He pulls me up by my tunic and slams me back into the hard ground.
'Take that, you Dark Realmer bitch,' one of them snarls.
Two of them aren’t even pretending to change their voices now. I’ll know who they are if I ever hear them again, if I get out of this.
Tavish’s men. Maybe even Tavish himself.
My head lolls as I try to pry my attacker’s fingers from my clothes, and he lets go, but then takes me by the throat. I gasp,clawing at him and he slaps me, making my eye feel as if it’s going to be struck from its socket. I don't see what Fate does to him, but I hear him utter a grunt of pain. My mind is sluggish. I must have hit my head again.
The one who’s holding me laughs and leaves me on the ground. ‘You see? These Dark Realmers aren’t so tough once you put them in their place, not even the powerful ones. Who’s next?’
I try to summonsomethingto help me, but nothing happens at all. Surely, if it was really something that I could do, now would be the time.
The next one stamps on my hand, breaking some of my fingers. I grit my teeth, but a small groan still makes its way through my lips. I open my eyes and stare at him, committing his eyes to memory.
I will get revenge for what they're doing.
'Come on. You next. See if you can crack her jaw! I want a Dark Realmer tooth!'
One of them leans over me, smiling. 'I have a better idea.'
He drags me toward the river. I claw at him, but I can do little as he dunks my head beneath the water. He leaves me under the surface for so long that I know I'm going to die here.
But, just as I’m fading, I'm fished out. They're all laughing as I cough up water while the one who’s holding me swears as Fate retaliates somehow. They spend the next few minutes, I think, hitting me, and kicking me. I’m in and out of consciousness. I can’t move anymore.
‘Fuck,’ one of them groans after a while, letting my limp body fall back to the ground. ‘These potions work too fucking slowly. I’m not healing quick enough to do much more.’
'I have an idea,' one of them laughs, and a new wave of dread fills me as my tunic is undone and pulled from my body. I groan weakly as they jostle and yank my injured limbs carelessly.
My undershirt comes next, and then my breeches and my boots. I hear a splash as everything is thrown into the river.
They’re staring. I know they are.
'Gods, look at her flesh. So marred. Disgusting.'
One of them touches me and I flinch away.
‘Don’t,’ one of them warns. ‘The Dark Realm women are riddled.’
‘Mount Morgan and those two other fae pricks haven’t come down with anything from fucking her.’
‘Aye, but she’s theirs. It’s one thing to beat the bitch. It’s another to take what belongs to them.’
‘How the fuck will they know?’ He laughs. ‘She’ll be too ashamed to tell them.’
‘They’ll smell you on her. They’ll come for you. There won’t have been any point to these itchy fucking cloths over our faces if you have her stink all over your cock.’
He scoffs. ‘Let them come.’
He pokes at me, and I lash out weakly, but ultimately I collapse to the ground, closing my eyes and succumbing to the black.
I vaguely hear them leaving, and am grateful. They haven’t touched me again, thank the Gods.
The next thing I know, I hear a short laugh. I force one of my eyes open, just a crack.
It’s Voss.
He doesn’t speak, just looms over me. I don't understand. How can I do what the Underhill want if I'm dead?
