Chapter 2

Minnie was not about to listen to more of Miley's advice.

"Zagreus is mine and mine alone! I won't allow even a replacement of me to take my place!" she declared.

With a wave, she commanded her men to storm the villa, and the front door was broken down.

Minnie led her household retinue, while Miley followed helplessly. Only after they were safely out of the neighbors' view did she reveal her true feelings.

The sound of the door being torn down shocked us.

I was just about to look through the peephole when a force burst through the door, knocking me off my feet.

Lindsay tossed her book aside and helped me up. "Lilith, are you okay?!"

"I'm fine," I replied, waving her off.

Some belligerent women stormed inside.

I shielded Lindsay and demanded loudly, "Who do you people think you are?! Don't you know a break-in is a crime?!"

Minnie took the lead. "A crime? Why, it almost sounds like you think you're the mistress of this house just because you happen to look somewhat like me."

I grabbed Lindsay's hand and stepped back. "Who are you to Zagreus?"

Minnie bristled at the sound of me calling Zagreus by his name.

"Ruth! Get them!" she screamed.

Ruth answered from outside, waving as several younger maids moved to corner us.

I pulled Lindsay by the wrist. We had to run upstairs!

But they caught us by our feet and dragged us down the steps, ignoring the painful thuds as we fell. They pulled us to the ground and forced us down.

Minnie pinched my cheeks and sneered. "Your face disgusts me!"

Now that she was closer, I recognized her. She—and the young woman behind her—were the substitutes the brothers had found!

Minnie shot a look at Ruth, who nodded and ran off to gather supplies.

"No, don't! If you do anything to us, Zagreus and Zion will make you pay!" I shouted.

"Ha! Zagreus and Zion will make me pay?" Minnie mocked, imitating my voice.

She scowled. "You're just a fake standing in front of the genuine article. Get that through your head!"

Ruth returned, carrying several pink clay mugs. "Miss Minnie, there's nothing fragile here. These mugs will have to work as makeshift knives."

Zagreus and Zion had gone to extreme lengths to prevent us from harming ourselves or each other once they realized how much we despised the children they forced us to bear.

They had placed trackers on us, thrown away anything sharp or dangerous, and even lined the floors with bubble wrap.

The only things left made of breakable clay were these mugs, shaped like rabbits.

Minnie nodded. "Smash them."

"No! Zagreus made these himself!" I cried out.

She laughed scornfully. "Are you kidding me? Zagreus—the famously stoic man from the Capital? Just because he's been staying in Hanttye, you think he's turned into some goober who makes things for little girls?"

Ruth raised a mug high.

I struggled as hard as I could to free myself. I had to catch it!

The mug smashed against the floor just before I lunged for it.

Ruth picked up a shard and smirked at me.

I remembered when Zagreus had first handed me the mug. "You have to protect this mug, Lilith. If someone so much as chips it, oh... I'll break their entire skeletons, haha!"