She was breathing like a wild beast caught in a snare, her nostrils flared, but she wasn’t looking at me. Her eyes were fixed on Cathal as he tossed her finger over his shoulder.
“Look at me, not him,” I said.
“How many pieces you willing to cut off me?” she challenged, slowly swinging her gaze back toward me. “While I’m screaming inhervoice? Or that sweet old man’s. I believe I know what he sounds like. He did cry out in the water when he was being ripped apart.”
I threw her down, drawing back my blade and aiming for her gut.
“Captain,” Aeris interceded again. “She wants you to.”
“Stay out of this.”
“If you do, you won’t be able to help Dahlia. She knows it.”
“I’d listen to her,” Nazario added. “She’s right more often than not.”
“Then what do I do!” I barked.
“You have to let me sleep,” Lyla taunted.
I tensed, holding myself back from ending her. “And why would I do that?”
“She’s trapped either way, but only one of us here knows how to wander a dream and know she’s dreaming.” I shoved the blade under her chin again, but she simply laughed. “I can sleep through anything, you know. Cutting me up won’t make a difference.”
“Then why are you talking to me?”
“Because,” she shrugged. “The longer you keep me awake, the more you’re responsible for Dahlia’s suffering. And I do love how humans are prey to guilt. This is a game and you’re losing. All of you are.”
Knowing Dahlia was in that cabin, her dreams a torturous hellscape of God knew what, my patience withered and died like a bush in a drought.
“Vidar,” Nazario said.
I glanced up at him, but he had nothing to offer except his siren. She was looking at me with a sense of shy desperation, motioning softly with her hand for me to come to her. I all but threw Lyla at Cathal and Mullins and stood, wiping my nose with the back of my wrist. Aeris stared up at me like she was waiting for the right moment to speak.
“What is it?” I pressed.
“You will torture her to death and she won’t give you what you want,” she whispered.
“And why do you care?”
“I don’t. She’s frightening and certainly wants to kill everyone here, but…” She stepped in closer, further lowering her voice. “She wants something. And if she wants something, then she’s useful, right?”
“I agree,” Nazario joined. “It certainly seemed like she let herself get caught in Dornwich.”
“A viper trying to get in a rabbit den,” I said.
“Or perhaps she thinks there is something here we can give,” Aeris said.
“Like what?”
“Her sister?”
I hissed a curse and turned back to look at Lyla, grimacing at her bloodied, filthy form trying to imitate Dahlia. It was a disgusting violation.
“What do you want us to do with her, cap’n?” Mullins asked.
“Put her back in her cage,” I said through my teeth, gripping my blade so hard, I would not have been surprised if it cracked.
“What about you?” Aeris asked. “You still have not slept. The way you’re all connected now, it might be dangerous for you to get any shuteye.”
