As the sun descended beyond the horizon, and Genkysou was plunged into a pink twilight, Ricky took his daughter Joy in one arm, and the severed head of his wife home as a trophy.

Joy had a big day ahead of her, tomorrow, it would be her first day on the City Guard… the very same platoon as her mother had been assigned to. She had big shoes to fill. Ricky put her to bed, and then went to work, stripping the flesh off of Gianna’s skull with a strong Firesnake stomach acid that he kept in the workroom, and removing her brains with a heated stick, stuck between her nostrils and wiggled around till the entire mess came out. He kept the brains for Joy’s breakfast tomorrow. His little girl needed her energy for her task tomorrow. He was just so proud of her.

He would have to think very hard about setting her up with Johnny’s eldest boy, now that Gianna was no longer able to make the arrangements on Joy’s behalf. It was the least he could do for his late wife.

When he was done, he had yet another trophy for his bedroom shelf. Only his favourite wives and mistresses got to be displayed there when they died. Gianna was going to occupy the best position, closest to the window, where it would be best lit.

Ricky carefully set up her shrine, placing a bound lock of her hair, some shells, a spare ruby City Guard pendant, the preserved daffodil she wore as she was on display, and the sketch she had taken to be remembered by. He placed Gianna’s cleaned trophy skull on the shelf behind a name placard. Even in death, she would watch over Ricky and his affairs.

He chose a favourite mistress, and some nameless snuff slaves to share his bed that night. He felt saddened by the loss of his Prime wife. He had truly loved her. But it had been his duty to snuff her. Better she die by his hand, than that of some vile beast like so many did. However, he could still feel nothing but a deep and overwhelming sadness at the hole her death had left in his heart.

So he consoled himself by drinking copious amounts of Gourdplant whiskey laced with Bloodflower dust, and fucking his favourite living mistress. She was a poor substitute for his beloved Gianna, but she fucked like a demon, and was still very fertile to boot.

Gianna’s skull looked out lifelessly over the scene. One day Ricky would remarry a new prime wife, and new skulls would appear beside hers as he found new women to love and share his bed.

In the World of Bones, having your skull placed in the most respected place on your husband’s trophy shelf is the best death any girl can hope for. Still, it can be a rather unpleasant experience for even the most willing of victims