You Wouldn't Dare (Khaos Trilogy Book 1), стр. 88
She unlocked the cabinet, holding out the deadly vials of liquid. These were one-shot things, a lethal mix of Wolfsbane and cyanide, it was designed to kill within minutes.
One by one, the she-wolves who had children in this room stepped forward, openly sobbing as they accepted the vial offered to them, and whispered a rushed prayer with The Elder.
They approached their children, almost blinded by tears as they looked down at their sweet, innocent faces so deep in slumber, unaware of the horror about to happen.
I could barely stand to look. But, like a car crash, I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the scene in front of me. Only this morning, the same children had been sitting on my knee, asking me a million questions whilst I tended their mothers.
Only a week ago, the same children had been running amok in the packhouse, waiting for some form of entertainment as we had cancelled all their activities thanks to the illness.
And merely two weeks ago, it was these children that had been the future of the pack, training to lead, training to fight.
How could I watch this happen?
How could I let it happen?
How could I stop it?
Was I selfish enough to spare their lives, only for them to live in absolute horror and misery? Was it not best they took their places with the Moon Goddess now, whilst all they had known in their short time was happiness and love?
They saved me from having to answer.
The mothers stepped towards the children and placed kisses upon their foreheads, their tears spilling onto the porcelain faces of the little angels.
“May the Moon Goddess have mercy on our souls,” they whispered in unison before stabbing each one in the neck, smothering their faces with a pillow as they thrashed about wildly.
The pillow did little to muffle the sounds – we heard their confused cries, pleading with their mothers to save them. Their hands pushed against the pillows, straining to be free, to drag in a much-needed breath. One of the youngest girls soiled herself out of fear, sobbing with pitiful, heart-wrenching tears.
I looked away, unable to stand it any longer. Screams that would stay with me for the rest of my life reverberated around the room as the children passed away.
Their deaths may have come quick, but it was not a merciful killing.
Their souls would scream out in anguish as they were torn from this plain of existence and sent to the Moon Goddess’ eternal resting place, the moonlit paradise. The Moon Goddess would see that retribution was done for the crimes committed here tonight – she would not be able to ignore the anger, fear and confusion that surrounded the bodies of these children.
One by one, the mothers tipped back their heads and howled up to the ceiling, their wolves torn apart by what they had done.
The Elder spoke up once more, “come with me, my sisters. Let us end our lives together, as we should be. We will not be used in such a way; we will not experience such pain. Together we can end this.” She extended her hand towards the cabinet as women rushed forward to get their dosage. Most needed no further encouragement. No one wanted to live with themselves after this.
“You’re no better than those outside,” I whispered when The Elder looked in my direction. “You’re a monster. You have played on their vulnerable emotions and I hope the Moon Goddess sentences you to eternal punishment and suffering. There is no hiding from her judgement, she sees and hears all. She will know what you did. You’re no better than if you had slit the necks of those children yourself. Their blood is on your hands and you will suffer in Hades’ underworld for all eternity!”
“No, Jasmine. The eternal suffering shall be yours when the real monsters find their way in here.”
With perfect timing a small explosion came from the other side of the door, smoke pouring in through the small gaps around the sides.
She looked in my direction and smirked at me; her point having been proved.
“I love you all,” she whispered, jabbing the needle into her neck, leading by example as every wolf around me followed suit.
Another loud bang shot out, the door shaking as it struggled to withstand such a blast. I looked into the cabinet and saw a few remaining vials of liquid, knowing I had mere minutes to make my choice.
Amanda’s Diary
Imagine! Imagine the nerve to ring here once more! We were in full damage-control situation over here; we didn’t need that woman ringing us and leading a trail straight back to this pack!
Nyx had actually laughed down the phone! She thought it was hilarious as she spoke of the children who had been poisoned and smothered. The women who had choked on their own vomit, waiting for death to overtake them.
There had been no survivors in the room, her guards had gone round each corpse individually and inflicted one last act of violence on them to ensure none of them was faking it.
She took great delight in telling me the sounds of cracking bones as they punched the women in the ribs, or broke their cheekbones and eye sockets with their slaps.
She really was insane. As much as I wanted to punish that pack, and most especially Khaos, this was too much. My mate had sobbed upon returning home. He was a hardened soldier and even he had been traumatised by what had taken place tonight.
The women – surrounded by vomit and urine. Some choking on their last breaths.
The children – their chubby fists still clutched around the pillows as they tried in vain