She looks weak and frail, and it’s all my fault.
“It’s been spectacular to watch,” Rikard states as Anya cackles.
“I still managed to make her scream, though.”
The need to wipe the smile off her face is greater than the need for my next breath.
Instead, I turn a withering look her way. “You are aware she’s a person and not a weapon, right?”
“Why do you care, Kael?” Anya retorts quickly, tipping her chin back to look down her nose at me, and I bite back a snarl.
“I don’t.”
“Are you sure about that?” she pushes, and I roll my eyes.
“Are you going to heal her or not?”
“I think she can heal in her own time. That will be her punishment for running to begin with,” Saken decides as my emotions war inside of me, but I can’t linger on it because the glass panel disappears altogether, allowing me access into the room.
I’m moving before I realize it, and as I get closer, the wires connected to her disappear, along with the bindings holding her in place. I manage to catch her just in time before she hits the floor, the bed disappearing without warning.
Pinning her to my chest, I cradle her against me, feeling the faint beating of her heart as I curse under my breath.
Without a word, I turn for the exit, aware of Saken talking about rules and agreements, but I don’t hear any of it. I’m too wrapped up in the bewildering girl in my arms as I squeeze her gently.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you. I’ve got you, Elodie.”
EIGHT
ELODIE
Ifeel like I’ve been hit by a bus, thrown through the air, and landed in a dumpster. Every single part of me hurts, and not in a good way. I feel unbearably groggy, but thankfully, my mind isn’t as beaten as my body. The familiarity of feeling like this washes over me and I’m instantly flooded with memories.
The reminder of the pain spreads through my limbs, but the look of glee in the eyes of those who hurt me is what makes me more alert with every inhale I take.
They didn’t hold back.
Not The Sanctum, and definitely not those they let take aim at me.
It’s weird. It never really felt as though theywere testing what I could do, and more like they were interested in how much I could take.
A lot.
Too much.
But like always, the darkness quickly came for me time and time again. I’m not sure if it’s a curse anymore, and somewhat of a blessing instead. It’s almost as though I’m protectively dragged to the shadows before I truly feel the tendrils of death.
I know I’m a scythe, sure, but what that truly entails, I’ve never really had the time to figure out. That has to change. There’s no denying it. But first, I have to open my eyes and see what I’m up against now.
Taking the best deep breath I can muster, I pry my eyes open, surprised at how soft the glow is in the room. Previously, it was obnoxiously bright, like it was going to burn my retinas, but now it’s almost… comforting.
As I focus my gaze, it quickly becomes apparent that I’m no longer in the same room. The sheets beneath me are so soft I think I might melt into them. Everywhere aches, but I can’t stop myself from running my fingers along the fabric.
A foreign sense of calmness and safety washes over me, making my eyes widen further as I try to figure out where the hell I am.
“You’re awake.”
I startle at the sound of Kael’s voice as I whip my stare to my right, choking back a cry at the pain it stirs inside of me.
