Page 44 of Eternal Ruin

“We wished we had died.” Henok’s dark tone was new. The past sixty years had erased the teasing light from him.

“You promised us we would take over the world.” Biruk’s voice was quieter, face always giving away everything he felt.

The obvious hurt made guilt swarm in Susenyos’s gut and he looked away. Taj and Iniko stared at the ground.

“And we will,” Susenyos said, hardening his voice. “I’ll do as I said. I’ll destroy Lusidio.”

Arin studied him with her guarded eyes; even after two centuries with her, he could never understand what game she was playing.

“Why are we here?” Arin asked.

“We brought you blood,” Taj said, indicating with his head.

A spark took to Biruk’s eyes, instantly encircling them in red.

The Nefrasi used to have four actis to feed them all—a man of seventy from the dying Abel House, a runaway husband and wife from Luroz House and Sada House, and a goth college student from Chamo House who had escaped from the Lusidios.

They’d take a couple drops from the acti available to them, hoping to find more. And it was torture.

He knew the hungriest of all his people, Biruk and Henok, had suffered the most. Even as human boys, they consumed one sheep between the two, an appetite that was near terrifying.

Arin nudged open the container to find the blood bags. “We want actis. Not curdled blood in a bag.” She frowned.

Taj scoffed. “Do you want us to die?”

Dark red was coloring Susenyos’s vision, his claws itching to break free. Actis weren’t easy to come by.

“Is your loyalty to the Nefrasi?” Arin asked coldly.

He was going to kill her.

“Yes,” he gritted out.

“Then this is nothing. Samson has promised them live actis soon. EveryoneinUxlay. Either they will offer themselves, or he will take them by force.”

Susenyos’s fingers balled into fists, it took everything not to lash out. “We don’tforceactis.” Susenyos’s harsh tone surprised even him. “We’re not Lusidio.”

Arin regarded him carefully and for a moment, something shifted in her gaze. “The Nefrasi must feed to become a strong army. Bring fresh actis. At least four.”

Taj shook his head wildly. “That’s a suicide mission. We can only get blood bags.”

Susenyos gave Arin a hard glance. “Even if I got live actis, you never drink from the flesh. Why now?”

Arin had her own black flask. Once, Susenyos had touched it and she’d broken his arm. She didn’t share blood nor feed in front of him.

“You said blood bags were for roaches. Are we suddenly insects?” Arin said coldly, inspecting her black claws.

Susenyos regretted his words. He understood the defiance and pride in Henok’s eyes. Decades ago, they’d been supported well by many actis, fed and ate like kings.

“It will be difficult to access actis. Andreyas has the Sicions well trained,” Susenyos said.

Surprisingly, Arin smiled. Not in the bone-chilling way she did before she cleaved someone in half, but like he’d told a joke. “Andreyas. The name of a humble shepherd. Does he lead Uxlay, then?”

“He’s the dean’s companion.” Her face soured at that word but Susenyos continued. “He’s old. Maybe older than you. I wouldn’t challenge him.”

“You’ve lost your confidence along with your loyalty.”

His jaw tightened. “There are laws in Uxlay.”