Page 13 of Antiletum
Both of our heads turn towards the clock before her eyes clamp closed.
“I think you know what’s happening here,” I say with a rasp. Clearing my throat, I continue. “Here’s the thing. I have some questions for you first.”
Tabitha’s head shakes in desperate side-to-side jerks.
Ignoring, I straighten my spine to try to calm a bubble of indigestion protesting in my gut. Swallowing it, I go on. “I will tell you how this is going to unfold. I am going to remove your gag. And you aren’t going to scream.” In one singular motion, a hand brings the tip of my dagger to her jugular, the other rips the cotton from her mouth. Shockingly, she doesn’t scream.
I tap her cheek twice. “Now you get it.”
A spread of darkness blooms across the tops of her thighs, pissing herself. Nothing but boredom crosses my face as I glance at the stain.
“You know, Tabitha, I have been certain I was staring into my own demise more times than I care to count. Never have I pissed myself. Not once.” Shaking my head, I get back to the task at hand. “Why was Delaney trying to reach Rainah?”
Tabitha’s heaving chest shivers with her cries. “I don’t know.”
My dagger stabs through her chained hand, the sharp tip scraping against stone. Her scream is stifled just as it builds, the damp gag finding her mouth again.
I put my mouth to her ear. “Let’s try this again,” I hiss, enraged.
No effort is made on my part to release the blade impaling her hand, her blood slickening my own. It flows off the altar and to the Heartstone. TheNoctuaheart gives a contended sigh, shaking the boughs of the trees. The Ellden clock’s grinding quiets—just slightly.
“You’ve never been a good cousin, a good friend, to Delaney. Rainah and I agree on that much implicitly, now that I’ve witnessed just how vile you are. This is not the time to decide to be noble.”
I stare pointedly at Tabitha, the cotton gag pinched between my fingers. The urge to pivot the knife in her hand is strong, but I resist, needing her to not scream. Not that anyone can hear her. Or at least, not anyone who would do anything to help. But my head is fucking pounding.
Such a shame, she so nearly was able to leave with her life. I really do hate that Delaney will have to suffer more grief. My wife has already endured so much, in such a short amount of time. But alas, sacrifices have to be made.
And my open arms will be waiting for my Delaney to sink into, as she inevitably will.
Ripping the gag from her mouth, Tabitha responds by clenching her teeth, trying to catch her breath and not scream. Finally, she offers an answer. “She wanted to ask Rainah about the warning.”
My whole being stills.Fuck.
“What warning?”
Tabitha shivers horribly, hyperventilation threatening to take hold.
Raising my voice over her cries, I warn, “Tabitha, I can assure you, there is no situation where you leave here alive. Not a single one. Yourdeath can be quick and painless. Or it can be slow and agonizing.” My stare bores into her bloodshot, crying eyes. “Your choice.”
When she says nothing, I give in to that longing to hurt her further, twisting my knife through her hand ever so slightly. Not bothering with the gag, I clamp my palm over her screaming mouth.
I dare the bitch to try to bite me. All my bottled frustrations leading to my wedding and since are collecting and compressing in this moment—demanding to be relieved. The end of my rope was reached today. If there was ever a deserving person to be at the receiving end, it’s Tabitha. I didn’t like her from the moment I laid eyes on her. Smug and catty.
The Ellden clock’s groaning picks back up as it shifts directions, now that the Heartstone has gotten a taste of blood. It’s ready for the full price to be paid to restore what my wife broke in her refusal to practice her magic with me at her side, as we are now required to do.
While bringing the Heartstone back to life was the goal, it makes the situations regarding balance far more delicate until the other two join it, becoming a complete heartbeat for the earth and shattering the bonds of magic tied to the Ellden clocks, created by Parliament. I’m already bemoaning the extra trips out to the manor that will be required any time things are too upset. Feeding the Heartstone is the only way now.
Perhaps after Delaney and I are settled in our roles as Lady and Lord ofNoctuawe will move out here permanently. It’s not too far from Omnitas that I couldn’t manage, all things considered. Besides, it’s quieter. Cleaner. More peaceful than the streets of the city crawling with rats and fleas. Positively flowing with poverty and refuse and corruption.
Thinking of the state of the city, of the thumb we’veallbeen caught under for far too long, reminds me of my purpose here,of what I’m doing, and the bigger picture at hand. Certainly worth all the extra work and blood in between.
IneedDelaney. I need her in every single sense of the word. I need her like a drought needs the rain.
Tabitha hasn’t bothered to compose herself enough to answer me, to enlighten me about whatever warning she mentioned. Very well. Much more of this petulant defiance and her path to a slow and excruciating end will be solidified. Makes absolutely no difference to me. Not like I have a wife in my bed to get back to.
“What. Warning,” I seethe, my face closer to hers.
Pulling my saliva drenched hand away from her mouth, I wipe it against my shirt with disgust. Should have used the gag.
