The room was dark. He could barely see. Even if the lights were on, it wouldn’t have mattered. One eye was completely dissolved, his face swollen and burned, as if drenched in acid. The other eye was only half-working, making out black, blobby figures shifting in front of him. His ears were mostly deaf, but he could still hear it—the chittering. The same he’d heard on that wretched island. Their claws clanged against thick iron bars. The Wailers, blinded and muzzled. They skittered, smashing into the walls, blindly thrashing in their cells. He almost wondered what they were doing down here, with him. But his mind could never complete a thought, not without—

  THUMP

  “Speak, you bastard! Tell us who you’re working with.”

  Vantus struck him in the face, putting his full weight into the blow. “Bear-fucking, cretin.”

  THUMP

  Another swing, harder this time. Blood splattered across the dungeon wall. But Ollie barely felt it. He was already half-dead, half-rotting from the inside out. “You—touch him up. He’s not dying yet.”

  Vantus pointed at the young woman standing beside Aurelio. A healer. Her job was to keep Ollie alive just long enough to endure the next round of torture. “Pointless questions.” Aurelio was unimpressed. “I have the records. He was on Galvos’s ship.”

  Aurelio approached Ollie, whose skin was slowly mending under the Alleviator’s hands. She molded the flesh back to a healthy state, cured it of the rot that had formed from the anima, and reset his broken jaw once more after Vantus had shattered it again with his violence.

  “You think Galvos is involved? You really think that idiot could, or would, even consider attacking his own like this?” A smirk curled on Vantus’s face. His anger was for show—he just enjoyed hurting Ollie and loved the theatrics of playing the ‘bad guy’ to Aurelio’s ‘good guy.’

  “Would be quite convenient for you to have your brother-in-law finally headed for the pits.”

  “If I wanted Galvos gone, he’d be gone,” Aurelio replied, cold and steady as always. “What I want to know is how he managed to hide the Crucible. Nobody saw him with it until he started his ranting in the markets.”

  Aurelio tapped the Alleviator on the shoulder. “Fix his mouth. I can still smell the rot. He can’t talk like that.” The girl nodded and did her best to mould a new, less ruined tongue so Ollie could speak.

  “How’d you do it, Olesk? How’d you get the Crucible off the ship?”

  Ollie weakly lifted his head. He still couldn’t see, could barely hear. “Did you see them?” he asked, his voice drained and raspy. “Did you get a good look?”

  Vantus’s fist twitched, itching to crush his skull again, but Aurelio was growing tired of both of their acts. “Yes, I saw it. Your pitiable revenge,” Aurelio replied, holding his arm out to block Vantus from breaking Ollie’s jaw once more.

  “Do you know what’s going to happen in return, Olesk?” Aurelio continued, his voice as cold as the winds of Moravyr. “We’re going to march further into your lands. We’re going to take more and more every day. And whenever your people resist, we’re going to do exactly what you did in the Aurifex.”

  Aurelio knelt to meet his eye level, his grip tightening as he seized Ollie’s head, forcing him to look directly into his eyes. “But you see, our weapons won’t be weak or unrefined like the Crucible.”

  His fingers dug into Ollie’s skull, the pressure growing as he watched the prisoner struggle to hold back his pain. “When we reach Sevrasil—and we will get there—I’ll make sure they know. They’ll know that the cruelty we inflict upon them, the absolute devastation they’ll experience, is because an impotent man lashed out at his betters.”

  His voice dropped to a whisper, each word a dagger. “They’ll be the ones crawling, gasping, crying out for release, Olesk. And they’ll curse your name for the wrath you brought down upon them.”

  He could see the tears forming in Ollie’s malformed eyes. “FUCK YOU!” A disgusting amalgamation of fluids coalesced in his mouth and flew out, splattering across Aurelio’s cheek.

  “You think this is the last time this will happen?” A new fire sparked in Ollie’s chest, whether from the Alleviator’s hands or his anger, no one could be sure. “This was just the start!”

  Aurelio wiped the mucus from his face, his expression unchanged. Behind him, Vantus snickered.

  “Spirited, aren’t you? What do you plan to do in here, Olesk? You’re not getting out of here alive. You know that, don’t you?”

  Ollie didn’t respond.

