Kopii caught the creeping whisper of footsteps. Turning his head, he saw the same old man. With a bowl in his hands.
— Finally woke up, sleepyhead. I was starting to think I'd have to wake you by force. Open your mouth, come on, time to eat. Or do you want your belly to stick to your spine? — The old man fixed his gaze on him, waiting for Kopii to part his lips.
— Ah, — he exhaled with feigned concern. — You need to eat, there's a long road ahead. But if you don't want to… that's your business, we're free people, after all. — He paused and smirked crookedly: — But not you.
— Shut up, — Kopii hissed through his teeth, clenched in a furious grimace. — When I get out of here, I'll make you choke on your own blood. I'll break every bone in your body. — With every word, a wave of malice and hatred rose in him. — People like you are rotten through with greed for money. — The faces of Gedo and Canoe surfaced in his memory. Just like this one, obsessed with profit, ready for any baseness for the sake of a jingling coin. The more he thought about it, the stronger the flame of hatred blazed. They were all the same, all for money.
— Your threats are empty noise. Accept reality; it will be better for you. Alright, you need to eat, or you'll wither away completely. Open your mouth. — Larsen scooped a spoonful of meat porridge and brought it to Kopii's lips. But he stubbornly clenched his jaw.
— If you keep showing off, I'll have to force you. — Larsen bored into him with a gaze full of threat. Kopii reluctantly opened his mouth.
— That's better, be a good boy. — Kopii watched as the spoon approached his mouth, and at the moment it almost touched his lips, he sank his teeth into Larsen's hand.
«I hate!»
All the memories connected to Gedo and Canoe began flashing in his head, their laughter, their insults, that pain, that despair he had felt back then, and his bite grew stronger with every memory.
«I'll kill them! I'll never let anyone mock me again!»
— Ow, let go, you beast! — Blow. — I said, let go! — Blow. Kopii paid no attention to the pain, clenching his jaw harder and harder. — I said, let go! — Blow. — Ow! It hurts! Let go! You beast!
«I'll kill them!»
Looking at them, he understood that they were an exact copy of those bastards.
Larsen's sons came running at his cries. Kopii saw and heard nothing; his mind was clouded by fury. He wanted only one thing – to watch these scum suffer. To tear them into small pieces, so that they would feel what he had felt.
"We'll sell you to slavers."
He remembered this old man's words, and his hatred and anger completely seized him.
— Father!!! — the brothers exclaimed in one voice.
— Someone get him off me, for the love of all that is holy!
— Right away, father! — Torvin muttered, running up to his father and Kopii. He swung and struck Kopii in the face. But, looking at the captive's face, he froze in horror. He was looking not at a victim, but at a predator. Kopii's face was covered in blood, and his gaze — eerie, full of emptiness and darkness. Torvin had never seen such a gaze in his life.
— Why are you standing there like a statue, Torvin? — But Torvin continued to silently stare at Kopii's face, as if paralyzed; his whole body trembled; he had never experienced such horror. Larsen paid no attention to his youngest son's strange behavior. — Elric, Garvin, help me! Aaaah, it hurts so much! He's going to bite my hand off!
Garvin and Elric rushed to their father's aid and finally pulled Kopii off him.
— This rabid dog nearly bit my hand off! Beat him half to death, so he knows his place! — Larsen shouted.
Elric, without hesitation, struck Kopii in the face, and he flew to the side.
— How dare you, you worthless wretch! We'll teach you good manners! — Elric hissed through his teeth. He was always cold and reserved, but when it came to his family, he lost control of himself.
— Torvin, help me, bring bandages, he bit off a piece of father's hand! Torvin, help me up! — Garvin looked more closely at his younger brother. Genuine horror was frozen on his face. He walked up to him and noticed that Torvin was trembling all over.
Elric continued to beat Kopii, putting more and more anger into every blow. He did not notice how Kopii had changed, how an inhuman fire had flared in his eyes.
