Page 147 of Once Upon a Fable

The moment Storymaker commanded us up the stairs, reeling off bedroom numbers where we were each to serve, my heart hadn’t stopped galloping a thousand beats a minute.

I’d dutifully trudged up the steps, linking my fingers with Quell, and giving Maliki a grimace of encouragement. We were well-trained. Well reminded. We didn’t deviate or pause.

Silently, we all broke away as we reached our respective bedrooms, enslaved to the end as we closed doors on our misery.

Behind those closed doors the sounds of pleased hellos and sleezy welcomes sounded, knotting my guts into snarls of pain.

It was excruciating to let Quell slip through my fingers as she reached her bedroom. She caught my gaze. She nodded once, stoic and so, so brave. “It’s okay, Kas. I’ll see you later, okay?”

I wanted so fucking much to hug her, snatch her, run away with her.

To run away with all of my family.

But my only option was to nod and let her go. To willingly say goodbye as she stepped into another night of rape.

I was the last to branch off from the corridor.

Alone at the end, I listened to the final snick of a door closing and took a second to prepare.

I would either see my family again or I wouldn’t.

This would work or it would fail.

Regardless, I was most likely dead tonight because even if Isucceeded, I doubted I’d live to see sunrise.

You sure you want to risk this?

Risk them?

My jaw clenched as the sound of male laughter came and went. A laugh of a paedophile who probably already had Nyx bound and naked upon his bed.

Yes, I’m sure.

I would rather we all die tonight than endure anymore of this.

If I had to kill everyone, including my family to be free, then so be it.

Touching my blade one last time, I braced my shoulders, turned toward the door, and stepped over the threshold to serve Mr. and Mrs. Willby.

“You’re late, my boy.” Mr. Willby stood by the fireplace, his cock already hard thanks to a blue pill he always popped. His nakedness was obscene with the glowing flames highlighting a beer belly, huge balls, and a red-angry erection.

“Don’t berate him, dear.” Mrs. Willby lay on the bed in a pose she thought was seductive. Her sheer nightgown was open, revealing a pudgy breast, huge nipple, and a belly button piercing she should’ve removed decades ago. “We’re so glad you’re here, Kassen.”

Kassen.

I shuddered.

After tonight, that was not my name.

All of us Fable kids would choose new names. Names that weren’t chosen from books under the fierce instruction of Storymaker.

I couldn’t even remember what I’d been called before I belonged to him.

Kassen Sands was a character in a book full of fables about genies and wishes and deserts. He’d been the poorer cousin to a prince. He’d used his wishes to help his village members, wishing for water, food, and health. He hadn’t wished for riches for himself or to be king over his cousin. His heart had been good and he’d helped all those around him—even his enemies.

In return for his sacrifice and kindness, the genie had given him the greatest wish of all.

Happiness.