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How many times had he held the hand of one of his friends as they lay waiting to die on this godforsaken altar? How many times had he cleaned up their blood, their viscera, and placed their bleached skull in that awful cupboard?
I wished I could communicate with him like I did with Henri.
I wished I could tell him I wasn’t afraid.
Not truly.
I was afraid of the pain.
Afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from fighting, thanks to the animalistic instinct to survive.
But I wasn’t afraid of actual death.
I knew there was more than this.
I knew this wasn’t the end.
I just hated that it would be a while before I saw him again.
Before I found him and Henri again.
Brushing aside his velvet cape, Victor reached into his waistband and pulled out a long red bag. Holding it horizontal in two hands, he looked gravely at the Masters.
“Tonight, you will witness a ritual we have perfected over the years. A ritual that turns a prospective friend into a Joyero member. A kiss that not only frees a jewel but frees a Master too.”
Placing his hand into the red velvet bag, he slowly, dramatically—with the flair of a born showman—pulled out a diamond-handled knife. The exquisitely sharp blade glinted in the light. The handle glimmered with crystalline fractals.
Dropping the empty bag on the floor, he stepped slowly toward Henri and grabbed his slack hand. “Here.”
Henri didn’t react.
He looked as broken as I felt.
Victor curled Henri’s fingers around the blade and stepped back as Henri stared blankly at the knife.
“This place is called Temple of Facets as you will deliver one hundred cuts to turn her from human into gem. Each cut will drench her blood with adrenochrome, which will be collected and sold. Her kidneys have already been purchased. Along with her lungs and eyes. But it was her heart that fetched the biggest price. A price I will give to you, my friend, so you will always remember the value of this lesson. A lesson that you are worth far more than she could ever hope to afford. You are above her in every way. She is yours to do whatever you wish. That is how this world works. That is what you are. And love has no place in it.”
Moving to stand behind Peter, he placed his disgusting hands on Peter’s shoulders.
Peter choked on a sob, bowing his head.
“Tonight, gentlemen, Peter will perform his final duty as our cleaner. He has disappointed me and lost my trust. The other jewels will be punished for their role in their futile little war, but I have no doubt the unrest stems from these two. And so…if any man present would like to give him a Diamond Kiss later this evening, you are more than welcome to bid once he has cleaned up what will be left of Ilyana.”
Reaching over Peter’s shoulder, Victor kissed him softly on the cheek. “I’m being kind to you, Paavak. I could keep you alive after this. I could make you live a long, long life haunted by the memories of the girl you love. The girl you watched be turned into a jewel. The girl whose intestines slithered through your hands as you tossed them into the sea.”
He sighed and let Peter go. “What do you say, my pet? Come now, don’t be shy.”
With tears dripping down his cheeks, Peter raised his chin and tore off his crystal mask. Throwing it onto the floor, he hissed, “Fuck you to motherfucking hell.”
Victor nodded. “I expected you were holding that in for a while.” He chuckled and patted his cheek. “Doesn’t that feel better?”
“I fucking hate you. I hope you fucking rot.”
“Not before you, I’m afraid.”
My own tears spilled.
I looked back at Henri.
