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CHAPTER2
JAKUB
Red is a colour I’ve seen in varying shades over the years.
It’s the bright scarlet of blood trickling from the wounds my father inflicted on my body. It’s the deep hibiscus of a bruise blooming across my skin from his fists. The blush of my cheeks as he ordered me to fuck women whilst he watched. It’s the cherry, rose and ruby of the cunts that I was forced to pleasure as a teenager with my mouth and tongue. It’s the rust of a manacle wrapped around my ankles and wrists whilst my father flogged my back raw to teach me a lesson.
It’s the port wine stain of Nothing’s birthmark, blooming darker from my touch.
It’s the fire that took her mother’s life and scarred her back.
It’s the rich merlot of Star’s blood and brain matter that haunts me still.
It’s the red mist that settles over me now.
With a roar, I pull back my fist and slam it into Leon’s face. He stumbles backwards, shock quickly replaced with anger of his own.
“What thefuck, Jakub!” he shouts, pressing his fingers against his split lip, spreading the scarlet over his chin. Behind me I hear Thirteen suck in a breath as his mask slips. He adjusts it quickly.
“Get the fuck out!” I shout at her. She starts to write on her notepad, but I grasp her wrists. “No. You’ve done enough! Push me again and you’ll see what I’m capable of doing to those who keep secrets from me.”
Her face drains of colour.No, she silently begs, shaking her head.Please.
“Get the fuck out now or find yourself strapped to a fucking cross alongside Nothing!”
No. Wait!her expression implores.
“Get out of my sight!” I snap, backing her out of the room and shoving her into the hallway beyond before slamming the door in her face. The moment she leaves, the three of us rip off our masks.
“This is some bullshit,” Konrad remarks. “Thirteen’s fucking with us. Her and Zero are in on this together.”
“Shut your fucking mouth,” I snap, holding up my hand to silence him before focussing back on Leon who’s staying suspiciously quiet. “Tell meeverything. Right the fuck now.”
“I told you everything that night we had dinner in the courtyard with Nought. I set the fire. Nessa died. I pulled Nought out. There’s nothing left to say other than the fact I didn’t know she wasthatgirl. I only began to suspect the night she showed us her back.”
“But you didn’t tell me about Star! Younevertold me about that!”
“What difference would it have made? I can’t change what happened.”
“I deserved to know.”
“And now you do,” he replies, gritting his jaw. “There is nothing left to say.”
“And yet here we are, surrounded by so many secrets that this room is thick with them,” I bite back, snatching up the letter and casting my gaze over the pretty cursive. I screw it up in my hand, crumpling the paper into a tiny ball before throwing it into the open fire. It turns to ash within seconds.
“I had no idea that she was a Dálaigh,isa Dálaigh,” Leon says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Right now, that isn’t what concerns me the most. You’ve kept things from me.”
“Look, I’m sorry about Star. I made a choice based on a foolish boy’s feelings. That boy is gone now, as is Star. It’s been years, Jakub.”
“I’m not talking about the dog. I’m talking aboutyou.”
“Why do I concern you?”
“You’ve hidden how youfeel.”
“What?!” he snaps.