— How dare you bite our father!? You should be grateful that we're feeding you at all! — With these words, he struck Kopii in the stomach with all his might. From this blow, Kopii flew into the darkness, and Elric heard only his hoarse cough.
— What's wrong with you, Torvin? — Garvin walked over and began shaking his brother by the shoulders. — Why are you silent? What's wrong with you?! — Garvin shook his younger brother forcefully. But seeing that it wasn't helping, panic and fear began to creep into his heart from his brother's behavior, and having thought of nothing better, he slapped him. That at least brought him somewhat to his senses.
— G… Garvin? Garvin!!! You were right… You were right all along! Why didn't we believe you right away! — Garvin did not understand what his brother was talking about. But his heart filled with horror with every word.
— What are you talking about?! — But Torvin ignored his older brother's words. He grabbed Garvin by the shoulders. Garvin noticed that his expression had not changed; only all-consuming fear was frozen in it.
— We need to get out of here! As soon as possible! Faster, everyone, come here! — Torvin released Garvin and headed towards his father, but did not make it: Garvin grabbed his arm. — What are you doing? Let go of me! We need to run!
— What are you talking about, Torvin? What do you mean, I was right? — Garvin was very worried about his younger brother's behavior. He had never seen him so agitated and frightened. But he began to slowly understand what his younger brother was telling him, and it did not gladden him.
— His eyes… his eyes… — Torvin whispered, trying to break free from Garvin's grip. Garvin felt him trying to free himself, and reluctantly loosened his fingers.
— Calm down, Torvin, and explain properly. What about his eyes? — Garvin did not understand what his brother was trying to tell him. — Just say it, and that's all!
— His eyes were black… — Torvin shouted in horror, desperately trying to break free from his older brother's grip. — Let me go, we need to act immediately!
Garvin's eyes widened in surprise. He knew that this guy had black eyes. So his heart began to calm down little by little.
«Maybe he made a mistake?»
– I know that, Torvin. I know he has black eyes.
After these words, Torvin's eyes widened even more, and a terrible understanding reflected on his face. He shouted:
— His eyes were completely black, just darkness! No pupil, no iris, nothing but impenetrable darkness! He's not human! We need to run! — Torvin shouted, finally breaking free from his older brother's grip.
Garvin's eyes widened in horror.
«They became completely black, like darkness itself.»
But no one heard these words. Garvin understood that his brother was not joking, and his reaction confirmed it.
Elric saw his brothers running towards their father. He did not know what was happening, but decided they were going to help their father. Taking one last look at where he had kicked Kopii, he ran after them. Approaching his brothers, he noticed that Torvin's face was twisted with fear, and Garvin's face was tense to the limit.
— What's going on? — He did not understand what had frightened them so much. He heard Torvin's cries, but paid no attention to them, continuing to avoid even glancing in Kopii's direction.
— I'll say it as briefly as possible. According to Torvin, this guy's eyes are completely black. — Elric raised an eyebrow at what he heard.
— Is that true, Torvin?
— Yes, Elric! — he heard the voice of his brother, full of horror. He had never seen his younger brother like this before.
But they did not manage to reach the tent before their father appeared before them.
— Father, his eyes… — Torvin began, but his father interrupted him:
— I know, Torvin, I heard your conversation. But I don't understand what you're so afraid of. Torvin, we have everything under control.
— But his eyes… — Torvin tried to object.
— What difference does it make what color his eyes are? What are you so afraid of, Torvin? Look at him, he's tied up, and beaten on top of that.
— Father, listen to Torvin! This isn't normal, a person's eyes can't change! Look at your hand! Father, he bit off a piece of it! — Garvin exclaimed.
— Enough!!! — the father shouted. — He is completely in our power! His arms and legs are bound! What can he do to us? He is completely helpless!
After his father's words, silence reigned. All that could be heard was the crackling of the campfire, the distant sound of the river, and convulsive breathing, like that of a beast; it was so loud and terrible that everyone heard it. Everyone looked towards the source of the sound, and their eyes widened in shock.