The demon’s lips curl into something resembling a smile.
My breath comes faster now. “You’re working with them…” I say in disbelief, the realization hitting me like a blow to the chest.
The man shrugs. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
My mind reels. “But why?” I whisper.
The man’s eyes gleam. “Because power like yours doesn’t belong to creatures hiding in forests.” His gaze drifts over me like I’m something valuable. “Power like yours belongs to those who know how to use it.”
Fear crawls up my spine. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.
The demon lets out a low, rumbling chuckle. “Oh, we know exactly what you are,” it growls, voice echoing as if two or three people are speaking at once. It sounds like stone grinding against bone. “Don’t lie, witch.”
My chest tightens, and the human crouches again. “And not just any witch.” His hand suddenly grabs my chin, forcing my face upward. “A fire witch strong enough to close the portal.”
My breath hitches.
They know.
They know everything.
“Which means,” he continues calmly, still holding my chin, “you’re either going to help us”—His grip tightens painfully—“or we’re going to break you until you do.”
A tremor runs through me. I yank my face away from his hand. “You’re insane,” I snap weakly.
The human sighs. “Shame.” He stands, throwing over his shoulder, “Start with the wrists.”
Two of the other humans step forward. Before I can react, one of them slams something sharp into the cuff around my wrist.
Electricity explodes through my arm. A scream tears out of my throat before I can stop it. Agony rips through my nerves like lightning, forcing my back to arch violently against the stone wall.
“Still no magic,” one of them mutters.
“Good,” the leader replies.
The demon crouches nearby, watching with disturbing fascination. Pain continues to surge through my body in relentless waves. Tears blur my vision, but through the agony, one thought refuses to leave my mind.
Heinrich.
My chest tightens painfully. He’s going to come back to the cabin. He’s going to find the door open and find that I’m gone.
A sob escapes my throat.
Please find me.
Please…
The human grabs my jaw again. “Begging already?” he mocks, and I shake my head weakly.
“Please…” I whisper hoarsely.
But I’m not pleading with them.
My mind clings desperately to the one person I know will come for me.
Heinrich.
Even as the pain crashes over me again, even as darkness begins creeping into the edges of my vision, I hold onto that single, desperate hope.
