Matthieu flinched with disbelief and anger. He snarled at me, and the back of his hand made contact with my cheek.
My head snapped to the side, and blood pooled in my mouth from where my lip had split. Despite the pain, I refused to look away from him. "Does that make you feel better?"
He stared at me for a long moment, seemingly taken aback by my words.
When he finally spoke again, it was another stupid riddle before he reached out and snatched the locket from around my neck. "Though time may pass and spirits will wither, I'll persevere. With patience and devotion, I'll make you see, true happiness and power lie with me."
But before he could shut the door, I replied, "My happiness and power lie with the five men you've hurt. I willneverlove a monster."
The slam of the door shutting pierced my eardrums, but with Matthieu gone, I allowed myself to fully break. I had felt all of the phantom pains from each torture, and my spirit ached.
Sobs shook my body, and my vision blurred as more and more tears poured from my eyes. I cried until my spirit gave me mercy, and my vessel passed out.
18
SILAS
The worst feelingin the world was feeling defenseless.
I'd struggled with the hex over my spirit blocking my powers--but it didn't come close to being unable to reach my magic and see Fawn in the state she was in, thanks to Matthieu.
A deep seated devastation wrapped around my throat and suffocated me the longer I took in the bruising around her neck from where she'd been choked before we had found her. I loathed seeing the cuts, dried blood, and bruising on her face.
I couldn't even fathom why Matthieu had set his sights on Fawn. But he reveled in attempting to break her.
It'd been eighteen hours of being tied to these rickety chairs that were somehow strong enough to hold us, and we still had no magic.
It had beeneighteen hoursfull of torture.
He'd decided since Fawn wasn't shy about her feelings for us, he was going to break her by hurting us. He didn't give any of us healing potions. The rest of the guys had already passed out from the pain, but the aftermath was there.
The skin of the twins' faces was missing. Bastian's hands were nothing but bones barely hanging on by burnt ligaments. Aimon's stomach contents were splashed all over the floor.
I was the only one still awake, and my throat was raw from being choked out again. I didn't even want to think of how bad the bruising must've looked.
The bond made sure we felt the pain we each endured, but Fawn's broken heart as it happened was the worst of the pain.
We should've found a different way to approach this damned mission. Fawn had been right all along about Matthieu.
I couldn't do anything but stare at Fawn,helplessly.
Her pale blue hair spilled over the edge of the chair as her limp body, that was drained of energy, made me want to throw up. I had never felt so damned powerless before. Once again, I didn't have a clear plan or a solution, or even an answer.
I wanted to end Matthieu's life, but all I could do was sit tied to this chair and vibrate with anger.
"You were right," I croaked out, wincing at the pain in my throat.
Fawn stirred before jolting upright, eyes wide and full of panic as they scanned the room. Her stare softened as she landed on me. "Silas? You're awake."
"I'm so sorry, muse." My voice was so broken and raspy, and I'd never wanted a healing potion so badly. "I should've listened to you."
She shook her head before wincing. "I'm notalwaysright, but this wasn't your fault. I hadn't expected this outcome either."
Bless. Her understanding somehow made itworse.
"I'm going to kill him," I vowed, my throat burning with each word.
"Not if I kill him first," she murmured, blinking with a wince.
