Page 24 of The Nightmare Queen

“I don’t know, Will, she probably refers to everyone who’s human with terms of endearment like that. As you’ve reminded me many times she doesn’t have the best of reputations.

He snorts into his glass. "To be honest, I half expected her to have horns.”

“Ha. She did you one better, she has a damn dragon,” I lean back against the fireplace, "a damn dragon we can’t use. Hell, if we had access to that kind of fire power, Baelor’s forces would be wiped out in one fell swoop.”

Will doesn’t say anything to that, just closes his eyes, sinking further into the chaise.

“Daybreak.” I murmur. “At daybreak we head back to Vellar. In just six days, we start to fix this mess.”

“Of course the military will probably take longer, but at least we will be there to help Bennett.” Will adds, bobbing his head up and down against the arm rest.

I have six days to figure her out before we’re thrown into battle. I don’t even know if she is planning on fighting alongside us. I know shecanfight. But will she risk her own neck for mine? If Baelor weren’t such an impending threat to us both I think she would happily hand my neck over to him.

Eveera

“PLEASE. PLEASE STOP. PLEASE!”

I’m sweating, we’ve been at this for hours. “P-please.” She sobs. “Ple..ase.”

She wants me to feel pity, when all I feel is disgust. “Have to admit dear, you’re not the type I prefer to have saying that word. Doesn’t do the same thing for me.” The tendrils I’m Wielding wriggle in and out of her body. It’s a brutal assault to witness, can’t imagine what it feels like. “Do you see her, Viv? Do you see her limp little body?” Her mouth quivers but no sounds come out. “See, yours is about to match.”

Scarlet red blood pools at the corner of her lips as she sputters out another plea. Oh boo fucking hoo.My fist connects with her face, blood spewing to the side as the bones in her cheek crunch beneath my knuckles. “Did you listen when she begged you to stop, Viv? Did you answer her whimpers or pleas?” Her face is still turned from me, but even in the dimmed lighting I can see a bruise already blooming on her cheek. “Did you stop when her chest rattled with its last breath? What aboutthe others, did you stopthemwhen her heart finally quit beating, or did you just collect the cash? She wasnine.She deserved better than you.”

Oof.My fist lands this time in between her breasts forcefully. “Do you know what my power is doing? It’s making you live out your worst fears. Funny enough your worst fear is death.” My laugh is sardonic. “Probably don’t even need to use my Wield on you if that’s what you’re afraid of.” Sobs rack through her chest and I can hear the amount of effort each breath is costing her now, cracked ribs and all.

“P-pull it out.”

“I’m sorry, what was that?” My hand cups around my ear. “I didn’t quite hear you underneath all of that pathetic sniveling. I said Iprobablydon’t need to use my Wield, Viv. But you see, this isfunfor me. Besides, your fate will stay the same.”

“I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to.” Like I said,pathetic.She begins muttering “no” over and over again. I grip her chin hard, forcing her to look at me.

“Yes. You did, Viv.” My free hand strokes her bruised face, “shh…you did, dear. And that little girl paid the price of your selfishness. So now you get to pay the price for her life.” Her screams ring out as my tendrils make their final assault, stopping her heart in the process.

Sweat drips off my brow, my peripheral catches sight of a looming figure in the shadows of the room, “bring the next one in, Ezra.”

“E…” His voice is soft.

“Marjorie said I needed to do this before we left! I can’t leave if I don’t!” I snarl.

He looks at me desperately, his hands reaching for me. “Then don’t go! We don’t have to go.” The thumb of his right hand comes up swiping at a droplet of blood. I turn my cheek, shrugging away from him.

Yes, I do. I think to myself. “Bring the next one in.” He flinches at my tone, skulking out of the room to drag in the next prisoner.

It’s going to be a long night.

Ezra brought in ten separate wastes of space after I dealt withViv,all over the course of the past several hours.

With the most recent attack, I knew I would have to go see Marjorie before leaving. I just didn’t expect the prince to follow me all the way to her study doors. Her well worn advice for me was to expel as much of my Wield as I could into the outer lands around Oriya and on my exit from the kingdom.

Best way to do that was to boost up my Wield - hence the prisoner’s. Their fears feed into my magic. I’m strong as it is, but this is a lot of land to cover in not a lot of time. I left Ezra and other’s to clean up when I was done. My familiar was watching from the mouth of her cave as always but there isn’t an outside exit from the Room.

“Vada, I’ll meet you at the edge.”I say through the seal.

“Why not just meet me outside the gates?”She doesn’t bother hiding her irritation. The “you’re not coming with me to Vellar” conversation - after my meeting with Marjorie and before the prisoner’s punishments - didn’t go over too well with the words “insolent, insufferable, ignorant human” repeated several times.

I sigh, “because I want to walk for a little while.” Her deep laugh rumbles back down the bond.

“HA. You’ll be walking for days little demon. I will fly you to do this.” She argues.

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