Page 14 of Elysian

He did not waste a moment, reaching out and snagging the front of Branwen’s coat. He yanked me until I hovered as close as possible.

“I will not have you scheming. I will find a way out of this.” We stood staring at each other.

“Don’t know what you mean.” I tilted my chin up.

“You are not fooling me.” His sweet breath reached my nose.

I breathed in. He smelled so good—I tensed and slapped at his grip on the coat.

“Release me,” I ordered tersely.

The slightest smirk crossed his features, but an echoing thud of steps cut off whatever remark bubbled behind his lips.

Drusilla had returned, and this time was different. She carried herself stiffly. She didn’t begin her wheedling. No, instead, she strode directly in front of his cell with the customary distance that put her out of Cassiel’s grip.

“I know you hate me, my son, but I will show you I care and have always cared for you.”

I turned to where she motioned.

An officer had hold of Hester’s arm, pulling her forward, while a second officer, the wide-set man that had beaten me in the carriage, strode forward to Drusilla’s side.

“Step back, son, I do not want to have to harm you.”

Cassiel stepped back, holding both arms outward.

The burly man approached, slid the lock inside the keyhole, and turned until it clicked. It was still in the middle of swinging open when Cassiel sprang forward. For one split moment, hope rippled free. Then Cassiel dropped onto the ground with a shout, both legs snapped at an odd angle. The other officer shoved Hester inside his cell. They slammed it shut, locking it and backing up quickly.

“Wait for me at the entrance,” Drusilla said to them. Both turned and left quickly. Drusilla rubbed her thumb across the top of the item in her hand. I squinted. It was that thing Al had—the effigy. It seemed to be made of fabric or leather. Different sections jutted out to create a crude form of a body.

“I did not want to harm you, but I will if you must learn your lesson.”

He reached down and straightened his leg where it twisted outward near his shin. Bone snapped and cracked. I winced, knowing how much that must have hurt to move around broken bones, but Cassiel’s expression did not shift.

Not even as he popped the second leg into place.

He gingerly pushed up and prowled toward Hester, who pressed her back to the exit. She shook so hard it rattled her teeth. Cassiel reached Hester and slid his hand around her neck, keeping his eyes on Drusilla. My breath stopped in my throat. I could hear my pulse thundering in my ears.

“You seek to continue poisoning me?”

Drusilla’s mouth flattened. “She has not been injected, and the effects fade within a sennight. You have nothing to worry about.”

Cassiel let out a harsh laugh. “I want nothing from you.” He began to squeeze. Blood surged under his fingernails where her skin split.

Hester gasped, her hands raising to his forearm.

He could have ended it, but this was a show specifically for Drusilla.

Cassiel always made a point.

“Do whatever you wish with her.” Drusilla turned, her shoulders dropping the slightest bit. She continued to caress the effigy in her hand as if it truly was Cassiel and not just a way to harm him.

I waited and hoped to Saints it would not be too late. I watched her until she disappeared into the tunnel.

“Stop,” I whispered, rushing to the bars to take hold of them. Onyx dripped down his wrist. “Cassiel, stop.” I said urgently. His head slowly turned toward me. Hester’s hands slid off his arm. “Cassiel!”

He released her, and she fell to the ground with a heaving gasp.

“Hester.”