STRANGULATE | Markicest

38 | DRUID, MIND READER

He knew this all felt too normal. Becoming a "part of the family" was the least of Antinstine's worries.

But—now that he thought about it—

Mark put a hand over his mouth.

Oh god, what if that was his reason for being here... but it was something more twisted, more evil—god, why hadn't he—

"Viper," said Cibil, noting how Mark began to shake. "Viper."

Mark breathed hard, pupils dilated.

Cibil reached over and placed a hand on Mark's arm.

"Viper!" she shouted.

Mark flinched, looking down at her. Before he could say another word, Cibil spoke over him.

"Viper..." she said firmly, though her voice was low. "I want you to go to your rooms... alright? Get a hold of yourself."

Mark took a deep breath, brows furrowing. He blinked a few times, and now that he shook himself from his thoughts, he couldn't believe he'd let himself slip out of character. Despite the shock of the matter, when he was around Cibil, it didn't seem to matter as much. It was almost as if... he could really...

"Trust... in me," rang Cibil's words in his head from when they first met.

He swallowed, gazing down at her. She was snapping her fingers.

"I said, 'Do you understand?'"

Mark wearily acknowledged her. "Yes... Yes, I understand."

Cibil sighed and nodded, and she grabbed his hand and led them out of the conservatory. "Good," she said. "Let's go now."

They walked down the middle hallway, and Cibil made sure that Mark was in check. Before they reached the main entrance, she stopped and turned towards him. Mark followed.

"Get some rest tonight, Viper," she said, gazing at him through her blindfold. "Try not to think about... you know."

Mark swallowed at that, his insides twisting. How could he not think about what was to come?

"Go now," said Cibil, motioning towards the grand foyer. "I have things to take care of."

Mark's brows furrowed, but he obeyed, heading off to his rooms. When he glanced over his shoulder, Cibil was walking the other way.

He wondered where she was going.

———

Cibil lingered on the last few steps up to Antinstine's room.

Although her breath came out shorter, she wasn't nervous. She'd stood up to Antinstine before—let her visions speak volumes for themselves. If anything, Antinstine had a soft spot for her, but... today was different. Today was much more serious.

Antinstine was passionate about Viper—was passionate about the fact he was one of the Tear Stealer's Evolveds. He'd been boasting about it since the day he and Dark made that favor; planned everything down to the littlest detail with a sparkle of sadistic excitement in his eyes.

Cibil would be depending on a lie to get through this one.

She took a deep breath.

She walked up those last few steps, padded down the hall with her bare feet, allowing herself to feel the soft, velvet rug... then stopped before the door to Antinstine's bedroom. Carefully, she reached forward, and once the doorknob clicked beneath her grip, the scene spilled into view.