I tried not to blame Khan for his actions against me because I knew he experienced the same level of trauma, if not more. But every time he fucked me over, he pushed me one step closer to receiving my father's torture. It was getting harder and harder not to leave him for dead.
My father's mangled face stared back at us with absolute disgust. We were so much more than just his children. We were a reminder of what had happened to him, as well as what he lost so long ago. "Who was it? Which one of you tried to leave?"
Eagerly, my brother pointed. "It was Lucian. He was the one who disobeyed your orders, sir," Khan said.
"You are a worse liar than him," I shouted and backed into the corner of my cage. "Father, we have done all you asked of us. I scrubbed my cage clean with the toothbrush as you asked."
Violently, he whipped the scourge against my cage. I jumped back to protect myself, but the harsh sting of leather went through the bars and stung the front of my hand. I fell to the floor and grunted in pain as blood started to form around my palm.
Slowly kneeling down, my father took the bars and shook them, screaming like a madman to scare me into submission. Though the pain hurt, he did not scare me. He would never frighten me.
"Tell me the truth, you monster," he said.
I should have bit my tongue, but I was filled with too much pride. "The truth?" I asked. "We are living in a goddamn nightmare."
My father wanted to beat me to a bloody pulp. I could see the hatred in his horrific stare. However, he knew if he did, it wouldn't change a damn thing. It would only end up biting him in the ass.
I was set in my ways. I wasn't going to let him own me, and I sure as fuck wasn't going to let him own her.
Breathing heavily, he turned and unlocked my brother's cage, waving him out like a lion tamer. Kahn cowered, but father revealed a treat, a small crumb from a chocolate chip cookie. Under these conditions, that was practically a delicacy. "Come. Be a good boy."
"You won't hurt me, Father?" he asked.
He lowered his eyelids and nodded pleasantly. "You have my word."
"Don't be stupid, Kahn. He will hurt you."
But Kahn was far too trusting. As soon as he exited the front of that cage, my father whipped his back, effortlessly fraying the skin.
My father gnashed his teeth together and screamed. "Down!"
Kahn fell onto the floor, wheezing and twisting to get away from the whip. "No. Stop. Father, please."
He lunged on Kahn's back, forcing his hands around his neck, driving the tranq gun into the top of his spine. He was ready to fire at any moment's notice. "Boy, I'm trying to keep you safe," he grunted.
Then, he turned his attention to me. "If you do anything to stop his discipline, I will call them over to take you back in."
My mind raced back to the terrible accident. From my memory, I saw government thugs in hazmat suits walking toward me, extending their arms to take me in.
"No!" I screamed and covered my eyes.
My brother looked at me with frightened eyes. Maybe I should have let him suffer. He sure as fuck would have left me to Father's abuse if the tables were turned. I couldn't be like him. I was the older brother, and I had an obligation to protect him. I wasn't the worst man in the world.
Quicker than Father could react, I kicked my cage open and dove over Kahn's body, shielding him from the excessive punishment.
"Go ahead," I said. "Give me your worst punishment."
He tranq'd me faster than I could react. He scourged my back until I was bloody, cold, and stinging to an unnatural degree. I roared with pain, but I took it all in stride. This was the last straw. My father would get what was coming to him. Eventually, I would have my sweet revenge.
He ridiculed me and placed his heel against the butt of my spine. "You will learn not to disobey my orders."
I tried my best to fight, but I was no match against the heavy weight of sedatives flowing through my spinal column. I crawled away and slumped, dragging my dead weight of a body toward the foot of the stairs. With each movement, I felt the blunt smack of leather rip through flesh.
"Brother," I whispered in torment and agony. "Remember this day."
I fell over and felt another dart lodge into my side. Closing my eyes, I gave a twisted smile and fell into a deep sleep. The only thing that comforted me was the smell of that woman's perfume and the sound of her tears hitting the wood.
Ah, sweet relief…