“When I asked you to settle the matter-
“I-I did.”
“No.” Her lips purse together, distaste flaring her nostrils, “I asked you to dissolve the dispute with a simple negotiation. A cheque and a favour that would satisfy the rival bounty hunters without any need for violence. But instead you used the opportunity as a means of a personal gain.”
“I-I didn’t mean-
“And by doing so you have turned both parties against me.” Her eyes narrow with thinly veiled spite, “Returning to my territory with a bigger nuisance than how it started.”
“P-Please.” Sobs escape his mouth, “I-I needed the money. I have a family to support-
“Something you should have thought about before now.”
Massaging her temples as though a headache is on the horizon, Maleficent lets out a long sigh.
“Give me the names of your associates. I want names and addresses.”
Grief splashes down on his cheeks as the doomed man shakes his head.
“It was just me.”
She gives me a nod and I slash my knife back down. Screams rattle the cellar we’re in, the stained concrete walls holding his agony captive from the outside world.
Another pound of flesh joins the growing pile on the floor, the desperate wails attacking my skin as though they might breach the callused surface.
His suffering bounces off me as easily as it did an hour ago. I feel no remorse as I remove another finger with the flick of my wrist, the glistening edge of my blade reflecting a hollow grave as I rip the ligaments free from his skin.
“That’s enough, Calista.”
She waits for me to retreat back into the shadows.
“Now, as I was saying-
“Ma’am?”
A guard risks life and limb to peek his head around the concrete cylinder that labels itself a door.
“I need to speak with you.” His eyes slip towards the man tied to the chair before snapping back in place, “Immediately.”
“Very well. Send in someone to clean up this mess and bring a glass of water. I need him alive until we finish this conversation.”
She pauses, glancing at what’s left of the man’s hands, “And you’d better bring a straw.”
My stilettos click along the concrete as I trail after her, waiting for my leash to be extended. Torture or kill, the man’s fate is left in my hands.
Just as mine is left in hers.
“What is it?”
Brisk and straight to the point, the Dragon is a woman who does not take kindly to interruptions. Particularly those that come in the shape of a man.
Funny how close my apple fell from her tree.
“It’s the borders, ma’am. Activity has been spotted on the east side of town. A group of people trying to break in through the Queen’s Maze.”
“Who reported this activity?”
“Esther Gohel. The nun from the-
