Chapter 13
It takes no time for me to arrive near her tiny village. All I have to do is think about the town, and I’m standing on the edge of a forest on a muddy lane, smelling horse shit and decay. The village is still a mile or two away, but I can see a smattering of dwellings in the distance. Rale is on the very edge of the realm and so close to the border, it feels nearly forgotten.
I set out on foot to find my prey. It could mean alerting him of my approach, but I doubt anyone would associate my arrival with him. There is a part of me, though, that would like nothing more than to imagine him stewing in fear with the knowledge that I was coming for him.
Distance from Briar hasn’t dampened my desire to make her father suffer. If anything, the craving is stronger for the fact that I have to be away from her. If it wasn’t for the demon, I would have to allow her father to live until she and I are fully bonded, otherwise I wouldn’t leave her vulnerable.
I decided before walking out of the room that I would be the one to explain Briar’s ability to Kage. I’m still unwilling to test her against him, since it’s not worth the risk, but he’ll find out sooner or later, and I figure I owe it to him to tell him myself…not that I think it will make things easier for him. She still won’t be within his grasp, but who knows what the future will hold? There may come a time when we are confident his touch won’t kill her, but until then, I will be there to make sure he doesn’t risk it, which is why I couldn’t tell him before leaving, and I need to get back quickly to make sure he’s not tempted.
Doors and shutters are slammed closed as I pass each house. If I didn’t see it happen myself, I might have thought this place was a ghost town. As I draw closer to the settlement, I notice a few brave souls who don’t duck into structures to hide. When the buildings grow thick and the smell gets worse, I know I am getting closer to my destination.
Syrinx gave me all the information I needed to know about what a piece of shit her father is when she briefed us about Briar’s arrival a few weeks ago. I didn’t know how important it would be at the time, only that the headmistress learned of a girl in the village that was said to be able to resist any magical ability. You could even test your talents against her for a fee. She sent someone from the institute to do just that before extending an invitation to Briar. I don’t know whom she sent, just that it wasn’t me, which is regrettable. I doubt I would have been able to keep her from the facility even then, but her father would already be dead, and I wouldn’t be here, away from her.
I head inside the first tavern I see, ducking through the door to find a dimly lit space with low ceilings and a filthy floor. The few patrons dotted around the room don’t bother to look up at my approach. Most are probably too soused to even realize there’s a threat among them. I drop my fist onto the scarred bar top, and the female facing the wall turns around with a scowl that disappears when her eyes rise to meet mine. She mouths something, but I don’t bother trying to figure out what she said.
“I’m in need of some information,” I announce. The female’s head bobbles as she nods hastily. “Where can I find the Blissa household?”
Her shoulders relax, and she exhales heavily, undoubtedly because I’m not looking for her and anyone she holds dear. “The girl’s gone. She was taken out of town days ago.” It would seem I’m not the first person to come here looking for the Blissas, or more accurately, Briar.
“I know, she’s not who I’m looking for.” I don’t like having to explain myself, and it comes across in my tense tone.
“Oh, sorry.” She drops her head. “They live on the south edge of the village. There’s a big, rickety barn. It used to be red. You can’t miss it.”
I turn to leave without a backward glance or word of thanks, but before I can reach the door, she calls, “Hey, mister, if you’re here to kill Philip, stab him once for me, will ya?” The comment took some guts, so I acknowledge her with a slight tilt of my head. I’m not sure if I’ll kill Philip or not, since he’s not the one I’m here for, but if I do encounter him, I will make sure he suffers for whatever he did to this female.
I take my time getting to the south end of town. News tends to travel fast in these little communities, as does fear. The tightly packed buildings of the town center only last a few blocks before they give way to small homes grouped together, and eventually, I find myself standing at the edge of town again, but this time, there’s a crumbling old barn ahead of me. The house just beyond the field isn’t anything special, but it’s nicer than the surrounding homes. Rage fills my veins as I think about what most likely afforded her family this home—my mate being used.
A robust man with a cap of dark, messy hair exits the structure, clearly in a rush. Our eyes connect across the expanse, and I use an ability I rarely call forth—I stop time. I don’t care that there could be consequences or that it’s a misuse of power. The only thing I care about is making sure he can’t escape me.
Lightning fast, I stand before him. His puffy face is frozen in fear. It would be so easy to slit his throat, then reach into his chest and stop his beating heart, and I will do those things, just not today. I need to make sure I have someone on hand to guarantee he can’t die on me in the process. I allow time to snap back, and his eyes widen. The slight odor of ammonia fills my senses as he pisses himself, and that gives me a sick sense of satisfaction.
Before he can move, I bring my hand up and curl my fingers into his shoulder. He immediately contorts his body to try to ease the pain, but it’s useless. Nothing in the world could make me release him. “Agony,” I whisper, filling my words with so much power, I have to pull back at the last moment or risk stopping his heart on the spot.
His scream fills the air around us, and a genuine smile curls my lips. He passes out much too quickly for my liking, but I was admittedly a little overzealous. He hangs limply from my grip before I decide to drop him to the muddy ground. Too bad his face missed the pile of horse shit a few steps away.
