Page 106 of The Assassin's Dancer
“This is for my eye,” Whiny spits, before his fist cracks against my cheek.
I open my mouth to reply, but Ugly’s quicker. His hand catches my jaw and lifts my chin up to face him. “Sleep tight, arsehole.” My lip curls. Metal flashes in the candlelight as he swings the hilt of his sword towards my head.
I’m out before the blinding pain hits me.
Shit. I must be dead. Everything sounds so far away, and it’s dark, so dark. A cold, black void surrounds me, but when I attempt to move, pain crashes against my skull.
I hiss at the intensity of it.
Not dead, then. Unless this is just what death feels like for people like me.
“He’s waking up,” someone calls through the void.
Definitely not dead. With a cough, my eyes ease open, and I’m back in my cell with a brutish-looking guard charging towards me.
Fuck, how long have I been out for?Ruby. Where is she?
I force down the rage that boils in my throat as I picture her in Orion’s bedchamber, the things he might be doing to her while I’m trapped in here. Useless.
Before I can curse myself, I’m yanked across the damp floor. “You were so much nicer asleep,” the guard sneers, pulling on my chains. “You’re almost cute looking. I see why that bitch likes you.”
“Fuck you,” I spit. My arms writhe against the chains, but I’ve got no chance of breaking whatever they’ve cuffed me with now. It’s like having boulders for limbs.
“Now, now,” Ugly chuckles. “If you’re willing to behave, we won’t knock you out again.”
I hold my tongue. If I can convince him to leave me in here, maybe I can find a way out. Maybe I can?—
“Then again, you weren’t exactly friendly to us before,” he tuts, “and poor Simon almost lost an eye.” He grins and raises his sword again. Wincing, I brace for the pain when a high-pitched voice cuts through the darkness.
“Help me! Oh, help me, please!”
I turn to see a female figure, cloaked in dark green silk with a basket clasped in her delicate hands.
“Who are you?” Ugly calls out. Outside my cell, the other guard stomps towards her, his injured eye now covered with a bandage.
“I was just bringing some food to the prisoners when I got lost.” Her voice trembles. “But I’m so glad I found you both – two handsome guards to help me find my way.” Cautiously, she pushes back her hood to reveal a familiar, olive-skinned face.
“Camellia?” My brows push together.
“Your Highness!” Both guards double over to bow. When they rise, their gruff demeanours have been replaced with something much more gentle.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Ugly purrs, leaving my cell and locking the door behind him. “Please, allow me to escort you back to your wing.”
“No. Allow me!” Whiny blurts.
“Don’t go with them, Camellia,” I growl. “It’s not safe.” Ruby is going to hate me enough without knowing I let her sister wander off with two vulgar guards.
What is she even doing down here?
“You, stay quiet,” Whiny barks at me, “unless you want a matching lump on the other side of your head?—”
“Oh, please.” Camellia places a hand on the injured guard’s shoulder, and the way his gaze sears into her makes my skin crawl. “I would simply love it if you could both escort me.” She smiles demurely.
“No, Camellia! Don’t!”
“Quiet!” Ugly hisses. “Of course, we’ll escort you. This way, Your Highness.”
Blushing, she slips her arms through theirs, passing me a subtle wink before she disappears down the dark hallway.
