The torture chamber smelled of iron and old fear.
Marcus stood in the center of the room. He felt utterly useless.
He looked at the corner where the dragon girl lay crumpled. She was a shivering ball of bruises and terror.
She pressed herself against the cold stone as if trying to merge with it. Her blue eyes were wide and frantic.
She watched Marcus and the little girl like a cornered animal watches a pack of wolves.
Marcus shifted his gaze to his companion... or whatever they were.
The mysterious little girl stood beside him. She looked bored.
She smoothed a non-existent wrinkle on her white dress. She looked at the dragon girl with a flat, unimpressed expression.
It was the look one might give a noisy cat.
Marcus felt a headache building behind his eyes.
They had come to save the prisoner. Instead, they had terrified her.
The little girl had thrown the hatchling against a wall. It was effective, yes. It stopped the attack.
