23
Ness
A rather inconvenientcraving for an iced hazelnut mocha hit me out of nowhere. My body needed food; I could feel my remaining energy slipping away by the moment. The myriad of smells inside this place made my head spin.
Alvin shoved his fingers through the blinds so he could peer through like a paranoid maniac. That white circle around his eyes never quite went away. His hands shook, nearly vibrating with whatever energy was still riding him.
I swallowed and sat up so I could take in my surroundings. It seemed like he’d taken me to a safehouse somewhere outside Lakesedge.
“Why is your face so ugly?” I asked before I could think to stop myself. Exhaustion made my tongue slippery. “Did you lose the genetic lottery or did your mother bash your face into a wall a few too many times when you were a baby?”
Alvin spun on me, a snarl tearing from his lips. When he pulled his foot back, I forced myself to go limp. Tensing only made things worse. Alvin’s boot connected with my side. I thought I could taste blood in the back of my mouth and wondered if he’d ruptured something. It wouldn’t heal right away, either.
I didn’t have the resources left.
I could tell by the way my arcana kept slipping out of my grasp. This time, my arcana wasn’t playing hard to get. Trying to get ahold of my arcana felt like trying to find a needle in a haystack. It was there and it kept pricking my fingers, but I kept grasping at nothing every time I thought I’d finally found it.
But I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted to drive Alvin mad before he finally put an end to me once and for all.
I stared at the ceiling as I spoke. “It’s a wonder you could even put a ring on that wife of yours. What did you do to force her into marriage? No. Don’t tell me. That’s a story that belongs on the late-night news.”
“Disgusting bitch,” Alvin said as he geared up for another kick.
“Oh no, you called me a bad name. Whatever shall I do?” I tilted my head to glare at him. “I’m shaking in my boots. Oh, wait. I don’t have boots.”
In fact, I was still naked save for the coat Vi had given me earlier.
“Dude, just kill me already. You know you want to do it. What’s stopping you from putting me out of both of our misery?”
Alvin stopped mid-kick. He crouched down, his hands hanging between his knees. That manic look still warped his features.
“Do it, chicken.”
Alvin’s expression changed. His eyes flashed wide, the gears behind them turning. When those eyes narrowed in suspicion, he twisted and reached for a nearby rag. It was filthy, covered in who-knows-what. I bucked and fumbled, but Alvin was faster.
He snagged the rag around my head, managing to get it between my teeth. The fabric left a bitter taste on my tongue that made me retch. He jerked it, wrenching my neck as he tied it tight behind my head.
Why was I pushing him? I wanted to live, didn’t I? I couldn’t help but press all of his buttons now that we were alone. Perhaps I wanted him to suffer, and this was the only way I could think of to achieve that. I clearly didn’t have the power to win this fight.
Inside, I couldn’t summon a storm to strike him. I didn’t even have the energy left to reach for the arcana that powered my command. Each time I tried, it slipped through my fingers and left my tongue burning. My unpredictable arcana annoyed me more than Alvin right now.
When Alvin pulled away, I reached for the gag stuck in my mouth. His head snapped up. He caught my hand before my fingers could even graze the fabric. In the blink of an eye, he snapped two fingers. Pain rippled down my arm. I cried out, but the sound was muffled by the gag.
“You won’t be able to touch the gag if I break them all. Is that what you want?” Alvin asked imperiously.
For a brief moment, I allowed myself to wonder where Ryder was. I knew that Beryl likely had him in her grasp right now. Beryl’s motivations were an unknown variable. Maybe she’d let him go. Maybe she still had Ryder trapped somewhere in her court.
Either way, I wanted to believe he was doing his best to get back to me, that he would find me, no matter what. But I stared at the back of my hand where the bond mark glowed from time to time. The light flickered uncertainly, like something was trying to sever it.
Ryder.
I love you.
I’m sorry I never got to tell you.
Rolling onto my back, I closed my eyes. Good gravy, I hoped he got this over with soon.
“I killed you once,” Alvin said.