Chapter 29
Vivian’s Point of View
Rule twenty-nine: Insult his penis.
The smell hits me first. It’s damp and musty with subtle undertones of feces and urine. Cold stone scrapes against my cheek, and I blink a few times, trying to remember what just happened.
Right – I experimented with cannibalism.
Honestly, it’s probably not for me.
Feeling slowly creeps back into my limbs, letting me know I’ve probably been curled up on this floor for a while. The bars in front of me blur, but I try to stand anyway.
I need to know where I am.
I don’t make it far.
Chains rattle, and I stagger, only making it halfway up. Looking down, I take in the chains bolted to the floor. They’re connected to the black cuffs on each of my wrists.
Oh, I don’t like this at all.
I sit back down, forcing myself to take a deep inhale.
It’s fine. Totally fine. Standing is overrated. I mean, the bars pretty much give it away. This is obviously a prison cell.
Still teetering on the brink of a claustrophobia-induced panic attack, I try to focus on the positives. This cell is bigger than the one Lilanthara locked me in. It’s about the size of a walk-in closet. This is definitely an upgrade.
Pressure builds in my chest. Clearly, my body didn’t get the memo that we are not freaking out.
The space is eerily quiet, so I’m assuming I’m in another unused prison. Other than my shallow breaths, the only other sounds are the occasional shuffle of rocks and dripping water.
Still, I want to be sure. The uneven stone floor bites into my knees as I crawl over it, inching forward until I can press my face against the cold iron.
My breath catches in my throat.
I’m underground – very, very deep underground.
The cavernous space that looms above me must stretch at least twenty stories.
It’s shaped like a massive funnel, widening as you approach the top.
Small sconces cast a dim glow along a path that spirals up the walls.
Every few feet, dark metal bars are carved into the stone.
Cells.
A tight knot forms in my stomach. This looks way too elaborate to be abandoned. In fact, I’m almost positive this is the Council’s main underground prison – the one where Arianna was kept.
But why is it so quiet? There’s no way I’m the only one here. Sure enough, as I scan the other cells across from me, I see movement. Shadows shift inside other cells, but I don’t spot a single guard.
I frown, trying to reconcile how the most feared prison in the realms can have the atmosphere of a strict library. I was definitely expecting more catcalling and harassment.
Alternatively, Hollywood lied to me – again.
Straining against the chains, I try to peer over the narrow path and glance at the levels below. All I find is absolute darkness.
I swallow.
Okay, so either I’m at the bottom of the prison, or I’m in the last area that they bothered to light up. My attempts to stay detached and curious are starting to fail, and a cold sweat breaks out on my back.
You’re fine, I remind myself. This is just like visiting the Underworld Realm. That was deep underground, too, and I didn’t panic there.
A small whimper escapes as I curl into a tight ball on the floor.
I am so unbelievably fucked.
But even though this situation is dismal, I have no regrets. There was no way I was going to let Leon rape me.
A thought stops my heart cold. He knocked me out. Did he stop touching me?
Queasiness settles over me. There’s a large tear in my dress. Did I get that before or after I blacked out?
Not daring to breathe, I turn away from the bars, checking for any sign that he kept going while I was unconscious. Finding nothing, I shudder and breathe a sigh of relief.
Hopefully, being down here means Leon has finally given up on forcing a bond. Maybe I can rot in this cell for eternity.
Of course, the moment I let myself hope, a bang reverberates through the prison. A thin rectangle of light appears at the very top of the cave – the exit.
A lone figure enters. The light is too dim to make out their features, but I already know who it is. Dread curdles in my stomach as I track him.
Leon is coming.
My palms feel clammy, and I scramble backward until the chains snap taut. As terror rolls through me, I can’t help but shake my head at how far we’ve come from the man who lay in my bed just to keep me warm.
“Oh, pet,” he taunts when he’s about halfway down. “Are you awake yet?” His question is answered by a deep, menacing growl. It rolls out from somewhere below me, causing small pebbles on the floor to vibrate.
What in the actual fuck was that?
Leon’s answering laugh mixes with a series of metallic clangs. They echo through the prison, and the growls go silent. He’s rapping a baton against a thin, metal bar. Squinting, I realize it runs horizontally across the wall between each cell.
The growls don’t come again.
I blink, feeling slightly dizzy. When I look at my door again, Leon is there, staring down at me with a sinister smile.