  “If you don’t tell us how you snuck the Crucible off the ship, we’ll just have to start making assumptions.” Aurelio motioned to the Alleviator, who obediently stepped outside the cell to retrieve the documents waiting for him.

  “Look at this mess,” Aurelio continued, unrolling the report. “Was the attack on Harmonia part of your little plan, or was that unrelated, Olesk?” His eyes narrowed as he scanned the report, the words and images drawn with uncanny precision, as if taken straight from the witnesses’ minds and inked onto paper.

  “Apparently, there was some sort of monster attack—a creature of the Mire suddenly appeared and began attacking guests at Harmonia. How’d that happen, Olesk? How did you manage to get a fourth Wailer?”

  It was faint, almost inaudible, but Aurelio heard Ollie whispering a prayer to his goddess.

  “She can’t hear you,” Vantus said, his voice mocking. “Not in His domain.” He leaned lazily against the cell wall, a look of boredom crossing his face. “Come on, make him squeal already.”

  Aurelio ignored him. “So be it, Olesk. If you won’t tell me, I know others who might.” He unfurled the bottom of the report, revealing a detailed drawing of two men—one a giant, half-naked and lying on the floor, the other a scrawny figure lurking in the shadows of an alleyway, keeping lookout.

  “Are these your men? Did you plan this with them?”

  Ollie’s breath hitched, his jaw tightening as he fought to keep his face expressionless. But his silence spoke louder than words.

  “Look at him. He knows who they are!” Vantus laughed.

  “They’re Dregs like you, aren’t they, Olesk? Is it just a coincidence they were also at the scene of disruption at the Bathhouse, just before you pulled your little stunt? Or were they the distraction? Did they give you the time you needed for your pathetic speech by smuggling that Wailer into Harmonia?”

  Aurelio kept his gaze locked on Ollie, his golden eyes unblinking. Ollie did his best to meet his stare, his swollen eyes filled with defiance and pain. “Did they sneak the Crucible off the ship for you, Ollie? Were they crewmembers of Galvos?”

  “Fuck you,” Ollie spat, his voice hoarse and broken. “Just kill me already. Get it over with, you piece of shit.”

  Aurelio’s breath changed, just for a moment. “We’ll get to that eventually, Olesk.” His voice was calm, almost gentle. But there was an eagerness lurking beneath the surface, a desire to end this pitiful excuse of a life in front of him.

  “If you don’t tell me something, I’ll go down to the Dregs myself. I’ll find these two and then I’ll come back. With their severed heads. To keep you company.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  It wasn’t a bluff. Ollie could see it in Aurelio’s face—the hatred he held for him, his people, for everyone in the Dregs. He didn’t understand what kept Aurelio from taking his blade and carving the Amalgamate to pieces already. If he didn’t say something, Callahan would surely be killed. Ollie knew it. He knew how strong Aurelio was. Those Kraken limbs would be torn apart. The things Callahan could do with Rowan—they were nothing compared to Aurelio’s power.

  The man who walked out of the Mire without a single blemish. The man who put fear into the hearts of anyone who saw him enter the fray. It was a mercy to all that he was kept to guarding the homelands of Onoria and not unleashed upon foreign fields, where he could cause tragedies of untold proportions. His Bind, one of the mind—absolute arrogance and pride in his abilities. The countless battles he had won had made him invincible. A truly terrifying power.

  Ollie’s chest tightened. He could feel the panic crawling up his spine, see the flicker of interest in Aurelio’s golden eyes. Damn it, why was he there? Stupid kid... I knew that was him... screaming... Why? Why did you follow me to the Aurifex? Was it the pendant? Because I pulled you out? Why the hell do you keep showing up in my life... damn it, boy... always underfoot... Kova...

  His thoughts scattered. He couldn’t understand his feelings. He knew he had to keep quiet, knew he was meant to be a sacrifice, to spark something new, a retaliation against Onoria. But could he die in peace knowing he had set this monster upon two innocent boys? They were somebody’s sons, caught up in a mess they didn’t understand. Morna... damn it, what did she do, and why did she get them involved? I knew...

  He couldn’t finish his thought. Aurelio was turning to leave, Vantus watching, unmoving.

  “Wait,” Ollie’s voice cracked, his spirit breaking. “Wait, please... they had nothing to do with this. They’re just kids.”

