Fuse by E.L. Todd

Nineteen

Rune tightenedthe leather belt around her, restricting her arms directly against her sides. He did the same to her legs, making her a human pin. A malicious smile spread across his lips as he walked past her, enjoying every second of what would come next. Once he was behind her, he pressed his lips to her ear. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me where the dragon is?”

A pool of freezing water was at her feet. Bits of ice floated across the surface, almost freezing completely on top. Steam rose in small tendrils, evaporating in just seconds.

“Cora?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” While she feared the torture about to commence, she feared for Flare’s safety more. He was the only hope for returning power to the rightful beings. If she gave him away, all hope would be lost.

Rune sighed before he pushed her into the water.

Face first, she fell into the pool and immediately began to sink. The cold pierced her like a hundred blades of ice. Her lungs froze in place, unaccustomed to such extreme temperatures. She wanted to scream but somehow fought the urge.

Futilely, she tried to get loose from the straps binding her in place. They kept her body absolutely still, eliminating any opportunity to swim away. She continued to hold her breath and wait to be pulled up for air, but the rescue never came. Her lungs started to scream, and she couldn’t hold her breath for a second longer. Automatically, her mouth opened for air, and the water flooded in.

She was dragged back onto the platform, gasping for breath. The dry air was harsh against her frozen, wet skin. She lay back and stared at the ceiling, not truly seeing anything. Everything was blurred. All she could think about was breathing.

Rune kneeled next to her until his face was close to hers. “Now, I’m sure you don’t want to do that again. Why don’t you just tell me what I want to know? This can end right now if you just speak up.”

The idea of going back into that water sent chills up her spine. Her lungs wouldn’t be able to handle it again, and her entire body would give way. Just when she was on the verge of death, she would be violently pulled back to life. It was too much for anyone to bear. “I don’t know where he is.”

He shook his head in disappointment. “Wrong answer.”

* * *

Just when she fell asleep, she was awoken once more.

“Where is he?”

Her eyelids were heavy with an invisible weight. They couldn’t remain open, no matter how much she tried. Three days had come and gone, and she hadn’t gotten even an hour of rest.

Rune wouldn’t allow it.

“Tell me what I want to know, and you can sleep as long as you want.”

When they’d threatened to torture her, she’d assumed blades and fire would be involved, something more physically painful. Everything they’d been doing was more mentally and physically exerting than bloody—but it was still effective.

“Where is he?”

“Who?”

“The dragon.”

She closed her eyes.

He shook her again. “Cora, answer me.”

“I don’t know…”

“Yes, you do.” He slapped her across the face. “Now, tell me.”

“No.” It didn’t matter what they did or said; she refused to give in.

“Goddammit.” He gripped her shoulders and shook her violently.

She closed her eyes again.

He smacked her head against the tile. “Cora, tell me.”

She mustered the energy to spit in his face.

He slammed her head hard against the stone, making her black out immediately.

* * *

When her eyes opened, she had no sense of time. How many days had come and gone, she didn’t know. How long had she been a prisoner of the steward? Time blurred together, and she couldn’t figure out how long she’d been there. The window in her cell was the only measurement she had. At least she could tell when it was daylight.

Rune was hovering above her, giving his grotesque smile for her private enjoyment. “You were out for a long time.”

“I was hoping I was dead.” Her voice was lifeless because she truly didn’t care about anything anymore. As far as she was concerned, her life was already gone.

“No, not yet,” he said with a disappointed sigh. “Unfortunately.”

She turned her head the opposite way so she wouldn’t have to look at him anymore.

“You were so sleep deprived, you blacked out. I’ve never seen that before.” He sat beside her on the floor, leaning over her so she could see her facial expressions reflected in his eyes.

“Sounds like a logical response to me.”

“Most people die.”

“Too bad I’m not most people.” She wasn’t sure if she believed in the afterlife—and even if it were real, she doubted her soul would make it there. Despite that knowledge, she still wanted to die. It was the only option she had at that point.

“You’re strange.”

Unable to form a response to that, she remained silent.

“I’ve never seen a woman so focused. They usually break faster than the men.”

“Strange isn’t the right word to describe it.”

“I wonder if it’s because you’re part elf.”

She stared at the blue tile that constructed the wall of her cell. The color was unusual. She wondered if the rest of the castle was made of the same stone. In Vax, all they used was wood.

“Do you know where their hidden realm is?”

“No.” That was the truth, but she knew he wouldn’t believe her.

“Really?” Incredulity was in his voice. “You’re one of them but have never visited their land?”

“I’ve never seen one of my own kind—at least, not that I can remember.”

“Again, strange.” He shook his head.

She slowly turned her head his way, loathing burning in her eyes. “You need to expand your vocabulary.”

“You need to shut that pretty mouth of yours.” His eyes trailed over her face, resting on her full lips. The intent was written as clear as a message on the wall. “I don’t know if it’s the elf or human in you that gets me going…but something does.”

Terror returned in full force. Being frozen and suffocated at the same time was preferable to what he had in mind. Sleep deprivation was a different form of torture, one that made her brain pulse in agony. She couldn’t think straight because her dreams fused too well with reality. What was real and what wasn’t? But she would take that any day over what he had planned.

Rune moved his hand to her thigh and reached for the top of her pants.

She was weak from insufficient calories, and her body was broken from all the trials it had endured, but her instincts immediately kicked into gear. She kicked him as hard as she could in the side of the neck.

Rune flopped down onto the tile, groaning and rubbing his neck at the same time. He lay still, fighting the pain that burned his every nerve ending. The fact that he didn’t get up and smack her around told Cora she’d really hit him where it hurt.

“Bitch.” He kept rubbing his neck, his face contorted in insufferable agony.

“That’s what my friends call me.” If she pushed him hard enough, it would ignite the blood rage. All he’d want to do was hurt her, cause her as much agony as possible.

Which worked for her.

He slowly sat up, the flames of the world burning in his eyes. “You cracked my neck.”

“Sorry. I meant to break it.” There would be no remorse on her end.

“You’ll regret that, elf.” He slowly rose to his feet, gripping his neck like his head might roll off.

“You’ve said that twice now, but still haven’t made good on your word.”

He walked to the door, moving his upper body as little as possible. “I will this time. Consider it a promise.”