Either I’m starting to lose time, or he just apparated in front of my cell. Since apparating within the Council walls is impossible, and I’ve collected a few more head injuries, I’m going with option A.
My body locks up, even as I glare at him. I refuse to let him think I’m afraid (I am). But then I spot the strip of bloody gauze taped to the side of his head.
His ear hasn’t grown back yet.
I grin wide, hoping his blood still stains my teeth. A flash of annoyance crosses his face before he masks it away. He leans against the bit of wall jutting out beside my door, looking amused.
“Well, well, well. Look at how far you’ve crumbled,” he tuts in a mocking tone.
Since I’m in no mood to interact with a rapist, I decide Lilanthara really was a role model.
After all, she taught me how to look like an ice-cold bitch.
Rather than wasting more energy on Leon, I examine my cuticles.
Blood is caked under my nails, and I think my finger stub has grown back a few millimeters.
Honestly, I’m digging this look. If I’m going to rot down here forever, I think it’s important to make a good impression. I definitely look like a badass.
Leon laughs darkly. “How sweet. You think you can ignore me?”
I don’t acknowledge his existence. This might be a tiny space, but there are bars between us, and I’ve never been more grateful for a barrier.
There’s a slight shuffling noise, followed by a metallic click. My attention snaps up, and I once again realize I’m the unholiest jinx in the joke that is my life.
Leon opens the door.
This is still because I broke that damned mirror, isn’t it?
He grabs my hair, causing familiar pain to streak across my skull.
I try to punch him in the balls, but Leon twists at the last second. My hit glances off his thigh, and black dots explode across my vision as he slams a knee against my face.
I’m momentarily stunned, and Leon takes advantage. He drags me to the end of my chains before shoving my head against the ground.
The cuffs bite into my wrists, and just as I start to crawl forward, he straddles my back. I struggle, but he hums contentedly as he wrenches my head to the side, forcing me to look at him. He looms over me, and excitement dances in his eyes.
A familiar panic wells up inside me.
I ignore it.
Instead, I let out a small, humorless laugh. “Back to this again? How pathetic can you possibly be, to be this obsessed with someone who doesn’t want you?”
Hopefully, if I piss him off enough, he’ll just beat me up and leave. I can work with bruises.
Leon doesn’t take the bait. He brushes a strand of hair off my face.
“Once again, you are showing how truly stupid you are, Vivian. You need to let go of this word, ‘want.’ I’ve told you time and time again, your wants mean nothing.
You will belong to me, whether you want to or not.
The only thing that was ever in question was how difficult you were going to make it. ”
“I will never stop fighting you,” I spit and try to bite his fingers.
I hope he gets supernatural sepsis. It’s definitely a thing.
But Leon only laughs, and this time it’s laced with real amusement. Of course, he’s enjoying himself; he loves seeing me helpless.
“Always fighting impossible fights,” he muses as he leers at me. “Don’t worry, pet. We’ll get to breaking you very soon. But first, you’re going to tell me how you broke your leash.”
My eyes widen, only now remembering that I shattered the leash.
Why am I like this?
Right – head injuries.
Despite being pressed to the ground, I manage a shrug. The action sends stabbing pain through my shoulders. “I manifested bolt cutters. You know, with my Creator powers,” I answer sarcastically.
The Creator collar still hangs around my throat.
So much for ‘no chains can hold me.’
Still, I call on my Reaper energy, ready to blast off these chains and use them to strangle Leon.
Nothing happens.
Leon’s grin only grows. “Oh no, Vivian. I’m afraid I won’t be taking any more chances with you.” He nods to my wrists. “Those manacles block all magic. You are completely powerless.”
I grit my teeth, but don’t let any disappointment shine through. Why would I wallow? Feeling powerless is nothing new to me.
“Now that you understand your position, you’re going to tell me how you broke the leash.”
He adds even more pressure to my head. A sharp pebble digs into my cheek.
I grit my teeth. “The leash was sentient. It shriveled up and killed itself when it saw your dick.”
It isn’t my best comeback, but I’m still fairly new to engaging in insults. I’m sure I’ll improve over time.
Leon lets out a theatrical sigh as he releases my hair, shifting his weight until he’s sitting on my legs. “I thought you might be resistant. But never fear, very soon, you’ll be begging for a chance to make things right between us.”