“Aren’t you happy to see me? After all, I am your son,” Snoe said.
Hilde yanked at her chains and gazed down at her wrists.
“You probably tried to use magic. Those little gold bands around your wrists won’t let that happen.”
“What the fuck is happening?” Dash shouted.
“Excuse me,” Snoe said.
He turned to Dash, pulled his fist back, and punched Dash in the face. Snoe’s fist throbbed and his knuckles were split, but the bloody nose Dash had made it all worth it.
“I’m trying to have a conversation with my stepmother. Would you shut the fuck up?” Snoe said.
He sat back down. “Sorry about tha—”
“This shouldn’t be possible. You should be dead,” Hilde said.
Snoe shrugged. “Should’ve, would’ve.”
The guests around the room started to get a little rowdy and shouting, and it was a distraction. Snoe lifted a finger at Hilde. “I’ll explain everything soon, but first, why don’t we enjoy the show together. I know how you’re such a fan of murder.”
Hilde’s eyes widen. “You wouldn’t. Your little sister is down there.”
Snoe gave her a toothy grin. “What kind of monster do you think I am? I was merciful and killed her before waking everyone.”
Pure agony showed on her face. “Oh, don’t worry. Her body won’t get lost in the bloodbath. I made sure to sit her next to you.”
Hilde slowly turned to her other side and looked down. The shrill scream that came from her was one Snoe had dreamed about for a long time.
“Go ahead and kill everyone,” Snoe said.
“Wait, I’m not supposed to be here—we did everything you said,” Mel shouted.
Snoe said nothing as one of his demon wolves tackled his husband and ripped his throat open. The room erupted in screams as people tried to fend for themselves and get to an escape.
“Watch this,” Snoe said, shoulder bumping against Dash.
“There are vampires,” someone shouted.
The room was filled with screams cut halfway off. Chase got so bold, he ran toward Snoe, a knife in hand. Snoe didn’t move, just watched as one of his demon wolves took him down and Chase’s blood splattered just an inch from Snoe’s shoes.
“What the fuck is happening?” Dash asked. He sounded nasally, and Snoe couldn’t help but laugh at him.
“Why?” Dash asked.
Snoe rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on, you can’t be that dumb.” He glanced over to Hilde, who had gained composure of herself. She stared at the bloodshed with an uninterested look on her face.
Snoe stood and went behind his chair and grabbed the present he got Dash. “I know usually newlyweds open their gifts later when they are home, but I just can’t possibly wait that long.” Snoe sat the box on Dash’s lap.
“I don’t want it,” Dash said. he tried to push it away, and Snoe pulled it back.
“But I thought of you when I saw it,” Snoe said. “Here, I’ll help you. I’ll open it so you can enjoy it.”
Snoe removed the pretty bright blue blow and the colored wrapping paper. He opened the box and took out Vanessa’s head. It was in better condition than he would have thought.
“Vanessa,” Dash whispered.
Snoe dropped the severed head in his lap.
“You know, she said she loved you, wanted me to make sure you didn’t get married so you two could live happily ever after.” Snoe chuckled. “But she couldn’t wait, no matter how much I told her I would take care of it. I’d planned for her to be killed right in front of you. It was going to be my going-away present. But this is almost just as good.”
Dash’s entire body trembled.
“You’re dead,” someone blurted out behind Snoe. He didn’t even bother to look. He heard the wet sound of flesh being torn, and the scream died off.
“So, best gift or what?” Snoe asked.
“You’re deranged,” Hilde said.
Snoe sighed. “I was having a brotherly moment, and now it’s gone.”
Snoe took his seat, once again taking in the view of the room. Around the room, once-white tablecloths were now all crimson. It was just like the night Snoe was attacked and had nearly died. He was the white amongst the spots of red.
“I thought you would have appreciated the flair,” Snoe said. “I have the vampires and my demon wolves. Come on, even you have to agree you didn’t see it coming,” Snoe said.
Hilde sat there quietly, not saying a word to him. Snoe sighed. If he didn’t know he was getting to her, he might have gotten angry about her silence.
“Fine, give me the silent treatment,” Snoe said. He stood up, remembering what he still needed to do. “Before everyone’s dead, I better call him here,” Snoe said.
Snoe made the demonic circle and pushed his magic into it, summoning Ezyrah. Hilde gasped. Ezyrah appeared wearing his mask.
“Impossible,” Hilde said.
Ezyrah turned toward Hilde, and he vanished from the circle as smoke circled around Hilde.
Snoe took his seat before he ended up falling down. He loosened the tie around his neck. The amount of magic he used to summon a demon was always painful. He pushed past it and focused on the sight at hand.
“I told you I wanted to watch the massacre,” Ezyrah said.
“Sorry about that. Got a little consumed with everything. But I made sure to get you here before it ended. See?” Snoe said, gesturing to the people still being torn apart and fed on.
“Yes, I guess you did,” Ezyrah said. He still didn’t remove the mask. Usually it was off by now.
“You shouldn’t be able to be in this realm,” Hilde said.
“You two know each other?” Snoe asked.
“How did someone like you get the demon from the mirror?” Hilde asked.
It dawned on Snoe why Ezyrah didn’t like the mirror. “You said you didn’t want to hear the story. And that mirror? I smashed it,” Snoe said.
“What?” Hilde shrieked. “You fool—that mirror is worth more than your life, worth more than anything you could ever think of.”
Snoe shrugged. “And now it’s worth nothing.”
Dash must have been easing out of his shock because he started screaming and shouting uncontrollably. He thrashed around in his seat, banging his head back against the chair. His seat rocked on its legs before crashing to the ground. Vanessa’s head rolled off the little stand they were on, splashing in a puddle of blood.
Snoe got up and squatted down to inspect Dash. His face was red, tears streamed down his face, and blood dripped from his nose.
“Remember when we were kids and you used to suspend me in the air with your magic and make me spin and spin and no matter how much I cried to be let down you would keep going?” Snoe asked.
Dash didn’t answer him as he continued to cry and shake on the floor.
“I remember one specific time I was spinning for almost half an hour. I had puked and pissed myself, and still, you continued; I believe you told me you would stop if I said…” Snoe tilted his head. “What were those words again?”
Dash didn’t look at him, but Snoe knew he was listening.
“Dash is the best, and I’m just a pissy bitch,” Snoe said. He looked at Dash’s pants. “I guess you’re missing one thing. But that’s okay. If I just cut it off, all the blood will soak into your pants and it will look like you peed yourself. That’s good enough for me.”