Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

I was herded through the halls and down into the basement by sword- and gunpoint. The closer we got to the heart of the building, the walls changed from pristine white to unfinished stone, and the air grew heavy. Down below, in the deepest recesses where it didn’t even appear to be the same place, were cells.

They opened the door of one, and a butt of a gun steered me forward. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud behind me. There wasn’t a single window, and the darkness of the cell pressed in around me. I was truly trapped. I couldn’t count on Death to save me. I might die here.

If I died, would Kicks still take care of Charlie? I’d killed his father. He might’ve acted as if he didn’t like the man, but still… It was his father .

I huddled in the corner on the stone floor. The only other thing in here with me was an empty bucket, which I dreaded having to use.

It would’ve been pitch black if not for a tiny trickle of light shining through a crack on the bottom of the door. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself.

I had to get my thoughts straight and come up with a plan to get out of here. I couldn’t count on Kicks. From this moment forward, it was safer to assume he wanted me dead. Someone would be down to question me soon, and I needed to figure out a story, formulate a plan.

The air chilled. Death was here. I couldn’t see her, but I felt her.

“Are you going to get me out?” I whispered.

She didn’t answer.

“I killed him. You wanted him dead and he is. Maybe not the way you wanted, with all the drama and fanfare, but the deed is done.” I shivered as I felt the air chill with her presence.

I didn’t need you to kill him. I could’ve done that myself. I needed you to send a message. He was the main man behind the deaths and you think a quick death was what I wanted? You’re lucky your Kicks is alive after what you did.

I stayed huddled and silent, afraid if I said anything else, she might go and do something to Kicks.

You are not holding up your end of the bargain. You knew that wasn’t what I wanted. She was nearly screaming by the end.

I held my tongue, growing more terrified by the second.

The arctic air seemed to warm slightly. She was gone.

The only blessing was that I didn’t feel that darkness trying to claw at me from the inside for the first time in months. I wasn’t sure if it was muted or gone. At least if I did die, I’d die mostly me.

The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall sooner than I expected, growing louder and more deliberate. I got to my feet, refusing to look scared when they came.

The door swung open and Varic appeared, flanked by two men pointing rifles at me.

“How did you do it?” he asked, his voice low and menacing.

I met his gaze, trying to keep my expression neutral. “I didn’t.” Denial was my only hope, and that was slim at best.

“Don’t play me for an idiot. How did you kill my father? I want to know what you did.”

I swallowed hard, but kept my chin up and my breathing steady. He might suspect it, but he couldn’t prove it. I’d admit nothing. “I didn’t—”

“Lies!” he screamed, his voice echoing off the stone walls. “You killed him, and you’re going to tell me how.”

I had to stay calm. I couldn’t fold. If I panicked, I was dead. “Varic, I didn’t kill him. I don’t know what happened to him. I walked over to introduce myself and—”

“Don’t lie. Everyone knows what you are.”

Had Kicks told him? Was he awake and talking? Turning on me? I couldn’t be mad if he was. This wasn’t a betrayal. I’d killed his father. I’d expect no less. He’d heard things before, though, too. It could’ve been from Groza. Either way, I didn’t speak about it. I couldn’t afford to say the wrong thing.

Varic’s voice dropped. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll leave you here to rot. No food, no water. Just you and the darkness. How long do you think you’ll last?”

I forced myself to stay ramrod straight. Denial was my only chance. “I don’t know what happened but I didn’t kill him. I’ll sit here and rot, but that won’t change it.”

I took a seat on the ground, making my point.

They left, and I closed my eyes and pretended I wasn’t locked in the dark. I needed to remain calm and come up with a plan. But what?

Piper.

I opened my eyes at the familiar voice even as I couldn’t quite believe who I saw. “Widow Herbert?”

Yes.

“How are you here?”

I don’t know. I haven’t been able to reach you in so long, but then it suddenly felt different.

“I’m not imagining this?” I whispered, sitting up. Stuck here in this hole, my mind might come up with all sorts of craziness.

I’m really here.

Death blocked my abilities and now Widow Herbert was here? In blocking me, had Death somehow undone what she’d used to keep Widow Herbert away? It was too much of a coincidence.

“I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you.”

Me too, honey. Me too. But I’ll be here to see you through. I promise if I can get to you, I will be here.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Can you access any of your abilities?

“No.”

Do you still feel that place of darkness inside?

“No.”

Are you sure? Try to feel it. Concentrate.

She was right. It had to still be in me. Death had said she couldn’t remove it. It was part of me. I’d been infuriated when she told me that, yet it might be my only chance of getting out of here.

I did as Widow Herbert had said. “I think it might be there, but I can only feel it the slightest bit.”

Then you still have power within you. You just need to figure out how to control it. You need to use that.

“But how?”

That, I can’t say, but you’re not powerless. There is a way. Close your eyes and try to focus on it. You’re strong. You will survive this.

It was getting hard to know how many hours had passed as I sat in the dark, no food or water. It could’ve been ten hours or fifteen. Adrenaline was keeping me awake, but I was dying for a sip of water. I wish I’d eaten some more of my breakfast before I killed Kicks’ father. I’d even take some jerky at this point. Only benefit was that I didn’t need to use the bucket in the corner.

Would Death keep me alive if they tried to kill me via dehydration and starvation? Varic wasn’t likely to kill me until he got some answers, so they’d probably give me something . It might get uncomfortable, though, and I’d better prepare myself.

I had nothing to do but think, and only the worst thoughts were coming to mind.

I replayed my goodbye with Charlie and then forced it from my mind, refusing to cry. Even if Kicks wanted to kill me himself, he’d protect Charlie. He’d view him as innocent. So would Rastin, Buddie, and Evangeline. They were good people, even if they wouldn’t think the same of me soon. They wouldn’t hurt him.

Was Kicks awake yet? Was he somewhere above, talking about how evil I was? Had he told them what I was? If he had, Varic would know, and he hadn’t come back. Maybe they were debating what to do with me?

Kicks’ footsteps sounded in the distance. Death might’ve stolen some of my killing abilities, but she hadn’t taken my improved senses away. It might’ve been an oversight, but I wouldn’t remind her of it next time she deigned to appear.

He opened the door and paused for a second as we took each other in. His face was so shadowed in this darkness that it was impossible to see if he was glaring. He seemed healthy, though, and some of the rigidity in my spine I hadn’t known I was holding eased.

I dropped my forehead to my knees, not saying anything, feeling like a coward for having a hard time even looking at him.

I wouldn’t attempt to defend my actions. I’d done it for him, but it didn’t matter. I’d killed his father. It would be easier if he just screamed at me and then left. If I spoke, I might break down.

He walked closer and then knelt in front of me, pulled a flask out of his shirt, uncapped it, and brought it to my lips. I chugged back what tasted like some kind of broth, staring at him. He didn’t hate me?

I couldn’t see his face well, but he leaned close, whispering so softly I could barely hear, “I’ll be back.”

He got to his feet, and I didn’t have the courage to ask anything as he left. I didn’t know if he hated me, but did he pity me?

He walked out, shutting the door.

“No one is allowed in here but me,” he said outside the cell.

“But Varic—”

“Can go fuck himself. She’s still my mate. No one in or out.”

His steps faded, and the tears I couldn’t hold back anymore started to flow.