Chris let out a muffled groan, nearly biting through his lip to avoid screaming. The salt burned into his open flesh <b>like </b><b>acid</b>, his <b>body </b>trembling with the effort to contain his pain.
She left him hanging on the edge of consciousness, the <b>salt </b>still searing his wounds. That night, after three <b>days </b>of torture, Chris’s body finally gave out, and he copsed into darkness.
When Chris regained consciousness, he was surprised to find himself in a different room. The ceiling above him was intact, and sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains. His wounds had been cleaned and bandaged, and he was wearing a fresh shirt, though his hands and feet remained bound with coarse rope.
Liana sat nearby, sipping water from a ss. Her hair was neatly braided, and she wore a floral dress that <b>made </b><b>her </b>look like an ordinary schoolgirl rather than a torturer.
She approached and <b>roughly </b>poured water into his mouth. Most of it spilled down his chest, soaking the shirt and making it cling ufortably to his treated wounds.
“Why the change of scenery?” Chris asked, his voice hoarse from disuse.
Before Liana <b>could </b>answer, heavy footsteps thundered through the building, Chris heard doors being flung open in the hallway, followed by angry shouts. Liana stiffened, quickly moving to lock the door to Chris’s room.
The footsteps stopped outside, and a fist pounded on the door.
“Liana! Open up!” a man’s <b>voice </b>bellowed.
Liana put her finger to her lips, warning Chris to stay silent. <b>She </b>slipped out the door, closing it behind her. From inside, Chris could hear their conversation clearly.
“Where is he?” Kane demanded, his voice contorted with fury. “Where’s the man who killed my son?”
“I released him,” <b>Liana </b>replied, her voice suddenly cool <b>and </b>collected.
Kane’s tone transformed instantly. “Released?
? <b>Who </b><b>gave </b>you permission? He killed your brother, and you let him go?”
“My father did,” Liana stated firmly. “If you have a problem with that, take it up with him.”
The tension in their voices was palpable. After a tense moment, Chris heard Kane and his men depart, their footsteps echoing corridor.
Minutester, Liana returned, her expression grim. “Your uncle seems upset, Chris remarked dryly
Liana turned to him with a scowl. “Shut up. We’re leaving.”
down <b>the </b>
Two dayster, Chris found himself in a border town, a chaotic maze of markets and smugglers. The air was <b>thick </b>with the scent of spices,
12:30 Sat<b>, </b>Sep 27
fuel, and unwashed bodies,na b
had transported him there under cover of darkness, and he had cooperated–Kane would have killed him immediately, while Liana’s intentions, though brutal, at least kept him breathing.
They settled in a small room above a noisy tavern. As soon as they arrived, Liana, In a sudden hurst of anger, whipped him several more times before calling for a doctor to treat his wounds. The doctor, a weathered local man, asked no questions as he applied ointments and bandages.
“Why didn’t you turn me over to Kane? Chris asked as the doctor left.
Why should
Liana s <b>childlike </b>face hardened. “You’re <b>my </b>captive. Why should I give you to him?”
your Scorpio family would have to answer to my father if I died<b>?</b><b>” </b>Chris suggested, testing her.
“A life for a life!” Liana snapped. “Why would the Scorpio family fear your father?”
“I didn’t k
kill anyone,” Chris <b>stated </b>firmly, “I only burned <b>a </b>few of your <b>family’s </b>auction houses. Ask Loki if you don’t believe me.”
Liana’s eyes narrowed. “Why should I believe you? Even if you didn’t kill him <b>yourself</b>, your friends probably did. You burned <b>our </b>auction houses–that’s reason enough for me to punish you.”
Chapter Comments
3
Write Comments
<b>< </b>SHARE