Page 149 of Once Upon a Fable

All we had was each other.

And that was both a blessing and a curse.

Mrs. Willby blew me a kiss. “You’re so handsome, Kas. I think I’ll ask Stu about taking you home with us. I know he’s denied my request before but you’re older now. You need some life experience.”

I forced myself to smile, reaching for my weapon. “A change of scenery would be good.”

She beamed, flicking a disillusioned look at her beer-bellied husband. “I agree. It would be very good indeed.” Winking at me, she added, “Now, let’s play a game. I’ve missed you and you’ve made me rather eager.”

I shuddered, feeling the binds of conditioning, the constant need to protect my Fable family, the evil whispers in my head to submit, surrender, succumb.

Be a good boy.

Do precisely what they say.

Beg, moan, crawl, and cry.

I straightened my spine.

I curled my hand around the knife.

No more.

Tonight, I’m done.

I smiled at my masters.

I raised my hand, flames glinting off my blade.

And it was so easy.

Too easy.

The knife was sharp.

Mrs. Willby’s throat was soft.

I swooped up, sliced deep, and her skin parted like melted butter, blood pouring like a red, red river.

For a second, nothing happened.

Mrs. Willby blinked like an owl.

Mr. Willby chuckled as if I’d introduced a new game.

And then, all fucking hell broke loose.

She went to scream.

I shoved her backward and smashed a pillow over her face as she bled out.

Mr. Willby yelled a curse, throwing himself on me.

I elbowed him in the gut, spun around, hacked off his cock, then gave him the same bloody end as his wife.

His throat almost split completely in two. My force was too strong, making his head unstable and his body buckling instantaneously.

He gurgled and choked.