Page 8 of Fragile Facade

Bargains in the stone hall of Vile House are so vibrant. Fear leeches into the air, turning the cavernous room wicked, and power rumbles from the ten of us. The combination of fearandpower turns me on because I’m not the one who’s terrified. I’m the god, standing here in my favourite mask, arms crossed and my smile in place beneath the material over my face, watching this poor, pathetic rodent wring his hands together, building up the nerve to speak.

All ten of us are here tonight, ready to fight over a new bargain. It’s not often we’re all home when someone comes knocking, but when we are, it makes the newcomer sweat so much more.

He’s shaking on his feet, looking at the stone floor instead of us. As the door closes behind him and the initiate—Selena—leaves to monitor the house, he whimpers. Took balls to come here, especially on Halloween night, but now he’s cracking, and I love watching them break.

We don’t say anything. Director once told us to demand that they speak to get things moving, but by some unspoken agreement, none of us ever do. It’s more fun to wait them out, watch them panic, see them second-guess their decision to come here. But no one leaves Vile House alive unless they make a bargain or fight their way out, and this one doesn’t look like he has much fight left in him.

Shame.

Kyd vibrates next to me, and Facts jitters on my other side. Krypt leans against the wall, seemingly bored, and Monster shifts his weight from foot to foot. Ransom, Glitch, Seven, and Ghost are all stark still. Menace is poised, drinking down this guy’s pained fear, leaning forward like he wants to goad him into a new reaction.

“I… I… hi,” he says, voice shaking. “I, um, heard about the bargains you make?”

As one, we all breathe out, shifting our weight, acting as a unit. It’s never planned, but we’ve been a team for years now, and we’ve been through enough of these bargain meetings to know how to dictate the outcome. My arousal spikes when the guy looks behind him, tempted by the exit.

“How… how do I make a bargain?” he asks, looking at our feet.

Menace answers. “You tell us what you want and then you tell us what you’re willing to give up to get it.”

“Don’t waste our time,” Ransom adds harshly.

“Oh, okay,” he says. “It’s a matter of… an estate.”

Pathetic.

He’s not a street-smart guy, that much is obvious. He’s wearing a hoodie from the university Selena attends. I don’t recognize him from Moros, so how the fuck does he know about Vile House bargains?

“I have family here. My great aunt passed away and left her house to me, but my cousin won’t move out of it.”

“Who’s your cousin?” Ghost asks.

“Willow Olenna.”

My smile is so sinister I wish he could see it beneath my mask. Love when Willow plays her own games, and now I know how this guy found out about Vile House. This isn’t his bargain, it’s hers, and I’m excited to see what she’s going to offer up. Information is Willow’s game, and I’m eager to be the one to collect.

“So, in exchange for you getting her out of my house, I will offer you… uh, money?”

“Don’t want money,” Seven says.

“Why do you want the house then?” Kyd asks. “Gonna move in?”

“I want to sell it.”

“Offer something better,” Glitch snaps. “Not money.”

“Like what?” he asks. “I can pay you. I don’t have much more than money.”

Then why’s he want to sell the house? “How about your ass?” Menace suggests. “Bet you’re an anal virgin.”

“N-no,” he stammers, backing towards the door. “Please, I just want her out of the house! It’s not worth my… ass. I just don’t want her to have it!” He gulps, and the ten of us step forward as he steps back.

“Why’d your cousin tell you about Vile House?” Krypt asks, baiting him.

“She didn’t. I overheard her talking about it, saying she was going to come here to make a bargain.”

I laugh with my whole body. “So you thought you’d beat her to it?”

“Yes…” He tries to open the door, but it’s locked. “Look, maybe this is a bad idea.”