Page 165 of Children of Blood and Bone

Zélie tries to jerk her head back, but a lieutenant holds it still. The physician removes a small vial of black liquid and prepares to pour the serum down the needle.

“Father, is this wise?” I turn to him. “She knows things. There are more artifacts. She can find them. She’s the only person who understands the scroll—”

“Enough!” Father’s grip on my shoulder tightens until it aches. I’m angering him now. If I keep going, he’ll only cause Zélie more pain.

The physician looks back at me, as if looking for a reason to stop. But when Father pounds his fist against the wall, the physician pours the serum through an opening in the hollow needle, feeding it straight into her vein.

Zélie’s body jerks and spasms. The serum releases under her skin. Her breaths go short and rapid. Her pupils grow large and dilated.

My own chest tightens as blood pounds inside my head.

And it’s only an echo of what they’re doing to her.…

“Don’t worry.” Father speaks, mistaking my grief for disappointment. “One way or another, she’ll tell us what she knows.”

Zélie’s muscles seize, rattling the chains. I press against the wall as my own thighs shake. I struggle to keep my voice even. Keeping calm is my only chance of saving her.

“What’d you give her?”

“Something to keep our little maggot awake.” Father smiles. “Can’t have her passing out before we get what we need.”

A lieutenant slides a dagger from his belt. Another rips Zélie’s dress,exposing the smooth skin of her back. The soldier holds the blade in the heat of the torch flames. The metal warms. Smoldering red.

Father steps forward. Zélie’s spasms intensify; so violent the two other lieutenants have to hold her down.

“I admire your defiance, child. It’s impressive you’ve made it this far. But I wouldn’t be doing my job as king if I didn’t remind you what you are.”

The knife sears into her skin with a fury so intense her agony leaks into me.

“ARGH!” A bloodcurdling scream rips from Zélie’s throat. Rips straight through my being.

“No!” I cry out, and run forward, plunging straight for the lieutenant.

I knock one of the guards holding Zélie back.

I kick the other in the gut.

My fist collides with the lieutenant carving into her back, but before I can do more Father shouts.

“Restrain him!”

Instantly, two guards latch onto my arms. The entire world blazes in white. The scent of burning flesh fills my nose.

“I knew you wouldn’t have the stomach for this.” Somehow Father’s disappointment cuts through the sound of Zélie’s shrieks. “Remove him,” he snaps. “Now!”

I feel Father’s command more than I hear it. Though I struggle forward, I’m pushed back. All the while, Zélie’s screams grow.

She only gets farther and farther away.

Her sobs and screams bounce against the metal walls. As her singed flesh cools, I make out the shape of anM.

And when Zélie’s breathing grows shallow, the lieutenant starts on theA.

“No!”

They throw me into the hallway. The door slams shut.

I pound so hard my knuckles split and bleed, but no one comes out.

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