Page 6

I could do this. I had to do this —

A cell door stood open just ahead, blocking my way, and a woman sobbed and screamed as a guard dragged her out of it.

Neighboring prisoners violently shook the bars of their cell doors, cursing loudly, but when they saw me, the energy in the block immediately shifted.

I had to lock my knees to keep from shrinking back as the noise built to a roar.

"The Savior has arrived!" Holden yelled as he pushed past the open cell.

"Rot in the seventh hell, bitch," one man hissed.

"Do you turn them to wraiths?" pleaded another. "Please, just tell me what happens to them!!"

"Fuck you, traitor!" screamed a young boy, not much older than Finn.

My chest tightened.

As best I could tell, my block contained primarily Isle prisoners … but this one housed people from all around the Empire.

They were just innocents unfortunate enough to have a magical affinity that was detectable by the Empire's Seekers, while being too weak to be considered "usable" mages.

"Please!" a man begged from further down, his voice catching. "Leave my wife and take me instead!"

I followed his gaze, and my heart wrenched.

She lay in a sobbing heap in the middle of the corridor, surrounded by two guards attempting to get her up.

"How can you live with yourself?" howled a man in the nearest cell.

My eyes burned, and my fists clenched. I longed to tell him I didn't live with myself — that I couldn't. But Frexin gave me no other options than to continue on. If I didn't, they wouldalldie.

So, I accepted each day as punishment — the choosing in the morning, then those damn red doors, followed by an afternoon missing from my memory, and then the guilt and nightmares that usually filled my nights.

I wished I could remember the sessions, if only to knowwherethe other prisoners were taken. But they never returned and there weren't many places to go while out in the middle of the ocean …

"Please, for the love of the gods!" the husband sobbed as another guard yanked the despondent woman to her feet.

She slumped back to the ground, sobbing even louder.

"Stop resisting," the guard growled, backhanding her.

I forced my eyes closed.Do not get involved. It only makes things worse. Stay —

"Get up!"

"Please," the husband pleaded once more, his voice hoarse.

"Damnit!" the guard snapped. I opened my eyes to see him lifting his foot. "I said get the fuck —"

My feet were moving before I could stop them. I blocked his kick with my body — pain splintering through me.

He turned on me, expression furious as he slammed a fist into my stomach.

My breath flew out in a rush, and I gasped — struggling to pull air back in.

"Maderoth!" Holden yelled, looming over me. "Stop fucking around. The Reaper said we couldn't kill you, but I'll be damned if we can't beat you to within an inch of your life …"

Stomach aching, I dug my nails into my palms to keep from responding as my breath finally returned.