Cassius laughed, a deep, wild sound that somehow soothed and provoked the crowd at once.
"Yes! Yes, I understand! I understand your rage. And I promise you...it will happen."
The pit fell silent, save for the muffled cries of the criminals. Cassius turned slowly, letting every eye follow him, before declaring.
"Do not think for a moment that they were brought here to be pitied, or to be fed, or to be clothed and sent away like strays...No. Every single one of them will die tonight. That is a fact!"
The criminals shook violently, muffled screams tearing from their throats. The crowd stilled, stunned by the sheer finality of his tone, until one man, his voice breaking, cried out.
"Then why wait?! Why wait till now?! My daughter was taken, why not kill them the moment you caught them?! Why drag it out like this?!"
Cassius turned his head, eyes glinting, and smiled beneath his scarf. "Why? Because this isn't merely justice...It's a birthday gift."
