For a moment, Jodie's breath caught in her throat, her chest constricting with a mix of horror and fascination. She couldn't explain the creeping sense of dread that seeped into her veins.
Valiah Hundra's voice was a cold, calculated whisper. "You're staring at your father's head, Jodie. I killed him myself, a fitting punishment for his treachery." two stood there in silence, the only sound the distant whisper of wind through the trees outside. The statue which had been placed on a very low platform, loomed over them as a haunting reminder of Valiah Hundra's power and the price of displeasing her.
When she finally spoke, her voice was low and measured, devoid of emotion. "Malakai was... remiss in his duties. His tardiness tried my patience." Her gaze lingered on the statue as if recalling the moment she'd turned him to stone. "I'm afraid he won't be bothering me with his lack of punctuality again."
