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“You’re insane…you make meinsane…” And I mean every bit of the worship and wonder I infuse in the words.

“Go crazy for me, Circe. Go fucking nuts with me.” He hammers me with a meaningful stare. Like there’s more to what he’s saying…

“Wha—?”

The walls of our cell vibrate, a split appearing in the center, widening. Light pours in, glowing down from flood lamps beyond. An arena manifests as the wide gates swing back, exposing us to a shocking scene.

Roman architecture, massive steps of stone, ascend across the expanse of the semicircle just outside our alcove. The ruins have been manicured and the grounds curated for an opulent event. A show.

Every seat in the crumbling amphitheater house Ananke’s sordid guests. Senators. Dons. Kings and warlords. Their rustling and chattering die to a murmur as we appear.

Ananke’s voice echoes over the stillness.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my esteemed guests. Allow me to introduce my Spartans. The culmination of my research. The perfect soldiers.”

Rows of eager faces gawk at the spectacle before them, some aloof, others captivated, hunger evident in their poise. It’s a veritable who’s who of mafia, syndicate, delegate, and capitalist tycoons.

“Now, please, enjoy the show.”

34

ERO

Circe and I freeze, bathed in blinding white light.

A murmur of voices and scandalous hisses slither through a massive space past the border of what I can see. It would seem that we have an audience…

And that Ananke had us chained up in a circus cage.

The gate opens, leaving us facing the center of the arena. As if we are the main event at whatever show this is. At the push of a button, our manacles click open, freeing us.

Nervously, we both stand. No sense feeling shy now. This audience already caught the tail end of our farewell.

I roll my shoulders, cracking my neck as I pull up my pants. Glancing around, I take stock. Guards lining the open space, the stage of the ancient theater.

Circe follows my lead, stretching her arms and cracking her knuckles.

Ananke stands at the base of row after row of blocks arcing around and up, surrounded by her entourage. Dom sits just behind and to her left, striking in his tuxedo.

Ananke wants a show?

I’ll happily show her to hergrave.

“Cirs.”

“Yeah?”

“No matter what happens, trust in theend of the fall…”

She turns her head to lock eyes with me, a confused frown shadowing across her brow. Her lips press together tightly as music swells around us. Ananke brought a fucking live band.

Audacious bitch.

But I brought some entertainment with me too. We just have to stay alive long enough for them to get into position.

Ananke steps forward, turning to address her guests.

“I will now demonstrate what is possible through the application of my treatment. A method that can provide you all with weapons that neither complain, nor disobey.