Chapter Ten

"Zixin," someone called.

I whimpered. It was one of them. My captors. Would I be beaten again this morning? I covered my head with my arms and curled in to protect my organs.

"Zixin," the voice went sharper.

I knew that voice.

"Get up, Zixin," Captain Aras said.

Shaking off my memories, I lowered an arm to warily peer at him. I wasn't fourteen anymore, nor was I held captive by Gashi. I focused on his face and used it to pull me back to reality.

"Aras," I whispered.

He grinned. "Ready to talk?"

A tear slid down my cheek. "You don't understand. I can't betray him."

Aras nodded. "I do understand that. But you need to understand me, pirate. You are a criminal and you tried to steal from me. Your friends did steal from me. One of the crates they took was very valuable. The item in it belongs to King Lyrandir, and he now expects me to retrieve it. I'm rightfully being held accountable. So, I will not stop until I get it back." He stroked my cheek, brushing away my tears. "Unfortunately, this means I'm back to torturing you more proactively." His claw dug into my skin, slicing me open.

I cried out but didn't move. I simply didn't have the strength for it. I'd wasted all my energy on trying to break the bedpost and fighting my memories. My chest quaked as Aras pushed me onto my back, then straddled me.

"Know that I don't enjoy this," Aras said. "But your crew has put me in a terrible position with King Lyrandir." Another slice came, opening a wound on my chest. "If I don't get that item back, I will be the one in chains. Or worse. This is now beyond pride for me. It's life and death."

Fuck. We were deadlocked. Literally. Neither of us would yield. I shuddered and went limp, accepting what was to come. Welcoming it. I prayed for a fast death, that maybe my weakened state would strain my hearts.

"Tell me the name of your captain," Aras said.

I closed my eyes.

"What is the name of your ship?" Another slice.

Pain. Terrible pain. But I stayed silent. At least it distracted me from the chains.

Aras kept going, cutting me up as badly as he had the day before. Draining me again. He probably thought he could keep repeating the process by letting me heal in between torture sessions. Just give the Neraky a glass of water and he'll be fine. But what Aras didn't understand was that without a full healing, the damage would be cumulative, building up until I broke down. My hearts would shut down, one at a time, and I would give up immortality for my captain.

"Captain," I whispered. It wasn't a cry for help but rather a battle call to give me strength. To remind me of who I endured this for.

Aras leaned in closer. "Tell me."

I just grinned at him and passed out.