Now that he’s down, I allow myself to focus on the house and whoever else may be inside. Running feet and scuffling noises filter past the soft sounds of the nearby forest. The urge to burn every structure in sight to the ground is strong, but I can’t be sure there isn’t anyone else like my flower inside.
I look down at the man at my feet, fighting the urge to kick in his teeth while his brain tries to come to terms with the pain his body experienced, forcing his nervous system to shut down. I’m wasting precious time deciding if I want to shift him to his new prison now or just bind him for the time being while I search the property. Knowing I don’t want to chance anyone escaping, I make a decision and scan my surroundings for something that will make sure he can’t move from this post.
A cluster of cut trees near the edge of the forest catches my eye. With a flick of my finger, I call two of the largest fallen logs forward and drop them on each of her father’s arms. A shriek of pure anguish splits the air when the trunks crush his bones, but it gets cut off too quickly when he passes out again. I wish I had the power to keep him conscious. It’s going to take a lot of restraint on my part and him building his tolerance before I get any real satisfaction from his torment, but at least I know he won’t be going anywhere.
Stepping away from him, I head toward the house, where I heard the scuffling sounds. “Come out now, and you might live to see the sunset,” I call loud enough to be heard far into the home and surrounding buildings.
My warning is met with silence.
“If you make me come find you, I’m going to be angry.” I’m already angry, but it will piss me off more if I have to hunt them down. The creak of a door opening up just a few moments later proves that someone isn’t an idiot. A young male of maybe fifteen exits with his head down, towing an even smaller female behind him. Both of them have the same appearance as Briar—underfed, threadbare clothing, and meek demeanors.
“Come,” I instruct with a physical gesture. The girl keeps her head so low, I can’t get a good look at her face. Her dark hair doesn’t hold any gold the way Briar’s does though. “Who are you?” I question when there are still several feet separating us.
“Conner, and this is Odie.”
“Odette,” the small female corrects, then hunches her shoulders even more.
“How do you know this man?” I kick the heap near my feet, but it’s not satisfying. He doesn’t even stir.
“He is my father,” Conner admits. “If he promised you Briar, she is already gone.” He manages to angle the girl behind him a little more.
“Did he promise her to others?”
The boy shrugs. “Don’t know, he didn’t tell me anything. I just know when powerful people come here, it’s for her.”
“How about you? What do you know?” I make it clear I’m talking to the female by leaning to the side and putting her in my sights.
“She doesn’t know anything.” He tries to answer for her, but I cut him off with a look. “Tell him, Odie.”
“I don’t know anything,” she parrots.
“Is this your father?”
“No.” She shakes her head quickly. “I just came to be with Connor.”
“What is his name?” I grind the toe of my boot against his curled fingers when he lets out a soft whimper, turning the sound into a gurgling moan as bones snap.
The boy looks down and swallows roughly before telling me, “Gary.” I can’t figure out what bothers him more, the fact that I just broke several fingers without even blinking or telling me his father’s name.
“Tell me something, Connor. Would Briar want you dead? And don’t bother trying to lie to me, I will know.”
“No… I don’t…” He shakes his head and frowns. “I don’t think she would wish me dead. I never hurt her or anything, not like Philip and Father did.”
“Who is Philip?” It seems I may have a new target. The blood in my veins could freeze, and I wouldn’t be surprised.
“Our brother, my father’s firstborn favorite,” the boy offers readily. “Do you know Briar? Where is she?” he questions, seeming to understand she is the reason I’m here.
I allow some of the rage I feel to show on my features with my narrow-eyed glare. Wisely, the boy takes a step back from me. “Sorry.” He drops his gaze to the ground.
“Where can I find Philip?”
“I don’t know, my father should.” He tips his head toward the bag of meat on the ground. The boy just gave me an unexpected boon. Now I have even more motivation to keep Gary alive on the trip to his new prison. I was starting to worry I would break him too soon. I need to make sure there is a healer there before really getting to work.
“I’m going to torture him for decades. He will not know a single moment of peace, and when he is finally dead, I will call upon the lowest demons to feed upon his soul for all eternity. If I find out you ever hurt Briar, I will be back for you, Connor, and nothing you hold dear will be safe. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” he croaks out. His eyes are wide enough that I think I may have to return at some point, because he looks truly frightened, but I have more pressing matters to attend to. With one parting glance at the house, I ignite it with god fire. My fire doesn’t distinguish between worthy and not, it just incinerates anything and everything it touches.
The boy and girl both duck their heads and cover them with their hands when the fire erupts. “There is no place you could dream of hiding from me, Connor. I hope I never have to look for you.” I direct the logs to roll down Gary’s arms, shattering the rest of the bones down to his fingers.
He wails until I grab him by his shirt collar—I don’t trust myself to touch his skin—and lift him a few inches off the ground, making him screech before a torrent of vomit spews from his mouth and he passes out again.
“So weak,” I sneer, disgusted by everything about him, then I shift us to his new cell, locked far below the earth, where there is absolutely zero chance of him ever escaping or seeing the light of day again.