The Librarian

Anger and frustration burnt at all the hope I had gained breaking free of my chains. The only keys I could find didn't fit into any locks in the cell and looked to be the ignition keys for a Honda car. I rattled against the bars but no matter how hard I shook them they wouldn't give. Nico's chains wouldn't relent even under the knife that rested on the table.

"They're enchanted." He sighed. "I can't shadow travel or summon skeletons and I definitely can't get free. I've tried." His wrists were nearly as cut and bleeding as mine but his were already healing and his head was bowed in surrender.

I collapsed in the corner of the chilly cell and wrapped my arms around myself. Tears pricked at my eyes but I refused to cry, I couldn't cry. My wrists stung like hell and my heart felt shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Kimmi?" Nico asked.

I shook my head. "Leave me alone."
"I didn't mean it." He said. "I just can't see you get hurt anymore."

"So you did mean it." I hissed.

"Kimmi, please." Nico pleaded. "Let's figure this out together and we can scream at each other later, okay?"

Before I could reply the cell door swung inwards. A large man blocked the entrance. His skin was pockmarked with white scars and all four of his crooked yellow teeth were showing in a cruel, twisted smile. He turned back over his shoulder.

"The litt'l miss is awake m'lady." He said in a rough accent I couldn't quite place.

A tall, pale lady stepped through and twisted her perfect features into a smile even more grotesque. She looked over me and Nico, milky eyes shining with something akin to joy. "Yes." She purred. "This is just perfect."

I clenched the knife in my fist, ready to pounce.

"Disarm her, will you Bill?" The lady asked the man who I guessed was Bill. He grabbed me with two beefy hands before I could even lift the knife and heaved me off the ground. His breath smelled as rotten as his teeth looked. I struggled against his grip as he squeezed my wounded wrist tight until the knife clattered to the ground. I bit back a cry of pain.

"Let her go!" Nico said, his teeth clenched.

"Oh so you care about this girl, do you?" The lady asked smugly, her silky dress of white gold whispering against the rough stone as she crossed the cell towards him and caressed his face with nails as long as talons. "Perhaps you'll tell us what we want to know if we give you a little incentive. Yes?"

"No!" Nico's eyes shone with fear.

The lady turned to Bill. "Do it."

And then the pain began.

Notes