Page 14 of A Madness of Crows

I have seen the aftermath of those attempts too many times.

Jaw firming, I glare down at Caterina’s limp body, holding her close. She was only a few feet from the wall separating us from the outside world, although we’re miles from our closest neighbor.

The guardslether get that close, letting her think she might get as far as the gate, before they set the dogs on her. She’s lucky they didn’t rip her apart.

And I turn, my footsteps as heavy as my heart inside my chest as I carry her back inside.

Day 0– Caterina

The pain rips up my spine, bowing it until my back arches. My entire body rattles as electricity surges through me, my brain feeling as though it’sshakinginside my skull as my knees fold like the strings of a puppet.

Cut.

Agony everywhere. Laughter.

And those dogs – their heavy, hot breath puffs into my face, those growls fucking intimidating when I already feel as though I might piss myself.

Curling up into a ball, I wait for it to end.

A voice bellows, and recognition flickers.

He caught up.

Of course he did. He knows this place far better than I do.

A prison made for me. For otherslikeme.

The adrenaline begins to fade, and all that’s left… is pain. Agony, and exhaustion, and fear, all battling for dominanceinside my chest, filling up my throat until it’s difficult to take a breath.

Every part of me hurts. And my tattoo…

I can’t think about it. What they have taken from me, whatStefanotook from me as he dared to stand in front of me and order me to fuckingbreathe—

Another name for my list. It feels endless at this point.

Almost… hopeless.

When hands lift me, I don’t struggle. The cold air around me is soon replaced by something a few degrees warmer – not by much, but enough to calm the violent shivering overtaking my bones. Cracking my eyelids open, I stare out, taking in the concrete walls that pass by.

Stefano is silent, his hands cradling me with unexpected gentleness as he strides along.

Of course, he wouldn’t want his father’s new pet to sustain any more damage. I might not beusable.

The sudden surge of nausea is violent, and I twist, Stefano’s hands tightening in response. “I’m going to—,”

I heave violently, and a quiet curse sounds above me. He sets me down, holding me upright and tugging my hair back as the heaves wrack my body.

There’s not much to come up. I can’t remember the last time I ate.

The shaking only increases, even as the heaving trails off. Silent, Stefano lifts me again, heading down towards another doorway. My head feels foggy, unsteady.

I don’t want to go into that room.

“Let me go,” I whisper. He stops a few feet away, and I glance up at him. Take in his dark eyes, too dark to be called brown – closer to the night sky. He stares at me, silent and closed-off. “Please.”

The word slips free. Too close to begging for my liking, but my options areseverelylimited.

I will not escape from here without help.