Page 109 of Capturing Sin

Aloud slap rang in my ear.

Stinging bloomed through my cheek, joining the throb in my skull.

The world filtered in through painful increments.

My head lolled forwards as I struggled to drag myself from the depths. I blinked slowly, staring at the plastic dust sheets beneath my trainers, and realised I was sitting on a chair.

“Ah, the traitor awakens.” A gruff voice sliced through the confusion.

I lifted my head, taking in my worst nightmare looming over me and meeting his arctic gaze.

“Uncle,” I spat.

Disdain curled his upper lip. “A traitor like you is no family of mine. Your father would be ashamed.”

A bitter chuckle spilled out. “Probably.”

I’m sure he thought it would cut, but his words held no more power over me. Neither did the memory of my father. A naive part of me had loved him, despite what he was capable of. He wasn’t too different from his brother, and I knew neither of them would stop killing demons even with proof they weren’t all preying on our kind.

Life was just a cycle of violence.

My uncle cocked his fist back and threw a punch, purposefully slow enough that I had time to brace, but couldn’t do anything to avoid the blow.

Knuckles hit my cheek, whipping my head aside.

Pain burst through my face. Bile rose in my throat as the pounding turned sharp, but I swallowed thickly. Facing the monster, I kept my expression clean despite the pit of rage welling up inside me.

I hated this man.

Every fibre of my being screamed for his death. Yet I’d done nothing. I’d only really tried to escape after Sin’s brother had opened my eyes to what was happening right in front of me.

I’d let him hurt me for years before that, vaguely hoping to find my freedom in retiring to have a family of my own with Leo. I’d been a coward.

But I wouldn’t submit meekly without a fight. Not now, not ever again.

“You’ve gone soft, Uncle,” I said, imitating Sin’s cutting sneer. “No wonder your chapter is in pieces.”

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t hit me again. Yet.

“So this is the real you, huh? The real Liliana that’s been hiding behind the blank stares and meek acceptance.” He shook his head. “Pathetic.”

I grinned through the pain as he echoed what Leo had said before he’d knocked me out. I’d never realised how alike they were until now.

Yet neither of them had any idea who I was, and until a certain vicious demon had entered my life, I hadn’t either. Sin had seen me at my worst, and still thought I was worth saving.

If he could spare me after how I’d wronged him, surely there was hope for me yet.

Even if he never wanted to see me again. I knew I cared about him. More than I’d ever thought possible.

I should have told him how I felt before it was too late. Now, I’d missed my chance for something real, but at least I could go out knowing my last act had been good.

I’d rescued that family. Those children could grow up with parents who loved and protected them.

The insignia ring glinted on my uncle’s finger a second before his fist impacted my other cheek, knocking my glasses off. I grunted, bindings stopping me from falling out of the chair he’d strapped me to.

The cosy wooden walls fuzzed slightly, but the small room meant everything was relatively sharp.

Both sides of my face throbbed, but I forced my split lips into another cruel smile. “That all you got, uncle? You’re shaming our family with your weakness.” I chuckled, throwing back at him one of his favourite lines from our bloody “training” sessions.

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