Circe Riddle (Book 3)

Chapter 31

TW: Fighting, Negative thoughts, mentions of death, mentions of torture, blood

(Circes' pov)

I was left alone in the room for a week. The only time I saw anyone was when someone came to give me my meals. The meals were very small and didn't taste that good. I got bored very quickly, I wondered what Thomas had done for all those days. I looked across the room at my reflection in the shattered mirror that was pushed into the corner. I had guessed Thomas had broken it and I felt bad for him, it must have been really hard for him. He was not used to getting pushed around, he was always one to stand above everyone else. But just like everyone else he had his flaws, and Malachi found them and pushed them to their limits.

Speaking of Malachi I thought as Malachi walked into the room and pushed a young man on the floor. The man hit his head on the floor and it looked like he got knocked out for he collapsed and didn't move. "First lesson" He declared "Learning how to control siphoning magic out of people" He looked at the man on the floor "I want you to siphon all the magic out of him, if you don't I will make you and then you will feel his pain ten times worse"

"What did he do to deserve this?" I asked

"Haven't you learned anything from your father? You do what you're told and don't ask questions" He glared at me then pointed at the man "Do it. Now"

I slowly got up and approached the man wearily. I crouched down and slowly put my hand on his shoulder. I moved my head slightly to look at Malachi standing above me, wondering if he was going to say anything "Is there a certain way to do it?" I asked quietly

"Do what feels natural first and I will tell you if you're doing it wrong" I rolled my eyes while looking away so he couldn't see it then attempted to siphon him. I started slower until Malachi spoke up "We don't have all day, we have a lot more to do. You will find that focusing your thoughts on the task will make it easier rather than thinking about your brothers"

A minute later the man's body went completely limp in my arms and I pulled my hand away. Malachi looked at me with a small smile, then with a wave of hand the man disappeared and Malachi motioned for me to stand up "You were too slow, next time do it a little faster or I will make the rest of your day very difficult" He glared at me "I will only warn you once more, think about your brothers any more and there will be consequences. They won't save you. They would be disobeying a direct order from the Dark Lord himself and they both know how that would turn out" He smiled as my thoughts shifted away from my brothers "Next lesson" He turned away and started walking towards the door. He motioned for me to follow him as he left the room and we made our way down a long stone hallway that seemed to go on forever.

(Thomas's pov)

I had explained everything to Mattheo and Theodore, we had spent the week arguing about it "Why did you just leave her there, you could have done something to help her" Mattheo shouted at me

"I couldn't do anything" I declared "I barely had any magic, He could have easily killed me if I did anything, besides even if I did do anything, it would go against fathers wishes and he would have me killed. And Circe assured me she was ok before I left"

"That doesn't mean anything, she lies all the time, to protect us, she would do anything to get us out of the way of harm, including lying" He shouted back "And you know that, your just a coward" He spat "You follow every little order that father gives you because you don't want to disappoint him" His eyes turned crimson

"Don't you feel the same way about him?" I asked "Don't you have the same fear of disappointing him? Of dying by his hand?"

"No Thomas, I don't" He stared into my eyes "Because I have been a disappointment to him my whole life. I'm a disappointment to him. Every. Single. Day." He paused for a second "Thomas do you ever wonder why I drink or smoke or get into fights? It's because I don't have a care in the world. Not after father practically disowned me. He doesn't care about me, so why should I care about him? I have nothing, no one in this world. No one except Circe and Theodore. And you left her to be tortured, to die"