Two soldiers approached, carrying large, covered cages that they set down on the table in front of us.
My stomach dropped.
Constantine gestured, and the men removed the cloth to reveal two massive birds with eyes like amber chips and talons that caught the dawn light like knives.
Constantine stood and moved toward the cages. His entire demeanor shifted as something in his face softened in a way that was more disturbing than his cold efficiency.
"Ah, but where are my manners? I haven't introduced you to my companions." He approached the birds, and his voice changed. Not warmer exactly, but intimate. Genuine. "Caesar. Augustus. Steady now. We have guests."
One of the eagles shifted, mantling its wings, and Constantine made a soft clicking sound with his tongue. The bird settled immediately, leaning toward him.
"Magnificent creatures, aren't they?" He glanced back at us, and for the first time, his smile reached his eyes. "I found them as chicks. Golden eagles, Aquila chrysaetos. Illegal to own in most countries, but then, legality has always been more of a... suggestion for people like us."
He reached toward one of the cages, and the bird inside pressed against the bars to meet his hand. The gesture was almost tender.
"Nature creates hierarchy," Constantine said, stroking the eagle’s feathers. "These creatures understand what humanity has forgotten. They know their place. They know their purpose. And they excel at it without question or doubt. Don't you, Augustus? Yes. Such a good boy."
The bird made a soft sound, almost a chirp, completely at odds with its predatory bearing.
He stroked the eagle's head one more time, then slowly pulled his hand back.
"You'll appreciate the poetry of this, I think." Constantine turned to face us fully, and the softness was gone. "I’m going to give you a sporting chance. Across this field, approximately eight hundredmeters, you'll find a farmhouse. Abandoned, but serviceable. Make it inside and bolt the doors, and I'll call off the hunt." He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. "A clean death. Painless. You have my word."
His word. Like that meant anything.
"Fail to reach it..." He paused, smiled slightly. "Well. Caesar and Augustus do love to hunt. And they haven't been fed this morning. I do hope you'll give them a good chase. They perform so much better with motivated prey."
Constantine finished the last of his tea and set down the cup with a satisfied sigh. He dabbed his mouth with the napkin one final time, refolded it precisely, and placed it beside his plate.
"Well then." He stood, smoothing his jacket. "I believe we've observed the proper courtesies." He pulled out his pocket watch and opened it with a soft click. "You have sixty seconds to run. I do suggest you use them wisely."
The men holding us released their grip. My legs almost buckled, but I caught myself and grabbed Rafael's arm before he could fall.
Constantine checked his watch, then looked up at us with something that might have been genuine humor. "Oh, and gentlemen? Do try to make it interesting. I'd hate for this to be over too quickly." He smiled. "Starting now."
The sound of the watch ticking was obscenely loud in the sudden silence.
Diego moved first. His eyes met mine for a split second.Run, they said.Just fucking run.
Rafael's hand locked around my good arm and pulled. My legs moved, and then we were running, grass whipping at my ankles, dawn breaking in shades of pink and gold.
No cover. No trees. That farmhouse was so far away it hurt to look at.
My shoulder burned with every step as bone scraped bone and nerves screamed. But I kept my legs pumping because the alternative was dying, and I wasn't ready for that yet.
Rafael's fingers dug into my arm hard enough to leave bruises. "Stay with me, Lorenzo, stay with me."
Behind us, Constantine shouted, "Release them."
Wing beats rushed through the air above us, huge and heavy and close. Too close. My lizard brain screamed PREDATOR while my legs pumped faster, burning, muscles screaming. The sound came from everywhere in the open field, impossible to track, impossible to escape.
"Keep going," Rafael gasped beside me, his breath harsh in his throat. "Don't stop, don't look back."
The sky was empty one second, dawn-bright and deceptively peaceful, but the next second a massive shape dove from above directly at Rafael's face. I had half a second to think:not him.
I threw myself between Rafael and the eagle without thinking. The impact knocked the air out of my lungs. Talons meant for Rafael's eyes slammed into my already-fucked shoulder instead, and pain exploded, tearing through me like lightning. My vision went white.
Rafael yanked me down as the eagle's wings beat above us, the displaced air hot against my face. The bird pulled up for another pass.
