Chapter 52 Izzy
IZZY
I couldn’t fight physically, but I still fought. I focused all my strength — including a massive influx of spirit from Vyns — into breaking my collar. Maybe, if I got rid of that, I could do something to stop Saldrea?
And I had to stop her.
She had Myel on his knees, slowly pulling out his intestines.
With one punch she’d punctured his abdomen.
Now she laughed with sick glee as she reached in to pull out his guts.
Her eyes were glued to me, where I lay helpless, watching.
My gaze never left Myel’s. His eyes had glazed over, his body limp.
I had no clue how much longer he could hold on.
Stay with me! I sent to him through our bond.
He didn’t reply.
I felt his pain, his weakness, his sorrow. He was in there somewhere, but I couldn’t reach him. I hoped he’d heard me, since I couldn’t spare the energy to deepen our bond. Everything I had went into breaking my collar.
Rook’s mental assistance had cleared my mind, a godsend. Being calm wasn’t entirely possible in my current state, but I was able to focus on freeing myself.
And while I did, I played Saldrea’s game.
I didn’t look away, didn’t talk back, didn’t show strength.
She wanted to draw this out and see me suffer, so I showed her all my anguish.
Because the more I gave her, the slower she worked, savoring my defeat, and the longer Myel survived.
A tear leaked from my eye and traced over a broken, swollen cheek.
Saldrea drank it in. It was easy enough to do, since Myel’s suffering was my own.
He began to slip away, death closing in, our bond faltered.
No, no, no!
Inwardly I screamed, a war cry, filled with raw defiance and resolve. I pulled more from Vyns, our connection straining as I siphoned his spirit, greedily taking everything he offered and pouring it all into breaking the collar.
Allies are coming, they’ve nearly broken through! Rook sent into my mind.
My heart filled with hope. And whether it was that surge in determination or the culmination of all the work I’d done, the suppression collar around my neck gave a loud snap as it cracked and fell away.
I was free.
To be continued…