Page 61 of Pride: Kneel Before None

“This is fucking ridiculous,” she complained under her breath as her foot popped out of the heel stuck in the warped wood. The wind mocked her discomfort by swaying the bridge, adding even more difficulty to getting her foot back in the shoe.

After several more curses at the lack of maintenance, at me for bringing her here, and at the universe for daring to inconvenience her, we arrived at the security checkpoint with all footwear intact.

For all the hindrances in getting to the prison, there wasn’t much in terms of obstacles to get inside. Gaining access was as easy as a whore being paid twice her rate for half the work.

A guard led us down a narrow hall, a massive figure built of muscle and stoicism—with a reptilian tail. Surrounding us, something smelled so rancid it burned one’s nostrils. Seeping from the concrete walls, droplets in a ghastly shade of yellow threatened to torture more than just your eyeballs.

Maintaining a neutral expression on my face despite the foul conditions, I kept a keen eye on my Little Spade’s comfort the entire time. She wasn’t nearly as adept as I was in disguising her disgust at the deplorable conditions of the unforgiving fortress.

I leaned over, lowering my voice for only her to hear. “Focus on the power of your mind’s eye. It will help trigger scent blindness of the current surroundings with that of future environments.”

For a moment, Eve almost looked grateful for the helpful bit of advice. It lasted all of a few seconds before she tipped her chin up, setting her jaw in a stubborn line that told me she would rather suffer than admit I had given her something useful.

“I can make do,” she responded, albeit her voice came out with a slight nasal tone like she didn’t dare take more breath than necessary.

Her stride lengthened to overcome my pace, and I let her. If she wished to try and prove a point, I’d stand back and wait.

The escorting guard turned down another corridor leading to a steep staircase that wound and turned in ways that didn’t make sense to the mind. Stairs that appeared to jut right were downward steps that actually guided you up a level. It was just a taste of what made Blackscale a breathing nightmare.

We finally arrived at a marble archway that looked out of place in the cement block and iron bar aesthetic Blackscale was known for. The guard turned to face us.

“Rules. Abilities will be scrubbed going in and once again coming out. Any deviation in your scans will be investigated and dealt with accordingly. This facility is not liable for any injuries sustained during visitation with inmates. When you step through this archway, you are agreeing to abide by all directives as set forth by Blackscale personnel.”

He eyed us both with oval eyes covered by vertical eyelids that blinked with unnatural slowness. The weight behind his gaze assessed our understanding, looking for any disagreement before stepping aside.

“Prisoner 92526 is in Cell Block I, the exterior unit.” His directions were precise and clipped.

I nodded and nudged Eve forward with my hand between her shoulder blades. We would step through together and return just the same.

She moved with me, and we passed through the archway, the air buzzing around us. Once through the magical barrier, the scenery changed and not for the better.

Instead of being surrounded by cold and dank stone walls, we were consumed by humid air, ripe with the scent of burnt flesh. The temperature rose uncomfortably, and above us was open sky. Not the same sky we had flown through, though. This was somewhere deeper into a realm unknown.

Crimson clouds loomed so dark they bordered on a shade between rust and dried blood.

Beneath our feet, the ground turned into volcanic rock, wet with something too thick to be water.

“He doesn’t deserve to be here,” Eve commented in quiet devastation.

I didn’t have the soul to tell her this wasn’t the worst of it.

“Keep moving,” I commanded, my hand never breaking contact with her.

We followed the straight path until we saw a sign for Cell Block I. The arrow directed us down a spiraling set of steps until we were greeted by a row of units, each bearing different attributes fitted for each inhabitant.

The first cell had spikes of various lengths coming out of the floor and walls, leaving its captive unable to so much as pace without risking impalement.

Another unit seemed less tormenting by comparison. The ceiling of that particular space barely allowed for an average-sized man to sit on the floor comfortably, let alone do much else.

Eve took in the sight of each holding area with undisguised horror. So far, none belonged to her brother.

As we approached the far end of the cell block, a howling could be heard. The sound was haunting, a low groan that belied a hunger of something ready to snap its jaws shut.

The steel bars of the final cell were thicker than standard. One couldn’t merely hold onto them. They reminded me of watching Eve’s small hands attempt to wrap around my cock, girth and unrelenting steel.

On the other side of the bars, the source of the low groaning became visible. There was no fourth wall, just open space with a sharp drop-off where the floor ended. Hellish winds whipped through the cell. A dense fog rose up from the ledge.

Not fog.