“What are…where are—”
Arius didn’t make it more than a foot away. He dropped to his knees, clutching his guts, and heaved. Fluid so dark and thick it could have been motor oil rushed violently from his mouth. It didn’t splash, and it didn’t spread so much as seep once it landed. It was as though the blood that Arius had drawn from Lyle’s body had started to congeal the second it hit Arius’s insides. Within the slowly soaking puddle, bubbles of air—or something beyond Lyle’s understanding—lifted through the surface of Lyle’s blood. The reaction reminded Lyle of stew getting ready to boil.
“f*****g gross…” He looked at Arius and shook his head. “That is seriously sick.”
Arius lifted his face and smiled at the ceiling. “That, pup, was some serious fun.” He turned to eye Lyle directly. “Our
