungs and the world titled on its axis.
I woke up bruised and battered in the basement of our castle where Mother tortured all the innocents. Made them killers. We’d endured hours and hours of beating; I didn’t know how much more I could take before I broke.
My eyes flicked to Kingston, who was unconscious next to me. I stared at his chest, watching for any sign of life. Was he breathing? It was hard to focus with how mangled he looked.
“You disappoint me, Louisa.” Mother’s voice pulled me to where she stood across the room, her hair in a perfect updo and her fur coat unsullied. But it was her face, twisted with anger, that held my attention. Her heels clicked, a countdown to my doom, as she made her way to me, an iPad in her hand. “Look at what you’ve done.”
An image stared back at me and I blinked a few times. Then she pressed the Play button and the video started.
I thrashed and pulled at my chains, shouting until my throat turned raw and blood trickled from the corner of my mind. I finally managed to slump away from my mother and throw up all over the dirty ground. The images swam behind my eyes when I was finally able to close them, and I wished it were me—that I had been the one on the screen.
Unconsciousness pulled me under.
When I woke up, my Kingston wasn’t with me.
I blinked, disoriented and dizzy as I glanced around the sterile room. It was empty and bright. The only decor was a flat-screen television in the far corner. I moved to rub at my temples when I realized I was strapped to a chair, my feet and wrists bound by special leather belts.
I was terrified, fear clawing up my throat. My heart sped into overdrive.
The door opened and all hope shuttered at the vision of my mother walking in. Her eyes were blank, her gray strands a matted mess—she was a shell of herself.
The diamonds around her neck glittered, trying—and failing—to make up for their wearer’s emptiness.
Hate slithered through my veins, cold and venomous.
“You’re the cause of this all, Mother,” I spat out. “You destroy everything you touch.” My control was gone. My fear was through the roof. Panic set into my bones. I jerked against the restraints frantically. My life and my sanity depended on it. “Fucking everything,” I bellowed, my voice turning raw.
She stepped closer, her eyes empty.
“Let’s begin.”
The television flickered on, and my blood chilled. I watched my sister fighting against the men, scratching and clawing. Biting them. I jerked against my restraints, dread sluicing through me at what was coming.
And then the screams began. Hers. Mine. Ours.
I tasted her fear. I felt her pain. I lived her torture.
The first electroshock jolted through me, and a wretched sob escaped me.
The second electroshock followed. Breathe. Focus. Survive.
Then the third shock came. I shut my eyes and soaked in the finality of my twin’s death.
A fourth.
I lost count. All I could do was scream.
Heartbeats blurred. Words twisted. Days blurred.
“You took her from me.” I didn’t know why Mother was so furious. “I need her back. Understand me?” I nodded despite not comprehending what she meant. “Very well, Liana. Let’s start.”
Start what? I thought I moved my lips, but I didn’t hear the sound of my voice. My mind was in shambles. The ringing in my skull refused to cease.