Page 98 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“You think you’re going to torture me into telling you something? You forget you’ve been torturing me my whole life. I won't tell you anything, Samael,” I scream at him as he sits down on the throne facing me. I hate seeing him sitting in that chair, the one my father used to sit in.

He looks so full of himself it makes me sick. “Oh no, my sweet little bird. That table isn’t for you. But I promise you’ll be squawking before I’m through,” Samael says, tapping his fingers on his knee.

My heart starts to pound wildly in my chest again. I may be able to take whatever Samael does to me, but I don’t think I can take watching him do it to Nyx. They can’t take Nyx out of that cell though, or he’ll be able to destroy them with his magic. Then I realize, oh gods, they’re going to torture Lili. She must still be here, and Samael knows she was like a second mother to me growing up. I cannot bear that either. I don’t have much time to contemplate the what if’s because the doors kick open and in comes three guards followed by . . . oh gods.

Citlali and two guards have Nyx and they’re dragging him in. Oh my gods, it must’ve taken all six of them to restrain him. He has iron cuffs around his wrists, ankles, and neck.

He sees me in the room, and when our eyes meet, his glow with fury. “Lyra, are you okay?”

“Yes. Yes, I’m okay, but Nyx . . .” My voice breaks off, and I feel tears running down my face. I don't have the words.

“Oh, you two, this warms my heart.” Samael chuckles as he walks over toward me. “Strap him to the table.”

The guards and Citlali force Nyx down on the table. He puts up quite a fight, landing a kick in Citlali’s face. I see blood drip from her lip, and it makes me smile. That bitch deserves to die when this is over.

“It’s no use fighting, Onyx. The iron cuffs were made special for Fae like you. You have Lyra's father to thank for that. Your magic will do you no good here.” Samael’s honeyed voice is back.

“My father would never make something so cruel.”

“Your father had lots of interesting artifacts your mother kept hidden away while she was alive,” Samael says as he comes closer to me.

They finally get Nyx strapped to the table. At each corner of the table, a chain connects to the iron cuffs, and there’s even one that attaches to his neck.

Samael rubs my hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ears. “I want to make sure you enjoy the show,” he says, smirking at me.

“Everyone, out,” Samael demands, and all the guards leave. Citlali remains lingering by the door.

“Ooouuutttt.” He draws out the word slowly, and Citlali bows her head then disappears out the door.

“Now, where were we? Ah yes, Lyra, feel free to speak up at any time,” Samael says, putting on his sweet voice that makes me want to rip off my ears.

“Lyra, don’t tell this piece of shit anything. No matter what happens. Promise me?” Nyx says in a tight voice.

“I promise.”

“I think we’ve heard enough from you for the night,” Samael says while placing a gag in Nyx’s mouth and strapping it around his head. His eyes are still on me, and they’re glowing brighter than I’ve ever seen.

Samael moves to the table full of weapons and begins picking things up and examining them. He slowly puts them back down as if he can’t decide how to torture us. As if it’s all a fun game to him.

“You love my little sister so much. Maybe I should carve her name into your chest.” Samael grabs a blunt knife off the table.

Panic takes over my body. I feel like my heart is going to explode out of my chest when Samael brings the knife down on Nyx’s torso. Nyx doesn’t even flinch when Samael begins tracing my name across his chest. The room is silent, and all I can hear is the wet sound of the blade tearing his flesh. The smell of blood fills the air. Blood seeps out onto the metal table creating small pools that slowly drip onto the floor.

Nyx is still staring at me as if he’s trying to tell me it’s okay. I shake my head side to side as the tears fall silently down my face uncontrollably. I try to hold in my emotion, but a garbled sob makes its way out of my throat, drawing Samael’s attention.

“Is my little bird feeling left out?”

Nyx’s eyes are blazing into mine now, and he looks terrified. Samael was just drawing on his skin with a knife, and he looked unfazed, but now that he’s coming toward me with the knife Nyx looks how I felt moments ago.

“Do you want a little something to remember your lover by?” Samael asks, getting to his knees in front of me.

I don’t speak, don’t even look at him. I just focus on Nyx as Samael digs the blade into my thigh. I feel my skin rip and tear with every ragged movement of the blade. I can’t tell if he’s drawing on me or just cutting me open. All I feel is fire. My leg feels like it’s on fire. I refuse to look down, and I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me squirm. I just stare into Nyx’s eyes as he fades in and out with the blur from my tears.

Nyx starts making muffled grunting sounds through the gag, drawing Samael’s attention. He gets to his feet and tries to place a kiss on my mouth. I gag and rear my head back.

“You’ll learn to be obedient, Lyra. If you’re to be my wife, you’ll learn to obey me,” he says, moving to the wall behind me.

“I’ll never be anything to you. When I get out of here, I am going to kill you, Samael. Mark my words,” I howl.