Chapter Seventeen Chapter Seventeen +25 BONUS **TRIGGER WARNING: The following chapters contain themes of trauma and abuse. Read with caution!** The man placed a blade over the green flames. “I have a question; I need an answer, else..." he motioned to the blade. I understood his threat. "Our brother, Mason, was taken by your father; where was he kept?" "I-I don't know." "Well, too bad." He picked the blade from the flames; the iron shone purple, instead of red. “No!" Cas cried out. “You said you would only ask questions!" the fool, Eli, screamed above his lungs. I looked away. Father toldsometimes fear contributes to the pain. The smell of burnt flesh filled the room and a single tear escaped my eyes. "A strong one we have here," the man said. The leader with the one eye didn't look impressed. "She would break with time." He was right. I did break, just about when the iron met my skin for the seventh time. I called for my father, for my late mother, for the moon goddess, and every supernatural creature I knew. "Where did he keep my brother?" "I don't know!" I cried. The man tossed the metal away; he seemed irritated. I had never seen men so cruel in all my life. I knew about rogues; I knew they were heartless creatures, but I never really understood what my father meant by that. “Take her fingers," the Leader ordered. Cas cried even louder, but Eli had strangely becsilent, His face empty. "Still don't know anything?" the man inquired. "I don't! I've told you." "> The man had no single look of regret as he took my finger. This tI didn't cry, crying... It never did change anything men like these enjoyed the tears. "She doesn't know a thing." Another man spoke up.. "I don't believe that." The leader responds. He walked to Cas, and she backed away. From the stench; I knew she'd wet herself. Fear. That's all she felt, and she was right to be afraid. "Maybe you should say goodbye to your little friend." He suggested. "Wait!" I called out. "Mason hadn't been kept in the dungeons like the other prisoners; he had been kept in an underground fortress, the pack's secret hideout." I revealed. Chapter Seventeen +25 BONUS “Where is this place?" the leader asked. "Close to the pack boundaries," I whispered. "So you knew this and you let us cut off your finger and burn your pretty little skin before you spoke up?" one of the men asked, in surprise. "She is a brave one. I would have let you and your friend go BUT, you took my eyes, you see, and I will have to take away something valuable from you too.' He walked to Casa and tore off her gown. }}- "I told you what you wanted to know! Leave her alone... please." He smirked. Men like him also liked watching people beg. "When we are done with her, she will wish she was never born." "Kai, please don't let them take me, Kai!" she called forI failed her. Her screams tore through the whole building, and I was forced to listen. It could have been days, hours, or just a few minutes, but it felt like... forever, and finally she was silent. The men returned, their laughs filling the building. Fun. That's what it all was to them. "Keep an eye on her, would you?" One of them said to Eli, and he nodded. The leader turned to me. “If I find out that you lied to us, your death would be worse than ya little friend's, and that's a promise." The moment they were gone, Eli broke down in tears. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... they said they just wanted to talk they lied... they would have killedif I tried saving her..." "Do you want my forgiveness?" I asked him and he looked up atwith hopeful eyes. "Freeand I will forgive you." +