Page 49 of Oracle of Ruin

“Kya is your interrogator?”

“The best there is. We will have our answers in a few minutes.” The stronger-willed villains can last hours, but with Kya in charge of interrogations, we never have to wait until the next morning for our answers.

“But she’s so kind.” Blaine runs his hand over his face and frowns. “I suppose when we were warned of the Noiteron’s assassin, I pictured someone a bit larger, with sharp edges. I never thought she could be warm.”

“That’s because she likes you. Don’t get her wrong, if you hurt Vera or any of us, you could easily be the one in that chair.”

Blaine’s warm skin pales almost to ash, but I continue nonetheless.

“You still haven’t figured out why her tattoos go from fingertip to elbow?”

Blaine shakes his head as blood sprays from Kya’s latest infliction. The crimson liquid splatters well past her forearm and Blaine’s eyes widen.

“Now you know.”

“Where is my friend?”

When the prisoner refuses to answer, another fingernail flies off, a bit of meaty flesh still attached. Blaine flinches.

Her usually sweet demeanor gives way to show the monster underneath. It’s been clawing to get out for a while. I’ve been impressed by how clean her blades have been all these months.

I stalk forward and Kya steps back to switch blades and methods. Each of my footsteps grows in volume until the man is all but convulsing as he trembles before me.

“Just give us an answer and we will release you. Mavis hasn’t come for you, and given the situation, I doubt she will. You don’t need to protect her. Just give me a place.” When he pinches his lips shut, I make a show of sighing. “Fine, I guess my assassin can have her way then.”

Kya inspects a dagger, and I recognize the thin weapon. The tip nearly grazes my cheek as I step back out of the way just a second before the knife goes through where I was standing to slice the prisoner’s ear clean off. He howls in fear and pain and rage, thrashing against the bonds. Kya makes a show of slicing into his final ear, pressing the tip of the dagger in just far enough for blood to bloom from the wound.

“Imagine being completely in the dark. Not knowing where I am, when I am coming for you. No sound, no sight. No hope.” She digs deeper and twists the hilt. “I can make it all go away. Don’t test my patience.”

I step back into the shadows, their shifting forms covering me as they always have. Kya’s eyes burn with golden flame as she lifts her espa. I inhale sharply. She never uses those blades for torture, only to kill.

“Kya,” I call with a warning tone.

Her narrowing gaze is her only indication that she heard me. The tip of her espa slices a shallow laceration at the base of the man’s belly button, his eyes widening with wild fear. Ever so slowly, she drags it downwards, a red and silver line following.

“You found her in the bathhouse. I’m sure you loved that sight. One woman against all of you. Naked and alone. What if I just…” She drops the weapon below his belt and Blaine swears. “Not even the memory of that sight would get you up again once I’m done.”

She pushes the espa deeper and he bites back against the agony. With fury written across her face, she pulls her arm back, but as she prepares to thrust it through, the man pleas.

“Wait! Bring me a map! I’ll tell you where, just bring me a map!”

I knock twice on the door and Amír answers, pressing the parchment into my waiting hands. I unfurl it carefully and hold it before the man. With a trembling finger, he points to a specific spot in one of the first sectors we searched. I recognize the cave system based at the foot of the Hills of Siva. Less than a day from here.

I mark the spot and nod to Kya before rolling the map back up.

The assassin’s lips peel back in a truly cruel grin. “Pigs like you always squeal the loudest.”

I beckon Blaine out with a finger. He follows, not sparing another glance at the unholy sight behind us. The screaming stops as soon as it starts and the door shuts behind us. Amír offers a brisk nod and nothing more as we ascend the stairs to the main level. Derrín and my mother sit with Torin around the broken kitchen table, the only sound being the scraping of spoons against a bowl.

“There’s soup in the pot.” Mother smiles with her eyes. “Torin is a wonderful cook.”

Torin bows at the waist with his hand over his heart. “You flatter me.” Blaine fixes him with a stern glance and he immediately stiffens. “You got her?”

“We’ve got her. Go get dressed. We leave now,” I bark out. I have no more time for waiting or jokes or anything. The map crinkles in my hand. I’ve got her.

Torin swears and my mother bites her fist to stifle a sob. Vera is like a daughter to her, just as much as Kya and Amír are. She’s adopted all of my inner circle, but Vera sits closer to the softer spot of her heart.

I kiss the top of her head as I pass. “I will bring her home,” I murmur into her hair, the same golden tresses that match mine.

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