Page 107 of Hell-Bound

Something made a loudcrack! Followed by a muffled grunt of pain.

Xarek scoffed.

“Oh, youarefunny. You really should just tell me, Azur.”

Anothercrack—then a stifled noise.

This time, Ren heard thick liquid hitting the floor and felt its warmth as blood trickled down the back of her neck before it continued its journey down the drain sending unexpected chills through her body. She screwed up her face in disgust.

“If you tell me,” Xarek continued, “then perhaps I’ll let some of those little souls of yours live.” A pause. “No? Very well. You know, I think your Renata quite likes me. If I’m as poor a violinist as you say, perhaps I should let Renata help me with mytechnique.I’d like to see what she thinks of my fingering.”

A jarring growl reverberated through the room.

“If you touch her, I will rip your wings off and make youeatthem.”

Xarek sighed. “I will get what I want. I always do,” he said wearily. “Next time I’m here, we will practice your bow. I’ve always wanted to see what it’s like, you on your knees before me. After all, you have to practice for my coronation.”

Ren listened to boots hit stone and the distinctive scraping of the metal door. After a few moments, she heard nothing but Azur’s strained breathing. He had been hiding behind a mask of audacity and pride, but the crackling in his lungs revealed the true extent of his injuries.

She wrapped her hands around the bars above her, biting her lips against the pain of her charred palms, and pushed,feeling several blisters burst from the force.

She heard Azur suck in air, having seen the movement. It took her several thrusts to dislodge the grate on her own, but she finally pulled herself into the chamber.

There he was—dripping black blood from hundreds of long, jagged cuts. His arms were chained to the ceiling, shoulders straining under the weight of his body, muscles bulging. His hair was stuck to his forehead, wet with sweat and blood. He looked at Ren, chest heaving, blood dripping from his mouth, fangs bared. He was completely nude. Even at this moment, at his most vulnerable, she could not imagine a more stunning and terrifying picture.

The Angel of Death.

Azur hitched his mouth into a crooked smile.

“Hello there, my Elfygirl.”

She came to me, soul in tatters. She hardly had anything to offer. But I listened.

She wanted to strike him. Wanted to add another wound to his stupid abs for using Jester’s words against her.

“Youliedto me.”

Drops of blood splattered to the ground as he chuckled.

“Call it a personality flaw of the god of lies,” he breathed in shakily, “did you come here to admonish me, or are we going to get out of here?”

Ren stomped towards him, getting within an inch of his face.

“Listen! I am here to helpyoubecause I owe it to youandto me.But my parents are in trouble so after we are out of here you’re going to answerallmy questions! Got it?”

She would have felt proud of her tenacity if she hadn’t been trying to avoid looking at his huge cock.

The color drained from his face.

“Your family?”

“Yeah, so if you could stop with the theatrics, I’d appreciate it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he purred, red eyes annoyingly sparkly.

She grunted and sauntered over to the wall of torture instruments and examined each closely.

“Ren? I promise I will help you with your family. No need to get violent. Though I can’t say I’m not curious about how that seductive little brain works,” he said, coughing.

---