After a few more trips, we finished our grisly job. I was covered in blood and other things I didn’t want to think about.Truly, I didn’t want to think about this gods-damned place ever again.
The supervisor blocked my path when I tried to re-enter the line. His eyes narrowed cruelly, sliding over me. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” he breathed.
I opened my mouth to protest, but he seized my arm and yanked me toward a dimly lit tunnel that burrowed deeper into the earth. Gated cells pockmarked the dark walls. He flung me against an empty one at the end.
I stumbled over my chain, barely catching myself as I used the movement to grab Mother’s knife.
A lone lantern shone over his repulsive face. He licked his lips greedily, his eyes dipping lower. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
My body felt cold and hard, a sword without feelings, only purpose. “So am I.”
His face went blank.
I darted forward and shoved my jagged knife into his chest. Right into his worthless heart.
He jolted, his eyes wide in disbelief, his mouth gaping in a death rattle.
“From one Abyss to the next,” I whispered and twisted the knife.
He crashed to the ground, as dead as the poor soul I just scraped off the cavern floor.
My hands shook, covered in even more blood. But I felt no shame, no regret.
His keys glimmered at his waist. I yanked them off his belt. Just as footsteps pounded around the corner. I whipped the keys and knife behind my back.
A soldier burst into view, sword at the ready.
Aiden.
I sagged in relief. A raw mixture of terror and rage twisted his beautiful face.
He stopped short when he saw me standing over the supervisor’s body. “Did he hurt you?”
I shook my head, strapping my blade and the keys to my leg. Hopefully, my rattling chain would cover any noise the keys made.
Aiden didn’t lower his guard. “They’re still not here. The ship. I checked.”
My heart fell. What if they’d been hurt or captured or killed? What if they never came?
“We should?—”
“You there! Soldier!”
I stiffened, all the blood draining to my toes. Two supervisors with their sunstone clubs aloft stood in the tunnel.
Aiden’s face softened at the panic on my face. “Save the others. Leave me behind if you must.”
What?
He dragged his sword through the dead supervisor’s neck, coating the metal in blood. Then he whipped around with a snarl.
“My name is Aiden Falcryn, and I’ve come to kill High General Dracles.”
Chapter 47
Aiden
I lostthe ensuing fight as quickly as I could.
