Only a Monster by Vanessa Len Read Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t alone in his objection. The other Olivers were shifting their weight, uncomfortable too—it seemed that only Edmund had a taste for blood.
    â€œAaron, this is a surprise,” Edmund said mildly to the boy. “Are you actually expressing an opinion?”
    There was a long silence. Long enough for Joan to hope that the boy—Aaron—would help her and Nick. That he’d stop this. But in the end it was Edmund who spoke again. “ Leave. ”
    â€œFather—”
    â€œWe’ll speak of this in the morning,” Edmund said.
    There was a dark flush on Aaron’s cheeks, but he hesitated.
    â€œHelp us!” Joan begged Aaron. He didn’t meet her eyes. “ Please. You can’t let him do this. He’s going to kill us!”
    â€œAaron,” Edmund said softly. His tone made Joan think of a snake sliding over grass.
    Aaron dropped his head. Then, to Joan’s despair, he turned and walked out of the room.
    Joan turned back to Edmund. “Why are you doing this?” Because Nick had seen them arrive? Because Joan was a Hunt, and the two families hated each other?
    â€œWhy?” Edmund’s eyes were as cold and gray as stone. “Because it will leaven my evening.” But for some reason, Joan flashed back to the way his eyes had widened when he’d peered down at her. The Hunts have been keeping secrets , he’d said. “And because you should never have been born.” This was said with sincerity and loathing.
    Metal scraped. Joan jerked her eyes back toward the fireplace. Lucien had pulled the sword from its bracket. Silver flashed as he drew the blade. He thrust it into the air, the blade moving faster than Joan’s eyes could follow. It was clear that he knew how to use it.
    Joan gripped the knife. This couldn’t be happening. A few feet away, Nick was slumped unconscious, held up between two men. His familiar body was limp, as if he were dead already. Just a little while ago, they’d kissed. This couldn’t be happening .
    â€œDo it,” Edmund said to Lucien. The impatience in his voice made Joan shudder. She wondered how much it would hurt when Lucien stabbed her. Would it be like when you cut yourself, and nothing hurt at all for a few seconds? Would she be dead before the pain came? Maybe Nick wouldn’t feel anything either. Maybe he’d be unconscious for it all.
    Joan didn’t really believe that, though. Edmund seemed the type who enjoyed seeing other people suffer.
    â€œYou don’t have to do what he says,” she told Lucien. In her head, the words had felt steady, but out loud, her voice dipped in and out like a faulty speaker. “You know this is wrong.” Lucien didn’t respond to her, so Joan turned to the rest of the family. “You can’t just watch us die,” she said desperately. But everyone was avoiding her eyes.
    â€œEnough hesitation, Lucien,” Edmund said. “End this. Or do you need someone to knock her out too?”
    Lucien flushed dark red. He turned to Joan. He raised his sword and prowled toward her. Joan’s hands went cold and numb.
    She stumbled back. Velvet chairs scraped behind her as people got out of the way. “This is murder!” she said.
    â€œQuiet!” Lucien snapped at her. He thrust the sword. Joan dove back, shocked when she avoided the blow. But she wasn’t fast enough to dodge the next. The blade caught her side. The pain struck a moment later. She heard herself make a stunned sound. Blood began to seep, thick and wet.
    Joan slashed desperately at Lucien. He punched her wristwith his fist, an agonizing slam, weighted with his sword. Joan grunted in pain and the knife flew from her hand.
    The sharp edge of the sword came again. Joan dodged, and only just evaded it.
    The next blow was too fast. Joan had one clear thought as the blade raced toward her. She was going to die. She flinched.
    But the blow didn’t