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Mara arched his back, pulled on the chains, and screamed through gritted teeth as the hot metal hissed against his ribs. The burns on his legs, arms, and body all stabbed and stung like some poisonous animal bit him over and over again. The smell of his burnt flesh was only covered up by the smell of shit every so often, his shit.
Mara made gurgled cries as Rupert pushed the metal back into the glowing red bucket. Julias stood in the corner, looking at the floor.
Rupert came to Mara’s side and smiled. “It is like a constellation across your skin. I could be an artist, you know? If this was on canvas, it would demand a fortune. Always good to have a plan B. Did you have a plan B?”
Mara moaned. Snot and drool clung to his face. His mouth tasted of blood. “Come closer,” he whispered, so quiet not even he could hear it.
“Speak up, boy.”
“Come closer,” he whispered a little louder.
Rupert leaned forwards slightly. Mara lurched at him, snapping his teeth. The burns stung worse than ever with the movement, and he flopped back with a scream.
Rupert laughed. “Do you think I was born yesterday?”
“What do you want to know?” Mara shouted, crying.
“Burn him again. I want to see it,” the prince said from the gate.
Rupert hurried to the gate. “Your highness, this is no place for a child. Your father –”
“My father said I could come. Open this gate at once.”
“It is not safe, your highness. The prisoner… he is very dangerous.”
“Open this gate immediately.” The prince stamped his foot.
“Guard –”
“Open the gate. His highness will watch from a distance,” the guard said.
Mara let out a cry. All his muscles tightened as pain rushed through his body.
“Julias, the gate,” Rupert said, then walked back to Mara.
The gate opened, and the prince came to stand next to Rupert. “Can I burn him?”
Mara looked at the p
rince and licked his lips. “Come closer,” he whispered.
“What is he saying?” the prince said.
“Pay no attention. Guard, please keep the prince at a distance,” Rupert said.
The prince held a hand up toward the guard while he looked at Rupert. “Then how will I burn him? Pass me that, now.” The prince pointed at the hot metal in the bucket.
“As you wish, your highness, on the condition that you leave us afterwards. Please.”
Mara screamed as the prince pushed the hot metal onto his hip.
“Burn, you bugger,” the prince shouted, then swung the metal rod several times, hitting Mara across the legs and stomach.
Mara kicked out, catching the metal with his knee.
Rupert snatched the rod away from the prince and pushed it back into the bucket. “Your highness, you must restrain yourself.”
The pain in the new burn disappeared. Mara looked down at the bubbled and broken skin across his body. None of them hurt anymore. His head was clear. He clenched his fists, looking at his bloody wrists in the chains. Nor do they.
