Page 57 of Crossbones
He takes his time emptying his pipe and putting it away before he walks over and stops in front of me. He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. There’s that malicious hunger again and I want to wipe that smile off his fucking face.
“Caspian will be staying here,” he says tightly. “I don’t know what your association with him is—but he and I have a long history, and with him now knowing the location of Grythmoor—well, he’s here to stay. Truthfully, he should have never left—” he shakes his head. “I would think you’d be ready to be rid of him, Captain, him being a De’Vero and all.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’ve heard the stories about you, Stormbreaker,” he smirks. “Slave turned notorious pirate with a kill list of De’Vero’s and powerful friends—untouchable some would say.” He looks me up and down like I’m something he very much dislikes.The feeling is mutual.
“How much do you want for his release?”
Malik chuckles. “Nothing. Because no price will be enough for me to give him up. Not after I finally have him here again.” He nods towards the door. “My guards will escort you to the gate. I suggest you forget all about Caspian De’Vero, Captain.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to bargain, using the lost city coordinates to entice him. But I hold my tongue—knowing it would only make things worse and Caspian would be furious with me. I’ll just have to get him out another way, because like hell am I leaving him here with this monster.
CASPIAN
I’m living a nightmare.
That’s what this must be. It’s all feeling like something out of a dream now. The demon from the darkest parts of me is back. I knew I shouldn’t have come back here to Ironhold. I’m a fool for thinking I could walk these streets—his streets—without him knowing. Now he also knows I have the coordinates to Grythmoor which means I’m even more valuable to him.
The despair hangs so heavily on my shoulders; I don’t know if I have the strength left to fight it this time. I’m slumped against a wall, naked in his bedroom. Barely coherent. Barely able to see straight through the pain.
Was Blackwell even here with me?Yes, that part I know is true because he told me why he hates my family—that’s right. I know he’s not here with me now. In fact, I think I remember telling him the coordinates, which means he’s probably long gone from here.
I keep fading in and out of consciousness, and the past and present blend together—
A cruel laugh echoes behind me as I hang limply from the chains. The lash lands—I lost count after fifteen. My back is numb, just like my mind.
Please, please just let us go.
Please, please please—
He calls me his little prince and I want to gag.
I’m not his anything—
Shapes filter in front of my vision but I can’t focus on any of them.
I’m panicking.
I’m back there—then—withher. Fighting.
Her screams send chills racingacross my skin and the sound drives a knife through my heart. I wish I could cover my ears. My stream of tears blurs my vision. Across the room, they’re holding her down—I choke on her name—Charlotte—my voice is hoarse from screaming.
I can’t stop screaming.
I’m going out of my mind with rage so visceral, it makes my bones ache.
There’s nowhere for this madness to go—so I roar her name; I cry as they break her but most of all I plead with them to stop. I beg—
I beg and I beg—for them to do it all to me instead.
“Take me! Let her go! Take me! Don’t do this! Please!”
I scream it until I’m not sure if I’m even saying the words. If I can just take her pain, I’ll swallow it whole and smile because it would mean she wasn’t suffering anymore.
But they don’t listen. They never listen. I fight against the ropes holding me back from reaching her—she’s my Spring, everything happy and good—
She looks at me, lashes wet with tears, large blue eyes filled with terror from the monsters I can’t fight for her. Monsters I failed to kill for her.
