Broken (The Captive #5.5)(89)
"Like you haven't lain with countless others over the years!" Her voice, shrill with terror, caused him to wince.
A cruel smile curved his mouth when he looked back at her. "I can assure you that every woman I've lain with over the years has always been the same one in my mind, and it wasn't you. Nor are there any women walking around with my bastards."
There was still no color in her face but she thrust her shoulders back and lifted her chin defiantly. "You're a heartless prick to throw us out like this."
He released a chortle of laughter and turned to walk back to her. She stepped protectively in front of the crying child. Atticus grasped hold of the crib rail on either side of her and leaned closer. His nostrils flared as he savored in the distress wafting off of her in acrid waves of sweat.
"I'm a soulless prick dear, get it right," he informed her before turning and walking back to the dividing door.
"Aren't you even going to ask who the father is?" she blurted as he opened the door.
"I already know and if you tell him that I know, I can assure you they will be the last words you ever utter." He closed the door between them and threw the lock into place.
It was three hours later when he escorted her down the stairs and into the grand entranceway. Anna kept the child pressed against her chest and her head held high as she was paraded past everyone. Gideon stepped forward first; his hazel eyes narrowed as he looked from Atticus to Anna.
"Do you not want a trial?" he inquired. Anna shook her head and glanced down at Melinda. "Are you not going to deny these accusations?"
"No," Anna said quietly. "I'm not."
Gideon's jaw clenched, his eyes flickered between him and Anna, but though he looked like he wanted to protest further, he shook his head and stepped away. They continued down the main entranceway past Braith, Caleb, Natasha, and Jericho but no one else offered a protest. The vampires within may not like the way she was being treated but infidelity wasn't to be tolerated from a still married woman that had no open understanding with her husband. He handed Anna over to the waiting contingent of guards that were to take her out of the palace. The crowd that had gathered began to disperse, he heard the whispers growing amongst them, the disbelief, but Anna had offered no protest against his accusations.
Could it be true? They all speculated and not so secretly.
Atticus refrained from smiling, though inwardly he was alive with pleasure as he turned and walked back to the stairwell. He could already feel the interested gazes of the women following him but he'd just gotten rid of one woman he'd never wanted in his life, he wasn't about to pick up another one.
***
March 20th, 2075,
My dearest Genny,
It is done; Anna is dead and the child is presumed so. I feel no compunction about having had Anna or the child slaughtered. There are always sacrifices to be made and it is such a relief to have her out of my life forever.
The time for war has come. There were some on The Council that voted down the idea. They'll pay for that when the war is over, but the rest have decided that they've had enough of being held down in this world, enough of being slaughtered due to the human's ignorance and stupidity. They've also agreed that for the war there should only be one leader. Due to my age, lineage, and the stronghold of this palace they have agreed that I should be king for the time being.
I will not be giving that position up.
I've made many strategic moves over the years to acquire an armory that could shatter this world. I have established a number of humans amongst positions of power over the past fifteen years throughout the world. I financed their campaigns, made them what they are, and even placed one in the White House. It's amazing how quickly they were willing to sell out their beliefs and principles for a chance at more wealth and power. They didn't know they were making a deal with the devil, that they still are, but they will push the right buttons and make the right moves when they are told to do so.
Though some of them know what I am, they are still willing to help me in this war in exchange for a position of even more power and money after it is over. I will fulfill my promises to them; they will after all be needed as food when all is said and done. As much as I'd like all humans dead, even I am not insane enough to think that could be possible, we would all starve.
My goal is so close at hand that I can taste it, I'll finally have my revenge. It will finally be over. The first of the massive bombs will go off today; there will be nothing left except for what I have chosen there to be, which are certain colonies within this nation. I sent men to look for Camille last year, I haven't heard back from them as I told them not to return. They were to stay with her if she was located and take her to a safe location. I hope they found her but even if they didn't, I must move forward.
CHAPTER 30
December 29th, 2082, My dearest Genny,
It's finally over. The blitz attack we leveled upon the humans didn't give them much of a chance but for a weak and spineless race, they lasted longer than I had expected and there are still some stragglers living like the vermin they are, in and amongst the surrounding forests. We had many casualties too. Some lines were completely eradicated, including the Champon line. It was a big loss but we will recover.
Other humans have become our servants and slaves, and some have positions of power within the town. They are foolish enough to think they are important but if they are willing to help keep the other humans in line then let them act how they will. I'm sure they know their necks could be snapped on a whim.