  Aurelio paused mid-step, waiting, expectant.

  “It was just me... I snuck the Crucible out.”

  “You’re going to have to prove that” Vantus sneered, his lips curling in a sadistic grin.

  “Give me something... a stone, anything,” Ollie pleaded, his voice cracking as he wriggled in his restraints, arms and legs lashed tight to the cold stone chair. Aurelio turned slowly, his eyes narrowing with interest. Ollie’s palm was held open waiting. Aurelio looked around, then picked up an unused, broken cuff lying on the cell floor. He placed the cold iron cuff in Ollie’s bound hands.

  “Show me,” he commanded.

  Ollie gripped the cuff tightly, his fingers trembling as he massaged the metal, squeezing it tighter and tighter. With every squeeze, the cuff became smaller, its form remaining perfectly consistent and unbroken. When he was finished, the cuff was no larger than a pebble—something one could easily hide if they wanted to.

  “So that’s how, eh?” Vantus chuckled, his laughter dripping with mockery. “That would be a good trick for our mules to have. Is that common in Moravyr?”

  Ollie shook his head, his shoulders sagging. “Not the way mine works…” His voice was hollow, defeated. He knew he was giving too much away, but he hoped it would be enough to satiate them. “Mine keeps everything intact... that’s how I was able to sneak the Crucible off the ship without breaking it.”

  Aurelio picked up the minuscule cuff between his fingers, examining it with cold fascination. “I’m assuming you’re also the one who can revert these changes?”

  Ollie looked up at him, his swollen eyes full of exhaustion and dread. Reluctantly, he nodded. “Yeah... I am.”

  “Can you make things larger than they originally were?” Aurelio’s asked,

  “No…”

  Aurelio flicked the pebble-sized cuff away. “I don’t believe you.”

  Aurelio’s sword sang as he unsheathed it, the sharp, metallic ring echoing in the cell. The blade was gilded, mesmerizing, its edge impossibly sharp. The light danced along its length, a cruel, hypnotic shimmer. Ollie’s body seized in fear, his mind screaming.

  “Go on, do it. DO IT.”

  Ollie’s heart thundered in his chest, his pulse echoing in his ears, he did his best to choke down his terror. He knew this would be the end, and he would go out fighting. He would be the example of what was to come. The swing came swiftly. Ollie barely felt a thing as the sword severed his hands from his wrists. Then a second—

  SWISH. SWISH.

  His hands fell to the floor, lifeless, useless things. When the realization finally came, when the pain crashed into him, the dungeon filled with his screams.

  “Uuh... ah... AHUUGUH—YOU BASTARD! JUST KILL ME!”

  “Don’t let him bleed out,” Aurelio commanded, sheathing his sword.

  The Alleviator rushed to Ollie’s side, she molded the flesh at the end of his arms, leaving two smooth, fleshy stumps. At Aurelio’s nod, she tightened his restraints, binding him even more securely.

  “As much as I’d like to, Olesk, you’re not going to die here. Not in this dark, lonely dungeon.”

  Aurelio kicked the severed hands away, watching them tumble across the cold stone floor. “No, your death is going to be a spectacle in the Luminarc for all to see. So the kin of those you murdered in the Aurifex can have their cathartic release as they watch you burn.”

  A twisted smile spread across Aurelio’s face, cold and cruel. He was taking so much pleasure in the thought of Ollie’s painful demise. “We’re going to fix you right up, Olesk, to make sure you feel every second. And just as you’re about to fade away, we’ll put you out and start over.”

  Vantus laughed, “You’re going to be up on that stage for a long time, Olesk.” He leaned in, his hand heavy on Ollie’s shoulder. “You’ll burn for every single person you killed in the Aurifex. The Luminarc’s going to be packed for months, watching you scream yourself hoarse.”

  Ollie’s eyes widened in horror as the reality set in. There would be no mercy. No end. Only pain. Over and over again.

  “YOU’RE FUCKIN’ MONSTERS! COWARDS! YOU’LL PAY, I SWEAR TO AUREHA, YOU WILL ALL PAY!”

  A burst of anger made him fight with everything he had against his restraints. “YOU BASTARD, AURELIO! WE WILL FIND A WAY—WE’LL FIND A WAY TO KILL YOU!”

