I swallow, with nowhere to go I begin to feel against the ground for anything I can use as a weapon.
“I won’t make it easy for you,” I say weakly, the fright more prominent than I would have liked.
He crouches in front of me, a toothly grin now spread across his face. “Death would be more merciful than what I’m about to do to you, little warrior.”
Ice fills my limbs and even my scalp prickles with predatory awareness.
Hoarsely, I say, “What did you call me?”
My lungs struggle to inflate with each inhale. There’s not enough air in the room suddenly and he’s too close. My hand trembles as I place it in front of me, as if that could stop him.
The Nightmare’s finger outstretches towards me and he whispers again, “Ahh, you see. I have secrets that no one knows about. My magic pries through your memories—good, bad, anything in between.”
He pulls his finger back towards him and with a twirl of his hand, his magic twists the reality again. It’s no longer The Nightmare in front of me crouching, instead it’s Kassiel. Though it’s not his voice that speaks next.
“Then I find weakness through understanding. It seems like you and Kassiel have your own secrets too.”
Tears spill over the rims of my eyes.
He shifts back to his own form, “It’s a pity that you actually fell for such a beast, isn’t it? I could be cruel and punish you while wearing his face, but I think I’d rather you know it was me that broke you in the end.”
A small cry escapes my lips as they part slightly.
His hand comes quickly around my neck and he jerks my chin up to face him. I kick out at him, fling my fists towards his face but it’s all useless as he uses his magic to stun me into submission, riddling my brain with images of Leeson’s body rotting with maggots burrowing into her flesh.
My body seems to float above itself as I watch him quickly wrap his leather belt around my mouth, gagging me in the process—all while terrors file through my mind one by one. Different scenarios, real and false, clicking through until my chest threatens to seize.
My eyes begin to roll before his hand comes harshly across my cheek, causing me to focus on his hideous face, returning my body to itself.
“Ahh, there she is.” His voice is dipped in pleasure.
My eyes shift slowly to where Lis still lays prone before lulling back to The Nightmare.
“See I don’t get it,” he says suddenly, “you still worry about others even when you’re amidst suffering.”
He lets out a low chuckle.
“Lis will be fine. If that’s where your mind drifts to even now.”
His demanding fingers snake into my hair and he grabs a chunk of it before ripping me upright with it. Hauling me to my feet he quickly spins me around until my belly lands on the bed.
A muffled scream tears from my chest and I practically choke on the leather in the process.
No. No.
“Nnnn!” The word doesn’t form but I kick my feet backwards in protest anyways.
His hand clenches around my throat and it constricts any air from coming in. Warning bells fire in my mind, blaring as Iknowwhat’s about to happen.
I retreat inward, shackling the walls around me with thick chains. I won’t be present for this, not again.
Distantly, a voice threads through my mind, raspy and inky, “Don’t deny me.”
I feel sick.
I will be sick.
A dry heave forces its way up but it has nowhere to go.
