Fuse by E.L. Todd

Eighteen

Thud.Thud. Thud.

Her head pounded with a migraine more explosive than a bubbling volcano. It was fiery and hot, and the constant pulse was enough to drive anyone to pure madness. The throbbing was the worst part. It pressed against both of her temples like the blood was trying to find a way out of her skull.

It was as if someone had stepped on her head with a boot made of jagged nails.

Slowly, the previous events came back to her mind. She could think more clearly now that her skull wasn’t being burned to coal. The Shaman had placed his hand over her face and gave her a jolt that almost killed her.

But she wasn’t dead—not yet anyway.

She opened her eyes slightly, wanting to see the world without telling anyone she was awake. Her eyes moved to a tiny window near the ceiling. Black bars intersected it even though it was too small to climb through.

Her wrists were bound together. She could feel the burn of the rope every time she moved. Without any further information, she knew she’d been tied up for some time.

Her back lay against cold stone. Judging by the placement of the window and the throbbing pain in her back, she was lying on the floor in a cell. The oil in her hair told her she hadn’t been bathed or taken care of in any regard. Her mouth was parched and dry, and her tongue felt like cotton picked right from the plant.

Her eyes opened wider, and she examined her holding cell. The small room was constructed of blue stone. It reflected a metallic sheen that glinted in the dying light from the window. Her best guess told her it was the end of the day.

The wooden door was blood red with a sliding window near the top. Black bars, similar to the ones on the window, separated their prisoner from the water. She stared at her cell and knew there was no way for her to escape.

It was hopeless.

The door opened, and a man wearing a guard’s uniform walked inside. Without a helmet, his face was visible. He looked to be a few years older than her, but the look in his eyes said he was much fouler. “You’ve been out for a while.”

She wouldn’t give in to his taunts. He was a cat playing with his food, picking it apart until there was hardly anything left, before he finally ate it. “That’s what happens when someone boils your brain.” She stared at the ceiling and tried to forget about the throbbing sensation in her skull.

He smiled, but it was grotesque. “The steward was very happy to hear of your visit. He’s been waiting for you to wake up.”

“Well, today’s his lucky day.” Her bound hands rested on her stomach. She was already bored of this man and the conversation.

“I’m Rune, by the way. It’s a pleasure to meet you—a real pleasure.”

The way he said those words rubbed her the wrong way. She knew a creep when she saw one. “I’m sure you already know who I am.”

“Cora.” He said her name slowly, like he was savoring each syllable. “Yes.”

“So…why haven’t you killed me yet?” She had no idea where she was or the terrain of the fortress. Even if she wanted to escape, she had no idea where to go. Death was the only option at that point.

“Kill you?” That disgusting smile spread across his lips. “Why on earth would we do that?”

“Because I killed one of your hounds.” And she’d liked it. Too bad she hadn’t killed the other one.

“Oh yes. Shadow wasn’t happy about that.”

“Shadow?” She couldn’t restrain herself from laughing. “That’s really his name? That’s the lamest thing I’ve ever heard.”

His eyebrows furrowed, the first sign of irritation. “That’s the name we’ve given him—because we can’t pronounce his real one.”

She chuckled again. “You couldn’t do better than that?”

Striking like a snake, he slapped her hard across the face.

She turned with the hit but didn’t react. In fact, the smile was still on her lips. “That’s the best you can do? A little girl could slap harder than that.”

He slapped her again, using his entire body to gain momentum.

Again, she didn’t react. Maybe if she pissed him off enough, he would kill her. “Wuss…”

He gripped her by the throat and squeezed. Her air supply was immediately cut off, and she was thankful for it. If he held her long enough, she would choke to death. It would end quickly.

But he released her. “Shadow isn’t happy you killed his twin brother. In fact, he tried to kill you because of it.”

“When?” All he did was hold her down and torture her.

“The Skull Crusher.” His eyes glinted ominously. “No one ever survives that move. But somehow, you did. Very strange…” Like she was an intriguing specimen, he watched her with interest.

He’d tried to kill her? And she survived? She kept her mouth shut because she refused to say the wrong thing. Questions came to mind, but they never passed over her tongue.

“And we’re very interested in finding out what kind of powers you have.”

“Powers?” she asked. “I have none.”

“Really?” He cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowing on her face. “A hybrid—half human and half elf. I’ve never seen that before.”

