Chapter 241 - It's A Crime To Be Cute
Chapter 241 – It’s A Crime To Be Cute
"Amazing, don't you think?"
Somewhere deep in the imperial palace, was an underground expanse that was akin to a church. But instead of pews, there was this enormous space, surrounded by huge pillars that stood in a circular formation.
Each pillar had these connecting sunken lines on the concrete floor that all connected in the middle part, where another circle was sculpted under a cup. Over the middle part was a naked woman, littered with bruises and wounds, hanging with her hands tied from opposite directions.
Her blood was trickling down her unmoving feet, dripping down into the cup below her. I couldn't see her face as it was hung low and her disheveled hair covering it, but even without seeing it, I could tell she was a step away from death.
"Do you want to see her up close?" I snapped my eyes and twisted my neck to my side where Niall stood. "But that would change nothing."
"What are you going to do with her?"
"Isn't it obvious?" his mocking voice echoed across this underground sacrificial circle. "I'm squeezing every last bit of her powers. I'm retrieving what they stole from me."
He peeled his eyes away from me and looked up at the hanged woman. The corner of his lips curled up, hands interlaced behind him. There were many things in his eyes but remorse.
"Will you guess how many had taken that spot?" he inquired playfully, eyes narrowing until they were half-closed. "I can't even count anymore. Witches are amazing. They don't submit until the end, so I have no other choice but to force their powers out of their body. It's fun, regardless."
A shallow breath slipped past my lips as I looked at where he was staring at. "Why commit a mass execution if you are already holding custody of some witches?"
"Aside from it was fun to see witches weep for their sisters, it's a good bait." Niall crossed his arms and his amused smile remained. "However, now that you are here, I don't think that will work anymore."
I secretly ground my teeth as I squashed down the dread trying to settle in my heart. Niall had planned this for a long time. I could tell on the way in here and how this place didn't seem to exist to others. This had been going on for a long time.
No wonder he was able to unleash such power back on Althea. He had been drinking the witches' blood. Since when? Only Niall could answer that.
"I'm not angry, though. The lamb is blessed with the knowledge of the world, so this should be trivial to her." He smirked and cocked his head back to cast me a knowing look. "Want to hear my next plan since my previous one will not work anymore?"
"Why would you tell your plans to the person who is already prepared to sabotage it?"
"Hmm… to add some thrill to it?"
"Shoot." I nodded, taking a step to face him while jerking my chin slightly. "What were you planning? I'm all ears."
Niall kept quiet as he narrowed his eyes. He didn't speak and just stare at me with his arms still crossed.
"What am I planning?" he dawdled, pivoting on his heel to face me squarely. He took three steps, closing the gap between us while I remained in the same spot.
When he bent over, his face a palm length away from mine, the side of his lips curled up. "Make me… speak." He laughed with his lips closed, staring deep into my eyes.
"You can't always be on the receiving end, Lam. It's bad to spoil you rotten."
I fought myself from rolling my eyes as I looked away and was prompted to leave. "Whatever." I waved, walking back in the direction we came from. I could still feel his gaze on my back, his playful waves of laughter echoing.
"You're no fun, Lam." He complained in between his laughs. "Wait for me."
"Don't follow me for a while. I'll be scheming."
"I can teach you how!" he offered as soon as he caught up to me, walking to my side. Niall tilted his body, lips stretched from ear to ear until his teeth were showing, eyes on me.
"If you want to learn about scheming, I am the best person you need to ask."
"I am scheming for your demise," came out a misplaced innocent voice, not pausing in my tracks. "I cannot uproot evil if I use evil means."
He clicked his tongue continuously. "Wrong. To fight evil, you must become even more evil."
"If you really want to help, then leave me alone." I shook my head lightly, thinking that I could always watch him from a distance. I knew he was simply trying to drag me into things because watching things unfold from a distance would make me see things better.
"I am trying to help." I frowned and then he poked my cheek with a finger, but I ignored him. "Even though the main goal is to kill me. I mean, aren't I generous? I've let you in on a secret as well."
"Secrets I already knew."
"So ungrateful." He snapped his tongue once again. I glanced at him, only to see him pouting. "This is what happens when someone is spoiled rotten. They take things for granted."
"Stop poking my cheek." I slapped his finger that was still on my cheek, only for him to pinch it.
"Ah!"
"Damn you. I want to peel your cheek. It's a crime for someone to be this cute."
"Hey!" I held his hand and ground my teeth, but he kept pinching my cheek. The pain was bearable, but it was annoying.
"Stop… just listen to your big brother." A smug grin dominated his face as he dragged me with him while pinching my cheek. As we did so, I kept complaining and I ended up biting his hands like a mad dog.
Now I understood Sally's way of revenge.. People could be so annoying that you just want to bite their skin off of them.