[[Until We Become Lions]]

Chapter 75

Evee had seen a body before. Elena's. It seemed like a lifetime ago. The girl had been only a little older than Evee herself. Evee had seen the aftermath for a millisecond of how Elena's head had popped open like a grape, contradictorily blooming into the most grotesque flower of life transitioning to death. Danijela had killed Elena because she threatened Evee's life. Had threatened Mr. Castillo's life. It was justified even if now, Evee Ruiz realized, Mr. Castillo was not the man he claimed to be.

The chandeliers of flesh that surrounded her now were not in any way justified. They were exploited for the sheer purpose of perpetuating Jose Castillo's own entertainment. He had had Evee sit and watch as with each hour he brought in a new prisoner. He strung them up like animals and proceeded to peel their skin as though he were peeling a banana. Evee had nowhere to run and nowhere to look as their screams and sounds of dripping blood echoed like a maddening insect buzz. Her knees were pressed so tightly against her chest she pondered if she would still have the ability to walk, should she ever escape from here. The only solace she found was occasionally tapping her sunflower locket turned brooch that was now always fastened on her secondary layer of clothes, hidden from those who would take it from her, but still held close to her heart.

The reminder that Diego watched over her. The safety of a mother's protection even if she were long gone.

Evee knew not what time of day it was, only knowing that her absence would go unnoticed until at least midday when Marquessa would inevitably go to Evee's room to drag her from bed to get ready to parade around as the next First Lady. What would Mr. Castillo do then? Would he suspect she ran away? Would he look for her? She prayed the answer was yes. For the first time since she found out about his dirty little secrets, in place of wishes for his death, she prayed he would come to rescue her. But first, he needed to know where to look. Would he suspect Jose had something to do with it? She knew Diego would, but when would they realize? And would she survive that long to begin with?

The bunker door squealed open under its own weight, shuddering through the staircase down to the chamber like the invading force of a banshee's scream. Evee cringed and closed her eyes, knowing what was coming next. Her whimpering was muffled by the duct tape that was wrapped uncaringly around her mouth and head. Every little moment caused the tape to pull her hair in the most uncomfortable way. Her wrists and ankles were bound by the same tape, looking more like a prized hog that had been captured rather than Yara's future First Lady.

It was not long before her captor joined her in this particular circle of hell. Jose appeared at the opposite side of the room looking like a frustrated spectral in his pristine white uniform. All she saw when she looked at him however was the way that same uniform had been tarnished in mud and blood as he tried assaulting her beside the body of her deceased horse. The memory was imprinted in her mind like fangs puncturing the skin. He moved about the room erratically, frenzied by an unknown annoyance like a stubborn child throwing a tantrum as he stabbed his sword through the nearest corpse. Evee cried with each strike as he gradually made his way closer to her.

"Those fucking Monteros!" His voice rocked the room, "I will fill this entire valley with their blood!

He looked at her midstep and stopped, as though he had forgotten she was there in the first place.

He grinned and his tone shifted to the same charming one he had used the first time she met him on her first birthday in the Castillo household.

"Would you like to see that Evee? Would that be a good wedding present for you?"

He inched closer to her with his bloodied sword and knelt down before her.

"You know, I had a very special surprise for you. Perhaps I still do. Are you curious as to what it is?"