Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
My legs fail me and I grab on to a nearby chair to remain standing.
This can’t be real.
Julian is lying. He’s lying—
“Needless to say, Kane knew about your existence long before you came here. He must’ve seen you, too, during one of his and Jude’s stalking sessions. Now, I’m not sure whether or not he pulled the strings to bring you here, but knowing Kane, he probably did. Maybe he wanted to toy with you, too. Maybe you caught his attention, I’m not sure. He sure went through a lot of trouble to arrange a fake initiation.”
“Fake?” My lips tremble around the word.
“You didn’t possibly think it was real, did you? Oh my, you did. You see, this is why outsiders should remain on the outside. They’re fickle and unable to discern dreams from reality. Our actual initiations alter the very fabric of your soul. If you had undergone the real deal, you wouldn’t have survived. Kane has a soft spot for you, which is why he planned the whole watered-down charade and even asked his friends to participate. If it were real, you wouldn’t have been accepted in the initial vetting process in the first place. Only those born into Vencor get to initiate, and occasionally, we invite those we deem worthy to be in our midst.”
It wasn’t real.
The whole psychological torture and brutal fucking was a charade?
No. How could that possibly be true? Julian must be trying to mess with my head.
“It’s not him,” I say so low, even I barely hear it.
“What was that?”
“Kane didn’t hurt Violet. He couldn’t have!” I shout, heaving. “He wouldn’t…he wouldn’t do that. He…wasn’t a match on that DNA test.”
“Oh, that. The DNA that was found under your sister’s nails was actually swapped with a dead person’s. Of course there will be no match.” His lips pull in a smirk. “Who do you think swapped it?”
“No…no…”
“Kane.”
“No!”
“I don’t care if you don’t believe me. You can stay here and murder him for all I care. Or wait long enough for him to get bored of his games and murder you. Doesn’t make any difference. But there’s something else you should know first.”
I stare at him through my blurry vision.
“Your sister. She’s awake.”
“W-what?”
“Technically, her coma is induced.”
“What the hell are you talking about? The doctors said she was in a coma.”
“My doctors. My hospital. My system. I’m about to give you a lot of information, and I want you to be quiet and listen. I can assure you that your sister is awake and recovering well, and you can find out more about her location if you make the right choice. Violet actually woke up the same day she was admitted, and she wanted to run away from Jude at any cost, but she knew he’d find her, no matter where she went, so we struck a deal. She volunteers to test my experimental drug that would make her look as if she’s in a coma and, in return, I arrange for your and her relocation where Jude can’t find her once she wakes up. That way she’ll be able to escape my brother’s notorious hunts. But she woke up earlier than predicted because we couldn’t keep administering the drug when he kidnapped her after I took her out of the hospital, and by the time I got her again, she was starting to wake up. As it happens, my brother was already getting suspicious because she’s not showing the same signs as his actual comatose bodyguard. We reached the end of the trial anyway, and I’m satisfied with the results.”
Jude kidnapped her? But if Julian found her again, then that means she’s okay, right?
My mind reels as the pieces start falling into place.
Vi’s bills being paid in full without any conditions.
Vi’s doctor who refused to allow any other doctor to come near her.
Jude’s comatose guard, Mario, right next to Violet.
Now that I think about it, the hooded guy who was looming over Vi’s bed had a very similar build to Jude.
Oh my God.
“You have two choices.” He lifts a finger. “One, you stay here, wait for Kane, and lose your sister.” He lifts another finger. “Two. You disappear with your sister somewhere safe that I’ll arrange. For good.”
My lips tremble. “Why…are you doing this?”
“I don’t like you or your sister. Outsiders should stay on the outside. This way, Jude and Kane will come back to their senses already. Cleaning up after them is a hassle.”
I hang my head as tears gather in my eyes and drip onto my beat-up white sneakers.
Could Kane be the one behind everything?
Could he have manipulated me like a puppet on a string?
He wouldn’t have made me feel bad for lying when he already knew everything.
Right?
Or have I finally been burned alive by the sun?
35
KANE
After I return from feeding my father to the sharks, Dahlia’s disappeared.