Martha's screams still echoed through the cave, bouncing violently against the ancient stone walls. The elders stood at their limit; patience had long since been exhausted. If they could not force her to speak, then Ileus would. Everyone knew what that meant. Ileus was as dangerous as he was cunning, a master of breaking wills without ever raising his voice.
Taking in a deep breath, Elara turned toward the exit of the cave. "Let us leave her be for now," she said quietly. "It will take another hour before the effects of the poison wear off. When she heals, we will begin again."
One by one, they exited the dungeon, stopping just beyond its towering stone walls. The air outside felt heavier than the darkness they had left behind.
"When will those creatures stop making us do their dirty work?" Elara sighed, her eyes distant and clouded. "It is exhausting."
All of them had paid a price for their abilities, but none as dreadful as hers.
"The day the curse is lifted, we will be free from their control," Reiner said restlessly. "That is what Simon said, right?"
He could not keep himself still, pacing the ground like a caged beast. Without waiting for a reply, he continued angrily. "Nothing we have done has made her talk. She knows we cannot harm the girl. I do not even think they would allow it."
Reiner circled faster, his agitation burning through him. His thick red hair was impossible to miss, even in the dim light. Bright, molten lines stretched from his eyes down to the corners of his lips, glowing faintly with contained fury.
"Oh, I should burn her to death," Reiner roared. "She deserves worse than that."
His entire body ignited in a golden hue, radiant and violent like sunlight at its peak. Reiner Emberfalls possessed the power of fire, or as most called it, red chaos. He could harness the sun itself. With a snap of his fingers, an entire mortal army could be reduced to ash.
"Do calm yourself, Reiner," Frost said lazily. "Or I will have to freeze you for a little while."
Elder Frost stood near the dungeon gate, gazing at it with quiet detachment. He closed his eyes briefly, drawing in a measured breath. Frost was known as a peaceful, silent man, one who rarely spoke even when questioned. His silver hair shimmered faintly, perfectly complementing his crystalline silver eyes. He looked almost angelic, deceptively so.
His ability was ice. As long as there was moisture, he could freeze anything. He could also inject deadly toxins through ice, killing mortal beings instantly, in numbers limited only by his will.
Reiner spun toward him, face burning hotter than his flames. "I would like to see you try, Frost."
Frost did not move.
"I will burn that pretty hair clean off your head," Reiner snarled, fists engulfed in fire. "Let us see if you remain so unbothered then."
Frost glanced at him once, unimpressed, then yawned and returned his attention to the dungeon gate.
That was enough.
With a furious shout, Reiner charged forward, fists raised, but before he could land a single blow, his body was wrenched violently into the air. He froze mid-movement, suspended, choking.
There was only one person capable of stopping him like that.
Reiner looked down to see Thorne's massive hand locked firmly around his throat.
"Thorne, let go of me this instant," Reiner growled, struggling uselessly.
Thorne ignored him and turned to Elara, awaiting instruction.
"Do you plan to behave yourself, Reiner?" Elara asked sharply. Even after hundreds of years, she still found it strange how those two could never coexist peacefully.
Reiner glared at her in defiance, prompting Thorne to tighten his grip.
"Yes," Reiner rasped. "Yes, I will behave. Now let me go, you big dummy."
Nearly out of air, his resistance weakened.
Thorne released him without ceremony. Reiner hit the ground with a heavy thud, coughing violently before scrambling to his feet. He glared at each of them, rage bubbling again, but the sound of approaching footsteps cut through his thoughts.
Instantly, they straightened.
They all knew who Ileus had brought with him.
All except Frost, who remained leaning casually against the wall.
As Simon came into view, the elders bowed deeply in respect.
"Has she said anything else?" Simon asked, his voice calm but edged with expectation.
"No, Lord Simon," Elara replied. "She refuses to tell us anything about the girl's parents, or what the girl truly is."
She looked away. "She blocked me from accessing her memories. I cannot see anything related to the girl. Something powerful is preventing me. My ability cannot help you. I am sorry."
Simon said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on the dark entrance of the cave.
"You have all done your best," he said at last. "We are grateful."
He exhaled slowly. "It seems Vashti did not tell us everything about Olivia. Martha was clearly working under her influence."
His jaw tightened. "I will get what I need from her. One way or another."
This was not something Simon enjoyed. Torture had never been his strength. That had always been Michael's specialty. Michael had possessed a disturbingly effective way of making people talk.
Much had changed since then.
Once, Simon believed there was a clear difference between right and wrong. He believed love existed, even in a world as cruel as theirs. He believed family could never harm one another.
"How stupid you were, Simon," he muttered.
During the great war, he had been forced to torture countless people to uncover Michael's whereabouts. At first, guilt consumed him. Later, he felt nothing at all.
Indifference had settled into his bones.
Simon stepped into the cave. Bitter sobs echoed toward him, raw and broken. Even the sound of a girl crying could not stir his heart now.
He stopped before Martha. She was bound to the wall, shaking, muttering incoherently through tears.
"Martha," Simon said quietly. "I do not wish to hurt you."
She did not look up.
"But you have given me no choice," he continued. "I need to know everything about this girl."
Dust filled his lungs as he inhaled. The cave felt colder.
"I will ask you this only once," Simon said.
"Do you wish to live?"