“It’s pretty straightforward. A human and an elf got it on—and had me. Surely, you could have connected those dots on your own.”

Instead of choking her again, he smiled. “I know you don’t think I’m very bright, but I’m smart enough to know when I’m being manipulated. I’m not killing you—at least not yet.”

Disappointment washed over her like an incoming tide.

“But there is one thing you can do to speed up the process.”

She kept her mouth shut.

“Tell us where the dragon is.”

Alarm bells rang in her heart, and her breathing increased on its own. She kept the reaction hidden as much as possible but was unsure if she mastered it. She’d assumed she was being hunted for attacking the Shaman. But somehow, they knew about her relationship with Flare.

“I was hoping that would be your answer.” He gave her a grin that showed all of his unnaturally white teeth. “It’ll be more fun this way.” His eyes roamed over her body, noting her hips and settling on her legs. “And we’ll have some fun when we need a break from the torture.”

It was the first time she’d felt fear. She accepted pain freely, knowing she could handle it. She even accepted death, knowing it was going to come sooner or later. But this was something on a different level. It was emotional and intimate.

She kept her face relaxed and hid the fear deep down below. The second he recognized she was in distress, he would prey on it. He would abandon the torture and stick to that instead.

And that was worse than death.

* * *

Rune brought a tray of food. “Lunchtime.” He set the tray on the floor beside her. A glass of water sat beside a plate of chicken, potatoes, and greens. “I know you must be starving.”

That was an understatement.

What she really needed was water. She was severely dehydrated, and that wasn’t helping her headache. Her lower back hurt because her kidneys were shutting down, and her skin was beginning to shrivel. It looked like she’d lost five pounds in just a few days.

“Go on. Eat.” He sat beside her with no intention of leaving.

If she refused to eat, she would die. Her stomach gnawed at her like a dog chewing on a bone. All she could think about was devouring the delicious meal set before her. The glass of water had her name written all over it.

But she wouldn’t allow herself to do it.

“Why are you so intent on dying?” He laughed like the situation was a joking matter. “Come on, darling. Just sit up and eat.”

“The sooner I die, the sooner I don’t have to look at you.”

“Did you have a bad childhood or something?” He nudged her in the side. “You need to lighten up.”

“I’m not hungry.”

He cupped his hand to his ear. “Then why do I hear your stomach rumbling?”

She grabbed the tray and flipped it over. She was surprised how weak she was. It took much more energy and strength to execute the simple move than it normally would have. The plate crashed to the floor and shattered into three pieces. The glass of water cracked, and the vital liquid spread across the stone floor. Cora lay back and looked at the ceiling as if nothing had happened at all.

Rune stared at the mess and sighed. “You really shouldn’t have done that…”

She tilted her chin up, exposing her throat to him.

The humor in his voice disappeared entirely. All that was left was an icy wind. “This is what’s going to happen. If you don’t eat, I’m going to shove everything down your throat. And believe me, it’ll hurt. So, you can be a big girl and do it on your own. Or I can do it for you. What’s it gonna be?”

The sincerity of his threat was unmistakable. She sat up then picked the food off the floor. Her wrists were still bound together, and that made eating awkward. She knew she was truly starving because she’d never had a meal that tasted so good. In that moment, she felt like a king.

Darkness still burned in his eyes. “Good choice.”

* * *

Adorned in red robes with gold stitching, a man entered her cell. His sleeves extended past his hands, almost touching the stone floor. He was a man marked by time, the premature lines of aging embedded into his skin. His face was weathered like he’d spent too many days in the sun.

Cora’s eyes immediately went to his. The blue crystals were strikingly similar to another pair she’d already seen. Flecks of white and gray filled the irises, which were startling in their complexity.

As he entered the room, the air changed. It became heavy with suffering. Power rang in the air, hinting at all the things he could do with a simple snap of his fingers.

She knew he was the steward even without being introduced. “Good evening, Your Highness.” It was easy to insult him with just her tone. They wouldn’t grant her any mercy, so she refused to be cooperative in any fashion. She didn’t possess idealistic hopes and dreams. They would torture her relentlessly until they got what they wanted.

And then they would kill her.

She wouldn’t give up any information about Flare. It didn’t matter what they did to her. There was no torture strong enough for her to betray her loyalty to her closest friend.

