Page 53 of Power of Shadow

For the next few days, I’m stuck in bed. The feeling of defeat mixes with fear, destroying me from the inside.

“Remember this lesson.” My father’s voice is full of satisfaction when he visits me in my room on the first evening. “If you ever decide to thwart my plans again, I’ll destroy everything you hold dear. I’ll find every single person who means anything to you and kill them. If it’s a woman, I’ll sell her for a dollar to the most ruthless brothel. I’ll find every single one of your weaknesses and crush them in my hand.”

Chapter 11

Ryker

Sometimes, luck brings something to your doorstep that’s hard to believe. I’m not a person who believes in luck, but this time fate is smiling on me. Well, maybe not fate itself.

Theo hands me a gift with a smile on his face. Not just any ordinary gift. He gives me the man we’ve been looking for, for the last ten years.

When I ask him how he found him, he just shrugs and cryptically says that I should enjoy the moment without wasting energy on insignificant details.

Excitement takes over in the first few seconds when my eyes fall on Norman.

It’s sad to see the guy sitting tied to a chair in one basement we use as an interrogation room. Despite his shorts and T-shirt, he’s wet. Sweat drips from his forehead and mixes with his tears.

It’s not that he hasn’t tried, but his attempts to free himself from Theo’s specialized restraints are futile. Theo’s a master at this, though I’ve never found out how he got to be one.

One way or another, there’s no hope for poor Norman.

I punch him again straight in the jaw. It’s already turning purple, and his right eye is so swollen he can’t open it. I should switch hands so he at least looks symmetrical. In fact, it won’t matter to him anymore.

“Where is she, Norman?” I ask in a deadly serious tone. I’m sure he’s got the message that this is no joke.

“Ryker—please,” he moans, his breath shallow.

I don’t have much time, seeing his condition. This guy isn’t cut out to be like us. He’s not trained to be a killer, nor is he skilled at being interrogated.

“The time for pleading is long gone. Where is she?”

“I remember... I remember when you were... a child. You weren’t... him then…”

I wasn’t him then. I wasn’t my father then! That's what he means.

Next strike. This time, straight to the nose, which makes a crunching sound as it breaks. Beautiful red blood flows in a stream, and the room is filled with his moans.

There’s a metallic smell in the air.

“I’m not him! I’ll never be him. But to find my sister, I’ll move heaven and earth and kill anyone who stands in my way.”

Unwanted memories from my father’s office come back to me. My little Aisling. Me. Mom.

Hatred and determination boil inside me. The darkness takes control of my body, soul, and heart. My pact with the demon is still valid. And it wants to play.

I walk over to the table where I’ve laid out a few things. I suspected they might come in handy today. My gaze wanders over my favorite knives, hammer, and scalpel until it lands on the cordless branch cutters.

No one said gardening couldn’t be useful in my world.

I love these shears. They’re relatively short, but I don’t need much. The upside is that you don’t need any strength at all to hurt someone.

I approach Norman with the tool. “Where have you been all these years?” I ask.

He looks at my hands with slight horror and then immediately seems to accept his fate. “I’ve been in hiding for years, so don’t be surprised. I had a feeling something was off during the whole flight. When we landed and I managed to slip away from your father, I knew I had no other option but to hide Otherwise, my life would have been forfeit to your father’s wrath, or I would have met my end at your own hands after you searched for me. In either scenario, I was as good as dead. And I am. I know it.”

My nod is all he gets.

“I remember that day like it was yesterday, when I was flying the plane with Aisling on board. Before dawn, I received instructions to be ready for takeoff,” he continues, spitting blood. “I remember how she screamed, crying and begging for help. My heart broke with every passing minute. Hatred consumed me for what was happening, but I had no choice, man. They threatened to kill my entire family if I didn’t follow orders. There was no way I could take on the horde of bodyguards escorting her.”