Charlotte felt bile rise in her throat.
"The skin of his family." She repeated slowly. "You...You made him wear his family's skin?"
Mika nodded, his expression almost fond.
"I started with the youngest ones. His nieces and nephews, the ones who were just as corrupt as he was. Their skins were smaller, tighter, so I used them for the inner layers."
He walked around the mass of flesh, examining it like an artist admiring his work.
"Then I moved outward. His uncles, his aunts, his cousins. Each layer was carefully applied and stitched into place. And finally, the outer layer..."
He reached out and gently stroked the dried, leathery skin that covered the creature's surface.
"This is his sister. The older one, the one he cherished most."
Anya's eyes trembled.
"His sister? But she was pregnant!"
"I know." Mika's voice was calm, almost gentle. "I removed the baby first, of course. I made sure it was safely delivered to a hospital before I began the procedure."
