Page 462 of Coal Hearts

He stood beside the curving staircase branching to the left.

Arms crossed, pristine navy suit soaking up the scant light from the crystal-dripping chandelier, his smile seemed crocodilian.

The sense of déjà vu from the night I’d been flown here threatened to overlap this one.

That night, I’d still believed I could escape.

Now...I wasn’t so sure.

But I’ll try...

“Ah, there you are!” Victor grinned with welcome, his greying-blond hair dancing with rainbows from the crystals above. “I was beginning to think you’d all drowned.”

Henri shifted Peter in his arms and stopped before the man who ruled all our lives. “Vic.” He bowed a little. “Like I told your guards, it’s been a long fucking day. Can I have a shower and some sleep before participating in whatever annoying debrief you have planned?”

“Found even more ego out there, I see.” Victor looked past him with a raised eyebrow, smirking at the three of us, red and bruised behind him. “My, my, it has been a long day. I told you to shoot one gem, Henri. Not all of them.”

Henri forced a tired chuckle. “I got lucky.”

Victor frowned at the red coating Henri. “And you also shot yourself?” Reaching out to smear Henri’s bloody bicep, he scowled. “Wait, that’s not—”

“You’re right.” Henri backed up, Peter dangling over his arms. “It’s not paint. Not all of it, at least.”

Victor’s friendly welcome turned arctic. “Explain.”

“I was attacked by a Master in the caves. He stabbed me.” Angling his arm, Henri arched his chin at the wound in his bicep. “I retaliated. It got...messy.”

Victor huffed. “Please tell me you haven’t killed any more of my guests, mon ami.”

“No.” Henri kept a cool expression. “I’ve learned my lesson not to disobey you. I...I merely defended myself. I got injured for the effort, but I left him alive. He was still in the cave when the tide came in. I didn’t see what happened after that.”

“You’re saying a guest drowned? Who?”

Playing a dangerous game, Henri gave a name. “Kyle.”

“Kyle?” Victor gave him a careful look. “Kyle drowned?”

“Well, he said his name was Kyle. I didn’t exactly ask for ID.”

“I wasn’t aware you’d had interactions with him.”

“I haven’t.” Henri huffed, rearranging Peter again. “He was with Charles when we first met. Charles introduced us on the beach.”

“I see.” He inhaled a little harder as if sniffing for lies.

“They went ahead. I didn’t see Charles again, but I did bump into Kyle. He was...having some fun with a jewel and a knife.”

I shivered and fought the urge to touch my neck where Kyle had started to slice.

Victor didn’t speak for a while before nodding slowly. “It’s true he is a violent fellow. I’ve had to educate and discipline him more times than he’s worth.”

“Charles said he was the reason for all your cameras.”

“He was.” Victor nodded again. “Alright, tell me the rest. You interrupted his little filleting fun, and he ordered you to leave. I’m guessing you didn’t?”

Henri shrugged, his biceps bunching under Peter’s unconscious form. “He seemed high as a kite, if I’m honest. The moment I stepped into the cave, he came at me because he knew I’d tell you what he’d gotten up to.”

Mollie, Rachel, and I didn’t dare move as Victor mulled over Henri’s half-truths. “Okay...say I believe you on that. What happened next?”