Page 159 of The Sins of Silas

ChapterForty-Four

SILAS

Roland, Hendry, and Edmund did just as I asked, throwing Dimitri down into the same shit and piss-filled cage we had been kept in.

“Bonnevau, Aubeze, string Dimitri up to the rack.”

They did so swiftly, and my chest hummed with excitement.

I glanced over at my blond friend. Edmund was trained to hide any emotion on his face, but I knew he couldn't stomach torture.

“Go. Check on Elowen,” I said to him gently. I then whispered something into his ear.

He blinked, bowing. “Thank you, Your Highness. And yes, of course.”

My eyes flicked to Roland as Edmund retreated, his hazel eyes looking to me for orders. “Aubeze, cut off a finger. Any finger.”

He nodded, then gave Dimitri a smug grin before approaching.

“No! No, no, no—” Dimitri let out a sickening cry as Roland used his dagger to cut off the King's middle finger.

Roland dangled it in front of Dimitri, who was sobbing. “Who would've guessed you'd cry like such a pussy,” Roland laughed.

I stepped forward, watching in wonder as the blood poured out of his hand. “You think you could harm me and get away with it?”

My hands twitched. I wanted to torture him myself, but I knew that Hendry desired the same.

My friend was quiet, but within him, just like myself, demons were locked inside.

He had always been the private sort, never wishing to talk about himself. But I could see that glimmer in his eyes. Could see that something haunted him.

When we were teens, I'd try to pry the information out of him, gently, of course, so as not to cause him to withdraw into himself. I never got any answers. Only once I endured what I did, once I changed myself, did I recognize the monsters that lay behind a seemingly composed front. I recognized the shadows in his eyes because I saw them in my own every time I looked in the mirror.

I didn't wish for anyone to pry me, so I stopped doing the same to Hendry.

He enjoyed killing; that much was obvious. I could see his excitement, even if his mouth remained in that straight line.

Sometimes, your demons hold so much power over you that you have to unleash them every now and again. To keep them from taking over completely.

My eyes slid to my friend's mismatched ones, his pupils blown wide in anticipation. I gestured toward Dimitri. “He still has nine more fingers. Do keep one of his thumbs. I want him alive.”

A small smile crept along Hendry's slim lips, and he stepped toward Dimitri, whose breathing became increasingly labored as Hendry's long legs stalked toward him.

His eyes studied his shirtless body, analyzing the best place for him to play.

Hendry decided, and Roland and I watched as he sawed Dimitri's nipples off.

Roland winced as Dimitri screeched. “Damn, Hendry, that's cold.”

Hendry balanced one on his blade. His eyes flickered up to Dimitri, his voice emotionless as he said, “I'd force-feed you this, but I'd rather not deal with your vomit.”

I snorted. “Yeah, I'd rather not as well.” My eyes drifted to the various buckets the Mages were forced to defecate in. Hendry's and my eyes met at the same time.

Roland grimaced. “You guys are going to makemethrow up.”

“It's deserved, is it not?” Hendry asked.

Dimitri's panicked gaze was flickering between us three.

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