(Liv) Ch. 5.5

“Argh!” I watched as Terin Quinn struggled to stop the bleeding in his gut, my knife having pierced his flesh there only moments ago. Blood stained the library’s woven rug. 

I was breathing heavily, my emotions were truly a mess. It did not help that Terin was exceptionally skilled in close combat, making my skirmish with him harder to win than expected. 

From my position in the library I couldn't see my friend or lover, I wasn;t concerned though, they would finish up with Ravi and Sel soon. 

I need to learn how this happened on such short notice, I need to know why he was here. I need to know how they found us. And why does a poor excuse for a parent want a prince captured? What does he think he can even achieve by kidnapping literal royalty!

I had so many questions and I was sure Terin had answers to at least a few. Starting with why my neglectful father was even involved with this.  

Terin swore as the hard sole of my boot came down on his wound, his face contorting in pain. 

“How did my father find out that Orilis was the one who helped me escape? What does he even want with a prince?” I snarled as I put more pressure on the wound, emphasizing the consequences of refusing to answer. The guild trains all of its members to resist torture but I knew for a fact Terin had a medicore tolerance to pain at the very best. 

“Be useful and your death will be painless, withhold anything and I will make you wish you were never born.” I whispered menacingly. 

Terin turned his head away in defiance, refusing to speak. 

Fine then. Torturing it out of you works for me.  

I angled my knife and stabbed the underside of his wrist, right in the inbetween the bone. His scream radiated throughout the room. 

The clangs of metal began to subside as Veron and Orilis, my equivalent to a family, finished up their opponents.  

“Well?” I asked softly, my voice dropping a couple octaves, “your fellow deserters are dead, you’ve already lost.” 

“You can die by the hands of the guild or you can answer my questions and die a quick, painless death.” I continued in the same tone. 

Terin flinched at the thought of what the guild would do to him for deserting. The man hung his head in defeat. 

“What do you want to know?” He said in a resigned tone. 

I smiled at his cooperation. Things always went smoother when the opposing party knew they were fucked. 

“How did my father find out about Orilis’s involvement in my escape?” I asked. There had to be some sort of leak within the guild but I had to be sure. 

“Which one? Which father I mean.” Terin looked up at me smugly.

It was a low blow, he knew exactly who I was speaking of. Terin was perfectly aware that the piece of shit that beat my mother to death was father to me only in his wildest delusions. I only called him the parental title because I wouldn’t give his real name the time of fucking day. Or anything to do with him if I could help it. 

I felt the overwhelming urge to end Terin’s miserable life before gathering the necessary information. 

Deep breaths. We need him alive so we can get answers. 

“You know exactly who I am referring to, so do yourself a favor and answer my question. How did he know about Orilis?” I repeated, raising my sharp blade again, slowly inserting it in the wound that had brought him to his knees. Terin howled in pain. 

I smirked. Eyes gleaming with bloodlust I normally kept under lock and key. 

Terin took one look at my face and cowered, opening his mouth to tell me all he knew.