Chapter 11 #2
Right. How sturdy were these chains? I gave them a test, pulling downward. My flesh sizzled like meat in a frying pan.
“Pixie balls!”
“Agreed,” Basil replied.
At least our trousers protected our ankles for the time being, the iron making that area itch, not burn.
Breaking the chains was out. What next?
Hopeless…
No. No. No. Things weren’t there yet.
The boat failed to offer a solution, its secrets hidden beyond the glow of the candles and lanterns. However, I knew they were there waiting to be discovered.
They just had to be.
Paul returned, a scowl on his face. He brushed past Basil, standing between us again.
“Fucking cow,” he huffed. “Thinks she’s so great. Thinks I’m the grunt. Here for her dirty work.” He looked at me. “What do you think?”
That your head would look fetching on the end of a spike. “About what?”
“Me being a grunt.”
“I don’t know you.”
“Shit answer.” He turned to Basil with the same question.
“I have the same response.”
Paul nodded. “I see, I see. Well.” He came to me, patting me down. “Let’s see what you’re packing.”
He picked out my screwdrivers, my penlight, a cereal bar I’d been saving for the morning, followed by Wendy.
“What is this?” The blood magi dumped everything else on a seat, holding my orange pet up to his face by her gold chain. “Tamagotchi?”
“Please be careful,” I said, belly lurching.
“I haven’t seen one of these in years.”
“Please…”
He closed his hand around Wendy, shuffling closer to me.
“Please, what? This thing ain’t yours anymore.
It’s mine. Your life doesn’t even belong to you now.
You’re ours, you’re Lance’s. Everything you thought you were doesn’t matter now.
Forget your dreams, your desires, all of it.
Your blood is ours.” He licked his lips.
“The things we will do, the pain you will suffer, the pleasure we’ll soothe you with.
Get ready for the best and worst ride of your life.
” Paul poked a finger into my ribs. “Fae blood is the best.”
“Please…”
He opened his hand, Wendy sitting so vulnerable against his cracked, bloodied skin. “How often do you change the batteries?”
I didn’t answer that I never had. Wendy was special.
Paul pushed some buttons. “The blob’s shat itself. I’ll clean it up.”
Stars, I wanted to puke watching him taint her with his touch.
“Not a happy pet. Why the sad face? Ah, wants food.” He fed her. “No sound. How do I turn the sound on?”
I strained against the chains, desperate to get her back. “Please just—”
“Just what? I’ve already told you to forget who you think you are.”
“She’s—”
“She, eh? What’s her name?”
I bit down on my bottom lip hard enough to bleed. “Please…”
“Please what? I’m asking her name.”
Basil cocked his head. “What about the Faery king?”
Paul’s brows pinched together before he turned. “What?”
“The Faery king. Did you not hear?”
“Hear what?”
Basil tutted then sighed. “Silly me. When would you have gotten the chance to find out with all the zombie drama?”
“Now’s a good time to fill me in.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t…” Basil looked away.
“Don’t be like that.”
He repeated the story he’d told Lance.
Paul glanced at the window, holding up a finger. “Interesting. Won’t change things as they stand. At least until Lance says otherwise. Our orders are to make use of the fae. No killing, but plenty of playtime. And we have two of you for the price of one.” He laughed, jabbing Basil in the side.
“Don’t touch me!” Basil yelled, eyes flaring with rage.
Oh, crap.
Paul slapped him across the face with the back of his hand then spat bloody phlegm at him. “You fucking piece of shit! You don’t shout at me! You don’t ever fucking shout at me!”
Basil received three consecutive punches to his stomach, the wind knocked out of him.
“Please stop this!” I cried. “He won’t do it again!”
Paul turned on me, kicking me between the legs. Sickening pain lanced between my legs, reaching my stomach, then my head. Stars! There was nothing like a kick in the balls to bring a man down.
I wheezed, sagging forward. The iron bit harder into my skin.
“Fucking dirty fae cunts!” Paul hit me with some blood magic. “Lift your head!”
I obeyed.
Blood poured from his nose, the spell clearly taking its toll.
“Who do you think you are? I’m your fucking daddy, your master, your whole world.
You don’t spin me bullshit, or talk back, or plead for mercy unless I want you to.
And as for this.” He held Wendy up, blood smeared across her screen. “She’s history.”
The magic dropped. I gasped for air, pain still hot between my legs.
Paul rammed his shoulder into mine, stomping out onto the deck, banging on the window.
“Looky look!” he cried, spinning Wendy around on his finger by her chain.
“Please…” My voice came out as a rasp.
Wendy flew off his finger. She made an audible plop when she hit the water.
“No…”
“You scum!” Basil yelled, recovered from being winded.
Paul punched the window, storming back inside. “Scum, am I?” He scurried away.
“Basil…”
“Don’t worry, Orion. I’m formulating a plan as we speak.”
Paul returned, holding a machete above his head. “I’ll fucking teach you!” He brought the blade down on Basil’s right shoulder.