XXXXIV - The Lovers 2

As the dust settled and those two lovebirds stood over the shredded remains of my body, I could almost picture the smug satisfaction oozing from their pores. They'd had their fun, sure - but now it was time to drop the curtain on this little cabaret of carnage.

Well, to be clear, it wasn't actually my body, it was a clone, AGAIN. I love my Freak Show...

In one fluid motion, Romeo scooped up what was left of my "corpse" and stuffed the gory chunks into a large sack, clearly intent on parading their trophy. Julio, meanwhile, began a sweep of the safehouse, his blades still slick with my clone's viscera.

That's when his roving gaze alighted upon a most unexpected sight - the battered, disheveled form of the President of the United States himself, bound and gagged in the corner. If their eyes could've bugged out any further, they might've rolled clean out of their skulls.

"Well, I'll be..." Romeo breathed, hurrying to the captive's side and sawing through his bonds. "This is certainly a plot twist, ain't it darlin'?"

The President flinched away from his liberators, his eyes wild with terror and confusion. But as the gag was removed, the words came tumbling out in a frantic rush.

"Thank you, oh thank you! You have to help me, they've gone mad! The contract holders, all of them...they want to undermine everything, overthrow the system!" His gaze ping-ponged between the two mercenaries, desperation and hope warring on his features. "Please, you have to stop them!"

Romeo and Julio shared one of those unnerving, silent looks that only soulbound partners could manage. Finally, Romeo turned back to the President, offering one of his most dazzling, razor-edged smiles.

"Well now, Mr. President, it seems you and us are on the same team after all. Don't you fret - we've already got one of those deviant contract holders gift-wrapped and ready for delivery."

He gave the sack an emphatic shake, prompting a fresh torrent of crimson to spill from the tattered remains inside. The President actually recoiled, his face going pale.

"Diablo himself has been...neutralized," Julio chimed in, his tone thick with gloating satisfaction. "Which means our deal is done, yes? No more death row, no more persecution." He leveled his blades at the bedraggled leader, eyes glinting with naked avarice. "We get our freedom, and you get your public execution."

For my part, I had to consciously bite back the laughter bubbling up in my chest as I observed the scene unfold. If only they knew the truth - but then again, that was rather the point, wasn't it? Let them revel in their hollow "victory" for now.

After all, the curtain had only just fallen on Act One of this production. Wait until they got a load of Act Two.

"Yes, yes of course!" The President babbled, wringing his hands with transparent relief. "You've done the nation a great service by apprehending this...this criminal." His gaze flicked to the sack of gore Romeo still clutched with bloodied fingers. "But you're right, we mustn't linger here. It's not safe."

I could practically taste their self-satisfaction as Romeo puffed out his chest, squaring those broad shoulders. "Well then, lead the way Mr. President. We're in your capable hands now."

The impostor offered a thin, reedy smile and beckoned for them to follow. "There's a secure apartment not far from here. A safehouse, if you will. We can regroup, call for backup from a secure lime, and get you both to a transport out of the city."

"Oooh, a fancy word like 'safehouse'?" Julio leered, elbowing his partner playfully as they fell into step behind the President. "Hear that, darlin'? We're real operatives now!"

Had my lips not been sewn shut by the giddy thrill shivering through me, I might have let out a derisive snort. Operatives - these two glamour-chasing jackasses clearly had no idea what was in store.

The walk passed in tense silence, The prez shooting frequent, furtive glances over his shoulder as he led the procession.

Poor saps. They have no idea the fun that awaits.

Finally, we arrived at my original apartment building, the President ushering them inside with urgent, shooing motions. The lobby was dimly lit, devoid of other tenants or witnesses. Perfect.

Romeo and Julio seemed to relax a fraction as the door of the apartment slammed shut behind them. No more being hunted, no more looking over their shoulders. They'd emerged victorious, the conquering heroes hailed as-

The thoughts died in their skulls as agonizing half-second later, when I peeled back my president disguise and slammed their heads together with a sickening crunch of compacting bone and gristle.

A shrill, decidedly feminine wail split the air as they went down in a limp sprawl, their eyes already starting to roll back in their skulls. I drank in the sight of their motionless forms with rapacious glee, every muscle in my body quivering with sadistic glee.

Then the laugh came - harsh, rasping peals of manic delight that reverberated off the cracked lobby walls. I threw back my head, baring my teeth in a ghastly rictus of unbridled ecstasy. Oh yes, this was the sweetest vintage, the most exquisite of bouquets!

So lost was I in my orgiastic reverie, I barely even registered the other presences filtering in from the shadows of the living room. Lucky's gruff chuckle, Lavinia's throaty purr, Psyche's tinkling giggle - a veritable symphony backing my unhinged soliloquy.

And there, sitting in a battered armchair with an expression of paternal bemusement, was the real President. I staggered toward him, clutching at my aching ribs as the laughter gradually trailed off into ragged, panting gasps.

"Well..." I wheezed, swiping at the tears streaking my cheeks with the back of my hand. "I'd say we gave those two one hell of a show, eh Mr. President?"

The old man harrumphed dourly, but I caught the slight quirk at the corners of his mouth. "Indeed you did, you sick bastards. Though I do wish you'd been a touch...gentler."

My gaze drifted back to the crumpled forms of the lovers, a fresh peal of giggles rising in my throat. Romeo and Julio, the fearsome mercenary duo - laid low by nothing more than my duplicitous acting chops and a spot of percussive cranial trauma.

Oh, how the old gods have fallen. But not to worry - the grand finale was still to come. I just needed them...rested up and fighting fit for the main event.

 Let the healing coma work its magic, I decided, allowing my victims their peace.

After all, I wanted them at their full potential when I showed them the depths of my affection and mercy...