Chapter 6

-Eir-

I kept my expression neutral as the cracking of glass echoed throughout the room. A yell of pain came from Ashley, or Ash I suppose. She had caused quite the amount of trouble for me when she was working with the Dragons. She was always in constant competition with me, which wouldn't have been a bad thing, if it weren't for the fact that losers were torn to pieces in the lair.

Surprisingly, I gained no satisfaction from seeing her kneeling on the floor in front of me. The pained expression of gritted teeth and shut eyes didn't cause any enjoyment. Instead, I sucked in a breath and bit my lip, my own shoulder felt uncomfortable.

"Fuck you," Ash hissed. I didn't quite know if she was talking to me directly, but I felt like I was included in her cursing.

"What do we have here?" a familiar voice called out. I felt dizzy at the voice, which I would've been overjoyed to hear in any other circumstance. "A little lizard got trapped by Strangers? We should take a leaf out of their book when it comes to pest control."

In the doorway stood my father. His white hair flowed proudly down his shoulders and his head was held high. It was the same stance I tried to replicate each day of my life. His cold blue eyes pierced my skull. The message would've been clear even if he didn't talk. 'You are not my daughter, you are nothing more than a disappointment, a low-ranking lizard.' It was as though he was speaking telepathically with me.

He was accompanied by four Dragons. They each wore hats and scarves around their mouths. I knew who each one of them were, but I didn't want them to see me like this. So, I didn't let them.

I stood up from the seat, letting the rope, which once bound my hands, fall to the floor. I stepped around Ash and Xen, standing in front of my father. I bowed with my arms folded in front of me and then straightened up. I moved to the right when he didn't acknowledge any of my actions. It stung like a scorpion, but at least the pain of rejection had dulled over the years.

Dag was pointing a gun at my father, whilst Xen had grabbed one of her silly daggers. Ash was still suffering on the floor, but even she had her sword a few inches away from her fingertips.

"Not very welcoming, are you?" my father asked, getting no answer in response. "Very well, I will assume we are free to do as we please." My father gestured to the ceiling with his middle and index fingers. The four Dragons split into two groups, one coming to me, another coming to Ash. "You know the cost of treason."

"Treason?" I asked before even realising the words wanted to escape. "I didn't have a part in treason." My pleas fell on deaf ears.

"I did," Ash groaned with a chuckle. "Very much so. But she's right." She then spit on the floor, as though the very words sickened her to say.

"Neither of them did," Xen exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes and silently pleaded for her to keep her mouth shut. She didn't know anything about either one of us. She said herself, Ash was secretive.

"Xen, shut it," Ash said. "Don't mind her. She doesn't know what she's talking about the majority of the time. I committed treason and I'm proud of it. Let your daughter go."

I watched for Xen's reaction and wasn't disappointed. Her face became paler than it already was, but that white quickly turned to bright pink as her fists clenched. "You're Jain," she whispered.

"You mutter my name so casually. I mustn't have made myself clear." My father flicked his wrist, a rock flying out of it and hitting Xen on the knee, causing it to buckle. "As the leader of the Dragons and the Kuang family, these two will be charged with treason against the Dragons for conspiring against me. Their penalty...would see death as kindness."

My father turned on his heel and left. Ash and I exchanged looks; it was better of us to follow what he said with minimal resistance. It would cause us less pain, but Ash didn't seem to like the idea.

"Tell Ellie I'll miss him," she yelled behind her. Someone who was holding me halted for a few moments, right next to the bunks, before continuing.

"Ash, Eir!" Xen's voice met my ear as we were a few feet away from the house. She was soon joined by Dag, trying to get her to be quiet. Her cries were pitiful, but they warmed my heart.

We weren't treated with any mercy. At least we got to ride in a car, instead of having to walk all the way back to the lair. I could tell my father was tempted to make us do so, but that would mean sacrificing four of his men to suffer with us.

Ash didn't shut her mouth the entire trip. She was threatened with knives and gags, but those threats were as empty as my hair was white. She'd probably regret that later, but for now she seemed to be having the time of her life.

When we arrived at the lair, we were taken to the dungeon. It was really just an ordinary basement, but dungeon felt more accurate.

There were chairs with holes in the back for whatever unpleasantries would be inflicted. Tables were dyed red, and the air was thick with a metallic stench. I had only been down here a handful of times; all of which were brief, and men obscured my view of the room. Seeing it in its full dim glory made vomit rise in my throat.

