Page 94 of Caller of Crows

"Rhyme? Are you okay?"

Rhyme's eyes snapped back into focus, his gaze clearing. "It's okay," he said. "That's all in the past. Sivan used to muzzle me."

Sven shivered again. God. Rhyme had been treated like an animal. Worse than that, even. No wonder he couldn't imagine humans living any other way. What a nightmare…

"Muzzled?" Sven repeated, needing to make sure he hadn't misunderstood. "Why did they…?"

Rhyme shrugged. "So I would stop yelling at them? So they wouldn't have to hear my voice?" He gave Sven an ironic grin. "Difficult to ask when you can't speak."

Sven frowned and pulled his knees closer against himself. This was so messed up. He just couldn't wrap his mind around it. He called Altair a monster once, and here he was learning what actual monsters looked like.

That didn't mean that he was going toforgiveAltair for all of his missteps, but damn, he would have given a lot to have the vampire barge into this dungeon right now and rescue Sven, like the heroes in movies.

God, Svenwantedhim to do that. Wanted Altair to get him away from this nightmare, hold him close, protect him…

Even if that was stupid, after the way Sven had left him yesterday.

His throat squeezed painfully.

Altair would be furious with him. Furious and hurt.

Had he gone looking for him already?

Wouldhe bother looking for Sven, after what had happened?

Did he care at all?

He swallowed. He'd seen black feathers before he'd lost consciousness, hadn't he? Crow's wings… Maybe Altair was angry, and maybe he didn't understand, but he wouldn't turn his back on Sven now. Hewouldcome looking for him.

Sven only needed to hold out until he did.

* * *

Sven didn't remember falling asleep, but he dreamed again. Of that night in the forest, when he'd first been bitten by a vampire. He felt the sting of teeth against his throat, smelled the moist earth beneath him. There was pain, panic, and then the strange fog in his mind. He struggled to get away, tried to shout, tried to run.

All to no avail.

He landed on the soft earth of the forest when the vampire finally let him go, a black feather beside him.

Why a feather?

Even in the dream, Sven didn't understand.

When he opened his eyes again, waking up, he was still resting on the floor. Not the forest floor, though. The ground was cold beneath him. The cell around him was completely silent except for the soft breaths coming from the other side of the room.

His gaze shifted toward where Rhyme was lying, and his eyes locked with Rhyme's wide-open ones. Rhyme blinked, then pressed one finger to his lips to tell Sven to be quiet. Then Rhyme's gaze drifted toward the door, and Sven froze, trying his hardest to listen for sounds as well.

Footsteps thumped outside their cell. Someone was walking up to their door. A few seconds later, the lock clicked, then the door creaked open.

Nephariel walked in.

He glanced down at Sven's body, grinning.

Then his gaze moved to where Rhyme lay against the opposite wall. "Hey, pet," he drawled, giving the other boy an amused smirk. "It's breakfast time. Come here and kneel before your Master."

Sven's heart beat wildly against his chest as he watched Rhyme slowly walk up to the vampire. Rhyme's gaze remained lowered, avoiding the vampire's stare, and the look on Nephariel's face hardened. "Look at me when I talk to you," the vampire demanded, and Rhyme obeyed immediately. Still, the vampire was displeased.

The moment Rhyme was within reach, Nephariel grabbed his jaw. His nails dug into the skin on the side of Rhyme's face, and his fangs dropped from his gums as he opened his mouth wider.