Chapter 17
"I was trying to build an empire with you!" Vanessa shrieked, her American accent cracking under the sheer terror of her impending doom. "I loved you!" Ethan didn't flinch. The beam of the flashlight illuminated her desperate, tear-streaked face. "You loved the crown," Ethan corrected smoothly, his volume incredibly low but absolute. "But you lacked the strength to carry its weight. You are a parasite." He turned his back on her, the polished leather of his shoes crunching softly on the concrete floor. "Wait! Don't leave me in the dark!" Vanessa screamed, reaching her dirty hands through the iron bars. Ethan paused at the heavy steel door. "You will remain in this cage until your mind fractures entirely, Vanessa," Ethan stated, his voice a freezing, lethal hum. "And when you finally forget your own name, I will let the earth reclaim you." He stepped out into the corridor, the heavy door slamming shut and locking with a definitive, metallic clang. The estate above was bathed in bright, natural sunlight, completely free of any dull yellow tint. Ethan walked back into the light, having permanently buried the woman who had dared to touch his queen.
