2. Erebus

On the computer monitor, I watched as chaos ensued. The three guys, all clean-cut and dressed in polo shirts with designer jeans, laughed as the girl, who looked like a doll, crossed her arms over her chest. She was clearly not amused.

The one that was the most interesting had hair as dark as the night, and she tugged at the front door, probably praying that there was a way out of my web. Hint: there wasn't. The only escape was completing our trials, and none of them would leave Toussaint Manor alive.

Her terror was delicious and exciting, sweeter than the pralines on the desk in front of me. Absentmindedly, I petted Gumbo on the head. He grumbled and laid his head down, disappointed that he wasn't the center of my attention. "Shh, cher. Let me work for a while."

Minos stared at me, taking a sip from his coffee cup. "You treat the gator better than you do most people."

"Says the asshole with two killer teacup yorkies with more outfits than a debutante." The two demon mutts yipped from their dog beds. "Plus, gators have souls. Dear Maman taught us that."

I grinned wider, swiveling in my chair to face him, and pointed at the screen. "This is my favorite part. Seeing the look on their faces when they realize it's not just a game. This group isn't very bright. They think it's all a joke still."

My brother ran a hand down his face, exasperated as usual. "In the next five minutes, they'll know the truth." He raised an eyebrow at me. "Besides, it seems that Harper Leigh has already figured it out."

Even as we spoke, Harper's eyes darted around the foyer, looking for an exit. Her fingers clawed at the door as she snapped at her friends. "This isn't funny!"

She was wrong about that, but I wouldn't correct her. Not yet.

Even through the feed, she was beautiful. Wild looking. Her lips were parted, and I knew her pupils were blown from the fear coursing through her body. If you looked close enough, you could tell that her soul had a sliver of darkness just begging to come out and play. What better holiday than Halloween to make that happen?

My dick grew hard in my pants watching her, and I palmed it through the fabric. "It's such a shame," I mused out loud. "I want to keep her. Please, just this one, Minos."

She would be the perfect addition to our little family. I could teach her everything she needed to know and mold her into what I wanted her to be. Gumbo wouldn't be happy sharing my attention, but–

My brother sighed at me, cutting off my thoughts. For a fraction of a second, I assumed he might agree to my request. After all, I didn't ask for a lot. "No, Erebus. We can't keep her, and you know why. She's not a pet, and it's against the rules. Besides, she won't make it through tonight. They never do. You can have fun with her, but then she dies. Just like the others."

Fuck the rules. I was sick of them. I tried to plead with him. "But what if–"

He cut me off with a look. "There are no buts. Besides, even if she does live, you wouldn't want her after the trials. The pretty girl you see on the screen isn't who will emerge from the house."

He was wrong, but I stopped the conversation. There was no point in continuing it, but I knew the truth. I wanted Harper Leigh for myself, even if she had burns or scars. Even if she was missing fingers. All of those were genuine possibilities. She was my perfect plaything, and she didn't know it. I could make her into the nightmare she was destined to be.

Finally, I hit the button on the sound system, knowing it was time to start the next stage of our game. "Bonjour, mes amis. I'm sure that you're curious about why you're here tonight. How did you find yourself in our web?"

"Fuck you," my little nightmare screamed at the wall. "Let us out."

I let out a deep chuckle. "Shh, cher. Don't be so hasty. I think you'll enjoy the games we have planned for you." Gumbo grumbled at my feet again, and I gave him a reassuring pat before continuing. "Now, as I was saying. At the beginning of each room, I'll play a video that contains a clue about why you're here."

"What's the catch?" Harper shouted. Her friends were still laughing, not taking the situation seriously. They would soon.

"The catch is that you have to survive to find out why."

I pressed play on the computer beside me, sending the video feed to the screen positioned further down the hallway, right outside the entryway for the first game. My heart caught in my throat as I watched it alongside them, and sorrow coated my tongue.

It was a picturesque summer day. The sun glowed in the azure sky, and puffy white clouds rolled overhead. The grass was still green, not dry from the heat yet. Tall trees sat in the distance, their leaves swaying in the gentle breeze. Sunlight glimmered off of the lake water like diamonds.

From the visual on the screen, you could almost smell honeysuckles and hear the scream of cicadas in the background. That weekend would change the trajectory of their lives for everyone involved, but they didn't know it yet.

Three girls were dressed in shorts, wearing bikini tops, sitting on colorful beach towels, smiling as they chatted about whatever girls that age discuss. Occasionally, one would throw her head back in laughter, and another would raise her eyebrows.

One by one, three guys appeared in the frame. One flopped down beside the curvy black-haired beauty and tugged her into his lap. Another pestered the woman holding a book, and she shoved at his chest, rolling her eyes at his antics. The third ran past everyone, jumping into the crystal water of the lake.

It was a moment torn straight out of a teen movie. Too bad it took a sinister turn.

I cleared my throat, ignoring the emotion that clogged it. "Now, if all contestants can enter door number one, the games can begin."

I watched as Harper entered the room and held my breath, hoping she wouldn't be the first one to go. Perhaps I could convince my brother to keep her if she survived.