Page 18 of Secrets of Ruin

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

More days and weeks passed, though Kaylia doubted it was more than a month, but she couldn’t be sure. They lost more of those who entered the dungeon with them. Only her, Brokk, Ryker, a witch named Leland, and two amsirah, Kenneth and Tucker, remained.

Part of the ophidians’ torture was watching their friends being picked off one by one and speculating who would be next. And those numbers were dwindling toward a near certainty on who they’d claim as their next victim.

During that time, Brokk killed two more of the nymphs the emperor placed in his cell. She didn’t know how many more of the beings the ophidians had in their pyramid, but they didn’t care about watching them die.

Probably because the ophidians knew that one day, Brokk would break and give them the show they craved. His ciphers had faded further as he weakened more; it was only a matter of time before the dark fae fed.

Until then, at least his vampire half was sated as he’d drained the nymphs dry before killing them, and he continued to take Kaylia’s blood. She believed that was more for the connection it created between them than an actual need to feed, and she welcomed it.

The ophidians had flogged Ryker’s chest and back again recently. The whip had stripped nearly all the flesh from him.

Like Brokk, his torture was wearing on him, and he didn’t heal as fast or as completely as he did before. The ophidians might not have to outright kill those who remained; they might all waste away and die in these awful cells deep in the bowels of the pyramid.

The amsirah general sat in the center of his cell, his legs crossed and his shoulders back, though the position had to be pulling at his recently torn flesh. His hands rested on his knees while he stared at the door.

For some reason, Brokk and Ryker had become the ophidians’ two favorite targets, probably because they remained the most defiant. A part of her wished they would break at least a little and maybe get a reprieve, but the bigger part hoped they never caved to these monsters.

When they came for her again, Brokk screamed at them to take him instead, but they didn’t listen this time. Instead, they placed her on a rack and twisted until the bones in her shoulders popped out of joint, one of her wrists broke, and both her ankles dislocated.

It still bothered her that she’d screamed when it happened. It hadn’t been a full-blown scream; she’d managed to hold most of it back, but too much sound had left her lips.

Those bastards had smiled as they unstrapped her from the table. Unable to walk, she hung limply between them as they dragged her across the floor; the movement made the pain in her ankles worse, and she gritted her teeth against screaming again.

She also should have healed by now but still walked with a limp. The fact they hadn’t killed her didn’t mean her death wasn’t coming soon. They were running out of immortals to play with, and Kaylia had no idea what was coming next; they could only watch and wait for the next blow to fall.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Brokk killed another nymph. Ryker’s wounds healed before they flayed him open again, and the ophidians removed Kenneth from his cell. He never returned after they tore him apart.

Kaylia’s injuries healed, as did Ryker’s back, but it took more time than it had before, and now dozens of new scars crisscrossed his chest and back. All of them were weakening daily, and while she retained hope they’d escape this place, it had become a small bubble inside her.

When the ophidians returned with the emperor, Kaylia closed her eyes against the wave of sorrow swelling in her chest. Most likely, another nymph was about to be brought in, or one of them would leave their cell to meet their end.

Thankfully, they didn’t leave the nymph’s bodies behind and usually removed them after what she guessed was a day or two. She couldn’t handle that stench on top of all the others.

Brokk’s bones were more noticeable; the dark shadows under his eyes had grown as his ciphers faded further. He was wasting away, and no matter what she said, he refused to nourish the dark fae half of himself.

It was only a matter of time before he couldn’t hold out anymore and his survival instinct finally overrode his determination. She’d prepared herself the best she could for this, but it was still going to hurt worse than anything these fuckers had done to her.

Brokk’s fingers squeezed hers. He kissed her knuckles before they released each other.

Kaylia’s whole body ached as she pushed herself into a seated position. She still used the tattered remnants of her shirt to provide some protection against the dirt ground, but it didn’t offer any warmth or comfort.

The remnants of her pants sat next to the bucket of soap and water the ophidians brought them yesterday. At least they still had that tiny piece of luxury in this place.

Standing with her arms at her sides, she lifted her chin as she waited to see who would suffer today. It had been a while for her, and she mentally braced herself for the agony that would probably come soon.

When two ophidians donned their gloves and slithered toward her cell, her shoulders went back as they produced a set of keys. Whatever they did to her, she wouldn’t scream again.

Brokk growled as he prowled toward his cell door. “Take me instead.”

“No,” Kaylia said. “It’s my turn.”

Brokk’s head swiveled toward her, and his eyes flashed a violent shade of red. His lips skimmed back to reveal his extended fangs.

“Kaylia….” His words trailed off as the key turned in her lock and a click sounded. “Take me!” he shouted at the emperor.