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Aydin

I was eavesdropping, but as long as I wasn’t caught it was just listening without being noticed.

Rúan asked Quin about his leg. Instead of answering like I would have, with a joke something along the lines of “Oh, I forgot it,” he was actually telling the truth.

“People called it an accident. It wasn’t.”

I would bet it was. Accidents were more common than the other.

“It was my fault. I was driving, and…and… I was too… too s-scared to…do anything. The wagon crashed. Then everything was blood and sweat and fire–”

A sudden wave of sympathy took over. I knew exactly what it felt like. If I’d made any number of other decisions differently, my friends might not be dead. I had so much blood on my hands.

Legally, that was manslaughter at worst, and morally… well, who cared about morally. Morals were something to be manipulated so you could justify your poor choices.

I didn’t go up to comfort him. He was scared of me and I wouldn’t make any of it better.

I leaned back against the wall, strongly considering whether it was worth it to sleep. Before I could make up my mind, there was another one of those crackles that led up to devestation and chaos.

I swore under my breath. I usually tried to watch my language but this was completely worth it. I was so tired of this.

“I don’t have any more scandalous secrets, what do you want?” I mumbled. The Castle knew everything so I didn’t really have to speak out loud.

It wasn’t true, of course. I had made many, many more mistakes. Which one was getting dragged up?

“Now that you all know who the others are, I think it’s time to make some enemies,” the Castle said, with something that sounded like metallic glee.

“Like I need help making enemies,” I said, my voice still tense. Sarcasm wasn’t getting me ahead but it annoyed the Castle so it was worth it.

“I now know none of you have any problems with shedding blood, so let’s go with that, shall we?”

No, no, we shouldn’t.

“Here’s how it works. Each of you must injure one of the others, otherwise you will face consequences.”

“No,” I said, without even thinking about it. I would not harm anyone else.

“I wasn’t giving you options.”

I got up, surprisingly quickly and strode the middle of the room.

I was sick of being forced to choose between bad and worse. I would make my own options.

I drew my knife in one quick motion and shook down the sleeve of my right hand so my hand and a part of my forearm was exposed. My right hand was permanently curled into a loose fist and anyone looking at it would instantly know I couldn’t use it but I honestly couldn’t care less.

I slashed the back of my arm, not deep or long but enough that blood seeped out. I bit my lip at the instant sting. I’d had worse but I still hated it. Better me than anyone else.

“Satisfied?” I asked, relieved that my voice didn’t quiver.

“Are you deaf or just stupid? I said someone else,” the Castle said, with overwhelming contempt. I glared at it.

“Then the answer is and remains no.”

I sheathed my knife again and didn’t bother to hide my right hand. I felt the blood leaking down my hand but I didn’t really care. I should be used to that by now.

“Was I being unclear when I said consequences?”

“Obviously. What are you going to do, kill me?”

I was picking up Liorah’s sarcasm and that was an overwhelmingly bad thing, especially in these kinds of situations.

“Let me see… for you, how about you get to reexperience your worst injury? How does that sound? I’ll see what I can do for the others.”

I must have paled. It was hard to focus. I knew what he meant and I wouldn’t survive it again.

My voice seemed to have vanished and everything around me blurred.

I still had nightmares about it. I probably would have for the rest of my life. I still felt the hot blood leaking down my back. I couldn’t stand it, not again.

The alternative was participating in cruelty again. Never again. I wouldn’t let that happen.

“No,” I said, again, forcing my voice to be stronger than I felt. This time everyone could probably hear the tremble.

The castle didn’t reply this time. Apparently, it meant to make me suffer in dread or at least tempt me again.

With sudden resolution, I turned to Yila, who looked numb and furious. I raised an eyebrow and held out my right hand.

“Care for revenge, sweetheart?”

I could take it. I would probably be easier for her to harm than any of the others, so at least she wouldn’t have to face consequences. I owed Niarok that much.

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@denali-christianson

Mwahahaha!! Let’s see what she does!