As the chaos subsided, Caesar's grim, steady voice cut through the commotion. "This is a venomous creature—a twinned venomous creature!" His voice resonated through the tense air. "With these creatures, one host feels pain; the other feels it doubled. And if one host dies, the other dies in excruciating agony!" The room erupted again.
Kelsey's voice cracked with urgency. "Is there a way to fix this, Caesar? Think of something! Get that thing out of him!"
Caesar hesitated, sweat glistening on his forehead. "There's a method to remove it. If we extract the primary creature, the bond will break, and Mr. Glovers will be fine. But..."
"But what?" Kelsey demanded, her voice sharp with desperation.
"But these creatures have been altered. Forceful removal will kill him instantly."
The air grew frigid. Kelsey staggered, her face pale. "Is there nothing we can do?" She gasped, clutching her chest. "I've already lost my son... if I lose my grandson too... the Glovers family will be finished!" Her breathing grew shallow, and before anyone could intervene, she collapsed. The maids rushed to her aid.
Maurice waved a hand, his expression unreadable. "Take her to her room. Caesar, go with her and ensure she's alright."
Caesar nodded readily, relieved to escape the tension.
As calm returned, one of Glovers' loyal men slapped his thigh. "Mr. Glovers, if this creature is as dangerous as they say, we can't throw Felicia into the crocodile pool! If anything happens to her, the consequences for you will be far worse!" The logic was irrefutable. If Felicia suffered, Maurice's pain would double. If she died... the men dared not contemplate the outcome.
But Maurice remained unmoved. His lips curled into a chilling smile. "Let's see for ourselves." His tone held no concern, only cold amusement. Perhaps he doubted the creature's power, or perhaps his curiosity about Felicia eclipsed all else. He was gambling.
He gestured for his guards to wheel him toward the crocodile pool, his dark gaze sharp with anticipation.
Before departing, he pointed to a maid lingering in the corner. His smile deepened. "You wanted to see her punished, didn't you? Come forth."
The maid, Abbie, froze. Her heart pounded, not with fear, but with a mixture of satisfaction and twisted excitement. She had been thrown into that pool not long ago, barely escaping with her life—and the scars on her face. Now, Felicia faced the same fate, perhaps worse. Abbie followed without hesitation. She wanted to witness it.
The pool was hidden behind the sprawling estate. By the time Maurice and his entourage arrived, Felicia had already been thrown in. Her body hit the water with a splash, the sound echoing through the humid air. She surfaced, gasping for air, the murky water soaking her. Her sharp eyes quickly located the huge saltwater crocodiles basking along the edges of the pit—fast, deadly, with jaws capable of crushing bone. She saw the ominous ripple of the water, sensing more lurking beneath the surface in the muddy depths. Fear prickled her scalp.
"Maurice, you lunatic," she thought. He hadn't been bluffing. He'd thrown her in, fully aware of the potential consequences for himself. She realized with a sinking feeling that he wasn't merely ruthless; he was wagering everything, including his own life, on this twisted spectacle. It wasn't just punishment; it was a power play.
Felicia clenched her fists, her heart pounding. She had grossly underestimated Maurice's depravity.