13. Claudia

13

CLAUDIA

T he captain's lips trail down my neck, his hot breath reeking of alcohol. I suppress a shudder, forcing out a breathy moan instead.

"Oh, Captain," I purr, bile rising in my throat. "You're so... strong."

His hands paw at my body, rough and demanding. I arch away, disguising my revulsion as eagerness.

"Tell me," I whisper, nipping at his earlobe. "Where do you keep your most precious treasures?"

He chuckles, low and predatory. "Eager for riches, are we?"

"Only for you," I lie, my skin crawling.

His fingers dig into my hips. "My private chambers. But you won't find anything there tonight."

I press closer, fighting nausea. "And why's that, my brave warrior?"

"Because," he slurs, "I've got something much better right here."

He lunges for another kiss. I dodge, trailing my fingers down his chest.

The captain's hands roam my body, his touch leaving trails of disgust in their wake. I force a sultry smile, suppressing the urge to vomit.

"You're insatiable," I coo, my voice dripping with false desire.

He grins, revealing sharp teeth. "You haven't seen anything yet, sweetheart."

My heart pounds, anxiety clawing at my chest. This fortress, this den of monsters - somewhere within, Narina waits. I have to endure. Have to play along.

"Tell me more," I breathe, trailing a finger down his chest. "What do you do to the humans you catch?"

His eyes gleam with cruel delight. "Oh, we have our fun. Break them in. Make them scream."

Images of Narina, terrified and alone, flash through my mind. I bite back a snarl, channeling it into a breathy gasp instead.

"How exciting," I purr. "Show me."

He crushes his lips against mine, his tongue invading my mouth. I return the kiss with feigned passion, even as revulsion churns in my gut. His hands grip my waist, pulling me closer.

"You're a feisty one," he growls. "I'll enjoy taming you."

Taming. Breaking. The words echo in my head, stoking a fire deep within. How many has he tortured? How many lives has he destroyed?

As his lips trail down my neck, leaving sloppy, wet kisses, something shifts inside me. The anxiety melts away, replaced by a searing, all-consuming hatred. This monster, this sadistic creature - he deserves to suffer.

I run my fingers through his hair, imagining tearing it out by the roots. I scrape my nails down his back, wishing I could flay the skin from his bones.

"More," I moan, the word dripping with venom disguised as desire.

He takes it as encouragement, his hands growing bolder, more demanding. But with each touch, my resolve hardens. I will find Narina. I will save her.

And I will make this bastard pay.

The captain's rough hands tear at my clothes, shredding fabric and exposing skin. I suppress a shudder, forcing myself to remain still as his hungry gaze rakes over my body.

"Beautiful," he growls, fumbling with his own garments.

My heart pounds, a mix of fear and anticipation coursing through my veins. Just a little longer. Just?—

The door crashes open.

Saturus strolls in, casual as you please, as if he owns the place. Blood drips from his hands, spattering the floor with crimson droplets. In his grip, a severed head dangles by its hair—a dark elf soldier, eyes wide with frozen terror.

The captain whirls, face contorting with rage. "What is the meaning of?—"

His words die as he takes in the grisly sight. Shock flashes across his features, followed swiftly by fear.

I don't hesitate. In one fluid motion, I snatch the captain's weapon from the bedside table and level it at his chest. My hands don't shake. My voice doesn't waver.

"Where's my sister?"

The captain's eyes dart between me and Saturus, panic rising. "I-I don't?—"

"Wrong answer." I press the blade closer, its tip dimpling his skin. "The girls you took this morning. Where are they?"

The captain's eyes widen in confusion, then narrow with rage. "You little bitch!" he snarls, lunging at me.

I brace for impact, but Saturus moves faster than I can blink. He grabs the captain mid-lunge, tossing him across the room like a rag doll. The dark elf slams into the wall with a sickening crunch.

Before he can recover, I'm on him. I drive his own sword through his shoulder, pinning him to the wall. The captain lets out an agonized scream that sends chills down my spine.

"Shut up," I hiss, twisting the blade. "No one can hear you over the party."

His face contorts in pain, eyes wild with fear. "Please," he gasps. "I don't know what you're talking about. Let me go!"

I lean in close, my voice low and dangerous. "The girls. This morning. Where are they?"

"I swear, I don't know!" he pleads, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Fury rises in me, hot and consuming. I feel my form shifting, melting away the dark elf disguise. The captain's eyes widen in horror as he takes in my true appearance.

"You're... you're human," he chokes out.

Behind me, I hear a rustle of movement. The air grows thick with an otherworldly energy that makes my skin prickle. I don't need to look to know that Saturus has shed his disguise as well.

The captain's gaze fixes on something over my shoulder, and his face drains of all color.

The captain's face crumples, tears and snot mingling with the blood on his chin. "I told you, I don't know!" he wails, his voice cracking.

My fingers twitch, itching to tear the truth from his lying throat. But before I can act, Saturus moves.

He reaches for a decorative pike mounted on the wall, its wicked point gleaming in the dim light. With inhuman speed, he drives it through the captain's other shoulder. The dark elf's scream cuts off abruptly as the metal punctures his lung.

Blood pours from the new wound, joining the growing puddle on the floor. The metallic scent fills the air, making my head spin. But it's not disgust I feel. It's... excitement.

I step closer, feeling a strange heat rising in my chest. My vision sharpens, the world taking on an odd, reddish tint. Is this the demon power Saturus gave me?

"Where. Is. My. Sister?" I snarl, each word punctuated by the pounding of my heart.