“Good evening, Cora.” He stood beside her and folded his arms together, his billowing robes hiding his skin.

She leaned against the wall, her wrists red and irritated from constantly rubbing against the harsh rope. Her knees were pulled to her chest. Her untidy hair hadn’t been brushed or washed in nearly a week. “What can I do for you? Or did you just come for the scenery?”

His smile almost looked like a sneer. The black mustache above his lips gave him a constant demeanor of irritation. “Rune painted a perfect picture of you.”

“Thanks…I guess.” She held his gaze, showing him just how unaffected she was by his clothes and jewels.

“You know why you’re here.”

She shrugged. “I suppose.”

“It’s very important that I find this dragon you encountered. You know where he is, and you’re going to tell me.”

“I am?” She raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. “Why would I tell you the whereabouts of someone I don’t know?”

“Don’t be coy. It’s a waste of time.”

“I don’t know where he is.” It was easy to lie to someone she didn’t have any respect for. “And if I did, I still wouldn’t tell you. You may as well prepare to torture me to death. Because this conversation is also a waste of time.”

His eyes darkened in nature, becoming sinister and a little terrifying. “So be it.” He turned around, his robes twisting in a spectacular way, and marched out of her cell.

“Yes. So be it.”

* * *

Rune entered the cell, smiling as usual. He took a seat beside her, getting too close for comfort. “So, is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

“Not really.” The ropes that bound her wrists together had become frayed from being tied around her for so long. She was dirty to the point where she was uncomfortable in her own skin.

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.” She just wanted to get it over with.

“You don’t want to tell me how you defied the Skull Crusher?”

“Nope. I don’t even know the answer to that one.”

His smile only widened. “Where’s the dragon?”

“Don’t know.”

“Where did you get that sword?”

She’d known that would come up eventually. “It was a gift.”

“From a dragon?” he pressed.

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“And how was it made? Who created such a blade?”

Normally, she would be irritated that he assumed only someone else could have created the weapon. But now, she thought it was amusing. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Who are your parents?”

“I wish I knew.” She knew she would never find the answer to that question.

He rested the back of his head against the stone chamber, an empathetic sigh escaping his lips. “You know what happens now, Cora.”

“Why don’t we stop talking about it and just get it done?”

“You know what I think?”

She shook her head.

“I think you’re all talk. The second you’re in that chair, you’ll crumble like all the rest.”

She hoped he wasn’t right.

“I’ve seen mothers betray their own children. I’ve seen fathers send their own sons to the grave. I’ve seen the closest of friends throw each other to the dogs. You won’t be any different, Cora.”

She tested the tightness of her ropes in the hope they’d become loose enough to rip apart.

“You never have to find out if you just talk to me.”

“Rune.”

He turned his head her way. “Hmm?”

She held his gaze without blinking, seeing the brilliant green eyes he didn’t deserve to have. “We can’t run away from our destiny. You believe that, right?”

“Actually, I do.” He smiled in expectation.

“Good.” She threw her arms over his head then pulled the frayed rope against his neck, choking him and burning his skin at the same time. “Then you knew this was coming.” She wrapped her legs around his waist and held him still as he tried to fight her off. He gripped the rope and tried to pull it away, but her hold was too strong. “It was nice knowing you, Rune.”

The door opened, and one of the guards came inside. Once he saw the commotion, he rushed to Rune’s aid.

Cora held on, knowing she only needed a few more seconds.

The guard pulled her off, punching her right in the nose to get her to back off. The hit stung and brought tears to her eyes, but she still fought him off.

Rune slipped away then rolled over as he coughed violently. He gripped his throat then heaved as he tried to catch his breath.

The guard held her back, positioning her hands tightly in his grasp. “You alright, sir?”

Rune kept coughing, still trying to recover.

Cora spat on his face. “Just a few more seconds and you would have been worm food.”

He wiped the spit from his face then sat up, an unmistakable threat in his eyes. “Take her to the chamber. Now.”

The guard yanked her to her feet, forcing her to get up even though she fought against him. “Being choked doesn’t feel good, does it?”

Rune rose to his feet, still rubbing his neck. “Darling, you’re going to regret that.”

The guard dragged her to the door, bringing her directly past Rune. “Believe me, nothing could make me regret that.”