Page 54 of A World of Ruins

It feels like a lifetime of torture until he finally stops and I gasp for air. Sickness churns inside my stomach, and if I had any food in me, I would have for sure emptied it all out on this floor.

Aurum carefully kneels before me, a small silver blade now in his grip. ‘I want you to answer a question.’

The cell throbs with an agonising thrum of my aching body as I lift my gaze, and each pulse of my heart echoes the seething rage I feel towards him.

‘If you get it wrong, you will use this knife to stab yourself five times in your leg.’ The order grips me tight, forcing me to nod as he hands me the dagger. He stands before me, a taunting smile playing on his lips. ‘Who is Naralía Ambrose to you?’

‘The future queen of Emberwell.’ My words come out strained, a rasp in the distance.

Aurum’s jaw twitches and fighting the urge not to raise the blade to my thigh fails me as an invisible force compels me to drive it through skin and bone. I grunt at the impact, blood spilling from the top.

One.

I draw it out and go again.

Two.

And again.

Three.

And again.

Four.

And again.

Five.

‘Let me ask again,’ he says. ‘Whois Naralía Ambrose?’

My anger boils over. I know whatever I say will be wrong.

Blood stains the cold floor but I will myself to look Aurum in the eye. A feeble grin marks my lips as I whisper, ‘The sun.’

Another wave of compulsion beckons me, and the blade sinks into my leg.

One.

I grit my teeth against the searing pain.

Two.

I dig the blade even deeper this time.

Three.

I grow weaker by the second.

Four.

Even against my will, I can’t stop.

Five.

Aurum repeats the question again and again and I give him the same answer each time.

As I yank the dagger out of my leg, I’m visibly spent. My vision is blurry, and the pain no longer feels like it is real.

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