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Another hiss meets my words, and Thing scuttles around a little, back and forth along the length of his chains. But his red eyes never leave me.
“My name is Hannah,” I say, slowly drawing a hand to my chest. “I’d like to be your friend. What’s your name? Can you speak?”
He scuttles backward, his head moving restlessly, a tuft of black hair that’s all tangled getting in his eyes.
“It seems like it’s been a long time since anyone’s brushed out your hair. Maybe I could help you with that,” I say softly. “I live here now, too. I’m Abaddon’s…”
“Con-sort,” says the creature in front of me gruffly, and my chest alights. He talked to me! I turn and grin up at Abaddon, who’s scowling down at me.
I ignore him and turn back to Thing. “Yes, that’s exactly right.”
I give him a glowing smile but make sure not to look him in the eyes in case he considers that a challenge. “I’m Abaddon’s consort. Sometimes I hear him calling me Hannah-consort.” I laugh a little, and Thing reacts, startling at the sound.
“Oh, sorry.” I quickly cover my mouth.
One of his hands mirrors my actions, covering his mouth. It’s sweet.
He reminds me of some of the pit bulls when they first get to the shelter. Vicious-looking and scary, yes, but real sweethearts at heart once you get to know them. A bark that’s worse than their bite. Unless you really piss them off or catch them on a bad day, that is.
“I’m hoping I can come and visit you every day,” I say. “I’d like to get to know you. We can take it as slow as you need. Or as quickly. Can I ask, do you like it down here in the dungeon?”
This gets a reaction out of him. He snorts loudly and shakes his head. A definitive no. My heart squeezes. Of course he doesn’t want to be down here. How long has it been? He’s an intelligent being, and he’s been locked up in this dark, filthy place.
“Okay,” I say. “Abaddon worries you won’t be able to control yourself.”
At Abaddon’s name, Thing raises his head and lets out a furious growl. Abaddon roars back and snaps the bullwhip.
Which makes Thing start to go crazy. I barely crabwalk backward in time as Thing gallops forward. He’s jerked back harshly by his chains, and he’s met by the crack of Abaddon’s whip slicing into one of his biceps, which makes him howl.
“Abaddon!” I cry.
“Leave!” Abaddon roars at me. “I told you this was a fool’s errand.”
From the back wall comes a cackling laugh. Remus has awakened. “Oh, pretty consort is soft-hearted.” His head has twisted around, and he grins manically at me with his too-wide mouth from beneath stringy, filthy hair. His tail rises behind him like a snake. I didn’t even know he was capable of speech. “Maybe you should let me play with her, brother.”
I grimace and back away toward the door.
Thing snarls and lashes out at Abaddon from his chains, which leads to another cruel snap of his bullwhip.
“Stop it!” I yell at Abaddon. Who looks at me like I’m crazy. Remus’s cackling and Thing constantly rearing against his chains isn’t helping anything, so I head for the stairs.
Abaddon follows. The door to the dungeon slams behind him, and I breathe out to calm my nerves as the iron bars slide back in place. Then I head back up the stairs to the lighted levels. I pause on the ground floor foyer.
“Are you satisfied now?” Abaddon growls at me moments later when he arrives at my side. “I told you it was hopeless.”
I turn on him with my mouth open. “Are you kidding? You totally provoked them.” I throw my hands out. “And who wouldn’t be goaded with you whacking them with that damn whip thing every other second.” You made Thing bleed!”
Abaddon looks astonished. “He’s a monster! He was about to attack you.”
“We were having a perfectly nice conversation before you inserted yourself.”
“Nice conversat— He said one word to you.”
“How many does he usually say to you?” I cock my head.
Abaddon’s silent.
I exhale furiously. “You saw him shake his head. He hates it down there. Of course he does. He’s a thinking, feeling being. And you’ve got him locked up in the dark. It’s atrocious. I can’t believe you, of all people, would lock your own brother up like that!”
“Me, of all people?” he growls then moves into my space, backing me up against the wall. “Why? Because I’m a monster, too?”
I look up into his intimidating face and the frankly barbaric way he’s acting. I put my hands on my hips. Refusing to be intimidated. “Yes,” I say right into his lion’s face. “Exactly that. And because I’ve seen the whip marks on your own back underneath your wings.”