  Aurelio sighed, sounding almost bored. “Stop playing at righteousness.”

  He slapped Ollie across the face. Teeth came loose, and another spurt of blood hit the floor.

  “You’re no better than us, Olesk. Women, children—even innocent men from all over the world who had no ties to us died in that market. Don’t display your hero nonsense in front of me again, or I’ll add even more suffering to your plate. Do you understand?”

  Ollie went to yell again, to scream with everything he had at this monster in front of him, but Aurelio struck him down with his mighty hand.

  “You know what? Shut him up until he’s ready for the Luminarc.”

  The Alleviator approached. Ollie squirmed and fought, his voice echoing out, pained and raw.

  “YOU’LL PAY—FOR MY SON, FOR MY FATHER, FOR MY HOmmhgphp—”

  The flesh of his lips began to bind together, sealing his words behind an impenetrable wall of flesh. His eyes widened in horror, his body convulsing against the restraints as he tried to scream, but no sound came out.

  “The quiet is nice, but how are we supposed to ask him questions now, Aurelio?” Vantus asked, his tone casual, almost mocking.

  “We already know all we need. The rest will come to us when he’s up on stage.” Aurelio turned and he motioned for the others to follow him out of the dungeon.

  “You’re putting a lot of faith in the Dregs to come rescue one of their own,” Vantus said, a smirk curling at his lips. “Especially one they deemed sacrificial. I didn’t think you could attribute such loyalty to those ‘animals.’”

  “If the beast’s cries don’t call his kindred to his aid, they’ll serve as a warning for them to flee. Either way, I’ll know who it is when he’s up on that stage. I already have my men in the Amalgamate keeping an eye on things.”

  Vantus scoffed, feigning offense. “You wound me, Aurelio. Do you not trust the Silver Guard to keep the Dregs in check?”

  Aurelio’s steps halted. He turned slowly, his golden eyes cold and unblinking. “The Silver Guard were nowhere to be found when I alone confronted Olesk.” His gaze locked on Vantus, his words deliberate and heavy. “Why did all your men go to check on Harmonia? Did you really deem it necessary to leave the entire district defenseless because of one mire beast?”

  Vantus’s eyes narrowed, his smile gone. “Are you accusing me of something, Aurelio?”

  “I would never think to accuse the Left Hand of conspiring against the Right… or the Whole. But I do question your judgment.” Aurelio’s voice was calm, unyielding. “Is the Silver Guard too weak to handle a single Wailer without an entire retinue of district guards?” Aurelio pounded his fist against the Wailer’s cell. The creatures inside scrambled, crashing into the walls, their muzzled faces clanging against the bars.

  “I don’t like your tone, Aurelio,” Vantus warned. “You should remember—we are equals. That gold running through your veins doesn’t give you the authority to question mine.”

  Aurelio’s expression remained solid, unchanging. “I wouldn’t think of it, Vantus. It was just a curiosity of mine.”

  “Good. Here, let me sate it for you.”

  Vantus pulled a flower from his pouch. Its petals reflected the dim light in mesmerizing fractals. “My men may have been a little late to the scene, but they at least properly surveyed it.”

  He handed it to Aurelio, who spun the stem between his fingers, the petals catching the light, swirling in iridescent patterns.

  “Where did you find this?” Aurelio asked, his eyes narrowing as he examined the flower.

  “Right at the epicenter of the explosion. I’m surprised you missed it, Aurelio.” Vantus’ smile returned. “I’ve already sent one to the Holy Host. After he addresses the city tomorrow, he plans to call a meeting.”

  Aurelio’s eyes darkened. “So he still has a pawn on the board. I would’ve thought he’d be too weak by now.”

  Vantus turned to leave but paused beside Aurelio. “Well, as always, it was a pleasure working with you, Aurelio. Can’t wait to watch the show together.” He sauntered off, disappearing into the darkness of the dungeon’s halls.

  Aurelio watched him go, his fingers tightening around the stem of the flower. “Who was it, and what did they do?”

  His eyes lingered on the swirling, fractal lights. “Did you set off the Crucible? Did you become cruel?” The colors danced, enchanting and haunting. “We will find you.” He tucked the flower into a pouch and turned, his steps echoing as he left the dungeon behind.