Page 2 of Insanium (Devil’s Playground)

The night before had been dubbed The Last Supper . Kyrous had come up with the label. As much as the humor of the situation tickled me, the reality of saying goodbye to him and Char laid a bittersweet layer over any laughter.

I was really going to miss them, enough to make my eyes sting with tears if I thought too long about it.

But the drive to stand firm behind them in whatever wild schemes we’d face in the future fueled me.

This wasn’t just a game or trial of judgment; it was a promise to my brothers that I was no sideline sister or liability.

I was in this to ensure we always held the upper hand, however I could.

Mom caught the flicker of emotion across my face and sent me a questioning look.

I responded with a playful wiggle of my fingers and a mischievous wink before looking out the window.

The SUV hummed down a serpentine forest road, cutting through the thick wilderness en route to the ominously named Black Widow Estate.

Isolated miles from civilization, the estate’s whispered history taunted my curiosity.

It had once served as a playground for the founders of the Infernal Syndicate, a place where a macabre game had been brewed.

Participants back then had to align with the deadliest of predators, gambling on fleeting alliances, wondering if they’d be betrayed for a juicier target—all in a savage dance of survival.

After those brutal beginnings, the estate had been thoroughly revamped and reimagined for the latest season of Judicium .

The thrill of stepping into such a storied arena was almost palpable. I couldn’t wait to throw myself into the mix and twist the game to my tune. This was exactly the kind of challenge I relished. An opportunity to dazzle, disrupt, and dominate.

My mother’s soft voice cut through the silence, carrying a mix of concern and inevitability that immediately put me on edge. “Once Kyle finds out you’re in the Game of Judgment, he’ll be watching your every move. You know how he enjoys his little power plays.”

Ugh . Just the mention of that sad excuse for a man could darken any sunny day. How Ky and Char managed to deal with his constant scheming and never-ending bullshitting was beyond me, especially when I was clearly the superior actor among us.

“Let him watch,” I replied with a scoff. “If Ky and Charon haven’t already shown him he’s backed the wrong horse, I’m about to make it crystal clear. He’ll see exactly the mistake he made in trying to screw us over.”

“That’s my girl,” my father’s voice rumbled with pride.

“Dante,” Mom chided, light yet firm.

“Sorry, that’s our girl,” he corrected with a hearty chuckle, meeting my eye in the rearview mirror with a grin that sparked one of my own in return.

He was the true definition of a stand-up man.

Dante was the rock upon which my mother had rebuilt her shattered life after bitch-ass Kyle had discarded it like a played-out game.

He hadn’t just filled in the gaps; he’d rewritten the blueprint, taking us in not as an obligation, but as a cherished family.

To the outside world, I might have been his niece and stepdaughter, but in every way that counted, I was simply his baby girl.

He raised and guided us with all the fierceness and love of a true father, shaping not just a family but warriors ready to face any battle. I was going to miss him and Mama, but this was just as much for them as it was for Kyrous and Charon.

Dante pulled the SUV to a stop in front of a pair of towering iron gates.

Through the cold, twisted bars, the imposing Black Widow Estate lay shrouded in shadows up a long, paved driveway.

The dash clock read 7:30 PM, leaving me with a precious ten minutes to get inside.

I patted the side of my leg, reassured by the firm press of the blue knife hidden within the discreet pocket of my pants.

We weren’t allowed baggage or a change of clothes, so I’d gone for fashion and practicality.

My legs were clad in black skinny jeans, torn just enough to add a bit of edge without sacrificing mobility.

They hugged my form, allowing for maximum movement, which I’d need if I was going to dance with danger as planned.

I’d chosen a dark plaid shirt to pair with them, over a tank top.

It was loose enough to allow for quick movements but fitted enough to show I wasn’t just some waif to be underestimated.

My feet were snug in a pair of sturdy black combat boots, laced tightly up to the ankles, comfortable enough to run, fight, or stand my ground for hours.

“You all set, kiddo?” Dante asked, a blend of concern and unspoken pride swirling in his tone.

“All ready to go,” I confirmed.

Mom turned in her seat to get a good look at me, her pretty face the original version of mine. “Did you say goodbye to Hael?” she asked, her words tinged with a mother’s worry.

I shook my head. “Aisha will keep him busy. You know her sister is supposed to be here?” I threw in casually, trying to mask the rare pang of guilt for telling Hael to stay behind.

I knew he wanted to join Judicium too, but deep down, I feared it would chew him up and spit him out in lil’ bite-sized pieces.

Dante turned as Mom had, and his dark eyes met mine, a spark of irritation flickering through them. I loved how closely he resembled Ky and Char, much more than the other guy—dark-haired, dark-eyed, and effortlessly intimidating.

“We haven’t gotten to see the finalized roster yet. Another one of Kyle’s petty moves after he found out we wanted to place a bet.”

“You guys are betting on me?” I asked, pleasantly surprised. Geez, there might’ve been an actual tear in my eye.

“Aren’t you going to go in there and show them what it means to be a Vetis?” Mom fired back, her belief in me as fierce as ever. She’d been through her own Judicium , after all, kicking ass with her ex-bestie Pandora Serpine.

“I’ll give them a show they won’t forget,” I promised with a grin, the reminder of my task sparking like electricity through my veins. I leaned forward and placed a quick peck on her cheek, then Dante’s. He held me a second longer in a small hug.

“We’ll be watching, Kennedy. Every step of the way,” Dante promised, his voice thick with emotion.

“I’ll keep you entertained,” I shot back with a wink as he released me, swinging the car door open.

The cool evening air brushed against my skin.

Stepping out, I turned to give them one last look.

“Love you guys. Catch you on the other side,” I quipped, my voice steady but my heart racing with adrenaline.

“We love you, Kenzie. Be smart, and remember who you are,” Mom coached, her eyes brimming with tears she wouldn’t let fall.

I nodded, slamming the door shut behind me and striding towards the gates to hell.