"Seats, secured," my father demanded the men. Ash and I were forced to sit in those holey chairs facing each other. My hands were tied beside my head and my legs were bound to the legs of the chair. "More on Eir. She could easily get out of that." I mentally cursed as a thick chain was wrapped around my stomach. The ice-cold surface made me shiver even though I was covered by a few layers. My previous injuries let themselves be known and I hissed in pain.

The four men stood with straight backs beside our chairs, one either side. This wasn't the usual protocol for someone who had committed treason, I knew that when we were taken away from the house. The usual protocol was an instant kill, no matter who saw.

"Usually, this wouldn't be necessary," my father said as he paced a line between us. "However, due to the personal offence-" he sent a glare my way "-I have been forced to reconsider your sentence."

My eyes remained on the floor. The steins of brown and red made the wood look like a decorative tile, an ugly decorative tile, but decorative tile none-the-less. Since it was the centre of my attention, I didn't see if my father made any kind of gesture. Though I'm assuming he did as my chin was roughly lifted up by the person on my right.

"I will give you one chance to sincerely apologise," my father said slowly. "If you lie to my face, then let our ancestors help you."

I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut and forget about what was happening, but his stare had me fixed like a predator and prey. I couldn't say anything; he'd know I was lying. I had nothing to apologise for, at least nothing which went against him. He wanted me to apologise for siding with the enemy and conspiring against him. I had done nothing of the sort.

"So be it," he said and turned away from me. "She gets water. This one however..." he trailed off, crouching in front of Ash.

My breathing was laboured. I knew exactly what he meant. It was a sort of torture which had been used for centuries. I had grown used to the traditional water torture, something that was meant to be a source of discipline when I was younger. I was aware there were other kinds, ones I had only read about.

I didn't catch what my father said to Ash, nor did I notice him leaving. The fear I had associated with water trapped me in a state of unawareness.

My chair was forced backwards so that I was looking at the ceiling. It wasn't very steady as it swayed from side to side, only increasing the nausea that I felt. Something was placed over my face, comfort. It didn't stay that way for long as it clung to my features, blocking my mouth and nose. I couldn't breathe.

I was jolted back to reality as the panic set in. The noise of running water and talking was so loud I couldn't tell what they were saying. It was like I was having a nightmare. My face was cold and wet, like I hadn't dried my face after washing. My head was pressed firmly against the harsh wood, splinters pierced my skull.

Air filled my lungs causing me to splutter.

"Fancy talking now?" one of the men asked gruffly.

I made no answer. I couldn't even shake my head.

"Again," the other person demanded.

They would be wasting a whole load of water. I couldn't answer and I wouldn't, because I had no answers to give.

My eyes were constantly blurry from the tears which resulted from the irritation of water and the emotions which flooded me. I still hadn't said anything. At this point, I was unsure if I could. I don't think my father, or his men wanted answers anymore. This was the same torture that he used on his enemies. I was already skinned of my scales.

That wasn't a metaphor anymore either, they had taken my jacket off me sometime during the procedure. I couldn't remember my hands being released, but they must've been at some point.

My entire upper-body was freezing. The coldness of the water and the breeze which flowed through the room were not a pleasant combination. I was sweating at the same time as I struggled to breathe.

I didn't notice when I was thrown into a separate room. I hit my head off the single bench which was on the right wall. The pain wasn't as bad as it would've been if I could feel my forehead.

I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling. This was probably where I would be starved or dehydrated to death. I wasn't being dramatic; it had been done before.

"Oi," Ash's voice called, kicking me out of my thoughts. She had literally kicked my leg. "I think they're leaving."

"So?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper due to my throat feeling like it was on fire.

"So, it's our chance to escape." She crawled around the room, poking the walls.

I breathed out a laugh. "Can't." I used all the strength in my arms to sit up. They had been resting above my head for gods knows how long, they ached and didn't want to comply.

"No need to be so negative," she muttered. Even though she was wearing black, splotches of crimson covered her arms. "Why do you think they locked us in here together? There were plenty of rooms."

I stared at her in shock, she had the capability of looking at the rooms and focusing after that? I frowned. I didn't know what my father had done to her, if anything. Sure, there was blood on her, but she was shot before we left the house.

"What are you staring at? Help me," she demanded.

I shook my head and kicked myself for actually being concerned about her. I wondered what Xen was doing, if she was still with Dag. I wasn't sure if I liked him, and I sure didn't trust him.

There really wasn't anything for me to do in the room other than wait for Ash to give up. Nobody had escaped from the basement.

Though, that could also be because they weren't alive down here for this long.