It’s muscle memory. “Sapphire.”
“Yourfullname.”
“Sapphire S Valdawell.”
“And I’m Niklaus Charles Demechnef.”
A tear falls from my cheek. Every nerve is fried. I can’t tell if I’m asleep or awake. Dying or alive. Swimming or sinking.
“It hurts,” I rasp.
My jaw throbs and swells as claws sink into my back. I want the pain to go away. I can’t remember why, but I know I’ve been in physical pain for days on end. Why?
“I don’t want to fucking hear that,” he growls. “Now, say it again.”
I sniffle. “My name is Sapphire S Valdawell.”
“Niklaus Charles Demechnef.”
“I’m so scared,” I admit.
He exhales through his nose, trying to gather the patience.
“Again.”
“I am Sapphire S Valdawell.”
“I am Niklaus Charles Demechnef.”
“Do you think she’ll do it again when she comes back?” I ask, voice wavering from holding back tears. I am so unbearably tired.
“Tell me the names of your parents,” Niklaus instructs sternly.
“Okay.” Deep breath. One, two, three, four. “Skylenna Ambrose. Kane Valdawell.”
“Marilynn Blackforth. Aurick Demechnef.”
In the pit of my stomach a mix of sadness and hatred spill out everywhere.
“No. Say his name,” I say through grinding teeth and labored breathing. “Don’t youdareforget him.”
The only sounds that can be heard in this deathly quiet room are Niklaus’s wrists twisting in his leather restraints and shackles.
“Niles Offborth.”
“Niles Offborth,” I repeat.
His knuckle brushes mine once more. It’s oddly the only bit of comfort I can find.
“Tell me—all your father’s alters,” Niklaus pants.
“There are too many. I don’t know them all.” I push my brain to see past the fog and draining exhaustion. “My mother doesn’t even know them all.”
“That’s okay. Name as many as you can.”
It takes everything in me not to close my eyes and drift off to sleep. I want to, fuck I want to so badly. Even to escape for a short amount of time.
“Dessin, Kane, Greystone…” I pause,come on, come on, come on…“Bloom, Aquarus, Kalidus, Sophia, Young Kane, Dai.”
